Well, bikes and cars are always a labour of love, aren't they.

After MUCH more reading, calling dealers, breakers yards and a couple of mates, it appears the general conclusion is that the splines haven't been regularly lubricated, causing much mischief, and leaving me with a dilemma.

Since I don't even have a garage to work in (all the work so far having been accomplished in the forecourt of my block of units), and as the re-building of the transmission and final drive requires a relatively full set of specialised tools, not to mention a clean working area, I'm going to send these units out for some professional love.

I'm pretty tight on funds, but obviously want the job done right, so can any of you wiser members point me in the direction of an Australian re-builder (preferably somewhere in or around Melbourne), who can do the job right first time?

Cheers, Alex.

good luck .......

After much soul (and bank account) searching, I came to a decision about my baby. There's nothing more I can do...

Now, before you start weeping, take your hands off that box of tissues and read on, through slightly misty eyes.

Having spent so much time putting to rights what was obviously, and not quite as obviously, wrong with the bike, I realised that stopping short of completion really would be an insult to both my own efforts, and to the excellent engineers at BMW who crafted this classic, so I spent most of Wednesday calling about Melbourne lining up potential service centres and finally found someone with a stellar reputation who was prepared to work with me (not try and rape me from the outset), so today I dropped the old girl off at K&R in Cheltenham, VIC (S.E. Melbourne basically), and had a long chat with the owner of the place.

The work list is going to include replacing the clutch, throw out bearings, oil seals and output drive shaft (which was causing that low end knocking noise). He's also going to do a full road worthy inspection, and examine my own efforts for compliance and safety, and issue me with a road worthy certificate in 2-3 weeks. All this for $1000 or slightly less once he's cracked her open.

I'm overjoyed that the diagnosis I came up with, (after much excellent information gleaned on this very same forum), matched his professional assessment and I'm also very the old girl will live again. The $1000 price tag, while making me wince, means I know that my bike will be solid by absolutely every measure.

I've got 2-3 weeks to dig up the cash, so I guess it's off to the eBay to flog off some computers and scuba gear, either that or I'll be renting myself out by the half hour on the nearest busy street corner.

Alex.

Good to see you found someone and the dollars sound about right for a good job.

A good decision there Alex. It would be safe to say that a few of us have lived in places where we couldn't work on our bikes.

...and try and wear something classy when working the street corners. You have an image to uphold! This is one of those times where we don't want to see a photo!

Given the rather damp, and generally uninviting, weather Melbourne's been putting out for the last few days, I've decided to opt out of working street corners, preferring instead to offer my services via webcam from the comfort of my warm living room (or bedroom for a slight increase in fee).

Umm,

GAG!

Good luck with that...

Alexander McCarthy wrote:Given the rather damp, and generally uninviting, weather Melbourne's been putting out for the last few days, I've decided to opt out of working street corners, preferring instead to offer my services via webcam from the comfort of my warm living room (or bedroom for a slight increase in fee).

STREWTH Hope you get the bike fixed soon Alex.


BIG D

...and on that happy note, I'm off to get some rest before my next "performance".

Long weekend, but my webcam efforts netted $3.37 towards the repair bill!

Well folks, after what was an absolute age, I'm very pleased to announce the following:

1) New clutch, T/O bearing installed
2) Water pump re-build kit and upgrade installed
3) Oil level sight glass replaced
4) New output shaft
5) Various new bearings, seals and other bits and bobs installed
6) New fork gaiters installed
7) Fresh fork oil installed
New fork oil seals installed
9) New brake pads installed
10) Re-assembly of all components completed
11) My baby is one step shy of being back on the road!

I'm absolutely chuffed with the way she drives, having taken her on a few short zips around the block, and can't wait to get her booked in at VicRoads for her roadworthy.

Once I've got the legal side of things completed, I'll have her round town for a few short trips before taking the plunge and zipping down the motorway to Torquay for a day out.

This really has been much more of a labour of love than I'd bargained for, and granted she's nowhere near showroom condition (yet), but the results have been outstanding and I'm positive I've brought her back from death's door to live for another 27 years.

Goal line celebration ensues!

Alex.

P.S. My goal is to have about a year of solid daily driving under me on this bike before I break her down completely and fully restore her to better than showroom. I'm laying the ground work for stripping the frame back to bear metal, and having it powder coated, replacing any broken bits of faring and having them all professionally re-sprayed to match the factory paint code, as well as sorting through the rims, drive line and anything else that needs smartening up. Stay tuned for updates and many thanks for all the suggestions and helpful tips over the last months.

Good work Alex another brick revived to live another life.
Looking forward to you comming to Araulen for the get together.

Great work Alex.

These bikes are really too good just to rot away.

How's that Araluen trip plan coming along, boys? I've just got word that there's a job for me in Alice, so I'm moving there at the end of the month. It'll be a helluva ride from there to there...but I've been known to make a long weekend out of a motorbike ride just for the sake of a party. It's a mere 2701 kilometres from The Alice to Araluen, one way! LOL

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=Alice+Springs,+Northern+Territory&daddr=Araluen,+New+South+Wales&hl=en&sll=-27.168444,152.939084&sspn=0.009927,0.01929&geocode=FQ5dlv4dI9v6BykxE4--RBkyKzHQTyUqqBcCBQ%3BFfYa4P0d8vTtCClh5rIKPAsWazGwBUSQtAkGBA&mra=ls&z=5

K Freak wrote:Good work Alex another brick revived to live another life.
Looking forward to you comming to Araulen for the get together.

Hadn't heard anything about this. What dates?

A date hasn't been set yet some of the gang want September but because I have had some surgery on my left wrist I would like late October but keep your ear to the Get together thread and chuck your suggestions in but it will be at Araulen which is between Canberra and the coast..

Now for you TWB 2701k each way is just an easy ride to get together or maybe we could all come to The Alice one day.

now theres a thought kfreak ......it would have to be early spring i guess ......

what the ???? ouch were loosing our parts import contact ....dang !
..i for one will be sad to see you leave mate ...

good luck for however it turns out ....



alex thats fantastic news ....lets hope you get to post a pic for us to see how that progress is happening

cheers

Aw, shucks! Once I've landed and the red dust has settled (and if my back yard's not full of three-cornered jacks or dingoes that eat babies) you blokes are welcome to come out and set up yer tents and have a K bike pic-a-nic-a, drink and camp fest in our sandy back forty.

I'm not gone for a fortnight, there's heaps to do yet, but there's also time for a ride in there somewhere, I'm certain of that.

I'm not averse to a decent ride (just have to earn some time off from the new job) so Araluen's not that far out of my way. Tee hee. Just watch and see.

charlie99 wrote:

alex thats fantastic news ....lets hope you get to post a pic for us to see how that progress is happening

cheers

Pictures being uploaded on Facebook and soon on Picassa Web Albums so stay tuned for links, although, disappointingly, she looks much the same in the external department as most of the major work was either electrical or mechanical.

Hi Alex. Maybe I have missed it in the comments so far but thought I would pass on an experience I had last spring with knocking engines.
I was looking at a K100RS 16v with the idea of buying it. When ticking over it sounded like there was someone inside with a small hammer trying to get out.
Driving it was fine but the knocking put me right off. Sounded expensive.
Found out from the owner later that it had been one of the plug caps not being clipped onto the plug properly and the arcing was making the tapping noise.
Hope its as simple as that.

Roadworthy was issued on Saturday (she passed with flying (brick) colours) and it's off to VicRoads Sunshine at 1415 today to "officially" welcome her back to the land of the living!

yay !!!

That's a good result Alex.Look forward to seeing you in say, Bright next Autumn? or Ballarat.
Cheers RT

RT wrote:That's a good result Alex.Look forward to seeing you in say, Bright next Autumn? or Ballarat.
Cheers RT

Assuming all goes well today, and I've no reason to think it won't, I'll be on the road as much as possible with the old girl from today onwards. I'm already tentatively planning a ride with BMW Vic on the 7th, but would be well up for getting some serious KMs on her if anyone's planning gradually more challenging rides from late August onwards (I'm away on holidays from 8-17 of August and starting a new job on the 21st or thereabouts).

It's official! I'm grinning from ear to ear as my baby is now officially re-born.

I drove her up Ballarat Road from Droop Street in Footscray, where I live, and all the heartaches and wrenched backs and knees faded in to the distance as I wound her up through the gears. The engine is bloody strong, the new clutch is deliciously grabby, both of which mean I'm doing 80 before I know what's going on.

She's got long legs, which is a real delight after decades of riding tiny Asian bikes, and she takes the corners really well. I must say, somewhat to my surprise, the riding position is very comfortable too.

All in all I simply couldn't stop gushing about her at VicRoads, and in turns out one of the chaps behind the counter was a fellow two wheeling enthusiast. Needless to say the rego sailed through, and the old girl and I are falling in love all over again.

Thanks for all the great advice, words of encouragement, and general positive banter, and I'll be looking forward to meeting as many of you as I can on these mysterious rides I see being talked about.

sweet alex .....good to hear ....hey the araluen run isnt far off ..(time wise )

Excellent news Alex. we all know what that feeling is. Find some time to give her a good run, Healsville etc you will love it
RT

I can just imagine it, to Kancoban thru Tom Groggin to Threadbo then Cooma and on to Araluen. Can you hear the road calling coz I can.

The old girl has been brought full circle with the addition of a brand spanking new set of Metzeler tyres and she's finally got her exhaust shield back in place (welded on new captive nuts - et voila!).

I decided the best way to test her out would be with a run down to Cheltenham for the tyres, (installed by the incomparable Phil of K&R), then back across town to meet up with a mate in Point Cook, and from there out to Bacchus Marsh, then back to Point Cook and thence to my domicile in Footscray.

I got her up to 135 and she ran like a dream :-), and she felt excellent and exhilarating on the motorway. She's a beauty in the corners too!

All that said, only two minor niggles 1) The hazard switch died - leaving me permanently indicating left until I removed the pesky bugger 2) The engine cowling is about on its last legs and will soon need to be replaced.

Overall, she's about 95% at the moment, and I'm damn glad I poured so much love in to her now that she's able to return the favour.

bliss !!!!

The cornering is the thing I like most with the BMs. You can confidently push into a corner and if some ripples appear they just go bump bump without any fuss.

Any Japaneese bikes I have owned you usually see the ripples and hang on and tighten the sphimcter muscles to hang onto the seat.

It took me a while to get used to just relaxing when it happened.

The old R80RT was the best of all the bikes I have ever had that thing was as surefooted as a mountain goat. I could just keep pushing it down and the futher down it went the more throttle I gave it and it always behaved inpecably.

K Freak wrote:The cornering is the thing I like most with the BMs. You can confidently push into a corner and if some ripples appear they just go bump bump without any fuss.

Any Japaneese bikes I have owned you usually see the ripples and hang on and tighten the sphimcter muscles to hang onto the seat.

Too right! My last bike was a V45 Magna, and whilst having a brilliant engine, creamy smooth shaft drive, it still wiggled like a bugger over joins in the pavement on the motorway, and much contraction of sphincter muscles over tram lines etc.

I'm really happy I decided to push through to the end with this project!

Ohhhhhhhhhh



Tram lines even thinking about them sends a shiver up the spine.

Since this picture was taken, I've re-installed the exhaust shield, added a set of new tyres, and repaired/re-installed the hazard switch.

Great to see you have made it now all you have to do is come to ther Araluen weekend in October to show it off.

Bike looks great!

OG

yay ......good work alex ....!!!!

K Freak wrote:Great to see you have made it now all you have to do is come to ther Araluen weekend in October to show it off.

Not knowing that part of the world, when and where?

Cheers, Alex.

Up the Hume to Canberra then Birdwood and Araluen is just south of that.

http://k100rt.aforumfree.com/t2485-araluen-trip

birdwood .....? cheep cheep !! braidwood ...gives kfreak a nudge and a giggle

I think I have cabin fever its been pissin rain all day today.

If you decide to come up Alex, I'm thinking about extending my ride a bit, let me know which way you would come I might do a round trip down.
Canberra Dave is heading out Friday to drink all the beer before we can get there.
Cheers RT

RT wrote:If you decide to come up Alex, I'm thinking about extending my ride a bit, let me know which way you would come I might do a round trip down.
Canberra Dave is heading out Friday to drink all the beer before we can get there.
Cheers RT

He all, I'm giving some serious thought to doing this. What's the most scenic/least dangerous route to the meet up from Melbourne?

Cheers, Alex.

P.S. For anyone contemplating the same ride as me, e.g. Melbourne to Aurulen (sp?), feel free to PM me and I'll let you have my contact details so we can colour coordinate, and all that good stuff.

Hi all,

After much financial wrestling, I simply can't fund two bikes so the RS is being sold off.

If you know anyone that's looking for a great bike, please steer them over to my listings. They won't be disappointed, and all money received will go towards bringing another brick back to life.

eBay listing is here:eBay

Bikesales listing can be found by clicking here:bikesales Once there, type SSE-AD-311331 in to the keyword box to find the listing.

YouTube guided tour can be found here:

Cheers, Alex.