Hi,

Pierre Broberg here, Swede with the bike-collecting gene and tech-interest to accompany it.

I currently have a Ducati 900SSie from 2001, almost stock but with a custom pearl white paint job done by the PO.


My first modified bike is the Yamaha XJ550 from 1982 clothed in a café-styled suit (built 2013).


I also have a Long term project in form of a 1984 GPz900R that is getting a race-suit with a slightly modified engine.
And of course my gravel-flicking Suzuki DR650RE from 1994, bone stock at the moment but have a new pumper-carb ready for it.


Anyhow, I have a K100RS 1990 on the line that I'm going to take a look at in a couple of weeks, so Here I am.
The plan for the K100 is to have a bike that is reliable and will be nice on longer trips.

The fairings are however not that nice so my plan is to make it like the K100/2, practically a naked tourer, if there is such a thing

Have a nice week!

Welcome to the forum. That's a nice collection you have.

But, for touring, are you sure you want it naked? But yes, there are plenty of naked K100 bikes used as tourers, but depends on the climate. The 100 is great for longer trips.

You already have the bike collecting gene, that will soon become Kpox!

If you start a new thread for your K100RS you will get plenty of help and advice. Don't be afraid to ask questions, someone always has an answer. Put up some photos too.

Welcome!

I too believe you would be better off with some form of fairing if you intend to tour....

Well yes, not touring, but a bike that that I can ride longer than 150km without dying of either arsepain, backpain or lost vision due to vibration

broberg wrote:Well yes, not touring, but a bike that that I can ride longer than 150km without dying of either arsepain, backpain or lost vision due to vibration

150km? That's only the distance to the supermarket.

Hi Pierre. WelKome to the forum.
Same story with my 89RT. Fairing/brackets eventually disintegrated. I enjoyed riding faired but much prefer the naked style. She now has RS bars but looking at flat bars soon.
You should be able to do much more than 150klm before any arsepain  Mine has the comfort seat but even so I regularly do 8 or 9 hour trips with a couple of half hour stops (7,000klm over the past 8 weeks). Arsepain usually kicks in after around 5 or 6 hours.
There are some links on the Portal tab that are essential reading and the forum search bar is very useful.
Enjoy the ride.

The Comfort Seat that KH mentions is awesome for....comfort!

Haha, yeah 150km is about as far I can ride non stop on the suzuki due to vibrations, the ducati ss due to the extreme riding position (unless i constantly hold a speed that pushes me in a more upright position ..) The cafe XJ is comfortable up to 200km then the narrow seat gives me some arsepain, and yes that is my fault, built it myself. So.

Don't get me wrong, I love all my bikes when used properly. The Ducati on track or track-like roads, the Suzuki on gravel and bigger trails, the Yamaha on shorter trips and small curvy roads!

So a semi-comfy seat, inline 4 with minimal vibrations issues and my "touring" distances at 300-500km per sitting I think I'll manage without the screen. But if I don't I can always put one on

I think 300-500km with no fairing or screen will be a struggle. Before you take it all off try one of those longer trips, with a comfort seat.........I don't think you will; regret it.

Hi
welcome to the forum

Enjoy the ride.

P

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:I think 300-500km with no fairing or screen will be a struggle. Before you take it all off try one of those longer trips, with a comfort seat.........I don't think you will; regret it.

When I eventually removed my fairing I have to admit it was a bit of a struggle to cope with the wind at anything over 80kph but that was with RT bars. With RS bars you are more prone and I find it quite acceptable particularly for short trips and commuting but I think flat bars will be more comfortable for longer treks. The change is quite dramatic initially but you soon get used to it

There are so many things that determine a rider's comfort... size and fitness, seat padding, style and height, bar height and position, fairing and windshield (or not). If you are going to change things around a bit or do a custom, you just got to spend a little time to set her up right. There are a few conversations here about that.

KH jogged my memory to times past when I did do lots of touring on a naked bike and yes I remember on of the first things fitted was flat bars which made a fantastic difference to comfort with a very good wider position/wind balance.

But the set up didn't last too long simply because it didn't offer weather protection in our climate but in somewhere with 15-25c temperatures and dry I would think it would be awesome. Above 25c and dry then probably essential for a K.

I experimented a lot with the angle of the levers, as in what position your hand comes o rest on the clutch and front brake, no reaching to them but instead positioned as finger rests ready to use if needed.