Author Topic: Noob from IL (Read 7580 times)

milq · « **on:** February 12, 2017, 05:58:35 PM »

Howdy folks, just picked up a 1985 K100 RT from a friend that has had it for 4 years or so. Both he and the original owner took care of it mechanically, but it is showing some wear on body parts.
My original intention was to turn it into a Café racer, but I'm going to leave it alone for a bit and commute on it as I'm not quite ready to start the project. He gave me first crack at it before he put it up for sale, so I grabbed it up.

The Dude · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2017, 06:21:20 PM »

Welcome milq.

Quote from: milq on February 12, 2017, 05:58:35 PM

My original intention was to turn it into a Café racer, but I'm going to leave it alone for a bit and commute on it as I'm not quite ready to start the project.

Good call.Its a utilitarian machine where art follows function not the other way round.Either way the body panels are well worth restoring and preserving,someone will appreciate them.

Martin · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2017, 06:27:31 PM »

Welcome to the asylum from the land of OZ. Good to see that you are going to ride it as is before you mod it, you never know you might like it as standard. If you do strip it somebody will appreciate the panels.
Regards Martin.

Elipten · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2017, 08:08:19 PM »

Nice looking bike, leave it as the factory meant it to be.

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Filmcamera · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2017, 08:23:35 PM »

+1 leave as is... well maybe a turbo lol

The Mighty Gryphon · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2017, 12:02:37 AM »

Welcome! Glad to hear you will ride it a while as is. Yeah, it kinda looks like the motorcycle equivalent of a Buick, but you will never be more comfortable on two wheels when the weather gets nasty.

Motorhobo · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2017, 06:52:01 AM »

I'd say you'll find a lot of K-bikes out there that are in questionable enough condition or are already stripped down enough to be c*a*f*e material but that's not one of them. That one will get you from IL to SF to NYC to IL -- a c*a*f*e racer will get you to from the nearest Starbucks to the next-nearest Starbucks.

Martin · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2017, 03:04:32 PM »

We could be giving him the impression we don't like Coffee Racers. :dunno
Regards Martin.

Filmcamera · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2017, 03:18:34 PM »

I love coffee racers - I think there are huge number of old triumphs and nortons and BSA's begging to be turned into coffee racers... but Brick's - not sure they are the right starting point for a true CR. Having said that I have been very impressed by some of the bikes that have been created by members of this forum they just aren't for me.

The Mighty Gryphon · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2017, 03:27:29 PM »

After a couple large coffees what ever I am riding becomes a restroom to restroom racer.

Martin · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2017, 03:35:34 PM »

Gryph you have a TT racer toilet to toilet. :hehehe
Regards Martin.

Filmcamera · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2017, 03:40:47 PM »

TMG maybe you should swap to Evans waterless coolant and use this handy device in the vacant space left from the now unnecessary overflow tank.

The Mighty Gryphon · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2017, 03:42:52 PM »

I just knew you guys would be good for a solution. :riding:

Martin · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2017, 03:43:51 PM »

Another solution don't have to stop, and could be converted to run on Methane. Self fueling?

herseyb · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2017, 02:31:46 PM »

That's a beauty. Riding a naked k75, I've been dying to see what those fairings are like...

kris · « **Reply #15 on:** February 16, 2017, 02:29:11 PM »

Milq,
I have an '86 K100RT. As you can see, I have a Kawi Concours (full fairing and bags) so the idea was to make a naked bike out of the Beemer. I'll be damned if I didn't come to really appreciate the Beemer fairing. The Kawi is good, the Beemer is better! I've been riding all year....a little snow, rain, cold...doesn't matter much if the bike is dressed. It's a bear in the summer but that's where the 3rd bike is supposed to come in! Naked off the hop. Anyway, try the bike the way it is. They are a bit ugly but grow on you....and most new bikes are even uglier!

Elipten · « **Reply #16 on:** February 16, 2017, 08:58:21 PM »

27 years ago people thought the looked great. Soon they will look classic

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kris · « **Reply #17 on:** February 16, 2017, 09:31:49 PM »

Well, Elipten, I won't kick this thing around too much and I didn't know these bikes 27 years ago. The plastics on my bike are a bit clunky looking with a vast expanse of area on the upper fairing. I guess that's the part that's unappealing to me. The lower engine covers aren't bad. I think the RS is the nicest looking of the bunch. Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder. But, as the Germans like to say, form follows function. And other than the fact that my knees rub against the inner fairing the plastics do a great job of deflecting wind and weather. And, as we know, it's heavy fiberglass construction. Super well-built. Better than Japanese or Italian stuff, for sure.
And I think they already have a classic look. And I am in love with the look of the 4 cylinder brick engines...no one else does it like the bricks!

Safe riding in sunny Texas!

Elipten · « **Reply #18 on:** February 16, 2017, 09:46:58 PM »

Yep the BMW windshield not good design for me. I'm short and I can bang my knees on it also, so I agree. But it has kept be warm and dry on some long cold rainy days.

But then it has cooked me in summer

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The Mighty Gryphon · « **Reply #19 on:** February 16, 2017, 10:22:24 PM »

I have put 25,000 miles on my RT in 3 years. I have ridden it in temperatures from 30F to 117F, in blistering sun, rain, and snow.

It does get a bit uncomfortable when the temperature gets above 85F, but below 50 in rain or snow, I can't think of a better fairing to get behind.

I have ridden through heavy rain for over 300 miles and not gotten soaked. Been comfortable riding 10 hours through snow flurries. Yes there isn't enough knee room, but the protection from wind and water is great. You need waterproof boots, and good socks because your feet are out there in the open, though.

milq · « **Reply #20 on:** February 17, 2017, 10:07:50 PM »

I put plates and insurance on it today. Rode it around a bit, everything seems pretty solid but the idle speed is a touch erratic, may need TBs synced.
I also found the owner's manual and service record book in the tail storage compartment. It was purchased at Jedburg Cycle in Charleston SC and they did the service on it until 30k...which they performed in Nov. 1985! That fella was getting around!
No further records in the book, but my buddy said that the guy he bought it from in 2013 was the same name that's in the booklet.

milq · « **Reply #21 on:** February 17, 2017, 10:57:14 PM »

Also, I spotted a key cylinder in front of the battery area. I can't find anything about it in the owner's manual and a quick search here generated no results....any ideas?
One of the service records is for installation of the alarm...

The Mighty Gryphon · « **Reply #22 on:** February 17, 2017, 11:18:07 PM »

There was a dealer installed theft deterrent system for these bikes. I can't tell you much about it, but I have seen threads on this and other forums troubleshooting starting problems that were caused by the system. From what I have read, it prevents the starter and sounds the horn or something.

Since these bikes are so old and generally unloved, except for coffee racers, the alarm could and probably be best removed(don't park near coffee shops). Off the top of my head I seem to recall there is a module in the tail cowl and a connector and some wiring in the relay box that needs to be removed.

Can you post some pictures?

milq · « **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2017, 01:51:35 PM »

It's just ahead of the small fuse panel with clear cover.

mw074 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 18, 2017, 01:58:41 PM »

I had a '88 K100LT that had the factory alarm set-up. That was where the alarm key was installed. Quite a while ago, but what I remember was if the bike was shaken it would sound the horn. The alarm control module was mounted in the toolbox under the seat.

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Author Topic: Noob from IL (Read 7580 times)