Hi guys,

I have been looking out for a decent K bike.
But something has been on my mind.  Where do you source parts for these older bikes.
Surely it has got to be difficult to get parts and they must be expensive.
Appreciate your thoughts.

David

One of the real good things with a K or any BMW that is 30 years or more older is you can get parts at good prices.
James Sherlock, Motobins and Motoworks are all good in UK and there are lots in US as well.
Even parts for the old boxers back to 70s are still available where my Z1300 Kawasaki it is almost impossible to get genuine and really expensive for aftermarket parts.

What Rick Said. Being near the hub of the universe as you are, as far as sourcing spares goes, the UK and greater Europe, you would have no worries obtaining what you need, and even from across the pond. BMW stock heaps as well as the aformentioned sources. The antipodes, unfortunately, suffer the tyranny of distance and routine price gouging, though availability on most parts needed is alright.

Go right ahead and get a K and you will discover how cheap and available parts are. If you are good with your hands and can change a clutch on one yourself you won't find anything cheaper to run.

Have a look on the home page on what to do if you have just bought a K. Also. have a look through the forum to see what the issues are. Most are inexpensive fixes. Any problem you have there will someone to answer it here.

You're going to be surprised just how cheap good secondhand parts are. The bikes are near bulletproof so there isn't a huge demand for parts, which is what normally drives up prices. How about a complete (and I mean 'complete') engine and gearbox for £250 in the UK? That's pretty common.

Thanks for the replies chaps.
The big problem now is finding the right bike at the right price.

Here is an interesting one..... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-K100-RS-SE-/251800955932?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item3aa081ac1c


http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=BMW+K100&_sac=1&_from=R40&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1311.R1.TR10.TRC0.A0.H0&_nkw=bmw+k100&_sacat=9800

The 1987 LT is the one I would be taking a good look at.  The 1988 RS SE is also a very good buy as you are getting one of BMWs all time classics.

Thanks for the advice

Its a bit too far for me to look at these right now, as I'm quite busy at work.
Hopefully get some free time in the next week or so.

David

I think most of us would say to keep a budget for doing a few things to whatever K you buy. My own experience has been to allow something and I have always spent it but then ended up with a very reliable steed. Don't expect it to be perfect but with time it will become that.

Unless you know its had a recent service go for all fluids and filters, consider cutch cable [go BMW cable and get the bushing at the lever], check out brake fluid and preferably a change there too.

Ks are often stored so check for out of date tyres, date is on the sidewall. Get rid of old ones even if they have full tread. Lots of debate about different ones but I am an all weather and winter user and now swear by the Bridgestone BT45. Having done 600km on Thursday in freezing conditions I am sticking with my thoughts on them.

Fuel lines can perish, they are pressurised so a leak will spray a lot of fuel. They are very cheap but while you are replacing them make them a little longer so you can raise the tank to access the relay box or move it back to access the radiator cap without disconnecting them.

Watch for leaks, big time. The very front is the oil/water pump, the sort of round cover behind the front wheel. The shaft wears and the seals fail, after all they are all over 20 years old. If ok leave it alone, if not get it done. Repair kits are available. Further back the rear engine seal can cause a drip at the front of the gear box. If you generally park on mainstand this will not accumulate inside.

Check out the section on what to do if you have just bought a K.

Thanks for the advice. I often thought I'd prefer a well maintained used bike rather than one stored and unused which can mean seals, etc perishing.

David

There are for and against for both. I would say that for a first time Brick owner get one that is going and cheapbut needs work that way you know the important things are probably OK and you get to know the bike on a personal level while doing the rest over and getting it back into shape.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:Here is an interesting one..... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-K100-RS-SE-/251800955932?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item3aa081ac1c

What are your opinions on this bike.
What questions would you be asking?

Cheers

I would buy it without asking any questions but I can do any work myself.  Not having many miles can be a disadvantage but with that one so long as it has been ridden consistently although only a bit it should be OK but if the full 11k was done 20 years ago then all the seal would be hard and ready to start leaking.
If any of the K series is ever to become highly sought after in years to come it is those SE models.

As Rick says its a good one to go for.

But also, again as Rick and others have said, seals are the problem as they would be on any vehicle not used for a long time.

I am not being negative but there are a lot of seals which if you did do replacements you would have an excellent bike and a sought after one.

Brake calipers, brake master cylinders, fork seals, inside petrol tank rubbers, fuel hoses, water/oil pump, starter O ring, alternator rubber shock absorber, air intake rubbers, crankcase vent, clutch rear rubber, fork seals, radiator cap, expansion hose to coolant reservoir, brake hoses.

Inside you need to look at the gearbox and rear crankshaft seal. Also timing chain slipper tensioner.

You also will need to look at fork head bearings and drive shafts as the grease will have hardened. The output shaft splines should also be looked at and that's a clutch off job, worth doing though and replace the rear crankshaft seal when you are in there.

With all those done the bike will be as good as new.

Having seen some of the prices for those SE models the asking price seems ok and reflects these jobs.

Buy it (the K100 RS SE).

I bought my Black SE off eBay for £1300 a few years ago and have since brought it to Italy, Germany, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the UK.

I have had to do a few of the jobs Olaf mentioned but these are not difficult and the bike has never let me down and parts are relatively cheap and easy to source.

It appears the bike is now sold.
I asked the seller some questions and it appeared in good condition, but it was hardly used for quite a few years.
No doubt it would require a bit of work.

Cheers

David

There is no doubt some work would have been needed. When I was in school a friend and myself used to buy up Honda 50s and small Yamaha 2 strokes that had been laid up and get them going. It was good, but even with them a lot of fiddly things would need doing. We got on well so he would sort any engine and running issues and get the bikes going. Then it was my job to detail them and get all the bits tidied up. Cables and crankshaft seals were regular issues but always worth doing.

Keep the eye out for a good K and if its far from you maybe someone could take a look for you.

Biggest thing is parts are easy to get and they are, despite appearances, quite an easy bike to work on. Things like timing chains do not scare either because the chain is so easy to get at. You would get a bad K going for less than the cost of an exhaust for a Pan European!!

david901 wrote:It appears the bike is now sold.
I asked the seller some questions and it appeared in good condition, but it was hardly used for quite a few years.
No doubt it would require a bit of work.

Cheers

David

You need to act quickly they will all need some work even if it is just a tidy up and getting things done your way

I will be on the lookout for a decent K from now on, though I must admit I'm quite cautious when it comes to purchasing a bike. I have a knack of getting money-pits...LOL.
Cheers guys.