1
There and back again Sat 23 Feb 2013, 01:16
ChrisJF
active member
The restoration and refurbishment has commenced.
I'm hesitant to post here in the company of those who show incredible skills and ingenuity in restoring their K's. At the outset may I remind everyone that I have to kept away from sharp objects, I *always* manage to mess up the "measure-it-twice-and-cut-only once" premise and someone had me in mind when they coined the phrase "buy-in-haste-and-repent-at-leisure". :pale:
Consequently I call upon Barry, a long-suffering friend and time-served BMW Motorrad technician who has now gone fully independent, to the extent of setting up a motorcycle service and MOT centre in Portsmouth. southern England. Details provided on request - he's still in the throes of setting up.
My '89 K100LT is basically sound but needs tidying - cracks here and there in the fairing, the (in)famous oil/water pump leak, a peculiar-looking rear shock absorber (photos to follow - the bike is currently with Barry and likely to be so for a while), a dodgy centre stand and a radio pocket that has been "DIY-ed" - radio removed and a rough-cut formica cover sitting on a plywood glued-in subframe, no less, to open up extra storage ..
So :
(1) The oe radio, wiring and code is available and intact - without the mounting cage but eBay came to the rescue here and I have a "spare" LH fairing pocket and radio lid left over from earlier times. A new lid lock from MotorWorks ( how much
), a strategically drilled and grommetted - is that a word? - hole in the pocket and we should be back in business. The only cloud on the horizon is that UK appears to have fallen in love with the "DAB" radio system and nationwide conversion is imminent. There are ways and means around the issue ranging from fitting entirely new radios - the K's radio mounting cage is DIN-sized so in theory not a problem - to add-on accessory units that "piggy-back" DAB radio transmissions onto unused FM frequencies on the original radio.
(2) The suspect mechanical bits can be sorted - good used parts with warranty from the usual UK supects (MotorWorks, MotoBins and James Sherlock - there are still some advantages to living in the UK). I'll have the centrestand replaced with the K16V version, of course, along with the oil/water pump assembly. The Realm Engineering RAM shock absorber and while Barry's at it their progressive fork springs will appear at some point - maybe their plug leads as well if thought appropriate by The Man.
(3) A specialist m/c bodyshop has opened up in Portsmouth - one I've never heard of before and only a mile or so from Barry's workshop. Tentative enquiries have establshed that if you can remove the panels and have them delivered/collected they will repair, refurbish and respray the K's fairing for an estimated £300 - i.e. well under half the going rate by others at present. It seems to good to be true so I've bitten and will report back later
(4) Although the bike has a service history it appears to have stood unused for a long time so Barry will service, assess and replace what's needed on a pragmatic basis : do it once, properly and it should last indefinitely. Things like oil seals, spline lubes, brakes, hoses and cylinders, the clutch and bearings amongst others will be examined closely. Yes its a probable money pit - whatever you pay for a 25-year-old machine you usually end up spending twice as much extra on getting it back to anything resembling acceptable condition, so its something you need to go into with eyes wide open. Nature loves an optimist, after all. Usually for dinner.
As I'm built for comfort rather than speed the LT family of K-bikes tends to suit. I also like my gadgets and trinkets so the K will also get
(a) An Autocom
(b) A Zumo 660 GPS
(c) A Fuzeblock accessory fusepanel
(d) The headlight relay modification
(e) additional LED driving lights
all of which are lying around/left over from earlier days
and - eventually -
(f) a custom-built seat as the finishing touch
Perhaps the FuzeBlock accessory fusepanel needs some introduction. Basically its this :
Normally to have switched and constant power, for your motorcycle accessories, requires two fuze blocks. One is wired directly to the battery for constant power and the second fuse block is wired through a relay battery for switched power. The FZ eliminates the need to wire two seperate fuse blocks by providing both types of power in one unit. It reduces the wiring by more than half and allows you to select what type of power you want for each output. The FZ is easier to install, reduces the amount of wiring time required and does it in a neat little package measuring: L 3.25" x W 2.5" x H 1.25".
Consequently it is easy to install, fits into a small space and has a built in relay which offers the choice for any device to be switched on and off automatically with the ignition or to have constant power from the battery. The FZ nstallation requires no crimping and all connections are made by heavy duty screw terminals that can accomodate up to 12 AWG wiring. All the FZ needs is +12VDC, ground and an ignition- switched supply to make it fully functional. Then connect devices to the FZ selecting constant or switched power for each device. The unique board layout provides six individually fused circuits that can each supply constant or switched power depending on your needs, up to a total of 30A.
I got mine some years back from "Nippy Norman" here in the UK : http://www.nippynormans.com/products/fuse-panels-exclusive/item/fuzeblock-switchable-fuse-panel-fuz-fz1 : and its been fitted to a variety of bikes since. Perhaps its most useful on today's CAN-BUS motorcycles as they are notoriously temperamental when it comes to fitting aftermarket electrics - the ignition-live feed can usefully be taken from the bike's sidelight connector. Either way, it works and makes life simple. Recommended.
I'm hesitant to post here in the company of those who show incredible skills and ingenuity in restoring their K's. At the outset may I remind everyone that I have to kept away from sharp objects, I *always* manage to mess up the "measure-it-twice-and-cut-only once" premise and someone had me in mind when they coined the phrase "buy-in-haste-and-repent-at-leisure". :pale:
Consequently I call upon Barry, a long-suffering friend and time-served BMW Motorrad technician who has now gone fully independent, to the extent of setting up a motorcycle service and MOT centre in Portsmouth. southern England. Details provided on request - he's still in the throes of setting up.
My '89 K100LT is basically sound but needs tidying - cracks here and there in the fairing, the (in)famous oil/water pump leak, a peculiar-looking rear shock absorber (photos to follow - the bike is currently with Barry and likely to be so for a while), a dodgy centre stand and a radio pocket that has been "DIY-ed" - radio removed and a rough-cut formica cover sitting on a plywood glued-in subframe, no less, to open up extra storage ..
So :
(1) The oe radio, wiring and code is available and intact - without the mounting cage but eBay came to the rescue here and I have a "spare" LH fairing pocket and radio lid left over from earlier times. A new lid lock from MotorWorks ( how much
), a strategically drilled and grommetted - is that a word? - hole in the pocket and we should be back in business. The only cloud on the horizon is that UK appears to have fallen in love with the "DAB" radio system and nationwide conversion is imminent. There are ways and means around the issue ranging from fitting entirely new radios - the K's radio mounting cage is DIN-sized so in theory not a problem - to add-on accessory units that "piggy-back" DAB radio transmissions onto unused FM frequencies on the original radio.(2) The suspect mechanical bits can be sorted - good used parts with warranty from the usual UK supects (MotorWorks, MotoBins and James Sherlock - there are still some advantages to living in the UK). I'll have the centrestand replaced with the K16V version, of course, along with the oil/water pump assembly. The Realm Engineering RAM shock absorber and while Barry's at it their progressive fork springs will appear at some point - maybe their plug leads as well if thought appropriate by The Man.
(3) A specialist m/c bodyshop has opened up in Portsmouth - one I've never heard of before and only a mile or so from Barry's workshop. Tentative enquiries have establshed that if you can remove the panels and have them delivered/collected they will repair, refurbish and respray the K's fairing for an estimated £300 - i.e. well under half the going rate by others at present. It seems to good to be true so I've bitten and will report back later
(4) Although the bike has a service history it appears to have stood unused for a long time so Barry will service, assess and replace what's needed on a pragmatic basis : do it once, properly and it should last indefinitely. Things like oil seals, spline lubes, brakes, hoses and cylinders, the clutch and bearings amongst others will be examined closely. Yes its a probable money pit - whatever you pay for a 25-year-old machine you usually end up spending twice as much extra on getting it back to anything resembling acceptable condition, so its something you need to go into with eyes wide open. Nature loves an optimist, after all. Usually for dinner.
As I'm built for comfort rather than speed the LT family of K-bikes tends to suit. I also like my gadgets and trinkets so the K will also get
(a) An Autocom
(b) A Zumo 660 GPS
(c) A Fuzeblock accessory fusepanel
(d) The headlight relay modification
(e) additional LED driving lights
all of which are lying around/left over from earlier days
and - eventually -
(f) a custom-built seat as the finishing touch
Perhaps the FuzeBlock accessory fusepanel needs some introduction. Basically its this :
Normally to have switched and constant power, for your motorcycle accessories, requires two fuze blocks. One is wired directly to the battery for constant power and the second fuse block is wired through a relay battery for switched power. The FZ eliminates the need to wire two seperate fuse blocks by providing both types of power in one unit. It reduces the wiring by more than half and allows you to select what type of power you want for each output. The FZ is easier to install, reduces the amount of wiring time required and does it in a neat little package measuring: L 3.25" x W 2.5" x H 1.25".
Consequently it is easy to install, fits into a small space and has a built in relay which offers the choice for any device to be switched on and off automatically with the ignition or to have constant power from the battery. The FZ nstallation requires no crimping and all connections are made by heavy duty screw terminals that can accomodate up to 12 AWG wiring. All the FZ needs is +12VDC, ground and an ignition- switched supply to make it fully functional. Then connect devices to the FZ selecting constant or switched power for each device. The unique board layout provides six individually fused circuits that can each supply constant or switched power depending on your needs, up to a total of 30A.
I got mine some years back from "Nippy Norman" here in the UK : http://www.nippynormans.com/products/fuse-panels-exclusive/item/fuzeblock-switchable-fuse-panel-fuz-fz1 : and its been fitted to a variety of bikes since. Perhaps its most useful on today's CAN-BUS motorcycles as they are notoriously temperamental when it comes to fitting aftermarket electrics - the ignition-live feed can usefully be taken from the bike's sidelight connector. Either way, it works and makes life simple. Recommended.
Last edited by ChrisJF on Sat 23 Feb 2013, 01:21; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Grammar. As always)
and testing the patience of family and what friends I have left, it has emerged into the Great British Summer, blinking and yawning. Rather like me as I've spent more time than I would prefer in hospital - chronic kidney disease if you must know.
