K11 Owners Group

fnord · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject: Woo, picked up a K1100RS today.

It's a 93, with factory heated grips and sidecases, a BMW tankbag (bonus that I found when I checked the sidecases, even has the rain cover) and a Corbin seat.

Picked it up for $4500, with only 14k on it. It's in immaculate condition, and was a trade-in from a 72 year-old who switched to a scooter.

The only rough part was that I picked it up 60 miles from home. It started sprinkling during the test drive, but by the time I left for home it was a downpour, and getting dark. And foggy. And gusty.

Oh well, time to see which gear is waterproof, right? As it turns out, the gloves and the pants are waterproof. The rain got right through the zipper on my jacket, and my feet were puddles. Fortunately it was still in the 50s (Fahrenheit), so it wasn't too bad. Until I got lost, and visibility dropped to like 20 feet until a car was coming at me, when it dropped to near zero.

Made it home though, and love the bike. I needed a daily commuter, something I can ride in the cold and the wet, and I seem to have gotten exactly what I set out for. My last bike was a Concours, and this is just sooooo much nicer.

I remember seeing advice on swapping out the headlamp bulb for something brighter, but now that I understand *why* you would want to do this, I can't find the thread. Meh.

- fnord

Off the grid · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:08 pm Post subject:

1. Welcome to the site, and congrats on your purchase. With that mileage I would check the seals for dryrot.

2. Many threads were lost with the auto-prune feature. I think the bosses are working on getting them back. (I hope)

3.

owrstrich · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject:

welcome fnord...

make sure you post photographic and narrative motoreports of your rides.....

we cant get enough of those motobrick ride reports...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

Jim

Mystic Red · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:13 am Post subject:

Off the grid · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:16 am Post subject:

Maybe....I will agree that the highbeam on the stock light is good, but the standard bulb is total crap as the OP said.

I think in terms of safety, more is better, and the classic triangle shape is very noticeable.

Plus the relay and bulb costs a ton, not to mention the pita to put it in.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:35 am Post subject:

Jim Davis' Eastern Beaver relay kits are pretty darned simple to install. Rolling your own relays is a bit more work.

Even if you don't add relays, just switching to a 55/60W Xenon ultra white H4 bulb makes a difference over the stock halogen bulb.

IMO, the one thing the LT lacks is foot protection from the elements. The K75RT and K100 RT/LT fairings actually went low enough to provide some decent foot protection. I saw someone else's LT at my dealer one day - they had added additional foot protection by attaching some flaps. It looked worthwhile if you're going to be doing lots of riding in cold weather.

All RS's have the 50A alternator. The 93 and earlier LT's have the 32A alternator.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Mystic Red · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:14 am Post subject:

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:11 am Post subject: RS

NICE BUY!!!

We need pictures!!!

Get the LED instrument kit from Drake, WAY COOL and so good to you at dusk & night.
Install a relay like everyone says, put in bigger bulb, then add lights if you want. I used a PIAA bulb just last weekend when I had to put in a new head lamp lens. *^$#*&^$(! rocks from a gravel truck.
My 93 has the 50 amp alt, your should too, not certain why the LT's did not. With a bright light sometimes your can see it from the back through the alternator sheild.

Ride often, don't baby it, took me months to get used to that, but they like to rev & go. Lot's O' torgue down low, happy happy things from 4K up.

WELCOME, this group is the BEST I've EVER had the pleasure to know. They will help you out of anything!

Well most anything.

Some things I sense would take copious amounts of food and or adult beverage.
_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

rydor · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:58 am Post subject:

Welcome, fnord! Very Happy

The RS is a wonderful bike, you'll love it more every day you ride it!
Pics please when you get a chance Wink

fnord · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject:

Cool, I'll be ordering the Relay kit and an H4 90/100 bulb this week. I'll be riding home from work every night without streetlights for most of the ride, so it'll definitely come in handy?

Does anyone have a god source for the bulbs? I've been googling, and the variety is pretty wide, I don't want to end up with the wrong bulb...

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H4-9003-Halogen-100-90-Xenon-Super-Xtreme-White-lk-piaa_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1234Q7c66Q3a1Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem150305824254QQitemZ150305824254

A few thingz to note:

1) 90/100W bulbs are technically illegal for road use

2) The low beam is pretty bright - combined with the distinct cutoff of the low beam on our bikes it is VERY important to have the headlight adjusted properly. Not only to keep from getting pulled over but more importantly not to blind other drivers at night.

3) The low beam pattern cuts flat across and then up and to the right (I think for the purpose of reading road signs) which can be pretty bright in the mirrors of people forward and to the right of you

4) Having your low beam aimed properly means that your headlight will not be very visible to other drivers during the day. Again because of the distinct cutoff of the low beam and having your headlight aimed properly so you don't blind other drivers at night. I combat this by having foglamps running. I got cheap fog lights at Wally-Mart for $15 and then upgraded them with 55W yellow Xenon H3 bulbs from eBay. They can be mounted under the headlight with the screws that hold the little black panel in. You'll want a relay for those as well.

Despite all of that, I think it's well worth running 90/100 Xenon bulbs and have them on both of my K11s. The 100W Xenon high beam really puts out some light at night.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Don Sproule · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject: headlight relay

I happen to have an extra H4 relay kit that I purchased from Jim for my Honda Hornet. I took it out when I sold the bike. It has minimal hours on it and I believe it's identical to the fairing mount kit for the K bikes. They're really quite simple to install. If you're interested, I'd be willing to sell it for US$30 plus actual cost of postage (from Canada).

Don Sproule

Jim · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject:

hi fnord - MCN just reviewed mc lighting - here are a couple they recommend: http://weekendconcepts.com/bullet.html This one has good output and beam pattern, but I don't like the look - wouldn't work on the K - would look better on a cruiser.

This one isn't as bright - but apparently bright enough - it's still recommended: http://www.bestrestproducts.com/celestia/products/lighting/

Get a relay installed and try Sylvania Silverstar before you go with the higher wattage. You should be able to get the H-4 Sylvania at an auto parts store. You may find that you don't need the higher wattage - just additional lights - which I recommend anyway.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

old guy old bike · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject:

Jim at Eastern Beaver will make you a relay kit for the headlamp and also for your aux lights. Kill 2 birds with 1 stone there. I had him make mine so that the aux lights went out when the highs were on (per Ohio laws) and also added a lead so that I could turn them off with a switch if I wanted. Works like a champ and no biggie to install.
_________________
1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

fnord · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:55 pm Post subject: Re: headlight relay

fnord · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject:

Oh, and here are some photos:

Left side

Right Side

From the back

She was nice and clean when I left the dealership, but after the adventure of getting her home, we were both pretty dirty.

Good first date, imho.

Off the grid · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject:

Nice bike mate!
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

owrstrich · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:

fnord...

i hope you gotts a full face helmet...

it will keep the bugs off your teeth with that ear to ear smile you are gonna have...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

John S · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:04 am Post subject:

Sweet.

Even after 15 years these bikes look hot.

Cheers