Hi, my name is Andy and I have just bought a K100RT to go with my old R1150RT. Two bikes that are at the same time similar and different.
I have been looking for a bike with more passenger legroom and found a nice 1986 K100RT on eBay that I bought for £1250. The bike is in great condition for its age and has only got 16800 miles on the clock. There are obviously a couple of minor issues, the paint on the fork legs, the seat vinyl is cracked and there is some rust on the silencer. There is also an electrical gremlin or two to sort out, but as an electronic engineer I should be able to sort them out.
I have fitted a new battery - a type 895 30Ah 310CCA lawnmower battery that cost £40 - I did have to shorten the -VE post a little, but it is a good fit apart form that. I have given the bike a service and there are new tyres on the way as the old ones are hard and have cracks in the sidewalls. The bike has spent the past two years in a garage due to the previous owner having an injury that prevented his riding.

Here is a picture of my two RTs



As I live in the UK, I am lucky enough to be able to ride year-round, but I admit that as my age progresses, I am getting more picky about the winter months...
I take part in a UK event called the "Round Britain Rally". This runs from April to October and is a photographic-touring event - each year we get a list of around 90 clues to "landmarks" which are spread across the whole of the UK, with at least one in each county of mainland Britain. We have to locate them, ride to them and photograph the bike at the landmark - keeping the locations secret until after the end of the rally. We can do all of the landmarks, or just one if we wish - each one scores points, and awards are given based on the number of points you score. I usually do about half of them, though I have twice completed an "All-Rounder", covering about 8000 miles over the year doing so.
I do all my own routine maintenance and only take jobs to the dealer when I am truly stumped.
I am also an administrator at www.bmwsporttouring.com and tend to spend too-much time online
Andy

Hi Andy and welcome to the K100 forum.
Only 168000 miles - it's hardly run in.

Welcome Andy, nice looking bike.
Is that some sort of shield covering the front of the waterpump etc?
Al

nice one andy ....welcome to the forum

hope you have fun on the "k" bike ....paint and stuff (read ageing rubber) are really age related issues and should be no issue , if you are aware .

good to have you onboard and another "k" saved from the yard

cheers !

Hi Andy welcome to the Knuthaus

AL-58 wrote:
Is that some sort of shield covering the front of the waterpump etc?
Al

It is a plastic cover that has been cut to fit at the head end, so is obviously an adaptation by one of the two previous owners. There are no markings to identify it's source, but as it tidies up the visuals and helps keep muck of the front of the engine, I will keep it in place.


Andy

Welcome to the madhouse, Andy.
Feel at home, you're among likeminded.

Welcome Andy - Interesting that you went for the RT with the R bike - I always assumed one bike in this class would be enough, horses for courses I guess. No one on the forum will be rushing to teach their granny to suck egs but that said there are people on here with invaluable K experience. Enjoy the forum.

88

88KE wrote:Welcome Andy - Interesting that you went for the RT with the R bike - I always assumed one bike in this class would be enough, horses for courses I guess.
88

I can understand the legroom issue, the K is definitely roomier. When the R1100RT was a fairly new beast I had some rally mates swap(upgrade?) from the R1100RS to the R1100RT. Their pillions were not happy about the new bike at all, the RS had much more legroom for the passenger, where the RT is not that spacious.

Al

welcome Andy ,just add nuts and you will fit in well here, in the Knuthaus.
a nice combination you have there,
the early K's have such great agility for a tourer,you should enjoy the new bike.

Welcome to the site Andy - looks like a good deal you picked up there - will be interested to follow your progress with it

Hi Andy and welcome. I spotted that one its a really nice K so enjoy it. YT think you will find this website is more than just about the K, its a way of life.
92KK

Hi Andy, welcome mate, sounds like you are really into the BMs. Got a good buy there, though the mileage may be sus looking at the fork paint, but you Uk guys put up with deicing chemicals in winter which could cause more rapid corrosion issues. I was in the UK Ireland and Europe last year touring on a 97 R1100RT, fantastic loved the TT and all the bike enthusiasm there. Get down sometime for a tour, we've looked at a ksurfing idea on this forum. Took my bike for a spin up to Levin in the Horowhenua today with my other half on the pillion of the K100RT, lovely bikes alright. Take care and enjoy this forum. Oh its still sunny and 19C here, can't whack a bit of global warming.
Rick

Hi Rick,
the bike came with a lot of history - going back to 2004 at which time it had 14,500 miles on the odo. The footrest rubbers and bar grips have some wear, but not a lot. The paperwork I got had also some history on the previous owner's other bike - a now totalled F650 - which showed he did many more miles on the 650, keeping the K100RT for occasional tours.
The main thing is the running gear is in good order, I can find no rust on the frame or stands.
The mileage may be out - the PO told me he has had to change the speedo pickup several times - but the overall condition suggests that it is not way out of whack.


Andy

check the wear on the outer edge of the foot brake pedal. At 100,000 miles, the tread will be all but worn away from the outer part of the aluminum

ibjman wrote:check the wear on the outer edge of the foot brake pedal. At 100,000 miles, the tread will be all but worn away from the outer part of the aluminum

or as it's a UK bike, bathed in salt solution every winter it could look like this!



Welcome to the forum!

Cheers
Dave

that's amazing, Dave

It is isn't it Ibjam? There's a thread about the condition somewhere - I am not the only one!

yeah the alloy powders up like on outboards not washed down after every use. Thought of a hose across the driveway with mega holes spraying up a small height to reach under bike, tap on, idle over it, hmm probable not as good as a grovel down with a hose and brush.

Boffin wrote:Hi, my name is Andy and I have just bought a K100RT to go with my old R1150RT. Two bikes that are at the same time similar and different.
I have been looking for a bike with more passenger legroom and found a nice 1986 K100RT on eBay that I bought for £1250. The bike is in great condition for its age and has only got 16800 miles on the clock. There are obviously a couple of minor issues, the paint on the fork legs, the seat vinyl is cracked and there is some rust on the silencer. There is also an electrical gremlin or two to sort out, but as an electronic engineer I should be able to sort them out.
I have fitted a new battery - a type 895 30Ah 310CCA lawnmower battery that cost £40 - I did have to shorten the -VE post a little, but it is a good fit apart form that. I have given the bike a service and there are new tyres on the way as the old ones are hard and have cracks in the sidewalls. The bike has spent the past two years in a garage due to the previous owner having an injury that prevented his riding.

Here is a picture of my two RTs



As I live in the UK, I am lucky enough to be able to ride year-round, but I admit that as my age progresses, I am getting more picky about the winter months...
I take part in a UK event called the "Round Britain Rally". This runs from April to October and is a photographic-touring event - each year we get a list of around 90 clues to "landmarks" which are spread across the whole of the UK, with at least one in each county of mainland Britain. We have to locate them, ride to them and photograph the bike at the landmark - keeping the locations secret until after the end of the rally. We can do all of the landmarks, or just one if we wish - each one scores points, and awards are given based on the number of points you score. I usually do about half of them, though I have twice completed an "All-Rounder", covering about 8000 miles over the year doing so.
I do all my own routine maintenance and only take jobs to the dealer when I am truly stumped.
I am also an administrator at www.bmwsporttouring.com and tend to spend too-much time online
Andy

I love this photo.....2 lovely bikes looking tip top.........the lawnmower battery in one of them......and the grass growing wild and even up through the paving slabs......

A man with his priorities right and life as it should be!!!!!

Great to have you with us, look forward to your input.
Regards,
K-BIKE