K100 questions

[xgnr]

Hey there,
I'm looking at getting a touring bike and quite like the BMW's but am wondering if you folks have any tips on any particular things/problems to look for when looking at old K100's?

IMHO get a K75 over the K100... much smoother and fantastic to do heaps of K's on. Ideal for touring general use. Can keep up with the bigger bikes no problem.

I did my own maintenance and splines were not too hard at all. earlier models of the K bikes did not have hardened splines I believe (not sure when they changed them but do some google searches and you will find heaps of resources on the k bikes)

Experience BMW in Auckland have my old K75 which is a beauty esp as they have now repaired after I got backed into.

Good luck

Stu

[MIXONE]

I've had a K75 for some time and it hasn't given me any major problems.
Nice,smooth all day tourer that can eat miles at a rapid pace with no dramas.

[spacemonkey]

Yeah I'd love a K75.

But they are rather thin on the ground and the few that I've found so far are well above my budget.

Just had a quick look at Experience BMW's website and the bikes not listed on there?

[BMWST?]

after a short period of readjustment(after a ducati 900 s2) my k100 rs was the best bike i had.

[Pogo2]

I do miss my K100RS 16v ABS. Was a great bike. A bit tractor like when cold but that disappeared in minutes. Had the occaisional problem with moisture in the instrument cluster. Some say they were heavy, but as you would expect with a big bike. Always nervous moving it about the garage but above 10 kph - bliss to ride.

Hope you find one to enjoy!

[xgnr]

Yeah I'd love a K75.

But they are rather thin on the ground and the few that I've found so far are well above my budget.

Just had a quick look at Experience BMW's website and the bikes not listed on there?

Might not be on it as yet as the repairs have just been finished (as in last week). If you give them a call and talk to Henry he will know the one.

I wouldn't be surprised if its selling for $4-6k tho' so not sure if that's in your budget.

Good luck in the hunt.

Cheers

Stu

(ps if you get one in the end I have a Haynes Manual for all of the K Bikes pm me if you would like to buy as I am going to put it on trademe one day soon)

Cheers
Stu

[spacemonkey]

Well Sunday was a wasted effort.
I drove up to Palmy to have a look at this bike
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=213797039
Utter utter pile of crap!
I recon the guy must be mates with whom ever put the WOF on it.
Wof dated the 7th of last month, Bald rear tyre, indicators don't work, Rev counter broken, speedo broken, seat flapping around loose, center stand corroded thru to the point I doubt it could hold the weight of the bike.

Found all this as I sat on the side of the road as the motor died 3km into the test ride. Has a fuel feed problem and the starter motor was cranking over without turning the motor.



The next bike I looked at
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=213205851
This one was quite nice but was very smokey (had not run for a week the guy said) and an oil leak from the gearbox that dripped onto the exhaust so that smoked once it wamed up.
Also missing the side panels below the seat but that's not a biggy to me.
Fella had only owned this one since December.

While siting on the roadside with the broken one waiting for the owner to get there a guy pulled over to check if I needed help, got talking and it turns out he's a BMW fan and part of a BMW owners group so had a good yak about them and places to look for ones for sale. He's a top bloke

[geoffm]

The next bike I looked at
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=213205851
This one was quite nice but was very smokey (had not run for a week the guy said) and an oil leak from the gearbox that dripped onto the exhaust so that smoked once it wamed up.
Also missing the side panels below the seat but that's not a biggy to me.
Fella had only owned this one since December.

That oil leak will be the clutch shaft seal from either the gearbox or engine side. Cost a bit to fix if you have to pay someone else for labour, since you have to remove the gearbox and clutch. The oil can also bugger the dry clutch plates - more money.
The do blow smoke when started if they have been sitting on the side stand for a few days. The older ones are worse, but they should clear within a few mins use.
IMO, you should get a RS - the fairing is brilliant. I have some panniers if anyone needum.

[Ixion]

Both those should have a whole bunch more fairing than is showing. I'd be very dubious of a BMW with missing fairing panels - especially the LT, it's supposed to be a Luxury Tourer not a streetfighter.

+1 what Mr G says about the oil leak. They should be totally oiltight.

[BMWST?]

+1 on the side stand smoke...being a flat engine a little bit of oill can run into the bores and past the rings if the bike is on the side stand

[Highlander]

Sorry Spacemonkey but this thread appears to have stalled.

On a similar line but veering off somewhat (though not quite a tangent), if one was to be considering a BMW of the R series, specifically the R1100s, what should one keep in mind when looking / test riding?

[xgnr]

Sorry Spacemonkey but this thread appears to have stalled.

On a similar line but veering off somewhat (though not quite a tangent), if one was to be considering a BMW of the R series, specifically the R1100s, what should one keep in mind when looking / test riding?

I rode the R1100 a while ago when I was considering changing bikes (now have the 1150 as you can see lol)

Some of the problems with the earlier ones (if I recall) is the really bad surging at 3-4000RPM) , leaking clutch master cylinder and some gearbox issues. I would assume that these would have been taken care of by now tho' in any models available. I had heard of some of the final drives shitting themselves early on but might be confusing the R1150?

Personally i was put off by the 1100 due to the vibration and only 5 speed box. (compared to the K bike it was really bad but probably ok against other twins) other than that they are a nice bike to do lots of K's on in comfort and economy.

They get smoother as they get more Kms and the oil consumption reduces as they run in (over 80,000kms apparently can be considered just run in!)

Handle pretty well with the Telelever and Paralever suspension.

Cheers

Stu

[BMWST?]

Sorry Spacemonkey but this thread appears to have stalled.

On a similar line but veering off somewhat (though not quite a tangent), if one was to be considering a BMW of the R series, specifically the R1100s, what should one keep in mind when looking / test riding?

look at he internet,but i beleive a lot of the hype is overstated.Get it checked by the local BMW (service)shop if you can.

[Bren]

Oh well, this post has answered my questions....looking at getting an older K100 soon....

...Bren (-:

[Pedrostt500]

I had a 1984 K100 RT , mount motorcycles in Tauranga are good for older Beemer parts, The only major problem i had with mine was the return fuel valve on the fuel injection packed up, about the size of a kids baked beans can, about $300, other than that it was a fairly faultless bike, Tourque for Africa.