2-Valve? 4-Valve? Wha?

[godzilla]

Dumb question that I really should know by now, but maybe there are other 'new' K owners that are curious, too.

How do I know if I have a 2-valve or a 4-valve K100? This kind of bugs me because I often see references to either 2 or 4 when it comes to accesories or parts.

My bike is an 85 K100RS.

[MCohen]

Four valves were first used in the K100 engine (in the US) with the 1990 K1. The following year it migrated to the K100RS. So, you have a 2-valve model. You can tell visually by looking at the spark plug cover which is marked "4 valve" on these later models.

Michael Cohen

[godzilla]

Ah... Thanks. Follow on dumb question. Are they talking about 'valves' as in intake/exhaust 4-valves per cylinder?

(Gee that look seven dumber than it sounds!) :laugh

[Bob_M]

It be valves ye scurvy dog.

Look sharp me hardy, Ye see the tail pipe? Yer 2 valve bike be hav'n a square ender pipe, An Yer 4 valve bike be hav'n a round ender pipe

Yarrgh

(Today Be International Talk Like A Pirate Day!)

[MCohen]

Ah... Thanks. Follow on dumb question. Are they talking about 'valves' as in intake/exhaust 4-valves per cylinder?

Yep. Four valves per cylinder (two intake and two exhaust) for a total of 16 valves on the later models. An interesting bit of trivia I was told... the first K100 engines (those in early 1985 or all of 1985 I'm not sure) had a "hotter" camshaft making more horsepower than later 2-valve K100 motors--about the same horsepower as the later 4-valve motors.

Michael Cohen

[godzilla]

It be valves ye scurvy dog.

Look sharp me hardy, Ye see the tail pipe? Yer 2 valve bike be hav'n a square ender pipe, An Yer 4 valve bike be hav'n a round ender pipe

Yarrgh

(Today Be International Talk Like A Pirate Day!)

But I am a landlubber! Yarrgh!