25 Years Of The K-Bike at Gillette!

[GregFeeler]

All,
Check out this tread on the Rally Forum about the 25th K-Bike Anniversary celebration at Gillette: http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=27078

[DarrylRi]

With the K1200LT due to run at least another model year, the flying brick motor will surpass the venerable airhead motor for longevity in production! Amazing!

[R80RTJohnny]

I hope that a K bike special issue of ON is in the works.

[godzilla]

Ah MAN! I wasn't planning on going to the rally this year, but a birthday party for my dear old K bike? I got the original... Would she get some special treatment should she show up?

[GregFeeler]

Ah MAN! I wasn't planning on going to the rally this year, but a birthday party for my dear old K bike? I got the original... Would she get some special treatment should she show up?

ALL K-bikes are special - right? :laugh

[GregFeeler]

With the K1200LT due to run at least another model year, the flying brick motor will surpass the venerable airhead motor for longevity in production! Amazing!

Yes, isn't it? I was at the Missoula, MT Rally in '84 when BMW introduced the '85 model K's to the US, and a lot of people thought the world had ended, and BMW had sold it's soul to the Devil.

[Gilly]

What would you consider the start/end of the airhead?? I thought it started in '23 and ended?????? What, when the oilhead came out i guess or was there some overlap??
Gilly

[GregFeeler]

What would you consider the start/end of the airhead?? I thought it started in '23 and ended?????? What, when the oilhead came out i guess or was there some overlap??
Gilly

I think a lot of people consider "Airheads" to count from the Type 247 engine introduced with the /5. That engine design was used with minor changes through the last airheads in 1995. Bikes before the /5 are often called "/2's". I believe the /5 was introduced in 1969 as a 1970 model, so that would mean the 247 engine ran for 25 years. In which case, as long as there is a 2009 K1200LT with the Flying Brick classic K-engine, then that design will have been produced longer.

[DarrylRi]

I think a lot of people consider "Airheads" to count from the Type 247 engine introduced with the /5. That engine design was used with minor changes through the last airheads in 1995. Bikes before the /5 are often called "/2's". I believe the /5 was introduced in 1969 as a 1970 model, so that would mean the 247 engine ran for 25 years. In which case, as long as there is a 2009 K1200LT with the Flying Brick classic K-engine, then that design will have been produced longer.

Yes, exactly. The term Airhead was invented post hoc as a reaction to the introduction of the type 256 "Oilhead" bikes in 1994. Again, a lot of people thought that BMW had sold its soul to the devil. The folks who, in 1994, were riding pre-1970 BMWs, didn't seem to really much care about the idea, they had already seen it happen more than once.

But the /5 was as radical a change vs. the /2 as the Oilhead was to the Airhead. Almost no parts interchange, and BMW, a company with a very evolutionary product history, had made a completely revolutionary jump. The last big jump like this was in 1936 when the R5 was introduced. Otherwise, BMW just made running changes from year to year, or came out with new models that had updated transmission designs, or changed the frame layout, or the motor design, but they were introduced gradually, not all at once.

With the intro of the /5, the layout of the motor was different with high pressure oiling to a plain bearing crank, camshaft running underneath the crank, 12V electrics, PLASTIC body parts, multiple stock colors, CV carbs, battery-coil ignition, completely new frame design, new transmission design...

[Gilly]

Thanks for clearing that up about the airhead. Too bad the BEST K Bike wasn't built longer. I would have traded up at some point if they would have done any upgrade to the engine, but they never did.
Gilly

[DarrylRi]

Your K75 will be recognized by the Vintage Club (http://www.vintagebmw.org) as a classic bike in 2012.

[GregFeeler]

Thanks for clearing that up about the airhead. Too bad the BEST K Bike wasn't built longer. I would have traded up at some point if they would have done any upgrade to the engine, but they never did.
Gilly


I assume you mean the K75? Yeah, I have two and love 'em both. A friend of mine found a 1995 K75 low seat standard yesterday with 2,500 original miles. It's got garage dust, but will clean up as new. He wouldn't say what he paid for is, but I think he stole it. K75's seem to getting more popular.

[motoedde]

Thanks for clearing that up about the airhead. Too bad the BEST K Bike wasn't built longer. I would have traded up at some point if they would have done any upgrade to the engine, but they never did.
Gilly

Gilly...I couldn't agree more...the K75 will take you anywhere and back.

Its a faithful companion that whispers to you its issues before they become problems, and will never leave you stranded as long as you heed those whispers;)

I hope the fete in Gillette will do it justice.

[barryg]

U guys riding K100LT/RT/RS/ to Gillette. Tony Tabot in Barlett Tn. has K bike heat shields for sell. 901 314 0143. Make the trip more tolerable. The first person who gos by with a K75RT will probably get a free set. U can also go by on the way and Tony will install them for U. Tony's in Bartlett, Tn. next to Memphis. ;)

[Gilly]

Gilly...I couldn't agree more...the K75 will take you anywhere and back.

Its a faithful companion that whispers to you its issues before they become problems, and will never leave you stranded as long as you heed those whispers;)

I hope the fete in Gillette will do it justice.

Wish it could have whispered a bit louder before the clutch cable finally snapped on it yesterday. But DAMM what a great bike, I had just gotten back from work with it, then had to zip to the post office quick and decided to break about 3 blocks from home, a distance fairly easily pushed. It's almost like it KNEW that this would be a good enough place to break.
Anyone have over 94,000mi on an original clutch cable???

[motoedde]

Wish it could have whispered a bit louder before the clutch cable finally snapped on it yesterday. But DAMM what a great bike, I had just gotten back from work with it, then had to zip to the post office quick and decided to break about 3 blocks from home, a distance fairly easily pushed. It's almost like it KNEW that this would be a good enough place to break.
Anyone have over 94,000mi on an original clutch cable???

Well...those whispers might have been creaking sounds BUT...90k is a good time to replace the cable whether it breaks or not.

Some last longer...but you don't want to be caught with the short straw...

I always try to do things preventatively and at my convenience...I carry a spare one as I'm approaching 90k on mine.

Make sure to grease both ends of the cable, but NOT inside the cable.

[PGlaves]

Oh perfect! I rode Old Smokey for 19 years and 370,000 miles. I now own two more K75s. Now we are getting the respect the bikes deserve - and I'm going to arrive at Gillette on my F650, returning from Alaska, the Northwest Territories, and other assorted northern places.

Perfect! Just perfect! And my pristine K75RTP cop bike gets to stay home and miss the celebration. Perfect.

[GregFeeler]

Oh perfect! I rode Old Smokey for 19 years and 370,000 miles. I now own two more K75s. Now we are getting the respect the bikes deserve - and I'm going to arrive at Gillette on my F650, returning from Alaska, the Northwest Territories, and other assorted northern places.

Perfect! Just perfect! And my pristine K75RTP cop bike gets to stay home and miss the celebration. Perfect.

You want to swing by my place in Idaho and borrow a K-bike for Gillette so you don't feel so left out? :laugh

[zoridog]

Given the reputation of the "hot" K100, the celebration should occur at a cooler time of the year.

The bikes really show their worth when the temperatures are low.

[Warthog]

U guys riding K100LT/RT/RS/ to Gillette. Tony Tabot in Barlett Tn. has K bike heat shields for sell. 901 314 0143. Make the trip more tolerable. The first person who gos by with a K75RT will probably get a free set. U can also go by on the way and Tony will install them for U. Tony's in Bartlett, Tn. next to Memphis.

Are they the same heat shields that used to be sold on line at http://hometown.aol.com/bmwkguard/

Does Tony have a website?

[barryg]

No, but very similar. I think that guy just kind of disapeared.

[barryg]

No Tony doesn't have a web site.

[Warthog]

Any idea what a set for a 91 K100LT would run?

[barryg]

$100 + about $20 shipping just give Tony a call.