1 85 K100rs/EML 1st road trip Sat Jul 01, 2023 1:35 am
spat
active member
I picked up an '85 K100RS/EML sidecar rig over the winter. Since have been checking out the rig, this is an EML of Holland build so it's a nice setup and has car rims and upgraded the rubber to Michelin 55595 ZX Radial Tire, 135SR15 these where the hot tires for vintage Porsche sports cars and supposed to be a great tire for this setup, not that it would interest the 2 wheel crowd. Anyway got out for my first road trip with it and wanted to share my observations and K-bike questions that came up from the road. About 2,000 miles total Colorado to Lake Okoboji Iowa USCA national sidecar rally. Ran slab for the 1st half of the day travel partner wanted me to lead to set the pace I wanted learning the bike and continued running hard on the 2 lane to make our 500 mile target for the day. Observation this K does not like running that hard nor do I on it. Had to add a pint + more at the end of the day of coolant. Being a sidecar rig the truck ruts were hard to track in and seemed like a battle. Rest of the trip was easier running 65-70ish staying off the supper slab my preference anyway and a much more pleasant journey but the last 60 miles again slab end of day into Denver. Temps in the high 90s running about 4500 rpm temp light coming on drop it down to 4 grand light goes out kept it down there no problem want to get home I kept playing with the speed, at least it did not boil over this time, not to mention the saddle temp was about unbearable most of the time. Only other problem my steering dampener broke on the way back and I just removed it.
So do you all find the old K bikes a good traveling bike as a solo and the addition of the hack makes it run hotter, not what I was hoping for in a traveling rig but it just flat wore me out. On my Ural I enjoy the ride but can't make the miles and my 2-wheeler also pleasant traveling on. Don't get me wrong it is a fun rig, a bit aggressive and intense to ride and travel on.
To Do: flush and clean coolant system see if that helps now summer is here shouldn't take long to see if it does. I'll do my searches for coolant advise I have heard they run warm and should have already done it but hoping it's not like an oil thread. Fuel running 80ish I dropped to 25 mpg or less, best was 30+ish. subjective but what's a solo bike get?
All in all a good trip and the rig did well so what's not to like.
So do you all find the old K bikes a good traveling bike as a solo and the addition of the hack makes it run hotter, not what I was hoping for in a traveling rig but it just flat wore me out. On my Ural I enjoy the ride but can't make the miles and my 2-wheeler also pleasant traveling on. Don't get me wrong it is a fun rig, a bit aggressive and intense to ride and travel on.
To Do: flush and clean coolant system see if that helps now summer is here shouldn't take long to see if it does. I'll do my searches for coolant advise I have heard they run warm and should have already done it but hoping it's not like an oil thread. Fuel running 80ish I dropped to 25 mpg or less, best was 30+ish. subjective but what's a solo bike get?
All in all a good trip and the rig did well so what's not to like.