R1100RT vs K1100LT maint differences

[mmartin_tdc]

I have a R1100RT and may trade for a K1100LT.
What are some of the issues with the K bike?
How do the maintenances vary?

If you had the choice, which would you opt for?

[BUDDINGGEEZER]

I have a R1100RT and may trade for a K1100LT.
What are some of the issues with the K bike?
How do the maintenances vary?

If you had the choice, which would you opt for?

I have never ridden a R1100RT, but I owned a K100LT which is similar to the K1100LT. Less valve checks on the K bike, but if an adjustment is needed you must remove the camshafts. K bike will have more power, but will be very hot to ride in warm weather. this is the reason I no longer own my K.

My choice would be the R1100RT in a heartbeat.

Ralph Sims

[FUNRIDE]

I have owned two RT's now.

I used to ride a Kawa Concours14 which has a similar engine. Valve adjust is major all day project. Removing cams, etc, to change the "shims under the buckets". Kawasaki charged $700 to do valve "check" and more if it needed shim changes. My guess is BMW Service would be more. (Check with your dealer how much it costs to do valve check and adjustment). Bike was very very hot to ride. In the summer you would almost burn your legs if you touched the gas tank area. In the winter not bad. Not sure on the K bike but would guess similar because of the engine configuration.

I do the valve adjust on my RT in about an hour myself. Probably could do it faster if I did not take all the "coffee breaks".

K bikes have more power and smoother but if you want a BMW it has to be the "boxer" or RT, GS, etc. (I think)....

Depends what you want. Rocket speed with expensive maintanance or comfort and "medium" speed (still faster than most bikes) with low maintanance costs (or do maintanance yourself).

Just my humble thoughts, see what the other guys say.....

[Beemer01]

40,000 miles on my 85 K, never touched the valves. They seldom need attention frankly, every 80,000 miles or so seems about right.

The K is hotter, has a much broader usable RPM range, runs at higher RPMs (and doesn't care). I like 'em both.

[PHMARVIN]

Hi,
I had a '96 K1100LT which I bought with 14k miles and sold with 124k miles. As far as maintenance, I did most myself. It requires fluid and filter changes, spark plug changes, etc., same as the oilheads. It has 16 valves, each of which needs to be in spec. To check, loosen the left lower fairing, then remove the valve cover. Check each valve and note the clearance. Compare the clearance to what is specified. If out of spec (rare), then the cam has to be removed to change the bucket - both cams if both an intake and an exhaust valve need adjustment. Mine needed 2 buckets changed while I owned the bike - one at 32k and the other at 80k. Air filter is a PITA to access, but it so over sized that, if removed and tapped on the driveway evert 20k or so miles, it should last for close to 100k miles. Every time you do maintenance, retorque the exhaust header nuts. These do loosen and need to be checked frequently. I hope this helps.

[DZIMBRIC]

I traded my 1150Rt for a 1200GS and then got a K100LT. and then a K1100LT. except the K100 and the gS are still in my garage and have recently been joined by a K75RT. I may hve MBS but am not the only rider in my house.

Anyway since I could not decide between the GS and the LT I have both. The K bike is warmer and won't go where my GS will go but for just gertting down the road, even on a hot day, there is nothing like it.

Maintenance is about the smae frequency and although you may do one different from the other they are not hard to learn.

When I first got my GS I was missing some of the comforts of my RT but the K1100LT with electric windshield does everything the RT did except it has a lot more power.

[DZIMBRIC]

I have never ridden a R1100RT, but I owned a K100LT which is similar to the K1100LT. Less valve checks on the K bike, but if an adjustment is needed you must remove the camshafts. K bike will have more power, but will be very hot to ride in warm weather. this is the reason I no longer own my K.

My choice would be the R1100RT in a heartbeat.

Ralph Sims

The K1100LT rides cooelr than the K100LT and it is longer so you don't have to tuck your knees inside the fairing.

[mmartin_tdc]

Thanks for all the feed back. I knew there were some people out there that have owned and maintained both. I do my own valve adj and TB balancing, so seems they would be similar overall with the heat issue the variant.