A Plan

As recently outlined in another post (and subsequently encouraged by Hog),
I'm starting 2004 with a life overhaul.

Plan A is coming together nicely. I've decided to pull my equity out of the
house once the grubby stuff has been sorted with the outgoing dragon, flop
for a bit of prep at a mates while I get my stuff sorted and stored - then
the comes the good bit. I'm jacking my job in and sodding off for major
travels beginning with twelve months on two wheels round Europe and North
Africa.

Earlier in 2003, you may remember my mate was selling his virtually mint
6000 miles '94 BMW K1100LT SE and initially wanting silly money. Anyway I've
all but done the deal for £4000 and intend to use the bike for this trip and
whatever follows. I think the dosh is fair but wouldn't mind some feedback
about any long term problems I might encounter with the bike or any
provisions I should need to consider to make it suitable for living with on
a continuous basis.

I didn't think that being 50 years old was going to get this good - thank
**** I never had brats.

Happy New Year people.

Roger

 

Whaa-aaattt?

How much?

Jeez.

 

What did I say? escapes me now. Seems like a good price for the mileage
anyway.
Things to do, hmm. It's done a lot of sitting around which might have dried
a few bits up.

Optimoly on the drive shaft splines.
Grease up the (rear) paralever bearing while you are at it. It takes a lot
of heat to remove the paralever pivot BTW.
Worth putting the Optimoly on the clutch splines too.
New tyres deffo, even if they look OK.
Grease the steering head bearings and the stand pivots.
Fit heavy springs from Motorworks and fork gaiters with new fork seals while
you are there.
Clean the brake calliper pistons.
Check the pads for corrosion getting in behind the friction material.
Check the rubbers for perishing, such as the inlet tracts etc.
Give it a good thrashing for several hundred miles to check for items
letting go then full service with spark plugs, brake fluid and all lubes
including forks.
Job's a good'un.

I'm a bit paranoid and irrational about some things and I might change the
sealed for life front wheel bearings just in case they have dried out past
the seals, it's only a few squid.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, RG

Not wishing to piss on anyone's tent flap, that does sound like a heck
of a lot of money for a ten year old bike...

 

Hmm... it doesn't look too over the top to me. Maybe by a few hundred
quid but not way, way too much.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique,
typed

Gulp. I'm obviously *way* out of touch with used Beemer prices.

 

Well if you reckon my '96 36K miler went for £3.3K or summat then £4k for
something just run in seems ok as long as it is minted. Given that they
didn't change much I'm not sure the age matters so.

 

Or I'm wrong... looking on Autotrader for K1100LTs:

Cheapest is 3k (and that's the most foul shade of blue it's been my
'pleasure' to see on a bike).

Most expensive is 6k but that's for a 98 with 10k on the clock.

I looked a while back and came to the conclusion that for anything with
less than 60k on the clock I'd need to find about 3.5k. Decided to
stick with the K100 until it dies at that point.

 

Nigel Eaton said...

Over-priced tat if you ask me. Especially considering the amount of
modifications that need to be done to them to make them enjoyable to
ride, and the apparent lack of reliability if what I've seen on the
newsgroups is anything to go by.

I'll stick to Kawasakis tyvm.

 

Saw that earlier! perhaps it's a dodgy photograph.
Thing is, I'm not sure many of these ever sell. That's been around for
months.

 

That's just Timo probly.

Kawasaki don't make a nice big shaft drive barn door faired bike.
I said nice so that rules out the GTR.

 

Voyager 12?

ZN1300 Voyager?

--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C
|_\_____/_| ..62661../..14297.../..3157./.19406
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG*
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17
'^'

 

Well the only mods I've made to my K are... er fitting temperature and
fuel gauges, a mount for the GPS unit, a higher screen, heated grips and
'flaps' to keep the wind off my toes. I'm sure there's other stuff too.
Can't remember it though.

It's broken down twice in 17k miles; once because a wire in the loom
that fed the fuel gauge fractured and once (following this) because
whilst diagnosing this I'd fucked up a connector by putting a dvm probe
in it, spreading the pins apart. Apart from that, well the centre stand
collapsed and that's it. I'd say that's pretty good for an 19 year old
bike.

The previous bike did about 10k in my use and was faultless; well
faultless after I'd replaced the rings, valves etc. to deal with it's
oil 'habit'; I suspect the indicated 80k wasn't correct; it was my
normal mistake when buying bikes- I got too keen after the test ride and
hadn't researched it enough.

IME there's nothing wrong with the reliability of the K series and the
finish is perfect for a lazy git like me (I don't need to worry about
it). Looking at similar aged GT750s they're all a lot more doggy and
knackered- a hell of a lot worse.

Normally I'd agree with most stuff you write about bikes, on this
occasion I don't; bear in mind I'm a fan of Kawasaki stuff.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique,
typed

Oh, I unreservedly bow to your experience. I've never really looked into
them, and I'm surprised how well they hold their value.

 

Umm... I think there's a reason that one hasn't sold; it's the foulest
colour ever.

I think they do turn over, I've been looking (idly) for a few months and
they change. It's fair to say they aren't in great demand though since
I suppose for that sort of money you could prolly get a decent PanEuro
now.

 

Yup, only you could have filed that under "nice" ;o)

 

They are really nice engines; the K series, can't speak for the R series
since I've never ridden one.

OK, they vibrate a bit and the gearing's wrong; if they'd put in a much
higher 5th gear (geared for 150 or something so it was put 70 mph at
2.5k rpm or something like that.) then I think they'd been a much better
bike. Given these flaws though they are really rewarding to ride, nice
and torquey and very, very comfortable. I've done a couple of 700 mile
days and after 30 minutes at the end to stretch my bones I've been fine
with no aches and pains the next day.

I'm getting old... I can't believe I'm defending a 20 year old BMW.

 

I wonder if there is a profit to be made turning out a super high ratio
bevel box. Need to be around the £200 mark. Oi, Nigel

 

Hmm... but that would raise all other gears too, wouldn't it. I think
it's a case or modifying the box to do the job properly.

 

Sir wants a nice little GL1500, Sir does.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C
|_\_____/_| ..62661../..14297.../..3157./.19406
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG*
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17
'^'