First off, I am a new user of the k-bike forum. I have already learned quite a bit about the bike i am interested in buying on craigslist. But for all of you guys who know alot more than i do about these bikes, could you give me some wisdom?
It is a 1989 BMW K100RS
Here is the link: http://lawrence.craigslist.org/mcy/4024073316.html
- I have been having a hard time figuring out whether this model year has 8 valves or 16 valves. I have heard that the K100RS with 16 valves is a major improvement over the previous 8 valve design.
- This is a motorcycle that i want to invest in for a long time and have it running for years to come. Not just buy it now and sell it a year from now. I'm aware these bikes are renowned for going long miles, but this one has 69,000 miles on it.
- He has told me that the enrichener cable has broken/needs replaced. I am not sure where to go about buying a new one of those or how difficult it would be to replace.
And below is more detail in an email he sent me:
"I'm not the 1st owner, bought it from a 60-some year old guy out of Wichita, Ks who had a bunch of Beemers. He rode it to AZ and all around, retired touring, bought a K100LT for a bit more comfort instead. He did the last valve adjustment, i haven't popped it open yet to do one, though I've read to use different shims on the Flying Brick forum. I bought it with a few less rock chips, but in great condition.
I do have a clear title in my name, no liens. Bought it with cash from my last bike plus done from savings.
I did lay the bike over when I forgot to take the disc lock off within the last month. It had been previously dropped on the same side. I'll give you pictures of the side.
Sorry to hear of your last bike. She gave up on you, I take it?
I do my own maintenance, I'm a mechanic by trade. If something seems like a bit much, I'll find someone who's done it & ask for help.
The bike it's being stored in a friends garage as I don't have one@ my current residence. I drove accross town & swap out my car for it.
I use StaBil in the gas over winter, but keep it started, warmed up, & run until the fans come on during the cold months. Take the battery out & store it inside sometimes on the tender when it's to cold out. She had a good Panasonic battery in it, has always worked real well for me, I'll buy another.
Cables have been lubed periodically. The enrichener circuit's cable did snap & I have not replaced it as of yet. It's like a choke, but the bike is fuel injected.
I'm selling because I've become more interested in riding on the track than taking it out for sport touring. Only managed to get to NW Arkansas so far, not as far as I would have liked to. Kept thinking of Colorado, but I'm having a blast at the local track's road course on a modded SV650 I've been fixing up. I hop on that to commute to work too. The K bike gets pulled out on the weekends to go 2 up to Lawrence with my fiancée, or to KC when the SV wouldn't be as comfortable. Wanted to head back to Arkansas next weekend on it, but the future father-in-law is coming in from out of state.
I have the owners manual, the full right side bag, & the left side bag inner, which attaches to the bike. The lid was stolen along with a nice pair of gloves at my last apartment. Good reason not to lock your bags.
The enrichener cable needs replaced, a valve adjustment couldn't hurt, some touch up paint to the rock chips. The grips could use replaced, but are not brittle. I replaced the transmission oil, drive shaft oil, & final drive oil, fork oil, rear shock bushings (aftermarket Progressive shock on the rear) within the past two years. Tires as needed. There's a new rear on it, Bridgestone Battleax to match the front. The front has some life left, wears slower than the rear.
Hope that's enough info for you for now. Come take a look at her."
Any information that you guys have on this specific year/model would be great.
Thank you to anyone who replies!!