floyd wrote:.....

My biggest complaint at this stage is the pathetic fuel range. Im lucky to get 280kms to a tank. For an 'adventure bike' this is faaaar from adequate. 

When fully loaded and riding hard I get 14.5kms/L and when unloaded I get 15.5km/L. Hows this compare with you lads?

Hi Floyd. Firstly, if your odo is out you won't get accurate fuel consumption readings. I check mine periodically against Google Maps. I know some will say Google maps is unreliable but I've used it over a few years in various vehicles and found it to be pretty accurate. Over 1,000 klm my odo and Google maps are within 1 or 2 klm.

The biggest gain in f/c I've got was from setting valve clearances. My exhausts were way out tho.
I also cleaned my injectors and got nearly 0.5 lit/100 better.
BMW say that a K100 should get 5.1 lit/100 and I've heard some say they get that and better (??) but BMW also recommend the use of fully synthetic engine oil ( uh oh ) and 100% synthetic can better f/c by around 5% (I've no proof of that apart from what I've read).
My f/c is a constant 5.6 lit/100 (5.6 to 5.7 loaded up) in freeway mode and providing I ride sensibly.   I'm coming up for an oil change next month and I'm switching from Penrite MC4ST 10W-50 semi synth to Shell HX7 15W-50 synthetic. I'm hoping to realise about a 2.5% gain that will bring my f/c down to about 5.4 and a realistic range of over 370klm with a couple of litres to spare.

Another thing to consider is the battery. A lower spec'd or under performing bat can load your alternator which will affect engine output and f/c.

Also have you considered if the off road tyres you're running are affecting f/c? For your setup 6.45 lit/100 might be about right.

Just some thoughts... every little bit helps.

Hi again

One thing i have experienced with oil/fuel cunsumption,  is that when i went from at fully synthetich 5/40, to a fully synthetich 10/60,  the K ran 1km less  pr. Liter. And the idle got at bit rough.  

K-rider

Kaptain Holister wrote:

floyd wrote:.....

My biggest complaint at this stage is the pathetic fuel range. Im lucky to get 280kms to a tank. For an 'adventure bike' this is faaaar from adequate. 

When fully loaded and riding hard I get 14.5kms/L and when unloaded I get 15.5km/L. Hows this compare with you lads?

Hi Floyd. Firstly, if your odo is out you won't get accurate fuel consumption readings. I check mine periodically against Google Maps. I know some will say Google maps is unreliable but I've used it over a few years in various vehicles and found it to be pretty accurate. Over 1,000 klm my odo and Google maps are within 1 or 2 klm.

The biggest gain in f/c I've got was from setting valve clearances. My exhausts were way out tho.
I also cleaned my injectors and got nearly 0.5 lit/100 better.
BMW say that a K100 should get 5.1 lit/100 and I've heard some say they get that and better (??) but BMW also recommend the use of fully synthetic engine oil ( uh oh ) and 100% synthetic can better f/c by around 5% (I've no proof of that apart from what I've read).
My f/c is a constant 5.6 lit/100 (5.6 to 5.7 loaded up) in freeway mode and providing I ride sensibly.   I'm coming up for an oil change next month and I'm switching from Penrite MC4ST 10W-50 semi synth to Shell HX7 15W-50 synthetic. I'm hoping to realise about a 2.5% gain that will bring my f/c down to about 5.4 and a realistic range of over 370klm with a couple of litres to spare.

Another thing to consider is the battery. A lower spec'd or under performing bat can load your alternator which will affect engine output and f/c.

Also have you considered if the off road tyres you're running are affecting f/c? For your setup 6.45 lit/100 might be about right.

Just some thoughts... every little bit helps.

All great points Kapn, as usual from you mate...

My battery is a brand new AGM good one. cost me $400 and is top of the line, cant remember the brand right now...but she cranks like mule.

My valve clearances are in spec.

I will follow your advise and check my odo vs google. good idea. 

Excellent point about the off road tyres. They would surely contribute to slightly poorer consumption...

Also, my rear is a 140/80/17 which I think works out to be 2.3% larger in dia. then stock 130/80/17...no?

Mr Klompy and myself did a bit of a test coming home from Bingara.

Fill for fill he was doing at least 15km per fill less than me according to our speedos.
His RS, my RT. Same wheels and tyres. Sport demons.
I have since checked my speedo against Karamba and it was pretty spot on, but it was on a laptop and have since read the sound card or whatever makes it work can sway the results.

To sum up, if my speedo is correct (who knows) then his posted km would be out by about 6-8km in a hundred.

Use a gps to test it.

floyd wrote:
Also, my rear is a 140/80/17 which I think works out to be 2.3% larger in dia. then stock 130/80/17...no?

About right. That would give you slightly higher gearing and better f/c.
Best to check your odo first. As rosskko pointed out they can be out quite a bit.

Kaptain Holister wrote:

floyd wrote:
Also, my rear is a 140/80/17 which I think works out to be 2.3% larger in dia. then stock 130/80/17...no?

About right. That would give you slightly higher gearing and better f/c.
Best to check your odo first. As rosskko pointed out they can be out quite a bit.

I believe the standard size is 130/90/17 
And that size have a lager outer diameter than the 140/80/17. 

K-rider

Have a look here https://www.k100-forum.com/t7150-radial-tires-on-y-spoke-wheels

K-rider

rosskko wrote:Mr Klompy and myself did a bit of a test coming home from Bingara.

Fill for fill he was doing at least 15km per fill less than me according to our speedos.
His RS, my RT. Same wheels and tyres. Sport demons.
I have since checked my speedo against Karamba and it was pretty spot on, but it was on a laptop and have since read the sound card or whatever makes it work can sway the results.

To sum up, if my speedo is correct (who knows) then his posted km would be out by about 6-8km in a hundred.

Use a gps to test it.

I have 84RT but my spares bike is 84RS. Final drive ratios are different. As far as I can make out they are both stock. I would also figure the aerodynamics will differ as the RS rider is more exposed.

Thanks for all the comments gang.

Will check with a GPS asap. Wonder if google maps on the phone has a 'track' function...will investigate.

Just to through more into the mix...

Im running a RT final drive with a RS fairing (with extended screen), K1100 18'' front wheel, non standard tyre size on the rear (under size in dia.) and they are of the off road variety...plus my right wrist is rather...erm...loose  ALl that combined with 1100 TB's and injectors...

So I guess there are soooo many things that will effect fuel consumption....but as noted above, checking the odo is a must....

Still need to eek more range out of the beast though, in time....

Currently heading south to Eden for the meet up..

According to the "odo check" signs asking the hume hwy, mine is out about 200m in 5km...

Try My Tracks. Its a Google app for Android. Don't know if its available for iPhone but I'm sure apple would have something similar.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.maps.mytracks&hl=en

Kaptain Holister wrote:Try My Tracks. Its a Google app for Android. Don't know if its available for iPhone but I'm sure apple would have something similar.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.maps.mytracks&hl=en

Thanks mate, downloaded it as soon as you posted and have been using it since. great little app.

hmmmm

Just got back from the eden ride...did nearly 2000kms in the end.

The beast performed flawlessly, but as always happens after a big trip....I find soooo many things to tweak and improve.

Some of them are massive loooong term projects such as the 19'' GS front wheel and the expanded fuel tank....others are week end jobs etc.

One thing that struck after riding with Andy and Halo for a couple of days was how rough idling my beast is. I thought it was pretty good before that  Ill need to redo the throttle bodies and triple check I have no air leaks. Also have some RAM HT leads on the way from the UK which is nice. Then Im going to play with a spare MAF I have here see what that does....

The beast also used a shite load of oil. I have found one of my head cover bolt rubbers has cracked and is weeping (these things dont last long at all!) but I dont think that could entirely account for the oil loss. Pre trip the red circle in the sight glass was 3/4 full....now its 1/4....

I have been planning on reconditioning the head soonish but in light of this and the fact the engine has nearly 250,000kms on it, and is a pre-lead head, and the potential cost involved in a reco head job....I might just keep an eye out for a sub 60-80,000km engine for the right price and grab that. All my good new bits will go right on, such as the exorbitantly expensive TB rubbers, 12 rivet output shaft, reconditioned sprag clutch, new timing chain and guides etc etc

Plus my spares bike got bloody well sold from under me without my knowledge! But it was a corroded junk heap anyway truth be told. So I could do with a latish model spares stash. Then the older stuff can be made into a project track bike 

I have learnt a lot on this project and I would do many things differently if I could, but Im balls deep in it now and still having fun!

If anyone has a engine for the right price that will suit my needs, give me a PM 

wow....heres another 'newbie' stuff up moment for you all to groan and giggle at...

I just pulled out the top half of the airbox to once more mess with the routing of my clutch cable (my clutch cable is veeery heavy....)

And to my horror discovered that the rubber elbow joining the airbox to the plenum had come completely off at the plenum....

So I guess its been running lean for a while....with a good chunck of area to suck in unfiltered air....

I have reconnected it and strangely the bike seems to run the same, just idles about 500rpm faster...maybe there is a bit better throttle response too..

ha !! 

could be a solution

good luck mate ...sounds like you need around 400-500 ks  to test the difference  ...eh ?

cheers

charlie99 wrote:ha !! 

could be a solution

good luck mate ...sounds like you need around 400-500 ks  to test the difference  ...eh ?

cheers

Ha! Good idea mate! And in fact Im loading the beast up again, this time with the Mrs to go and spend a few days down at Pebbly Beach, near Batemans Bay

Also did the old "one click back on the tension spring" in the MAF while I was in there....

Very interested to go for a spin

utter utter utter barstard....(giggle )

thanks for sharing that .... totally in need of a break also

have fun ...!

dont know where to post this, so here goes:

Hi gang. 

been a little while.

Ive messed my self up a bit.

long story short, I have a very prominently herniated L5 S1 disk in my back. This is the very lowest disk, where your spine meets your pelvis, kinda. its deep in there. basically all the soft gel stuff in the disk has busted out of the protective layers that keep it in. its now free and floating around in the vicinity of my spinal cord, and is pushing up against my sciatic nerve - this nerve runs all the way from your spine, down the back of your leg and into your foot. because this nerve is being squashed i feel it as pain and muscle tension all the way down the back of my leg. the bottom of my foot is numb. Cant straighten my leg etc cant walk, in pain unless laying down dosed up on endone etc.

pretty shit. needs surgery but the private system want an arm and a leg and the public system want me to wait 6-12months! 

in the mean time, no work, no play, no fun. Just laying down and popping my pills. oh and a bit of physio to 'help pass the time' as the neurosurgeon puts it. 

Now, the longer version is this.....about 6 weeks ago I was riding to work. was a very close site to home, so I never quite swtched into 'focused, m/c commuting mode' and was pretty relaxed all the way. Then, about 45secs from site, I rounded a corner, there was mud accross the road from trucks driving in and out of a building site, i registered this mud and though "I better take it easy, that looks slippery". Take it easy I did, cleared the mud and though 'away we go'. next thing, the front wheel just slipped out, the back followed, and i hit the deck. bike slid off on its left. a passer by pulled over and helped me upright it agian. was a very minor, fairly common slow speed low side on a slippery surface. no big deal. 

But as the day at work wound on, so did the pain. I had cracked a rib and then spent the next 2 weeks nursing it. The entire time, my left left was a bit tight. I couldnt straighten it or bend over and touch my toes. but I didnt think much of it. then 3 weeks ago i woke up and couldnt walk. basically the same as I am now.

So its hard to say definitively that the accident caused this back injury. but its quite likely. 

anyways, if this happen 4 years ago, or if it happened anywhere else but NSW (i think) I would be covered by workers comp. but tanks to Barry bloody-Pennfolds OFarrel, the journey to and from work is no longer covered. so im literally on my arse. 

On top of this, my wife of 9 years and has decided she doesnt want to continue on this path any longer and has moved on.....

happy times. 

Tomorrow I go in for a CT guide cortisone injection into my spine. The idea being it will relieve the pain and reduce the inflammation while the body reabsorbs the disk material. But this only works a certain percentage of the time. so fingers crossed.

Other wise its waiting for the public system to swallow me up, or ill be selling scones on the side of the road to passing K riders in a effort to raise the coin for my private neurosurgeon.

anyways, if there has been wonder as to where the hell ive disappeared to, there ya go.

Sorry to hear of all the woes. We are part of your family and if you need help, or someone to laugh with or at, we are here...Komrade.

Sorry to read all that, Floyd, I hope it gets sorted soon and you can continue your travels.
 You must be doing this 

Best wishes,
Paul.

Real sorry to hear of all your troubles Floyd. Sometimes life just dishes up a whole heap of crap and dumps in all over you and  you just wonder why? Time for you to focus on you and getting you fit and well again - sure it'll take time, but it's an important (if very dull and boring) journey to recovery. Spend the time thinking back over your K adventures over the last year and them sizzling steaks and crispy corn and look forward to getting back in the saddle and doing it all again....

As for the missus, her timing sucks and that's emotional trauma you could well do without right now. You will be in a very dark place right now (been there) but you can get through it.

That's not good news at all Floyd. I know where you are coming from and going to as I have a very similar injury from a car crash about 35 years ago.
Don't let the doctors push you around and stick up for your self. As difficult as it is try to find a good Chiropractor they can help a lot. I have one here who has kept me going for the last 17 years but good ones are hard to find as most will give a massage and a tickle then flog your wallet on the way out.

Exercise is a key part of keeping going as hard as it is sometimes and as Stan said we are a family of sorts so don't hesitate to ask for help if you need.

Damn Floyd. So I take it you are not coming for koffee on Saturday?

Maybe we can bring you some. Where are you holed up?

I heard people with bad back pain and healing ribs love a good laugh. I can bring my tickle gloves if you like.

Bugger Floyd, hope you are on the mend soon. Maybe take up Rosskos's offer????. All the best Tom

Hey Floyd
Life's a bugger sometimes mate but you'll be able to look back on it one day soon and know that you got thru it.
Back pain is the pits, been there, maybe not that bad tho... and the relationship crap.
Anyway, you know where to holler when you need some help.
Get well soon.

Hi Floyd, thanks for posting as a few of us up here in the Hunter have wondered where you have been. As many of the other guys have said as far as the relationship goes it is time for you to concentrate on yourself and your health (I'm another who has travelled through the dark space and come out the other side after a marriage breakdown).

As long as its not pissing down raining heavily there are a few of us coming down from the Hunter for koffee on Saturday and I'm sure we would be happy to travel to wherever you are to annoy cheer you up if you can stand it.

Good luck

Floyd!!  This is a real bastard. I don't know what to suggest, but, you've got to hang in there. Isn't there some way that you could climb up the waiting list in the public system, because of the the severity of the situation?

If you're bored, load up the "Chess Time" app on your iPad and invite me to a game. My username is "rickmeister".

Anyway, all the best, mate. I still think about the lagers down at Eden that weekend a few weeks ago.

Hi floyd 

Sorry to hear about your accident, Best wishes,and get well Soon.  

K-rider

I wish you a speedy recovery Floyd, like Rick said you need to be bumped up on the waiting list, because that's just pathetic to have to wait that long. Well I hope that they can at least numb the pain mate.
Your wife really knows how to time things!

dang  Floyd

hope things change for you soon

there are many wishing you the best ....and that has to count for some good thoughts ..out of situation that you have at hand

hope you feel somewhat better pretty soon

wishing you the best for recovery Floyd, take one day at a time , there are plenty of people here to support you along the way .

That's a real pain in the ass (and down the leg!) Floyd.   

I feel your pain, speaking as someone who has ruptured 3 disks in my time but managed to avoid the knife thanks to a gifted Doctor. I may have some helpful tips or even reading material to recommend. PM me if you want to chat specifics. 

Will

Thank you all greatly for your words and wishes.

This truly is a wonderful Kommunity like no other. 

Not sure if I mentioned it above, but Ive conceded defeat and moved back to my mums place. She is looking after me wonderfully. Her place is at Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast, so a better place to recover is hard to imagine. 

Sorry I wasnt around for the Newtown koffee meet up, would have been just what the doc ordered really.

The cortisone injection has just knocked a little bit of the top end of the pain off. Means I can sit down with out major discomfort, even though my physio tells me I should just be laying down. 

Going back to the GP to try and move my referral along a bit.

Also, have just become aware of the following: In NSW (not QLD, not sure of other states) in circumstances such as these, you can make a CTP (compulsory third party insurance) claim against yourself. I was at fault, and I make a claim against myself. Fan-bloody-tastic! Only down side is, its capped at $5000. This will get me about 30-50% of the way I reckon. However I must have it lodged today. It must be in within 28 days. And it was this morning that I became aware of this! Just need the doc to sign the form.

But the doc just turned me away - to busy! Ill go back and just wait....MUST get it done.

Will report back eventually....

Thanks again beautiful people!

Floyd.

Bummer floyd. What about trying another doctor?
Maybe you could call the CTP provider and get an extension. Claim you were not well enough to attend to the matter on time.
Hope everything goes well getting this sorted out and back to the beast.

Cheers mate

Damn Floyd,

We were thinking of you on the weekend and wondering if you were close enough for a visit.
Good luck with the claim. Something is better than nothing I guess.

rosskkko

do any of the kweenslanders (and northern nsw folks ) feel the urge to visit Coolum beach for a short visit ?

perhaps on the weekend ?

don't know if a woblly mob of strange faces might cheer this sod up a little ....but to present a few k bikes rumbling away out the front ....might just inspire some nice thoughts ?

don't know what "mum " will think ....(bl##dy motor bikes ...I told him so !! ) but could be a positive to the camaraderie for our fellow traveller .

Would love to Charlie but unfortunately time is against me as I get ready to head over to meet the Eccentrics. 

My thoughts go with you as it is not often a Mexican heads north of the border for a visit. 

All the best Floyd.  Best to fix the body first, then the machine. 

Cheers, Dave.

faaaaar out....

just got all my quotes back for surgery.....

will come to about $18,000! 

Im young and naive when it comes to such things, but im utterly shocked at this. I thought, if you got hurt, you got fixed. 

Now its a case of how much money you have vs how much pain/inconvenience you're in...

Looks like many months of pain management and physical therapies while waiting for the dreaded QLD public health to get to me. 

Life has certainly decided to set this ship on a dramatically different course to the one it was on previously.....who knows where it shall go?!

Oh, and let it be known, K's (all bikes in fact) are always welcome at mums place! She is certainly a motorcycle lover (from the pillion). She does not blame the bike at all, and never has. Bikes are as natural to her as they are to us.

Cheers gang.

Any port in a storm is a good one and when the storm blows over your ship will set a new course for those wonderful uncharted waters. Be patient and try to use the down time to your advantage.

$18K - !!!!!! When you start seeing figures like that it really makes you appreciate the NHS in the UK. They've patched me up a few times in short order. Mind you, having a good doctor who knows how to phrase a letter 'correctly' does help a lot!

A friend of mine who is a nurse has recommended I pop in the car and head down to the PA Hospital in Bris-vegas.

She reckons, skip my pain killers and head to the emergency ward. Complain of debilitating pain in my back, despite my usual pain killers, while in Bris visiting a mate. 

She reckons they may even operate on me on the spot. but even if not, the main neurosurgery public hospital would then have me on their radar, thus speeding things up significantly.....

worth a shot perhaps.

On a positive note, QBE insurance have approved my CTP claim and awarded me $5000, pending the administrative matter of them receiving the police report in the post.

note much of a drop in the $18,000 but certainly better than a kick in the pants. 

Perhaps ill head to India or Thailand and get start the Neurosurgery-Tourism
 market

Hey Mate,
If you get desperate enough to look externally for quotes you might consider Iran! We had three weeks there April / May and were impressed. Also my daughter and new son in law are there for the rest of the year and he could help with language / contacts...

floyd wrote:A friend of mine who is a nurse has recommended I pop in the car and head down to the PA Hospital in Bris-vegas.

She reckons, skip my pain killers and head to the emergency ward. Complain of debilitating pain in my back, despite my usual pain killers, while in Bris visiting a mate. 

She reckons they may even operate on me on the spot. but even if not, the main neurosurgery public hospital would then have me on their radar, thus speeding things up significantly.....

That is a good way to speed things up and put on a performance that will get an Oscar.

my initial thoughts exactly Floyd

the doctors on hand are pretty good

if the injury is debilitating ...and yours sounds so ...they usually get right onto it ...(past experience speaking here )

the real issue is putting up with the waiting period to be seen ....without collapsing whilst in extreme pain ...my best advice is to go on a Tuesday morning ...not any where close to the weekend .

Thought you guys would like to know what its like riding a modded K off road.....

I can do that....with no hands....and my eyes closed....

Hey Floyd, I usually have my eyes closed when I'm riding like that as well ..................... because I'm dreamin'

yeah would be nice to have a spare 20 grand + a year to spend on an offroader like that

I was just musing the fact that  the old and heavy k would not land particularly well front first over that hill ...giggles

good vid all the same

thanks

Sooooo.....Phase 2 of the beast is on the drawing board....

The RTW trip was thrown into doubt but Ive got nothing better to do, so may as well bloody do it!

Anyways....Considering all my wheel and suspension options....

The simplest option for the front is fitting a 19'' spoked wheel of an oilhead GS. The K1100 forks only have 135mm of travel, which aint much....but its been enough so far...

Now for the rear....

Ive come across an amazing looking K75 GS build on some other forums...yet to see the finished product...He has lengthened his drive shaft (easy enough to do apparently) and made some gorgeous 50mm blocks that bolt between the swing arm and the final drive. Thus, lengthening the swing arm by 50mm.





I have just been emailing realm engineering regarding modifying their ram shock - specifically to make the top mount eyelet 50mm longer....

They got back to me informing me they now make the RAM for R bikes and it basically involves what Ive described - a longer eyelet mount bit on the top (note: this bit just screws on/off the shock shaft) Their R bike eyelet is only 35mm, so would likely not be enough for my mod....ill talk them into making a 50mm version too



So - with the exception of the drive shaft mod - you could potentially lengthen your swing arms by 50mm and it would be reversible. 

NB: Realm are happy to sell the eyelets for your RAM shock and ol' mate with the longer swing arm has a few blocks left over. They are T6 alloy hard anodised. 




EDIT: Just heard back from Realm. They can not make the eyelet at 50mm. They need a min order of 100 to do it. But they did say they could machine a piece to go between the 35mm eyelet and the shock shaft to achieve the desired length. Of course, alternatively the mounting plates on the frame can be relocated or modified. But the shock option is just bolt on. 


EDIT 2: Here is the original ADV forum thread regarding the swing arm/drive shaft extension

would it be hard to make a threaded ferule of 20 odd mm length ?
perhaps it is already done at the better bolt places
just a thought

hmmmm ferrule...new word of the day...Cheers Charlie


New development....just bought a R1150GS 19" front wheel from fleabay. 

May need an inmates help shipping it from the UK. Maybe not. (and yes, its still cheaper buying it from the UK with the insane postage, than from Aus. )

Make the extension block with a mount for the bottom of a std length shock on it and increase the travel at the axle.