1 Around the World On a K100 Wed Jan 22, 2014 11:49 pm
floyd
Life time member
Hi K-freaks,
(sorry, rather long winded....)
Time to start my own build thread....Havnt got a great deal actually done yet, but need to start dumping stuff on here so I dont have to do a massive post in the future.....
Ok, so some of you may already know what Ive got planned, as I have been lurking here for a few months asking questions etc, but now its time to consolidate all that stuff here in one place.
Doing this thread for 2 main reasons – 1) because I have so thoroughly enjoyed reading other peoples, and have learnt a lot in the process, so hope to contribute to this massive body of knowledge in some small way; and 2) So I can simply keep track of things and have a personal record of what I have done.....
Soooo, I have 3.75 K bikes now....and from them will emerge 1. The idea being that I can either go out and spend 5-10 grand on a nice machine, but I would be uncertain of its real condition etc and as we all know, all machines drink money regardless. I would also have to spend a bit of coin setting it up for exactly what I want....
OR;
I could go and buy some cheap wrecks, and build them into 1, knowing exactly what has been reconditioned or replaced etc and end up with a reconditioned machine, perfectly trailered to my needs and desires – for roughly the same cost. Also, a big part of my choice was the fact that Im simply itching to get my hands dirty and cant wait to get balls deep in a bike build project. Oh, and by the end of the process I would know the machine inside out, and be able to easily diagnose and repair issues on the road.
There is a range of reasons why I chose the K, and I guess a quick description of what my end goal for the machine would help you see why I have gone down this path...
My wife works in the international aid/development industry, and I am a horticulturalist/permaculturalist with quite a bit of experience in providing design services and consultancies to a whole range of organisations etc. This time next year, the Mrs will be shipped off to some far flung place in Africa or Asia, and I will be riding off into the sunset to where ever that place happens to be. There is a 50/50 chance she will be coming with me on the back, so a single cylinder dirt bike was deemed to be unsuitable. There was also the idea (and still is kicking around) of building a sidecar outfit.
So I needed something with:
- decent power,
- good load carrying capacity,
- extreme reliability,
- Can run for long periods of time, in varying conditions and still be happy about it,
- fairly basic in design,
- easy to service and work on at the road side,
- cheap and readily available parts
- strong community of riders willing to help
- something I can slightly customise and set up as a bit of a GS – not a Dakar GS, just something a bit more suitable for international travel on a range of road surfaces and WILL be dropped at some point – so dont want a full fairing that can be damaged etc.
Id always been attracted to the R bikes, but they are more expensive basically – and when I was ready to pull the trigger and throw money at someone, I couldnt find anything suitable.
So, perhaps somewhat foolishly and hastily, I bought 3 K100's off a bloke in QLD for $1800. Sight unseen mind you! He delivered them to my mums place and unloaded them too. Apparently these 3 have done the rounds a bit, so hopefully they have found their new home!
At the end of last year, I drove up to QLD and collected them all. I have an 84 and 85 RS and a 86 LT. Only thing missing is 1 of the seats. The 85 RS was mostly original and together and it actually ran, but fairly rough. The 84 RS is a totally pile of shit, but will have some salvageable parts on in. Not sure if the engine even turns over yet, we'll see. The 86 LT is completely and totally dismantled. Every single nut and bolt has been removed. I have boxes full of pistons and conrods and cams and on and on. Looks like this is the one that the original starter of this project was doing up. The frame has been painted, engine cases soda blasted etc.
This weekend I will be driving back out to Mudgee where I lived all last year, and bring my beasts to the big smoke, to commence their resurrection.
In the meantime I have also purchased a K1100. It is missing the gearbox, the swing arm, final drive, rear wheel. But I only bought it for the complete front end (although I have since realised that the K1100 came with either a 17 or 18in front – not sure what I have but I want the 18), the output shaft, throttle bodies, injectors and bigger alternator. The rest will be sold. Oh, and I paid $500 for it – a little to much perhaps.
Yesterday I dropped $700 at motobins on the following:
- Complete service kit
- timing chain kit
- steering head bearings
- fork seals
- fork gaitors
- engine seal kit
- water/oil pump kit
- gasket cement
There is more that I need obviously, just waiting to strip the bikes and see what I can salvage first. Things like throttle body rubbers etc.
Sooooo, in summary my vision at the moment for the bike is:
- K1100 front end, throttle bodies, injectors, 12 rivet output shaft, upgraded alternator
- Use the running 85 RS engine and drive line (or the drive line in the best nick)
- Use the already painted 86 LT frame
- Buy a new high quality rear shock
- Replace most engine seals and rubber
- Remove most of the body work. Not sure which nose fairing to use. Leaning toward RS front fairing with a screen extender and the LT bars
- Remove tail section and make a very strong rack attached to the subframe
- recondition the best set of panniers I have
- Paint it all flat khaki and flat black (very basic, utilitarian, etc)
- Put about another 100,000kms on it
Stand buy for some pics, regular updates, and loooots of questions!
Thanks heaps to you pack of gents (and ladies?)
Floyd.
BTW, click this link and you can see spread sheet I have made to keep track of expected costs and actual costs. Let me know what ya think!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AuDWCEQiyShFdDQ0dWhZenRZT3JmbjZKM2J3dFQwSHc&usp=sharing
(sorry, rather long winded....)
Time to start my own build thread....Havnt got a great deal actually done yet, but need to start dumping stuff on here so I dont have to do a massive post in the future.....
Ok, so some of you may already know what Ive got planned, as I have been lurking here for a few months asking questions etc, but now its time to consolidate all that stuff here in one place.
Doing this thread for 2 main reasons – 1) because I have so thoroughly enjoyed reading other peoples, and have learnt a lot in the process, so hope to contribute to this massive body of knowledge in some small way; and 2) So I can simply keep track of things and have a personal record of what I have done.....
Soooo, I have 3.75 K bikes now....and from them will emerge 1. The idea being that I can either go out and spend 5-10 grand on a nice machine, but I would be uncertain of its real condition etc and as we all know, all machines drink money regardless. I would also have to spend a bit of coin setting it up for exactly what I want....
OR;
I could go and buy some cheap wrecks, and build them into 1, knowing exactly what has been reconditioned or replaced etc and end up with a reconditioned machine, perfectly trailered to my needs and desires – for roughly the same cost. Also, a big part of my choice was the fact that Im simply itching to get my hands dirty and cant wait to get balls deep in a bike build project. Oh, and by the end of the process I would know the machine inside out, and be able to easily diagnose and repair issues on the road.
There is a range of reasons why I chose the K, and I guess a quick description of what my end goal for the machine would help you see why I have gone down this path...
My wife works in the international aid/development industry, and I am a horticulturalist/permaculturalist with quite a bit of experience in providing design services and consultancies to a whole range of organisations etc. This time next year, the Mrs will be shipped off to some far flung place in Africa or Asia, and I will be riding off into the sunset to where ever that place happens to be. There is a 50/50 chance she will be coming with me on the back, so a single cylinder dirt bike was deemed to be unsuitable. There was also the idea (and still is kicking around) of building a sidecar outfit.
So I needed something with:
- decent power,
- good load carrying capacity,
- extreme reliability,
- Can run for long periods of time, in varying conditions and still be happy about it,
- fairly basic in design,
- easy to service and work on at the road side,
- cheap and readily available parts
- strong community of riders willing to help
- something I can slightly customise and set up as a bit of a GS – not a Dakar GS, just something a bit more suitable for international travel on a range of road surfaces and WILL be dropped at some point – so dont want a full fairing that can be damaged etc.
Id always been attracted to the R bikes, but they are more expensive basically – and when I was ready to pull the trigger and throw money at someone, I couldnt find anything suitable.
So, perhaps somewhat foolishly and hastily, I bought 3 K100's off a bloke in QLD for $1800. Sight unseen mind you! He delivered them to my mums place and unloaded them too. Apparently these 3 have done the rounds a bit, so hopefully they have found their new home!
At the end of last year, I drove up to QLD and collected them all. I have an 84 and 85 RS and a 86 LT. Only thing missing is 1 of the seats. The 85 RS was mostly original and together and it actually ran, but fairly rough. The 84 RS is a totally pile of shit, but will have some salvageable parts on in. Not sure if the engine even turns over yet, we'll see. The 86 LT is completely and totally dismantled. Every single nut and bolt has been removed. I have boxes full of pistons and conrods and cams and on and on. Looks like this is the one that the original starter of this project was doing up. The frame has been painted, engine cases soda blasted etc.
This weekend I will be driving back out to Mudgee where I lived all last year, and bring my beasts to the big smoke, to commence their resurrection.
In the meantime I have also purchased a K1100. It is missing the gearbox, the swing arm, final drive, rear wheel. But I only bought it for the complete front end (although I have since realised that the K1100 came with either a 17 or 18in front – not sure what I have but I want the 18), the output shaft, throttle bodies, injectors and bigger alternator. The rest will be sold. Oh, and I paid $500 for it – a little to much perhaps.
Yesterday I dropped $700 at motobins on the following:
- Complete service kit
- timing chain kit
- steering head bearings
- fork seals
- fork gaitors
- engine seal kit
- water/oil pump kit
- gasket cement
There is more that I need obviously, just waiting to strip the bikes and see what I can salvage first. Things like throttle body rubbers etc.
Sooooo, in summary my vision at the moment for the bike is:
- K1100 front end, throttle bodies, injectors, 12 rivet output shaft, upgraded alternator
- Use the running 85 RS engine and drive line (or the drive line in the best nick)
- Use the already painted 86 LT frame
- Buy a new high quality rear shock
- Replace most engine seals and rubber
- Remove most of the body work. Not sure which nose fairing to use. Leaning toward RS front fairing with a screen extender and the LT bars
- Remove tail section and make a very strong rack attached to the subframe
- recondition the best set of panniers I have
- Paint it all flat khaki and flat black (very basic, utilitarian, etc)
- Put about another 100,000kms on it
Stand buy for some pics, regular updates, and loooots of questions!
Thanks heaps to you pack of gents (and ladies?)
Floyd.
BTW, click this link and you can see spread sheet I have made to keep track of expected costs and actual costs. Let me know what ya think!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AuDWCEQiyShFdDQ0dWhZenRZT3JmbjZKM2J3dFQwSHc&usp=sharing
__________________________________________________
K100 with lots of K1100 bits - mongrel of a thing...