Joined the club today and glad to have a forum with fellow "brickheads." Just returned from 1,100 mile - 3 day trip in Northern Arkansas (Hiway 7 is a must ride). My hand is still numb from throttle - but it's a good numb. To that end, anyone installed a Thottlemeister cruise control - do you like it - is it worth the coin (are there better/cheaper options)? Also - anyone aware of an exhaust option or experimented with gutting the exisiting exhaust/converter to further enhance performance? Next, how about running lights/install - I was thinking Hellas - just have not looked into install and would welcome ideas. Finally - the windshield is starting to show it's age and is cracking around mounts - any good ideas for replacement windshields - what I've seen is $$$$. Thank you.

Welcome to the forum.
Don't know about the Throttlemeister but I use a nylon tipped, friction screw with a tension spring which screws into the underneath of the throttle body once a blanking screw is removed. It has a knob for adjustment and I find it very effective. It can be set on the move to give anything from normal, a slow 'close' or stays where its wanted. And it's cheap! It only costs £7.48 from Motorworks in the UK.
For performance tips check out ibmwr. Lots useful stuff.
I think I even read about how to build a proper cruise control for K's from bits and pieces.
I was thinking of upgrading my headlight by installing relays and a xenon bulb. Seem to make a big difference. Running lights seem very pricey to buy.
Screens are expensive. Unless you can pick up a decent used one on ebay. There are bargains if you keep looking. I picked up an excellent, tubular fork brace for 99p (just over $1 US).

I have used Throttlemeister on my late-model K bike as well as an 'olde' Airhead. I managed to modify one to fit my K100RS with the hollow handlebars. I like the way it works. I set the tension just so, never locking it fully, to relieve the mild wrist aches on The Long Road. I recommend them. Of course, a rubber band or thick rubber o-ring jammed between the throttle tube end and the throttle housing will do something similar and you'll save a fair bit of dosh too! An added bonus with the heavy duty version of the T-Meister is that it is a high frequency engine buzziness killer as well.
At the other end I had just this week received the excellent Motad round stainless steel silencer from Motorworks UK. It is not intended to be a 'performance' exhaust but with a slightly more raspy note than my old square cannister it feels like it gave me a small seat of the pants push up the power curve. It is fiddly to the point of aggro to fit, however. I imagined a couple of hour stint in my garage...at half past midnight I was cleaning up my tools to retreat to my comfortable bed. I had been there for over five hours! The header to silencer is a tight slip-fit using no pinch clamps as the OEM exhaust does. They're tight for good reason; they need to properly seal and not allow exhaust leaks. But this exacerbates the problem of trying to get all four moving headers to align with the silencer, even with lube to help them slip together. A fair bit of gentle pounding with a soft mallet is in order.
In the end it is worth the trouble. The Motad muffler is shorter than the stocker, clears the panniers no worries, looks better, is tidier, and at 4.5 kilos in total as compared to over 7 kilos for the stock system. One thing I've noticed too is that the engine's slight buzz used to fall in the 3200 to 3500 rpm range and it is now at the 3000 to 3100 rpm range and no more. I suspect the stock exhaust's vibes might have caused some of this mildly annoying buzz.
I ordered it from Motorworks UK because it was listed at just under AU$700.00 from the Melbourne distributor and was only about AU$375.00 including freight from the UK to OZ! Their service was very good with frequent correspondence and an online parcel tracking service at no 'extra' charge. BTW, Motorworks do not advertise openly on their website that the exhaust is the aforementioned high-quality brand I received...nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

635CSI Very Nice,

As for the windshield there is a post on this forum from one of your countrymen who was able to buy and fabricate one out of Lexan from Home Depot. The mounting was different from mine but as such easier to manufacture.

Unfortunately I don't have that luxury in Australia but I may be able to get one made, (if I ever get around to it) for less than $100 AUD. Otherwise a replica tall screen is about $200 so it depends on budget and creativity.

For running lights the easiest way wiring wise would be an Eastern Beaver kit and maybe some PIAA lights.

Looking forward to the pics.

Regards,

Phil

Hi All,
My personal take on daytime running lights is first put on a heavy duty Eastern Beaver kit and then put in brighter bulbs I run 100/90 watt bulbs (no overheating of the headlight either) and then run on main beam during the day. I don't get flashed during the day but people see you on main beam much more easily than on dipped. I run on dipped at night.
Regards,
K-BIKE

Here's a coupla happy snaps of my new British-made Motad exhaust which was more than a bit fiddly to fit, but looks and sounds great. The slightly raspy tone of the silencer is still quiet and non-intrusive. My seat-of-the-pants metre tells me the bike spins freer but this is likely me telling myself a story I wanna hear!
The US-made Works Performance rear shock is of high quality and I'm very happy with the difference between the original damper and this one; it's as night and day, the bike no longer wallows in the bends and tracks straight and true. Now, if only the front forks were more up to the task. I have a set of 'Sport' forks from a later model K-bike which will be fitted soon. I'd hoped for more than two adjustments to the 'preload' settings, however, the damping is right for me and they will custom set-up the shock for your weight and riding style. Both are an excellent value and perform their respective intended task. I am pleased with the quality and the price.

I can whole-heartedly recommend both!

Hi Fellers. Just joined the forum and am pleased with what I have seen, a very handy site indeed. For running lights I have simply wired in a set of small fog lights that I bought on ebay about 3 years ago they came with brackets and everything needed and I simply plugged them into the parking light live wire so that they are on when the parking light is on. Why fog lights? Cause I find I am seen a lot better in all conditions and I no longer get people in cars turning in front of me. As for cheap exhaust mods? My mate who had a K100RS and now a K1100 welded a cold chisel onto the end of a piece of rod put it down the muffler and gave it a big whack with a big hammer. Sure gave it a note and he swears it gives him more top end. He even replaced his K1100 muffler with one from a K100 and gave it the same treatment. To me it sounds like an old VW with a hot dog but he loves it.