I have rather scarily just clicked 'Buy It Now' on a 1991 K100LT ex-Police bike.  

I am a 56 year old arthritic, overweight, chap who up until this week had not ridden a motorcycle in nearly 15 years.  Even then, it was a Kawasaki ER500 that I hired for a week.  I was very keen on bikes as a young man, buying a new Suzuki GT 750 when I was 18.  I had a gap of a few years and then returned to bikes with a MZ 250 to get to work on.  That was upgraded to a Kawasaki GT 750 when I transferred into the Traffic Patrol section of the Metropolitan Police.

I mostly rode BMW R80RTs in the Force, with some time spent on K75RTs towards the end of my service.  I can remember riding a couple of test bikes we had on approval: one was an early ST1100 Honda, and the other a Harley Davidson Electraglide.  The Pan European was most impressive, but the Harley was awful unless you spent all your time looking at your reflection in shop windows.

I never lost touch with bikes during my gap years.  Every month would see bike magazines eagerly bought and devoured, but I honestly never thought that I would own a bike again.  The itch would not go away though, and demanded to be scratched.  I work for a County Council and they have a motorcycle which is used for enhanced rider training by a close colleague, so I gradually accumulated a helmet and clothing.  This week I got around to borrowing the bike, a Suzuki Bandit GSF 650, and enjoyed it very much.  I wanted to see whether my creaky old joints would manage a bike and was pleasantly surprised that I had no ill effects after a 140 trip.

That ride sealed it for me, but my ideas about a K100RS were dropped after finding that my shoulders did not agree with having to hang on at speed despite the bike's fairing.  So, it had to be a bike with a barn door fairing, and a K100RT certainly fits that bill.  

I found a suitable bike near to me: it is 1991, 63,000 miles, long tax and MOT, Goodridge hoses, new battery, good tyres, and converted to a dual seat.  It has panniers and topbox, so just what I need really.

All I need to do now is arrange for insurance and go and collect it.  What is left of the British summer might prove quite enjoyable!

welcome aboard xpc ... enjoy !

Welcome, XPC, you might discover what you say ails you will diminish with miles accumulated. These old bricks have a way of helping us shed our worries and woes. May you enjoy a green and pleasant Summer of motorbiKing.

Welcome xpc316e !
You can't go wrong with a K.
Joints pain come mostly of lack of movement, it will go away with miles and bumps.
Can you please post the link of the bike offered, so we can see it ?

Welcome XPC.

You did the right thing...

Enjoy it, get to know the K and it will serve you well.

Greetings XPC welcome to the House of K
You can look forward to many years of riding.

I completely agree with the sentiments of others who have welcomed you -- riding your new/old bike may have you thinking and feeling much younger. It works for me!
Here's to many happy miles ahead!

Welcome to another member from sunny Suffolk. I'm sure you'll enjoy the bike and get all the help and info you could ever need about it from the other members here.


Is that the bike from Huntingdon?

Hi X

I did a similar thing. Haven't regretted it - yet!

Only had her a month or so and done a couple of thousand miles so far.

You're only an hour away from me ond on the way to a couple of mates who live in the land of many fingers. Mmmm.....

Hey mate welcome you are officially the average age of a K100...so you are as young or old as any ...and probably average weight too....so feel right at home...by the way the RS with risers is a good compromise with all our nice weather here...:O)

Land of many fingers? That would be Bournville near Birmingham, home of Cadbury's chocolate fingers!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330951512549&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

Above is the link to my new bike. It is indeed the one from Huntingdon.

Thanks to all for the welcome I have received. I figured that I had better get on and do something about riding, otherwise my only option would be a twist 'n' go scooter. One factor in my decision to return to bikes was my advancing years (nice to know that I am average in something - 56 is also the average age of a Radio 4 PM listener apparently): my dear old Dad had to take early retirement at the age of 62 because of Glaucoma, so I did not want to end up like him. He had a working life full of health and vigour, only to have a retirement full of health problems. Tomorrow would have been his 86th birthday, so in many ways it is a case of 'Thanks Dad, for inspiring me to get off my backside and do what I want, before it is too late'.

So, insurance has been arranged, and tomorrow afternoon I get to ride my new machine home. A space has been cleared in the garage, ready for its arrival. I can't wait to get a few spanners on her and carry out some of the little projects that populate this inspirational forum.

Congratulations on joining the association!

Suggestion, ride it several thousand miles if possible before beginning to "fix stuff". You'll get a better assessment of what to start refurbishing and where not to go yet.
A lot of folks seem to start to just start a little "spruce up".......only to end up into a full blown frame off restoration.

Suggestion, try to avoid the temptation to change, alter & improve the factory design. Most performance enhancements (IMO) although perceived to be an improvement, usually create a deficiency some where else.
If it ain't broke, Don't fix it!
Regards, Ibj...

Interesting bike. I sold one exactly the same as that many years ago when I was at RAF Wyton - near Huntingdon! I wonder if it could be the same bike, I would not know now as I used to change my bike at least twice a year and cannot remember registration numbers.
The one that I sold had side panels that were not the correct ones when I fitted the dual seat.

ibjman wrote:Congratulations on joining the association!

Suggestion, ride it several thousand miles if possible before beginning to "fix stuff". You'll get a better assessment of what to start refurbishing and where not to go yet.
A lot of folks seem to start to just start a little "spruce up".......only to end up into a full blown frame off restoration.

Suggestion, try to avoid the temptation to change, alter & improve the factory design. Most performance enhancements (IMO) although perceived to be an improvement, usually create a deficiency some where else.
If it ain't broke, Don't fix it!
Regards, Ibj...

Upgrade the front springs and get a ram rear shock. Best improvements ever- unless you have a preference for a worn bouncy ride!!

Looks nice.

A beauty, only missing the siren and blue flashing lights

Welcome. you made a wise decision. To do justice to to your new ride you need to make lifestyle changes. It is not too late. I am also arthritic 56 year old.
Here are some unsolicited tips. Cut back on red meat consumption. take Glucosamine. switch single malt for red wine. Eat more green and orange vegetables. Chew each bite 28 times and never eat more than two fist quantity of food. Follow a gout diet. Go swimming three times a week for 45 minutes each time. Wear appropriate safety gear, Drive for everyone elses lack of defensive and safe driving, ..... Ride the HELL out of your K. Too many overaged, arthritic, overfed, over served Harley drivers and not enough intelligent K riders. B the K.

UJ (sorry haven't been online much OUT Riding)

Great post. Ya, I rode an "S" for a number of years and do miss the stance when going into curves, etc. But, there are certain advantages to sitting upright, namely you don't get tired. How many times now in the past year have I been out touring and find other riders along the side of the road taking a break (and not smoking a cigarette either). Yes, those are the sports bikes, fun for about 20-30 minutes--then it becomes work.

Looks a great bike, get out and enjoy the weather, looks like its going to be hot over there for a while.

Well, I have just ridden her home and what a delight she is. The seller had described her very honestly and had done a couple of important jobs like headset bearings greased and splines lubed. The bike is really sweet and changes gear very smoothly indeed.

It was so comfortable to sit behind that big barn door of an RT fairing. The ergonomics of the bike seem to be tailor made for me, with plenty of room. I am genuinely surprised at the good low-speed balance; she is actually easier to ride slowly than the Suzuki Bandit 650 I borrowed last week.

There does not seem to be much that needs doing as the former owner had fitted a new battery and fork gaiters. The only niggle is a non-functioning neutral light, but I can live with that as the gear indicator works. The front brake discs are very slightly warped (advisory on last MOT), but that is an easy fix.

I can't wait to take her out for a decent ride - I am going to Lincolnshire at the end of the month to have a curry with some old colleagues, and the car will not get a look-in.

I think the the K is happy she found you too.
Glad it's a great match.
Good for Ya !

I think you have found a keeper there. I also reckon that when most of the people say it just fits me well the ergonomics are great and they can be from 5'3" to 6'4' then there is a lot going for it.
As for the neutral light if the gear indicator is working the bulb behind the green light is the place to start looking and when you are doing that change all the bulbs as when one fails the others usually not far behind.
good riding and keep the shiny side up.

Thanks for your good wishes and advice.

Welcome aboard matey

We better watch out now, the "Old Bill" is watching.

Welcome to the Knuthouse.

Hi XPC, great fantastic bikes. good for biggies, me being your age and 130kg and the missis 100kg, we are like 3 up plus luggage, Azure, thats our name for the RT, still pulls hard to 200kmh, as long as all the ducks line up. Anyways shes a good model, safe riding and fun, love to hook up and tour UK Eu sometime.

Hi xpc great to have you with us take a look at the Portal and "So you just bought a used BMW K-Series Motorcycle..." some great info there,
Regards,
K-BIKE

the only reason I didn't go for that one was there was one in Milton Keynes where I live.
the moment I saw it I bought it.....
fantastic bike....mines got 74000 on the clock and is almost mint...
great bike...

welcome xpc, a gap help you remember / forget the pleasures of riding. Awesome bike the K100
loveem
Rick