BMW K bikes (Bricks)


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1Back to top Go down   There and back again Empty There and back again Sat Feb 23, 2013 5:16 am

ChrisJF

ChrisJF
active member
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.

There and back again Formic10

There and back again Rhpane10

There and back again Rhpod10


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 Shocked ), 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 :

There and back again Fuz_fz10

There and back again Fuzebl10


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 Feb 23, 2013 5:21 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Grammar. As always)

    

2Back to top Go down   There and back again Empty Re: There and back again Sat Feb 23, 2013 7:40 am

klompy the grey brick

klompy the grey brick
VIP
VIP
very entertaining mate...what you lack in fine motor skills appears you make up for in attention to detail and narrative...keep it coming mate...with pictures please,,,,


__________________________________________________
KKlompy There and back again 2854237993
"Grace" 1984 K100RS Silver VIN 0019026 Mitt eine Staintune Zorst.
"Olivia" 1997 K1100LT Dark Grey VIN WB1052600W0237453.









Chassis number0019026
Vehicle code0503
SeriesK589
ModelK 100 RS 83 (0502 ( 0503 )
Body typeK 100 RS 83 (0502
Catalog modelECE
Production date1984 / 07
Engine0513)

There and back again Au-log10


    

3Back to top Go down   There and back again Empty Re: There and back again Sat Feb 23, 2013 7:54 am

MT350Explorer

MT350Explorer
Life time member
Life time member
Tremendous mate, keep the pictures coming.

Re Ram HT leads - I would stick with OEM, in my view they are better. Ram work fine but are more difficult to get on and off the plugs and more difficult to seat on the plugs properly. The OEM leads have that metal tab for pulling and pushing them on and off. OEM are expensive new but s/h pretty cheap.

I believe Ram shocks are very good

Cheers
Dave


__________________________________________________
1991 K100 RS 16 valve
    

4Back to top Go down   There and back again Empty Re: There and back again Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:48 am

BIG D

BIG D
Life time member
Life time member
Cool

Great stuff Chris keep it coming, those nippy norman junction box's are top quality and not cheap a very professional way in dealing with electrics let us see the finished job.



BIG D

    

5Back to top Go down   There and back again Empty Re: There and back again Sat Feb 23, 2013 9:45 am

MikeP

MikeP
Life time member
Life time member
I always enjoy these threads, it doesn't matter who does the work or how.

I'm a fan of Realm Engineering's shocks. I bought one for my last 75S. I've had Ohlins before and in my opinion, the RAM unit is just as good at a quarter of the price. It will be my first choice if/when I need a replacement for the OE unit on my current bike.

I'm looking forward to the updates. There and back again 112350

    

6Back to top Go down   There and back again Empty Waitin' On A Sunny Day ... Wed Jun 05, 2013 1:25 am

ChrisJF

ChrisJF
active member
active member
There and back again Bike0010

More or less ready to go now - as always, after more costs than I care to think about along the way affraid 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.

The story thus far

Barry Barber (formerly the SPC Motorcycles service manager and now independent as "B-EMS" in Portsmouth ) has done all the refurbishment.


oem parts needing replacement with good quality used/warranted items c/o "James
Sherlock" include :

- a 16V K11 centre/sidestand – this is much better & tougher then the oem version and makes the bike much easier and safer to get on the stand
- calipers stripped, overhauled & new brake pads fitted. The discs themselves are fine.
- replacement oil/water pump & seals
- replacement radiator fan
- replacement driveshaft (the clutch & bevelbox splines &c were checked/lubed along the way, of course - all are in excellent condition)
- replacement rear shock absorber
- all engine breather hoses and injector grommets replaced
- fairing panel screws, grommets and gaskets replaced where needed
- a taller BMW oem touring screen

- later gen-3 panniers with impact protectors


as shown in the posts above the fairing was originally battle-scarred and damaged in places so was professionally repaired and resprayed back its standard/original BMW Toscana Green by Colourtech in Portsmouth for a very reasonable £400 all-in. The fairing mounts and brackets have also been restored/replaced along the way as well.



There and back again Bike0011

    

7Back to top Go down   There and back again Empty Re: There and back again Wed Jun 05, 2013 2:13 am

Rick G

Rick G
admin
admin
Looks great may I say a damn fine motorcycle now we await the first ride report.


__________________________________________________
"Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."   Dalai Lama


Bikes 1999 K1100 LT with a Big Block 1200
    

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