1985 K100 Tips and Ideas

[GeneralMilliron]

I just added to the stable a new 1985 K100. I say new as it is cleaner than my brand new '03 LT was at delivery. 35,000 miles. Box Stock. Purchased from original owner (Title and 22 registration cards confirm this). Never dropped moving, never dropped in garage. I was blown away by the condition. The man was very emotional about the bike, but into every life some rain must fall.

Rode 150 miles home on a 90 degree day, and the only things I noticed were warm legs (not bad enough to make any mods), and the typical 3,900 - 4,300 RPM engine vibration (so I didn't ride in that range). Otherwise it was a great ride and remarkably non-eventful.

I would appreciate any tips or ideas of things to watch out for. I intend to do most of the maintenance myself. Shop manuals on the way. Is there any "happens all the time" or "happens to every one eventually" type of issues that I should be aware of?

I won't be riding this bike at night. I am converting the brake lights to LED's and adding a headlamp modulator (thus no longer Box Stock, but easily restored). Anything else from a safety perspective that I should consider?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Cliff

[UncleRock]

http://www.ibmwr.org/
1. Keep battery charged up, or the strater relay may weld itself.
2. After about 30K dust and grime can start causing problems in starter, not a big deal and no money to take out clean and reinstall.
3. Advance auto has a oil filter wrench that fits for under $5. (take filter with you to check size)
4. Keep the fluids fresh, check splines once a year you'll be fine.

If you ride in frog strangglers, you may get condesation in the gauge cluster.
I drilled a vent hole on the underside of mine siliconed a piece of Tyvek over the hole, put it back together and now it can breath.
They are very good bikes, I have had 2 over 100K with little problem.
There are heat diverters made for the leg heat problem.
Rock

[kip]

show us some pics of that K100
a while back i got a hankering for another K bike
i got a k75 that was pretty nice....it was the RT model
had a decent fairing and over all was in good shape....
had about 30,000 miles on it....
i rode it to work and back maybe a dozen times or so....
but i just couldnt really see riding it in comparison to the LT
the fairing was pretty close to the knees....
there was alot of heat in the summer....
brakes not to be compared to the LT as well as general comfort....
ultimately i sold it
i fear the LT has about ruined me from wanting to ride any other bike....
(altho i do want a GS lately ;))

[njl4]

The heat from the exhaust either buy a new or used heat shield for a k1100 lt there 52 dollars or just make one like I did. As for the vibration I had a member tell me to fill the handle bars with lead shot that helped 10 fold much better know.Change the fluids and grease the splines yearly. Oh ya, remember its an 85 enjoy the ride for what it is.

[bigbear]

+1 on what unclerock says.

I am the odd duck. I still prefer my K100 over the LT for one up riding.

This bike is 22 years old so some of the hoses, throttle body mounts etc. may be getting hard and brittle. Not difficult to change just time consuming.

Roy

[GeneralMilliron]

Great stuff and very helpful. Everything seems to work as designed except the 7L fuel lamp. I opened the instument cluster and found no bulb. I have to assume it was removed intentionally.

Otherwise, it is everything I remember from 1985 (like when I was tall, dark, handsome, and on the prowl) and for my half hour trips still a real blast. But I have to agree, after riding the LT C-C, you are spoiled for life!

Cliff

[hp1bmw]

The fuel gauge on the 85 models never worked properly. They had a temp sensor in the tank, Actually 2, So when the gas got hot the lights came on. So do not depend on the low fuel lights ever. Just watch the milage after you see what your fuel economy actually is.

[jimajr37]

Visit this website:
http://k11og.org/forum/index.php
More than you will ever need to know abouo the K100.

[Rickg]

Here's a site with lots of K info.
http://www.ibmwr.org/

[LSkrabut]

njl4:

The heat from the exhaust either buy a new or used heat shield for a k1100 lt there 52 dollars or just make one like I did.


By any chance, you got a photo of the heat shield or discription of it? Will the K1100 heat shield bolt on a K100 directly?

Is this a picture of it?
http://beemerboneyard.com/kexk1004vk11heatsh.html

[harrowbmw]

Greetings Cliff.

It sounds like you have yourself one magnificant classic K100. Well done and take care of her.

One thing you may like to consider in the future, and that is upgrading the impellor that forces the coolant around your motor. The old original style impellors were cast units and very inefficient. When you get around to performing a coolant pump overhaul, you'll notice the only impellors available now are of a very different style to the original design. Don't freak out, they work an absolute treat.

Howabout some piccies of your K100 buddy.

Cheers and kindest regards

Paul Harrington
Australia

[Flying_Duck]

Add some headlight relays. You'll get more voltage to the headlight (and more light) and you'll extend the life of the Hi-Lo switch since it won't have to carry the whole headlight load, just enough current ot trigger the relay.

If it starts getting hard to downshift (e.g. 4->3 and 3->2) that's usually an indication the tranny input splines are dry and need a spline lube.

Synch the throttle bodies and it will run smoother.