So... I was on the eBay about a week ago, with a Tulimore Dew in hand, and I found a posting for a 1985 BMW K100RT.  There was no reserve and no bids.  As I sometimes do, I thought it would be a good idea to put an opening bid on it, knowing full well that someone would out bid me before the close of auction.  Needless to say, that didn't happen, so I'm now the proud new owner of an old piece of junk motorcycle (No, really, It was listed as a parts bike). They guy said it has a good frame and motor.  In a way, it's a dream come true.

The bike will need a lot of work.  It currently doesn't have a tank or seat.  I am planning to do a cafe or bobber type mod to it, crafting the tank and seat as needed, and trading the "unnecessary" parts as needed.  I've come to this forum for the technical support I am bound to need.

My other project is a 1977 Honda CB750F (about 75% done).

Regards,
Dale

Excellent choice from the home of Tullamore Dew.......you will need plenty of it. Joking, you will find all the information and advice you need right here and don't be afraid to ask any questions no matter how trivial they may seem. To the unknowing Ks can appear complicated but to the knowing they are in many ways incredibly straightforward even if BMW did some daft design stuff.

I am sure didn't 'accidentally' buy a K, maybe aKKsidentally you did.

No doubt you will enjoy the challenge and be ready for your next K when Kpox sets in.

Given the year of yours important to pop up the VIN number as there were significant changes in 85 and not all parts are interchangeable between pre and post 85. A clue will be if your speedo shows two fuel warning lights, orange with 7L in it and red with 4L in it.


As for the Tullamore Dew....one time years back at a neighbours house he brought out some black rum. Leaving about 2am with another of his neighbours went back to that neighbours house where he too had rum. About 4am went home having bought the second neighbour's piano for recently born my eldest daughter. Yep, was a great purchase. There was no internet back then. Fortunately.

Welcome!  I recall seeing that bike and thinking that it was a shame(or maybe a good thing) that opportunities like that hardly ever show up around here.

Good luck with it.  It looked like a good prospect for a restoration.  Should be a lot of fun.  It's hard to beat the rush you get when one of those old bikes coughs and then comes to life.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I can't give any specifics right now as I don't have the bike, yet.  I'll be picking it up this Sunday.  These are "the big picture" pictures from the eBay listing.





In regards to fuel warning lights


And a question.
Are Bremebo Breaks stock?



On another note, I plan to fabricate a tank for this bike but it would be nice to have all the mounting geometry correct so If anybody has a scrap tank, or part of one, that will fit this bike but isn't usable in it's current condition laying around, I'd be interested in getting my hands on it.

Save

Looking at the photos your RT is the earlier one with the bolt down tank.

There are wiring differences. But let us know your plans.

Some of the parts you are taking off are in demand, like the belly pan under the engine and its mountings.

The Brembo brakes are standard and same as some of the Moto Guzzis and BMW boxers. Odds on the calipers will need stripping/cleaning and also the master cylinders needing new seal kits.

The dash pad with the switches is mounted opposite way around to any I have seen.

You should be able to source a tank, they develop leaks due to corrosion inside the tank but you could separate the bottom and weld on a new shape top. The normal tank on yours bolts down in the centre of the bar between the plastic boxes. If you get an early tank then you won't have wiring or mounting changes to deal with.

The light angles suggest the front wheel is a later one, the rear shows a slight concave while the front does not and this was a small change over the life of the Ks but interchangeable. I recently bought a good condition rear wheel to save the cost of painting the one I have.

Yup - the dashpad's been mounted the 'wrong way round'. That means that the handlebar risers have been out at least once and been put back 'the wrong way round' (or just rotated through 180 degrees). Yer pays yer money... don't think it really makes much difference.

Don't just put on a tank and fire it up. Go through things on the forum first and it may save you some grief. At the moment you are missing the fuel pump and filter and all the stuff inside the fuel tank.


Now one thing. Cable ties. Blue ones???????????

That's the one I saw last week.  Glad that someone around here got it.  Judging from the corrosion it was close to the ocean.  Probably had the tank corrode out.  Panels don't look too bad, but unfortunately RT fairings are kinda out of fashion right now.

I am going to guess that the master cylinders are junk from corrosion.  Fortunately, the rear can be replaced easily with a $6 Chinese unit.  Did it on one of my bikes and it works great!. 

Anyway, I think you got a decent deal on a good project bike.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:Now one thing. Cable ties. Blue ones???????????

Don't judge me, yet.  I haven't gotten my hands on the bike yet.

I'll be working my way through the bike in a pretty thorough manner.  My other project was stripped down to the frame and I am diligently building it back up.  Rebuilding each sub system as required (replacing bearing, seals, fork oil, cables, and lines) and I'll likely do the same with this one.  "The Plan" as much as there is one, is to fully customize the bike, keeping the engine, trans, drive shaft, and most of the frame but beyond that, I'm not sure.  The wiring will probably be completely replaced with a Motogadget M-Unit (fell in love with it during the other build).  Seat will probably be fully custom.  I would like to use the base of an old tank as Olaf suggested, if I can find one.  In any case, I won't be firing anything up without a through go through.

Regards,
Dale

There is a ton of info on this forum. One of the things we have previously discussed is the standard tanks do not look great on a cafe racer. There is information on using external fuel pumps, which would allow the use of an alternative tank. I would be thinking about that if I was doing a cafe. ( If I could get a cheapie off ebay, I would be)

I have the VIN



Now to start dreaming.

External fuel pumps are definitely in the scope of this project.  First things first, I need to get all the plastic off the bike and see what's left.  Thanks again for all the advice and the warm welcome.

The key digits of your VIN are 0051076