Hi all,

Thought you might like to see what I've been up to for the last few months.

All feedback welcome.

Cheers, Alex.

Restoration Album

Hello, very nice job. How did you clean the engine so well?

The engine was cleaned using a process called hydroblasting.

That's a serious resto. Very precise work.

Saxon7 wrote:That's a serious resto. Very precise work.

Thanks mate. Literally everything has either been refinished or replaced with the likely outcome being it should be better than new when completed.

Christ man, you went for it----nice job

yankeeone wrote:Christ man, you went for it----nice job

:-) Indeed I did, and damn glad I made the effort, although my bank account looks rather wan.

Very thorough Alex, but i think you have some sort of K100 induced virus
From which there is no known cure.

Which i had the time and patience for such rebuilds. Appears to be quite a gathering of BMW's behind yours in some of those photos too.

Thanks for sharing your project.

Its called Kpox Bert and you are right about the cure.
You have to collect more and more k bike parts and K bikes to keep it at bay.
I just bought a K1100 engine today

I see Rick, i am just a mere apprentice in the world of K.

So how much around about does one have to pay for a K1100 engine? and where do you guys find these things. I am clearly not looking in the right places.

caferacer62 wrote:I see Rick, i am just a mere apprentice in the world of K.

So how much around about does one have to pay for a K1100 engine? and where do you guys find these things. I am clearly not looking in the right places.

You're probably doing something entirely opposite to the real sufferers of K fever, namely, socialising.

caferacer62 wrote:I see Rick, i am just a mere apprentice in the world of K.

So how much around about does one have to pay for a K1100 engine? and where do you guys find these things. I am clearly not looking in the right places.

4000 ten cent pieces. Gonna make a K1100GS

Mindboggling............

My YouTube channel

Enjoy!

Well gents,

Progress has been made but bigger things are afoot...

Today marked the first time the bike has been turned over since K&R completed the drive line re-fit, and unfortunately things didn't go quite as well as I'd hoped.

Despite having great compression, solid turn over speed and all the electrics working (or so I thought), the bike began to leak oil from, what appears to be, the rear main seal at the back of the engine, which means the back half of the drive line has to come out to have the problem resolved.

Luckily, the workload at K&R has slacked off a bit for this coming week, so Phil should be able to get this repaired during the week, which means, hopefully, that next weekend I'll be doing far more enjoyable things than seeing oil leaking through the bell housing.

One additional niggle is that I'm getting no spark to the HT leads. Hall sensor? Coils? Any thoughts?

Other than those problems, the bike got her petrol tank loosely installed today and I'm pleased to say the pump purrs like a well fed kitten. She also got the exhaust cover back on, and although it covers what can only be described as a seriously sexy piece of chromed exhaust baffle, it does make her look a bit more menacing.

Having almost all the major components on the bike makes her look absolutely fantastic. Seriously, check out the pictures for yourselves and let me know what you think.

Videos

Photos of the restoration

Finally, and what's really tickling me at the moment, I'll be re-installing the original Motorola MCX100 Victoria Police UHF radio (along with all the wiring and control head) with assistance from the Victoria Police Radio Equipment Division themselves either this coming weekend, or the following. Further tickling can also be found because I'm FINALLY laying my hands on the POLICE decals along with the blue and white checkered adhesives for the fairings.

With the installation of these two final touches, I'll officially have the only full specification Victoria Police bike of that era. Not to mention she'll be (arguably) the cleanest BMW K100TIC that's ever been assembled!

For the first time in goodness knows how long, my bike lives and breathes! (Details to come along with pictures and video).

Restoration Album


YouTube Channel

It's a major day, ladies and gents, as the old girl lives again!

For the first time in goodness knows how long, certainly long before she became mine, the ex-Victoria Police 1986 BMW K100TIC has sparked and coughed her way back to life.

I have to say, after spending so many months, indeed years at this point, chasing parts, then re-building every inch of her just to get her back to looking like a police bike, let alone the continuing effort of tracking down all the original police equipment, including the original communications gear, and then having to fabricate the installation of the same without guidance, it feels like a real win to have her ticking over (albeit somewhat lacking in lustre as she hasn't been tuned up and has not choke cable at the moment).

I'll leave the rest to your eyes and ears, assuming you hop over to the restoration album and my YouTube channel, of course.

More to come next weekend, when the man from VICPOL comes to help me install the original radios :-) *Postponed due to VICPOL commitments, but will be re-scheduled in the next few weeks**

Well folks, she's inching back to life as a better than new Victoria Police bike.

Work this weekend included re-installing the right side lower body work, sorting out that pesky radio box lock assembly (the pins had fallen inside the lock assembly which stopped it from opening and closing correctly), as well as roughing in the radio box mounting tray (from scratch and without guidance of any sort since this part was pre-installed in Germany prior to shipment, and I've never seen a fiche or web references to the internal layout of the radio box as it would have been configured back in the mid-1980s).

More effort is being spent on coordinating the re-installation of the genuine Victoria Police Motorola MCX100 radio with remote head, and I'm to be guided in the actual installation of components and wiring by one of VICPOL's own senior technicians who was responsible for the fit out of these bikes back in the day!!!!

If you fancy a look at the progress so far, then head over to my restoration album on Picasa:

Restoration Album

The words new and pin come to mind looking at the photo album Alex.

I don't know anyone who has successfully restored a police spec to that level of completeness before. What are your plans for it - show bike? film work etc?

88KE

88KE wrote:The words new and pin come to mind looking at the photo album Alex.

I don't know anyone who has successfully restored a police spec to that level of completeness before. What are your plans for it - show bike? film work etc?

88KE

Hello mate and thanks for the very kind words.

To say this is a passion of mine understates the matter rather greatly I feel.

I hope that my efforts are rewarded through the glances of those who rode upon her and her ilk, in the line of their professional conduct, and it does them proud to think that one of their number has been rescued from the jaws of recycling.

As far as life outside the show circuit goes, I'd be very keen to have her recoup some of the large piles of folding things I've thrown at her by working in film, television and advertising. Unfortunately, I have not the faintest idea how I would go about making this happen, so any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

I've had a couple of motors registered with a guy who did procurement of vehicles for a film studios. That would be the first port of call I guess (local or national studios).

Find out from the studios and independent film company's who does their vehicle sourcing for TV and film. Other entusiasts of old vehicles at shows could be a good source of info too.

Typically they put together a register of who has what, to call on if needed, then rent them in by the day for filming.

Hope that helps a bit.
88KE

88KE wrote:I've had a couple of motors registered with a guy who did procurement of vehicles for a film studios. That would be the first port of call I guess (local or national studios).

Find out from the studios and independent film company's who does their vehicle sourcing for TV and film. Other entusiasts of old vehicles at shows could be a good source of info too.

Typically they put together a register of who has what, to call on if needed, then rent them in by the day for filming.

Hope that helps a bit.
88KE

Thanks for that mate. I've submitted a few enquiries to firms around the area asking if they're interested. Fingers crossed eh!

Finally have confirmation that the VICPOL radio technician will be joining me to re-fit the original radio(s) on 11 August, 2012!!!!

Just need to add the windscreen, crash bars and the VICPOL radio and she's all done!

Though you might like to see the proverbial rocking horse poo rarity that is a genuine Victoria Police Motorola MCX100 radio.

Guess what folks?


I've managed to secure the ORIGINAL registration for my bike from VICROADS!!!!!!!!

And this after months of being told it wasn't available

Yeah some f*&^# witted public servant too lazy to look.

In fairness to the lovely lady that helped me out today, the plate was listed as stolen in the VICROADS registration database, but the stolen plate belonged to a car not a motorbike. The individual I spoke with today took the initiative to speak with her supervisor, and discovered what had happened.

Alex,

Very nice job - particularly in making the aluminum parts look better than new. I am using everything I can find to restore the aluminum to a brite new finish - I would love to hear your secret to the aluminum in particular. I have used steel wool, and all sorts of cleaners - can't get the spots out of the metals.

Your bike was obviously very well done. Great job.

paul.dickson_VA wrote:Alex,

Very nice job - particularly in making the aluminum parts look better than new. I am using everything I can find to restore the aluminum to a brite new finish - I would love to hear your secret to the aluminum in particular. I have used steel wool, and all sorts of cleaners - can't get the spots out of the metals.

Your bike was obviously very well done. Great job.

Hydroblasting is your friend mate. Solvents and aluminium don't really seem to work well together, whereas hydroblasting actually just strips back the grime and congealed gunk to the surface of the metal.

That's great - I was hoping that it was something easier, as I don't have the facilities. Again - great job.

Really great work the hydroblasting is outstanding, what finish did you put on the al parts to stop them reverting back to the crusty mess I purchased mine in, Im amazed how little time it took to oxidise again on the bits I cleaned but didn't coat within a month or two.
Halo

I clean the cast aluminum parts with WD40 once in awhile , that seems to keep the oxidize at bay

Yes agreed yankeeone but what would that do to the finish in the long run ?, surely WD40 doesn't dry out totally clear plus it attracks dirt. If I could get the aluminium bits that clean I would spray the suckers now, if you didn't want them to stand out like mine(glossy clear) then use something like an acrylic matt clear but they proberly already have.

Halo

I didnt put any finish on , just left the bare aluminum, gotta give you the better look with what you did.

Checked out your pics and progress.. There is no cure for this, is there?
Someone told you to find out how deep the rabbit hole goes and you excavate a mountain, polish all the bits and put it back. Hydroblasting is very kewl indeed.
Such a thorough and complete resto..
You like perfection, eh?
Fantastic sir.

Fantastic work alex you and halo should go into business together, spose neither of you would stop to answer the phone though. i would expect the vic pol would be the place most companies would contact when looking for period pieces for the road. Will you be allowed to use it on the road, as in chasing us when we go the a meet and greet would be fun?????? imagine the look as people go past you booking us ksters

Restoring bikes and cars can be a very good business.
I have a friend here who does vintage and veteran cars and the time he puts into making replacements is unbelievable.
But it can be a very good income when things are booming and there is lots of black cash around.

I'm not sure how many of you will remember the 1986 K100RT I sold off about a year ago, but this is a small island, and the gentleman who purchased the bike has asked me to sell it for him.

In the course of drumming up some interest, I ran across (not literally) a chap that's ex-Victoria Police Historical Society who MIGHT be interested in purchasing the bike and having it converted to its original police specifications.

As luck, or would that be OCD, might have it, I've got about 90% of the parts needed to carry out the conversion.

He's popping over on Tuesday to check out the bike, so watch this channel for updates!

So Alex are the Aluminium parts coated ?

Halo

Halo wrote:So Alex are the Aluminium parts coated ?

Halo

No. I've remained faithful to the original finish and left them as they would have come out of the factory.

Yes that is true it is orginal and looks great, my al parts do look different than the factory finish. Shame to know they will tarnish again though, but I suppose your bike will stay inside out of the elements unlike mine whick looks like it spent it's whole life parked in the rain.
Halo

Halo wrote:Yes that is true it is orginal and looks great, my al parts do look different than the factory finish. Shame to know they will tarnish again though, but I suppose your bike will stay inside out of the elements unlike mine whick looks like it spent it's whole life parked in the rain.
Halo

It really tore at me for quite a while, but as the goal was to restore the bike to better than factory condition circa 03/1986 when it arrived in Australia, I ultimately decided to hydroblast the components, but leave them as they would have been in the era.

Fortunately, or otherwise depending on how you view it, the bike is going to be displayed outdoors, so despite my best efforts it will be getting filth on it from time-to-time. Fingers crossed, the restoration holds up.

Your a good man Alex, what a delema that decision would have eaten away at me but for what your restore stands for you have made the right decision.

Halo

Halo wrote:Your a good man Alex, what a delema it would have eaten away at me but for what your restore stands for you have made the right decision.

Halo

Cheers mate. It feels great to see her coming slowly in to complete view.

After countless months spent in the dark, grimy recesses of the interwebs, and hundreds of hours skinning knuckles, my baby lives again.

I test drove her up and down the street a few times as a first, very tentative, baby step towards really letting her rip.

The joy of hearing that unique BMW K purr after so many months was an absolute delight, matched only by feeling her move under her own power again.

I am one VERY happy chappy!



P.S. The side covers will be going on once the final tweaks to idle and fuel mixture have been made, then it's off to VICROADS for registration.

Once the bike is registered, I am then going to be granted the privilege of conditional approval from the good folks over at The Victoria Police Force to operate the bike in full police dress, e.g. lights, sirens, POLICE markings on the radio box and windscreen, as well as the chequered banding on the fairings, panniers and radio box. In other words, she will be kitted out exactly as she would have been when she served with VICPOL from 1986 to 1990.

Wow Alex, that is an awesome job.
Given the approval from the police will probably not be recognised by every officer out there, I hope you have the letter in a large sealed clear plastic wrap/container to wave in front of what I imagine will be some very angry highway patrol office who thinks you are in the wrong.

And after all that work, you don't even put down a piece of carpet under the centre stand before lowering it? Back to the pain shop.
I bet Halo will carry carpet.

The last six months have seen me convert her from the strobe system that later bikes used, to the original equipment she would have been fitted with when entering service in March of 1986. The front lights are incandescent, and the rear beacon is made of unobtainium!

Heaps of photos on the restoration album, and some videos on my YouTube channel (alexandermccarthy), but here's a cockpit teaser for you.

Restoration album

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Roadworthy FINALLY scheduled for next week, then on historic plates through the BMW Club of Victoria, and then police approval to be operated with decals applied, per the original specifications.

Feedback gratefully received.

Alex.

P.S. All the police gear on the bike works EXACTLY as it would have done back in the day :-)

Good Work!