Altered Mileage?

[Teslaesque]

I just picked up an '88 K100RS-abs to see if I like it better than my K75C. Its supposed to have 16,000 miles, but the odometer reading of 16,XXX is not perfectly centered in the window...only about 3/4 of the numbers are actually showing. Is this a sign of tampering? Does anyone know a way to confirm or more or less make an educated guess of mileage on these bikes when so many of them have had instrument cluster issues?
Thanks!

[BuddingGeezer]

I just picked up an '88 K100RS-abs to see if I like it better than my K75C. Its supposed to have 16,000 miles, but the odometer reading of 16,XXX is not perfectly centered in the window...only about 3/4 of the numbers are actually showing. Is this a sign of tampering? Does anyone know a way to confirm or more or less make an educated guess of mileage on these bikes when so many of them have had instrument cluster issues?
Thanks!

The consensus is all the early Ks had bad speedometers and have been changed and without service records, who knows.

I always look at the rear brake pedal, foot peg rubber, and gear shift lever. If they show very little to no wear it is probably low mileage.

I just bought a 1987 Kawasaki Concours that looks like it had been painted with a roller. The speedometer cable was broken and 16+K on the clock. The Brake pedal and shifter looked like new. When I did a valve adjustment the cam shaft looked new. As bad as the bike looked I believe it was under 20K miles.

The low miles on an old bike is another issue.

Ralph Sims

[RJM2096]

I just picked up an '88 K100RS-abs to see if I like it better than my K75C. Its supposed to have 16,000 miles, but the odometer reading of 16,XXX is not perfectly centered in the window...only about 3/4 of the numbers are actually showing. Is this a sign of tampering? Does anyone know a way to confirm or more or less make an educated guess of mileage on these bikes when so many of them have had instrument cluster issues?
Thanks!

Look at the tires. If they have rotted out, but not worn out maybe the milage is correct. 16,000 miles should be on a second set. Check the date of manufacture

Check the brake pads, look at the wear.

A cycle with 16,000 miles should look like new except for accident damage, fading, and corrosion.

[osbornk]

With the K bike and the age of the bike, the mileage doesn't matter. Bikes go bad from lack of use. I would just check if over, fix what's wrong and ride.

[brickrider]

I knew someone who purchased a brand new 1985 K100 when they first came out. As I remember, the speedo and/or instrument cluster had troubles. He and the dealer went 'round & 'round about it until the dealer finally got authorization to replace the cluster.

This was after so many miles. I don't remember how many, as it wasn't my problem. At the time, I was riding an 83 R100RT, the dealer was 150+ miles round trip away, and I was the one who kept getting stuck transporting the rider back & forth to the dealer.

From what I understand, this cluster problem was widespread on those models; for how long I don't know, but what you are seeing is understandable.

Ride Safely,
BrickRider

[deilenberger]

Post a good closeup photo of the rear brake pedal - top view so I can see the points. These are as good an indicator of actual mileage as can be found on old K bikes.. +/- 20k miles. The odometer reading is pretty much worthless between them not working, and being replaced (usually multiple times) - all they really indicate is how many miles the odometer wheels have on them.

[Teslaesque]

So, my digital camera doesn't feel like working any more... But the good news is that the mileage seems to be true. I had to bring it to my dealer for an inspection, and the guys there (while not being able to guarantee it of course) told me the mileage seems legit. One less thing to worry about.

Now I can move on to figuring out how to not drop the thing...this is a difficult transition from a K75C.

[DarkCloud]

Have your friendly BMW dealer search the VIN. Besides coming up with the mileage at the last service/recall mileage, you'll find out if there are any recalls that need to be done.

[jgmallis]

I've had a 88 K100RS ABS since new and my speedo was replaced at ~13K miles. They put a milage sticker under the seat, as required by law. If a dealer did your fix, you should see this sticker (and your dealer should have looked). Since mine has been a daily driver with 5 months out for good behavior, (and snowy roads), it's only had routine maintenance since new, 88K miles strong now. That was the only flaw on mine, fixed under warranty. As others have stated, fix what's wrong and then ride. I thought mine was heavy until I got my 04RT. Now that's a heavy bike (taller to, which compounds the problem for me at only 5'4").

[Teslaesque]

jg,
i'm having a rough time with low speed balance on the k100rs... i'm actually plenty tall enough for it, and have a bunch of riding experience. i've just never dropped a bike in a parking lot before. as it sits, the crack on the fairing can be fixed...but i dont know how to keep it from happening again. AND dropping it cracks the plastic! so how do i practice? any advice is appreciated.

[kpinvt]

This is a pretty timely thread for me. I went to a dealer today to look at a couple of K bikes, a 1987 K75 with 45k miles & a 1991 K100 with 24k miles. Both looked like they had never seen the under side of a cover or the inside of a garage until they got there. The K100 had what looked like a newer instrument cluster and was in worse condition than the K75 which looked like it had not been cleaned in a long, long time except for being rained on. Lots of pitting on the aluminum parts of the engine. The K100 is $2995, I would not start to think about buying that bike for half that amount. I guess if you are a dealer it pays to use a low resolution camera for posting pictures on your web site. Next time I'm that area I'll have to look at them again keeping in mind the info from the posts above.

[jgmallis]

jg,
i'm having a rough time with low speed balance on the k100rs... i'm actually plenty tall enough for it, and have a bunch of riding experience. i've just never dropped a bike in a parking lot before. as it sits, the crack on the fairing can be fixed...but i dont know how to keep it from happening again. AND dropping it cracks the plastic! so how do i practice? any advice is appreciated.

Dunno except lots of practice.:dunno I had my R100RS for 6 years before acquiring the K-bike. I had to dismount it to deploy either the kick of center stand, so being able to put the kick stand down first was an improvement. You might practice that for a while. You have to keep a mild lean towards the kick stand while you get off, not the other way or you'll lose it. Being vertically challenged forced me to gain a good sense of balance and feel for how much off vertical I could go (not much). I chuckle at cruiser types who try to handle the RT, it's very tricky; I've already had my Artie Johnson moment with it on a mild right hand slope when I lost my footing and both of us did the slow get-off. The K-RS with the stubby handle bars isn't much better, its just that I've had it for 18 yrs.