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New to me k100

4K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  harrowbmw 
#1 ·
Hello all, I am purchasing a 1987 BMW K100 with 11,000 miles on it. It has been sitting for 9 years since the last registration, and was owned by a mechanic so I hope it was put away correctly.

I am not new to motorcycle repairs or rehabs (I have a small fleet of early-mid honda CB's) but am new to BMW bikes and their idiosyncrasies.

Basically all I know is that the bike is physically in good shape, has had a mouse nest in the airbox, the gas tank is full of varnish and the engine isn't stuck. I will be picking it up later this week so will have more info at that time.

I know that 11k on this bike isn't even broken in, but are there any real deal-breaker items that I should check before I pick it up?
 
#4 ·
Remove and check them. The dampers have been known to crumble into chunks. If you try to start it and the pump works, the chunks can jam the pump.

I would pull the pump,hoses and filter as a unit and go from there. The hoses will probably be shot, so use only fuel injection/immersible rated hose. BMW is 1/3rd the cost of NAPA for the hose the last time I checked.
 
#6 ·
for a heads up, have a search through Chris Harris' youtube videos ... he's a mechanic with a love/hate relationship with Beemers... if you "get" his style then you can learn some good info about the earlier bikes, and have a laugh at the same time as he occassionally rips into BMW. :bmw:
 
#7 ·
I purchased a 1988 K100RT with just 800 (Genuine) miles on the clock back in 2006.

I gave her a full major service and she was fine. The only issues I ever had was a few years later the engine seals started to go, so she started to leak oil. However after the seals were patched I didn't have any further issues, until the brake disk cracked through wear!

Currently she has 34530 miles on her - unfortunately I have to sell her to make some room in the garage! As a long distance bike with the comfort saddle she was about as perfect as you could get.

Hope you have fun and enjoy her.

Best regards
Sleuth
 
#8 ·
phaedrus314 said:
Hello all, I am purchasing a 1987 BMW K100 with 11,000 miles on it. It has been sitting for 9 years since the last registration, and was owned by a mechanic so I hope it was put away correctly.

I am not new to motorcycle repairs or rehabs (I have a small fleet of early-mid honda CB's) but am new to BMW bikes and their idiosyncrasies.

Basically all I know is that the bike is physically in good shape, has had a mouse nest in the airbox, the gas tank is full of varnish and the engine isn't stuck. I will be picking it up later this week so will have more info at that time.

I know that 11k on this bike isn't even broken in, but are there any real deal-breaker items that I should check before I pick it up?
Cooling fan is another known weak link. They run so infrequently that the bearings seize. I believe that a VW fan is direct replacement.

At that age all the rubber may be dried up and cracked. Check the "Z" tube breather hose and the throttle body mounts.
 
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