One of many ( I suppose) odd questions

[dbOnIce]

OK; I want to, no, I'm going to procure a "K" bike.

Price point on the '80s machines is alluring.
The mid '90s bikes just plain look cool and seem mechanically sound.
And, the GT sings to me (but I shouldn't want to go that fast)

Are there any particular reasons I should choose one over the other?

Anybody out there with a strong opinion? :laugh

[cayuse60]

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=9369&d=1184950195

This is my favorite:thumb

---tim

[BuckeyeClark]

OK; I want to, no, I'm going to procure a "K" bike.

Price point on the '80s machines is alluring.
The mid '90s bikes just plain look cool and seem mechanically sound.
And, the GT sings to me (but I shouldn't want to go that fast)

Are there any particular reasons I should choose one over the other?

Anybody out there with a strong opinion? :laugh


I had a 1980 R100RT for a few years and now have a 1988 K100RT. The K bike seems to be a little quicker (not really important to me) and better in the curves (important to me) and I love riding it. Now I will actually say something that has something to do with your question. The only thing I do not care for about my
K100RT is the secondary vibration at the handlebars. When I am riding for an hour or more I find myself periodically shaking my hands around trying to get the feeling back into them. I plan on buying a new bike in a few years when the house is paid off and I, at this point, am leaning on heading back to the R-bike ranks. Anyway, I have read that the vibrations that I am talking about are an issue with the 80's K100's. You might want to think about going a little newer than the 80's bikes or down to the K75 class. The guys on here will be able to tell you more they are extremely helpful. Hope this was useful in some way.....

[BuddingGeezer]

I have a 1987 K100LT with 30,000 on the clock. I have owned since !0/06 and put 7000 miles on it. I don't really have a vibration issue that makes my hands go numb. Maybe I got a lucky one. The only drawback to the bike is the heat on my legs trapped by the fairing on 90+ days, allthough it keeps my arthritis limber. I do like to ride when it's cold and all the other brands are in the garage.

I have just aquired a 1987 K75C with 37,000 on the clock. The small K is much easier to ride around town, but falls short at speed due to the lesser wind protection. The K75 is electric motor smooth. It reminds me of an electric golf cart. It is probably in my opinion (take MO and $1.50 and get a cup of coffee) the perfect commuter bike.

I have not ridden the newer BMWs, but it is hard for me to imagine a nicer motorcycle than my K100Lt especially and the K75. Facter in the price, and it is a no brainer to me. (My brain ain't that big, though).

I just can't give up the litre bikes power. Kind of like once you've had 'Ds', it hard to go back to 'Bs' if you know what I mean.

Ralph Sims

[Gilly]

The high frequency vibration will put to sleep any part of your anatomy in contact with the bike on the 100's. I recommend a K75. I don't think it's a problem on the 1200's, not sure on the 1100's

Gilly

[osbornk]

My first BMW was a 1985 K100RT. It was very fast and handled great but the already mentioned buzz in the handlebars and the heat on my legs bothered me. Also, if you park an early K-bike on the sidestand, it will smoke like crazy when started. Doesn't hurt anything but it can be embarrasing. I then bought a 1992 K75RT (identical bike except for the motor so I switched all the best accessories to it) and sold the K100RT. It was electric motor smooth, didn't smoke at all and had considerably less power. I liked it very much but like the K100RT, it was tall and top heavy.

I then bought a 1986 R80RT to join the K75RT and they lived happily together for 5 or 6 years. I then decided to get rid on one and even though the K75 did EVERYTHING better then the R80, I sold the K75 and kept the R80 because I liked the personality better. After a couple of years, I bought a 2003 R1200CLC due to my short inseam. It will not out run my little R80, it is heavy, the slow speed manners make it difficult, it was slammed by all the magazines when it was new but I love it.

I figure I must be mentally unstable to have had 4 BMWs and each one I buy is slower than the one before.

[timbro]

My '85 K100RT is the one designated for long distance touring. Hot behind the fairing on warm days, this bike is a workhorse for all day 2-up riding. Passengers prefer this ride over the other two. 136K on the 2nd speedo and counting.

My '90 K75 RT (started out life as a "C" and morphed into an "RT" with the fairing addition) reminds me of my JC Higgins bicycle growing up. I have so much fun blasting around on this nimble machine that I inevitably come in too "hot" to the inevitable stop sign or stopped vehicle that then requires jamming on the "binders" and experiencing the old rear end kicking out just like the trusty JC Higgins. Not having ABS can at times prove very exciting. Great one-up ride, her peppiness is somewhat diminished when a passenger is added. 80K and still going strong.

My '04 K1200GT is an engineering marvel. I thank the German engineers behind this design everytime I climb aboard. Very quick, very nimble, very smooth, requires 89 octane; this baby will get you into trouble much quicker than the older K's if you start getting sloppy. Smoothness is the key on this rig. I am only 5'9" so ergomomically this bike takes a toll on my arms over long distances. Bar modifications or a tank bag to lean on might make a world of difference, but, long distance is what the K100 RT is for so why bother. I have ABS, which is one layer of protection I recommend.

It all comes down to what type of riding you plan to do. I love them all!

Broman

[cayuse60]

...I figure I must be mentally unstable to have had 4 BMWs and each one I buy is slower than the one before.

DOB (date of birth) syndrome:laugh

[brickrider]

I rode a 1983 R100/7 converted to an RT for 117,000 miles. It was reliable, underpowered, never failed to start, had an ungodly uncomfortable seat, easy to maintain, and wore out a LOT of parts - including 3 sets of valves. See the love/hate? I purchased a 1991 HD FLTCU Ultra Glide. It had 78,000 miles on it, most comfortable ride to date, hotter than the Gates of Hell on the right leg by the exhaust pipes, and never used or leaked a drop of oil between changes when I sold them both to get a 2000 K1200LTC. The K is the finest motorcycle I have ever ridden, and the worst nightmare to work on/maintain. I don't know how fast it will go - I've never had it over 100. Don't care either. All the extra power means that it lopes along easily at freeway speeds with plenty of reserve, accelerates enough to thrill even when two-up and loaded heavily with luggage, and smooth as an electric engine (to borrow an appropriate metaphore from others).

You are riding an oilhead. If you choose a lesser powered K-Bike than what you have, it won't be long before you are wishing for something better. Like right now, you are seeking a ride more suited to your style than what you already have.

Go take a new, or near-new K1200LT, GT, (whatever) for a spin. Then you'll know.

[Paul_F]

My 87 K100RT has 174, 000 km, of which I have put 53,000 on during the past two seasons plus this one. Handle bar vibration has not been a problem. The heat was not a problem until recently when I went for a slide on a Colorado gravel road. The left knee pad is no longer as tight to the bike's body as before and therefore allows heat to flow to my left side. I expect this problem to disappear in the near future when I take the left side off and reattach it. The bike is top heavy at walking speeds but very flickable at speed. With my 29" inseam, it does tend to be a bit tall. Thicker boot soles have reduced this problem, along with a slightly lowered seat. I like the bike.

[dbOnIce]

Hey every body, thanks for the great feedback. :thumb
Plenty of info on the earlier models, and currently owning an R series "04 I think the GT would just be a "feel" difference not a technology difference, (except for the power plant of course).

I would like to hear more about the K1100 (mid "90s I guess) if any one is so inclined. :stick

I am not looking to replace my R1150, I just want to add a dimension to my BMW riding experience. I may also go for a 650GS eventually, since pillion and I fluffed to an unplanned stop in the sand pit also refered to as Rustic Road #50 on the way to the Rally. It took me an hour to dig my out of that with my fully loaded RS ! :nono

[BlackHoof]

DB,

I traded hoss's & got my 1st K bike last fall after making disparaging remarks
about weed-whips around the camp fire for the last 20 years. My .02, they are
great bikes, & since you live in Mn. you will love the additional couple of weeks
riding in the fall & spring when the onboard heater keeps you snug & warm.
Above 80 deg f, I would just as soon ride something else. Did I mention onboard
heater??

Good luck with your search, the more bikes the betta!