Brick or Air???

[Joecubana]

Ok, my wife has finally said I can get the bike I've wanted (plus it will be more comfortable for her!). While wanting an airhead for years, lately I have been thinking of a K100.....any thoughts or impressions would be appreciated.

JC

[sgborgstrom]

I bought a K100RS after many years of airheadedness. Kept the R75/7 because I liked it so much....but also stopped riding it, eventually to be sold. The K's are faster, don't have that "rubber-cow" feeling when cranked over in a turn and feel more refined than the twins.

BUTT...

There is a feeling you get from a well-tuned twin that you don't get from the K series. A huge aftermarket allows a much wider range of customization of your airhead too.

Having toured extensively on both types of bikes, you can load a K100 with a lot of weight before it affects much, the same can't be said of the twins, they just don't have the power or frame stiffness of the brick.

I am lucky enough to have a small fleet of bikes in our garage:

1991 K100RS
1997 R850R
1975 R75/6 (still under restoration)
1977 GL1000 (just taking up space)

The plan is to add an F650 Dakar (preferably in the 2001 white w/black paint scheme) sometime next spring after I finish the new wing on the garage (the stem walls are going in today). Technically the two twins belong to my wife so I don't think I have a problem though she says we have a transportation fetish.

So, take the following statement with a grain of salt:

For all of those two-up rides and long trips, get the K. It will be an excellent all-around motorcycle. Then look for a good cheap airhead and slip it into the garage for those solo rides when you are looking for that vintage feeling.

Steve

[splinelube]

BLASPHEMOUS!

[Joecubana]

I was wondering if someone would say that!

[AntonLargiader]

Originally posted by Joecubana
Ok, my wife has finally said I can get the bike I've wanted (plus it will be more comfortable for her!). While wanting an airhead for years, lately I have been thinking of a K100

What's your budget? How will this bike normally be ridden? Do you do your own work? What's your riding style? Hot or cold climate?
.....

Lots that goes into this...

[RevWillie]

Airheads have a lot of "character" and come with a lot of constraints, such as the power limitations, the electrical system (own a trickle charger?) and the suspension (can we say "pogo stick"?). They are wonderful "old school" motorcycles.

Oilheads are a lot like Airheads: they have a lot of "character" as well, but they have better electrics and suspension. They have the power, but you will have a problem with self-service shop work and they are expensive. They are wonderful "new school" motorcycles but reliability questions sometimes come up.

Bricks do not have a whole lot of "character"-they feel like 2-wheel automobiles. What they do have is lots of power and lots of reliability. It is harder to bond to these bikes but they will usually keep going no matter what. In my mind, my K75's lived up to the BMW Legend better than any of my Air and Oilhead bikes.

All are different kinds of bikes--pick the one that feels the best to you. :dunno

[MarkF]

If I was gonna do lots of touring I would decide between a K1100LT and R100RT. The K has more power and is faster but the R is reliable and has that BMW character. So ride one of each and decide. Personally, my two favs would be a R100S or R100RS. Now, for the dollar your best choice might be neither. Lots of R11/1150RT and GS in the flea market for very reasonable prices.

MarkF

P.S. Whatever you decide when you get it remember to post a pic!

[Mudbug]

Earlier this year I bought a K100RS that was listed on IBMWR. It's a great bike. I highly recommend a 91 or later K100 or K1100.

[petepeterson]

JC, If you bond with your next scooter then thats great... I bonded with mine and its the first out of 15 scooters and 30 trucks that I felt a need to name it.. Sounds weird I know but thats what happened..............Pete

[RT DOG]

PETE hit the nail on the head. ( IF YOU BOND WITH YOUR SCOOTER)I just bought my second bike in jan. And that has been over 18yrs ago sense I had one. It was a used 97 R1100RT. I was mulling over bikes for the last 3 yrs.

But I a finally answered all my questions and calmed all my fears considering. I never had a road bike or a cycle endorsement. It was strange I sat on the bike that I bought and I just kinda bonded with it right there. I have sit on several RT's in the year before that but I bought the one I was most comfortable with.

And for the question of which one K or R You will be more then likely happy with either pick. I bought a R series but I enjoy a K also My brother and I switch up bikes and he owns a K75. So JC just pick the bike that feels good and hopefully you have a riding partner that has the opposite then you have the best of both worlds :bliss

[rocketman]

I'm pretty much a staunch airhead rider, though I did once test ride a K bike (K75) and loved the handling and power and agronomics of the seating position (it was an RT).

others have covered some of basic differences in frame and suspension differences so I won't bother going there.

The one biggest negative that I've heard of the K series prior to the K1100 was heat off the engine getting blown back at the rider when the fan kicks in, some even reporting that the tank can get so hot that it *almost* burns the rider when stuck in traffic or on a really hot day even if moving at a good clip. On the plus side there are supposed to be some aftermarket mods that can help prevent this, but that's only what I've been told and have no direct experience with that.

Airheads do take more maintenance to keep running, but parts are generally readily available and cheaper than newer bikes.
So, a lot of it boils down to what you are looking for and without spending some time riding each it can be a tough decision. Each has their pluses and minuses.


RM

[Mudbug]

Originally posted by rocketman
The one biggest negative that I've heard of the K series prior to the K1100 was heat off the engine getting blown back at the rider when the fan kicks in, some even reporting that the tank can get so hot that it *almost* burns the rider when stuck in traffic or on a really hot day even if moving at a good clip. On the plus side there are supposed to be some aftermarket mods that can help prevent this, but that's only what I've been told and have no direct experience with that.
RM


Horse feathers !!!

I have no problems with heat from the engine when I ride my 91 K100RS. I live in Texas where summer temps are rarely below 90's during the day and occasionally are in the 100's. I have never been *almost* burned by my bikes tank which is white. Of course I would never lean on any black vehicle, BMW K bike or Ford minivan, in the hottest part of the day when the temperature is above 100.

The heat off my K100RS running engine is no hotter than the heat coming from my R1200CL running engine.

I do wear boots when I ride.

[trmptrmrk]

Originally posted by Mudbug
Horse feathers !!!

I have no problems with heat from the engine when I ride my 91 K100RS.

I don't know anything about horse feathers, but you don't have one of the early K100s. I've only ridden a K100 as a passenger, but its my understanding that the early K100s got awfully hot down by the engine. BMW started detuning them after the first year, too (correct me if I'm wrong)... did that help with heat?

(A friend just got a K100RS and offered to let me take it for a spin. Can't wait, though I'm afraid it'll feel a bit heavy for me. KRS and K75S are about the only BMW fairings I think look really sharp.)

[GSTom]

My main rides are a '92 R100GS and an '88 K100LT. As for my preference and recommendation? I like owning both. I take the K if the ride involves more interstate type riding, but the GS for minor roads and twisties. If I had to keep only one, I would keep the GS simply because I prefer to stay off the interstate and do most of my riding away from heavily populated places, primarily in SW Missouri and NW Arkansas. For under $7000 you could own both a nice airhead and an earlier model K.

[theLuz]

If I were you (and I was a few years ago), I'd get a K1100LT. Best bike BMW ever made. I tried to replace it and no one makes a replacement (I thought the K1200GT would do, but it's just an RS, Yamaha and Honda both come close, but no cigar) yet.

I kept the K and bought an R1150GS Adventure. Wife still MUCH prefers the K.
;)

[Hodag]

K11LT is the best bang for the buck
comfort, power, reliable and a hoot to ride
(plus with prices in the 5's plus kinda cheap)
Mark
If it wasn't for gas, oil , and tires it would be a free ride

[rapz]

I had the RT, but moved up to the LT because I do a lot of two-up riding. It's very different than the RT, but it is great in its own way. After 4,000+ miles I'm still trying to get used to stopping smoothly without having to think about it, but everything else is great. On the highway it feels great and it's no slouch on curves and, of course, on the interstate it just runs all day at 80+ two-up with full luggage without a worry. The thing I enjoy is that it doesn't burn oil like the RTs...it's a minor thing, but nice not to have to keep checking it every stop (after xx minutes on the centerstand). The RT is great for solo riding and there's a lot more of them on the road than the flagship K.:brow

[Joecubana]

Wow,
and all I wanted to do was get a Beemer!. Need to take all the info and get on a couple and ride and see what touches me. I am hoping to do more two up riding with the wife next summer so we'll need to see what fits.

Sometimes we tend to think too much and over analyze everthing rather than letting the feeling take us.
JC

[gsmetal]

Oh my God....don't get an Airhead!

Get yourself a nice K1100LT or any K1100 for that matter and enjoy fuel injection and an industructable motor.

I recently bought a K1100LT but I also have an oilhead.

Even with the oilhead, the K motor is VERY alluring.

[MarkF]

Originally posted by gsmetal
Oh my God....don't get an Airhead!


Why? Anything on two wheels has redeeming qualities.

MarkF

[Brickhead]

I've got an '85 K100RS, and on a hot day, the heat from the tank and when the fan kicks on is no joke...the heat on my legs is alleviated somewhat by the aftermarket "leg protectors" installed, but still it was hard to get used to in stop-n-go traffic...With leathers on, the tank doesn't cause any irritation, but the first time i rode it with jeans on, it was a real surprise.

If (like me), you can only afford one bike, you have to ask yourself what you want to do with the bike...The K100 is an awesome road bike - stable, insdestructable, plenty of power, and good for pillion ...I live in New York, and use the bike primarily to get the hell out of Dodge for weekend trips and such - for this purpose the K is great...I love my K, but if I were in the market for a bike I could tool around the city on, I'd be way happier on something smaller and simpler...