Been waiting for this since 100k miles rolled over!


https://imgur.com/a/ycdZ6

Okay, your appreciative audience wants the details!    Have you had your K since new?  What sort of maintenance has she required during those 150K miles?

It wouldn't have been at all possible without you guys and this website.  Seriously.

When I first bought it (at 96k miles), it had no compression on the 1st cylinder.  So me being inexperienced (I'd probably do the same thing now though) just bought a whole new (used) engine from beemer boneyard.  The new engine had something like 30-40k on it, so now it has about 90k on it.  Anyways, I put the new engine it.

The whole thing has been a learning curve.  The original transmission started skipping gears, and being so busy, i just bought a whole new (used) unit from ebay.  They're like $150.  Much more time and cost effective than the learning curve to really fix it.  The new transmission was a dud, started skipping gears pretty quick, so bought another and it's been good ever since (probably 40k miles ago).

I put the k1100 fairing and windshield on there.  Best choice ever.  Added the circuit for the windshield, added heated grips, added stereo.  Added and re-upholstered that corbin seat.  Built that rack on the back of it and the big box to bolt on to it.

Other misc stuff:
-had to replace starter motor when the headlight would stay off when the starter stopped spinning in a certain spot (brush contacts in the starter and such)
-replaced hall sensor.
-many many many many many many many clutch cables.  and throttle cables... so many that I just kept the casing from them and started making my own, cause theyre like $50 USD every time...
-The front forks still don't hold oil and are empty and thus loosey goosey.. something I need to fix.
-replaced the lights in the instruments.
-calibrated speedo to be more exact.
-CLUTCH job / rear main seal + o-ring (this was recent, **clutch story below!**)
-I've done the splines probably 4 times, usually as part of another job
-gear indicator still does not work
-currently need to work on skipping tach + occasional rough acceleration (need to check coils)
-PUT A 3-ROW RADIATOR IN SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT... no more heating up at ALL
-new odyssey battery (thing is awesome and powerful)
-ABS computer issues, usually solved by clearing a fault code, most recently cleaned out a TON of corrosion at the connector and replaced seals
-put in a manual switch for the fan; computer stopped turning on fan
-I'm running out of ideas so that must be all the major stuff

**CLUTCH STORY**
Long story short, I was riding on a slipping clutch for probably 8-10k miles.  Yes, I know, not so smart.  It, of course, kept getting worse and worse.  I eventually had to red-line rev it just to leave from a stop, especially up any sort of hill.  Lane splitting was just out of the question at this point.  I could still maintain 65-75 on the freeways, 80 would make the clutch slip.

Well finally one day, late at night, I'm starting out from a red light on a slight up hill.  Revving the crap out of it.  I hear what can only be described as a "POOFBANG!"  These are technical terms, mind you.  Suddenly I had full connection of power, for about 5 seconds.  Then there was no power transfer at all.  I knew for a fact that the clutch had simply exploded.  I don't know how I knew, cause how the hell does a clutch just explode?!  I just knew.  So I had to push it a few blocks home, the last of which is a *steep* uphill.  Oh man, I thought my heart was next to go.  I made it home and lied flat in the driveway for about 30min, just looking at the stars, trying not to die.  The last and only time I pushed a bike that far was my only-400-pound 1968 BSA.

Fast forward to clutch job time... I get the transmission out.  All of the clutch friction material was just everywhere.  None left on the plate itself.  The metal plates were all bumpy and now scrap metal.  Luckily I had the old broken engine with the metal plates in it, and a new (brand new) clutch friction plate.  Cleaned it all out, replaced rear main seal, put it all back together, and it's been great ever since.

Just a little user retardation, don't mind me!


Anyways, all that stuff put aside.  I've learned SO much in this journey, a lot of it thanks to you all.  I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Yay! 150k Miles great to see, Hope we see the next biggie too mate

great  story ....thanks for sharing

keep at it rabid ....many more glorious miles to come mate

Great clutch story rabid .... even tho there were a few technical terms there I had to look up.

My old girl turned 150K km on the morning of our Northern Tablelands Ride last November. She then ticked over 160K km on the morning of our Snowy Mountains Ride just last month (Feb).

She has more than proved herself a capable machine over the past 2 years I've owned her and will be retiring her for a short while this year to do rear main seal, clutch and gearbox and some much needed beautification.

Cheers