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My BMW, K and R too Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:46 pm
Mattonevolante
active member
Hallo folks,
I was asked some photos of my bike: here they are. Let's begin with my first BMW, a 1985 K100RT I bought second hand in 1988 (or it was 1989 ?). At the time I wanted to buy an RS but was scared by that narrow and low handlebar, so I opted for a more confortable RT. Great bike, I rode it with pleasure for over 10 years, till 2002 when sold it to buy (shame on me !) a Piaggio scooter. It was 90% standard; I just replaced windshield with so-called "confort" type and original passenger's handes with aluminum handles. Great Winter bike I should say, designed for German weather. Its major fault was right that: heat. It was possible to go with just a light jacket on with outer temp between 0° and 5° Celsius (32° - 45° F approx.), yes, but driving in Summer in congested traffic was a pain for my "family jewels" which overheated pretty quickly.
In 2005 I was fed up of riding a silly scooter and got another true motorbike a second hand 1997 R1100 RT ABS, with radio and few other frills. I found radio useless. It's not an original BMW radio, no remote control on handlebar, practically impossible to use while driving. But antenna looks nice.
Though I was happy of RT, K100, particularly RS, was still in my heart. In 2010 it became a "now or never" situation so I began to look around for one in good shape. I was lucky, found this at a reasonable price, right the color I wanted, with full set of panniers, extra instruments, and brought her home without thinking twice. According to VIN she was manufactured in July 1987, odo says less than 40.000 Km (25.000 miles) but they must be many more; some signs suggest me she was repainted, though in a color very near to original one and panniers locks are not right ones: keyholes look inward instead of outward. Tank shows signs of welding in its rear part, where it's covered by seat. Too raw to be a factory welding, perhaps it developed a crack and was re-welded. Of the two additional instruments, water temp and fuel level, first one only works properly, fuel level probe is to be replaced, I guess, but it's rather dear and I can do without. Also, I do not like dark windscreen, prefer clear one, but this too is too dear to be replaced now. Seat cover is not original I think; it's a kind of dark blu suede I don't like much, think next year I'll have seat re-done with a proper black cover.
Last Sunday she was still in these pityful conditions:
I had to put a new clutch cable (it snapped not long ago) and while I was at it, a new air filter. Taking tank off I realized how much original fuel lines were stiff and cracked so I thought better to replace all of them. I was a bit worried about removing that big pipe connecting airbox to plenum but thanks to an articulated wrench it took me less time and efforts than I could imagin. Now I still have to bleed brakes, check brake pads, put new oil and oil filter, then she should be ready for new season. Last time I rode it tacho was behaving erratically so I did some contact cleaning hoping it will do.
That's all for tonight, it's 23:30 in Italy and I go to sleep.
Buonanotte a tutti - goodnight everybody
Giancarlo
I was asked some photos of my bike: here they are. Let's begin with my first BMW, a 1985 K100RT I bought second hand in 1988 (or it was 1989 ?). At the time I wanted to buy an RS but was scared by that narrow and low handlebar, so I opted for a more confortable RT. Great bike, I rode it with pleasure for over 10 years, till 2002 when sold it to buy (shame on me !) a Piaggio scooter. It was 90% standard; I just replaced windshield with so-called "confort" type and original passenger's handes with aluminum handles. Great Winter bike I should say, designed for German weather. Its major fault was right that: heat. It was possible to go with just a light jacket on with outer temp between 0° and 5° Celsius (32° - 45° F approx.), yes, but driving in Summer in congested traffic was a pain for my "family jewels" which overheated pretty quickly.
In 2005 I was fed up of riding a silly scooter and got another true motorbike a second hand 1997 R1100 RT ABS, with radio and few other frills. I found radio useless. It's not an original BMW radio, no remote control on handlebar, practically impossible to use while driving. But antenna looks nice.
Though I was happy of RT, K100, particularly RS, was still in my heart. In 2010 it became a "now or never" situation so I began to look around for one in good shape. I was lucky, found this at a reasonable price, right the color I wanted, with full set of panniers, extra instruments, and brought her home without thinking twice. According to VIN she was manufactured in July 1987, odo says less than 40.000 Km (25.000 miles) but they must be many more; some signs suggest me she was repainted, though in a color very near to original one and panniers locks are not right ones: keyholes look inward instead of outward. Tank shows signs of welding in its rear part, where it's covered by seat. Too raw to be a factory welding, perhaps it developed a crack and was re-welded. Of the two additional instruments, water temp and fuel level, first one only works properly, fuel level probe is to be replaced, I guess, but it's rather dear and I can do without. Also, I do not like dark windscreen, prefer clear one, but this too is too dear to be replaced now. Seat cover is not original I think; it's a kind of dark blu suede I don't like much, think next year I'll have seat re-done with a proper black cover.
Last Sunday she was still in these pityful conditions:
I had to put a new clutch cable (it snapped not long ago) and while I was at it, a new air filter. Taking tank off I realized how much original fuel lines were stiff and cracked so I thought better to replace all of them. I was a bit worried about removing that big pipe connecting airbox to plenum but thanks to an articulated wrench it took me less time and efforts than I could imagin. Now I still have to bleed brakes, check brake pads, put new oil and oil filter, then she should be ready for new season. Last time I rode it tacho was behaving erratically so I did some contact cleaning hoping it will do.
That's all for tonight, it's 23:30 in Italy and I go to sleep.
Buonanotte a tutti - goodnight everybody
Giancarlo
