Re:Restoration—1989 K100LT

[skucera]

OK, it's time to post some pictures.  I'll create a project thread later, but here are some photos of this promising bike.

First, here it is in my garage:





As you can see behind the air compressor, the bike also came with a passenger backrest.  I haven't figured out how it is supposed to mount yet.  If anyone has any helpful hints, please let me know.



Yes, I was testing the key in the various locks, and most are all keyed to the bike's main key.  The bike came with both saddlebags, a top box, a BMW-branded tank bag with a zip-in extension chamber.  Also, the key lock for the alarm system seems to be jammed so no key can be inserted into it, so I'll have to try some Tri-Flo in that to see if I can free it up.



OK, this is just a vanity shot. 



A curious detail is the left combination switches, with the radio remote controls added on.  There's an aftermarket temperature read-out velcroed to the radio remote, and I haven't traced its very fine wire back to see where the sensor it is connected to.  Since the LT came with a coolant temperature gauge as standard, I wonder if it is an oil temperature gauge added by the original owner.  The guy I bought it from was not technical, and he said he'd never noticed it before, even though it bought the bike in 2001.

[EDIT:  The little temperature gauge is an aftermarket addition powered by an A76/LR44 battery.  I popped a new battery in and saw that it simply reads out ambient air temperature.  It shows my garage is 46.8°F, which seems accurate enough.]

So, this bike will sit here for a few days while I order in parts and buy fluids, then I'll set about a list a helpful fellow on the K100 forum pointed me to for revivifying a bike that's been off the road for a long time.  I'll post more pictures as I run into problems or celebrate little triumphs.

Scott

[frankenduck]

That backrest is mounted on a Reynolds Rack which is an aftermarket part. It's one one-off that was custom made because Corbin backrests mount to the Corbin seat.

[skucera]

That backrest is mounted on a Reynolds Rack which is an aftermarket part. It's one one-off that was custom made because Corbin backrests mount to the Corbin seat.

That makes sense.  The engineering on that backrest rack is just two steps lower than typical BMW engineering.  Also, I saw a Corbin backrest on a K75RT that I looked at in November, and it was much nicer with a single post that fit down into one of two holes through the centerline of the saddle at the cantle of each seat.

Hmmm... I'll look for more info on these Reynolds Racks.  Google is my friend.   

Thanks,
Scott

[frankenduck]

Your Google-foo is strong if you've already figured out how Corbin backrests usually mount on a single square post through a Corbin seat.

[skucera]

Your Google-foo is strong if you've already figured out how Corbin backrests usually mount on a single square post through a Corbin seat.

Thank you for the compliment.  Unfortunately, my Corbin seat doesn't have those sockets.  I guess it was made before that feature was added to their seats.

Scott

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Corbin seats could be ordered without the backrest or the sockets for it.

If your bike has an alarm, I would suggest removing it.  It has an "immobilizer" that, as they age, causes a lot of problems with the engine running or starting.  Most owners have removed them by now.

[frankenduck]

Locks that don't work with the ignition key can be rekeyed to all work with it.

http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/rekey/rekey.htm

[skucera]

Thanks for that link, Frankenduck. It looks really handy.

Scott

[skucera]

I had some time with my motorcycle today.  I finally found a hardware store with Tri-Flo, so I used it to lubricate all the locks on the motorcycle and got almost all of them working this afternoon.  The only lock I couldn't free up is the fork lock built into the head tube.

I found in the large manilla envelope that came with the bike that I had an extra key that was very similar to the ignition key, but it fit only in the locks for the radio cover and the right side fairing cubby cover.  A little Tri-Flo and those locks started working very smoothly.

Another key that was with the ignition key is a key that fit the alarm lock.  After squirting surprisingly little oil into that alarm lock it now turns very easily.  Very satisfying.  (Before I get another comment saying to not trust the original alarm, it was disconnected when I bought the bike.  I plugged the connector in to see if it fit, and it did, but it is disconnected now.  I'll test the alarm functionality later, after I get the rest of the systems up and running, but I'm nowhere near that stage yet.)

I've also been collecting parts and fluids.  My new rear tire arrived on Thursday, and the front tire should arrive Monday.  I've gotten in missing rubber isolators for the LE Jetronic fuel injection controller shelf, plus fuel and oil filters.  Finding 20W-50 oil is getting difficult in auto parts stores, but I found that one of my local auto parts stores has a tiny section for motorcycle parts and oils and Harley air filter elements, and I found the oil there.  I also have an unopened DOT4 brake fluid bottle already.  Since Monday night will be interrupted by a meeting with a colleague in Viet Nam, I hope to get started with some quality garage time on Tuesday evening.

Wish me luck,
Scott

[frankenduck]

Finding 20-50 is easy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JGQLSH8/

I use: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GL2XDTG/

More on fluids here:
https://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/genmaint/K_Bike_General_Maintenance_V1.4.pdf