Author Topic: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue  (Read 2018 times)

Offline Blue85

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 40
Ok last grumble....this bike is ungodly top heavy how can I help this? Remove fairing? Fell again moving out of storage why is it so topheavy? What can I do? Thanks.
  • Coloma Wisconsin
  • 1985 k100rs
Happiness is a little yellow bird tweeting in a open field...

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
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Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2021, 04:18:45 PM »
Bricks are renown for falling over if the riders don't mindfully control them when at a stop, turning at low speed or pushing them around for parking. They have over five gallons of fuel mounted at a high position, which is one to two gallons more than the average road bike. That's 36 pounds or so sloshing around up there. The original batteries are heavy. The fairings add weight. Many owners have dropped their Bricks, some more than once—like you and me.

Keeping them upright at a walking pace is a learned skill. It takes practice, focus, coordination and leverage. Upper body and quadricep strength also helps. When a rider is tired, an alarm should sound in the rider's consciousness to get with the program and focus on balancing the moto before moving it or dismounting. Getting a much lighter battery might help but lithium-iron batteries can get costly. You can always remove the battery you've got then walk the moto around a little to determine if a lighter one would help.



  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Past-my-Prime

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
  • Posts: 501
  • All of us are better when we're loved.
Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2021, 10:03:57 PM »
I feel your pain!
I've dropped Rocinante more than once. She's a REAL bugger to get back upright. But you learn. You need to be ahead of the bike, see where things are going.
At speed: super smooth, very well balanced.
In parking lot, or garage: watch out!
  • North Shore of Lake Superior (in my garage)
  • BRICK: 1989 K75 RT - Rocinante; NON-BRICK: 2007 F650 GS Dakar - Betty Blue

Offline K1300S

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Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2021, 10:19:13 AM »
although bricks have a reputation for being "top heavy", reality is all motorcycles are inherently unstable when not in motion.  same principles of keeping the bike upright and balanced apply to all bikes. 
Project Thread "K75s Midlife Refresh"
http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,7810.0.html

Offline Chaos

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Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2021, 11:50:28 AM »
Removing the fairing may help but the problem will still be there.  Adding a sidecar will solve the issue.  Lowering the bike, even an inch or so, helps in parking lot situations. 
  • sw ohio
1987 K75S    VIN 0231
Original owner, Original litter
200,000 miles (plus or minus) and 5 paint jobs
sold 6/23
2023 Ural 2WD sidecar (BMW's bastard step child)

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2021, 02:20:45 PM »
I can't add much to the advice already given.  Lowering the bike a little helped me a lot with handling at low speed and in the garage. 

Check your tire pressures.  As strange as it may sound, a bike with tires at about 30psi is a lot harder to push around the garage.  I know this because I dropped one of my bike's because I was trying to push it around my garage with the front tire at about 20psi.

I would suggest avoiding pushing the bike when dismounted, stability is improved a lot when you are straddling the bike, sitting on the seat.

As mentioned, the fairing, fuel and the incredibly heavy headlight all add a lot of weight over 3 feet above the ground.  Also, the tool kit in the tail doesn't help either.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Martin

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Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2021, 04:45:42 PM »
I've gone through the full gamut of lowering the bike and raising the rider. Due to this a mate who is a full 3" taller 5'10" to my 5'7" and heaps younger by 10 years approached me wanting to fit a lower shock that I had fitted. After looking at his Brick and trying a shaved nose seat which helped a bit. A lowered seat which helped more, I went back to his stock seat and dropped his forks through the trees by 1/2"and rotated his bars slightly. I then lent him a set of 3/4" boot lifts. He has gone from being unbalanced to now being flat footed and stable. It is also important to have boots with good grip and a non slippery garage floor.
Regards Martin.
  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
  • 1992 K75s Hybrid, Lefaux, Vespa V twin.

Offline Chaos

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Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2021, 05:42:22 PM »
If you have no self pride and enjoy being mocked something like this might work.  I think they only make them for Harley's and Wings, though :laughing1: :laughing1: :laughing1:
  • sw ohio
1987 K75S    VIN 0231
Original owner, Original litter
200,000 miles (plus or minus) and 5 paint jobs
sold 6/23
2023 Ural 2WD sidecar (BMW's bastard step child)

Offline Blue85

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 40
Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2021, 02:21:46 PM »
Thanks for the responses...I’m going to put a sidecar on been debating awhile..I’ll keep posting. I just don’t remember my zrx1100 or concours ever having a balance issue.ride safe everybody
  • Coloma Wisconsin
  • 1985 k100rs
Happiness is a little yellow bird tweeting in a open field...

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
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Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #9 on: June 21, 2021, 11:41:42 PM »
Your K will make an excellent sidecar tug, Blue. Several resources are available for guidance.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Past-my-Prime

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
  • Posts: 501
  • All of us are better when we're loved.
Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #10 on: September 11, 2021, 09:58:27 AM »
:) they usually fall onto the right side. I've had mine take a nap a few times, always at rest (in garage) or at parking lot speeds, when I was insufficiently attentive. At low speed, I have to be ahead of the bike. Once I'm above 10 km/h it feels rock steady and very forgiving. Engine guards and hard sided luggage on the back have spared real embarrassment or fairing damage.
  • North Shore of Lake Superior (in my garage)
  • BRICK: 1989 K75 RT - Rocinante; NON-BRICK: 2007 F650 GS Dakar - Betty Blue

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Opinions needed last chance to eliminate top heavy k100rs issue
« Reply #11 on: September 11, 2021, 11:11:12 AM »
:) they usually fall onto the right side.

As witnessed by 4 or 5 left mirrors for every right mirror for sale on eBay.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

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