1 new member introduction Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:18 pm
okr
active member
Bought my first k-bike ever and first road bike ever a few weeks back. I have a lifetime of off-road experience but have never
ridden on the street. I've wanted an R or a K since I was a kid and finally decided to stop waiting and squeeze the trigger.
I picked up a 1991 K100 RS 16v off craiglsist from a guy who, by strange coincidence, lives down the street from me. It's a bit of a
fixer-upper cosmetically, but appears solid mechanically. He was a shorter guy and found that the bike forced him into a hunched over
posture that he found uncomfortable on long rides. He bought a harley that fit him better because of the more upright riding posture, and the k-bike just sat for ~2 years. He wanted to send it off to a good home, and I'de say he has. It's got the usual bumps and scratches you'de expect from a bike that's been sitting in a garage more than it's been ridden. Took the fairings off
and haven't found any evidence on the frame/radiator/engine case/exhaust that the bike's ever been downed, although the fairings are a little beat up, cosmetically, but intact.
The bike's got 2 years worth of dust and dirt all over it. It was time for it to go to someone who would take care of it
The fork seals are shot, and I have new ones on the way. The K bike is going to replace a 1968 vw I have been driving and working on myself for 25 years. Told myself I would sell that car after 20 years but just couldn't see a good reason to part with it. I'm solidly middle aged now and can't see any reason to put off owning a bike for another 20 years. Only got so much sand in the hourglass of life.. don't want to wait another 20 when there will be even less sand.. I'm looking forward to learning about K's and how to maintain them. I intentionally picked one that needed a little work in order to learn. This K lived for a long time near the ocean and barnacle type corrosion in the alloy parts is the most prevalent cosmetic blemish on the bike. I live near the ocean but will garage the bike in the space vacated by my vw. I'm expecting 25 years of vw maintenance skills will transfer over to bikes. I love the elegance and simplicity and ingenuity I see in the deisgn of old VW's and am already beginning to appreciate it
up close in the K's.
I picked this forum out of many I see online because it seems to be specifically oriented towards the K and not R's, RS's etc. While I like those bikes too, I own a K now. After anonymously trolling it seems like this forum is frequented by a group of guys
who are like-minded and work on their K's. I don't like forums where people just talk about their bikes, or argue over tires and
motor oil. I want hands on knowledge and experience in the crowd I choose to run with.
I plan to ride my K for business and pleasure.. I hope to get it to the point where it's a reliable commuter during the week and a dependable ride for getaways on the weekends. Parking for cars is very tight where I work, so a motorcycle makes a certain sense. It's also nice to commute on something that gets better mpg than a car.
44,xxx on the odometer. I'm assuming those miles are original. I am the 4th owner the bike has had. I have ownership but no
maintenance records going back 2 owners. The paper trail stops at the last independent dealer who sold it back in 2000. Not too concerned about it. I am quite experienced with keeping old things running and have the tools. Fixed my own cars and other
machines all my life anyway.
Looking forward to an interesting forum and lots of good miles ahead. I'll be trolling the for sale board in the future for some
little odds and ends that need replacing on the bike. Also plan to repaint it. It's dark metallic gray (or is that black?) and I'de
like to return the thing to a shiny pretty version of its original color.
I hail from and live in northern San Diego county in southern California
ridden on the street. I've wanted an R or a K since I was a kid and finally decided to stop waiting and squeeze the trigger.
I picked up a 1991 K100 RS 16v off craiglsist from a guy who, by strange coincidence, lives down the street from me. It's a bit of a
fixer-upper cosmetically, but appears solid mechanically. He was a shorter guy and found that the bike forced him into a hunched over
posture that he found uncomfortable on long rides. He bought a harley that fit him better because of the more upright riding posture, and the k-bike just sat for ~2 years. He wanted to send it off to a good home, and I'de say he has. It's got the usual bumps and scratches you'de expect from a bike that's been sitting in a garage more than it's been ridden. Took the fairings off
and haven't found any evidence on the frame/radiator/engine case/exhaust that the bike's ever been downed, although the fairings are a little beat up, cosmetically, but intact.
The bike's got 2 years worth of dust and dirt all over it. It was time for it to go to someone who would take care of it
The fork seals are shot, and I have new ones on the way. The K bike is going to replace a 1968 vw I have been driving and working on myself for 25 years. Told myself I would sell that car after 20 years but just couldn't see a good reason to part with it. I'm solidly middle aged now and can't see any reason to put off owning a bike for another 20 years. Only got so much sand in the hourglass of life.. don't want to wait another 20 when there will be even less sand.. I'm looking forward to learning about K's and how to maintain them. I intentionally picked one that needed a little work in order to learn. This K lived for a long time near the ocean and barnacle type corrosion in the alloy parts is the most prevalent cosmetic blemish on the bike. I live near the ocean but will garage the bike in the space vacated by my vw. I'm expecting 25 years of vw maintenance skills will transfer over to bikes. I love the elegance and simplicity and ingenuity I see in the deisgn of old VW's and am already beginning to appreciate it
up close in the K's.
I picked this forum out of many I see online because it seems to be specifically oriented towards the K and not R's, RS's etc. While I like those bikes too, I own a K now. After anonymously trolling it seems like this forum is frequented by a group of guys
who are like-minded and work on their K's. I don't like forums where people just talk about their bikes, or argue over tires and
motor oil. I want hands on knowledge and experience in the crowd I choose to run with.
I plan to ride my K for business and pleasure.. I hope to get it to the point where it's a reliable commuter during the week and a dependable ride for getaways on the weekends. Parking for cars is very tight where I work, so a motorcycle makes a certain sense. It's also nice to commute on something that gets better mpg than a car.
44,xxx on the odometer. I'm assuming those miles are original. I am the 4th owner the bike has had. I have ownership but no
maintenance records going back 2 owners. The paper trail stops at the last independent dealer who sold it back in 2000. Not too concerned about it. I am quite experienced with keeping old things running and have the tools. Fixed my own cars and other
machines all my life anyway.
Looking forward to an interesting forum and lots of good miles ahead. I'll be trolling the for sale board in the future for some
little odds and ends that need replacing on the bike. Also plan to repaint it. It's dark metallic gray (or is that black?) and I'de
like to return the thing to a shiny pretty version of its original color.
I hail from and live in northern San Diego county in southern California