K11 Owners Group

[jpberens1994K1100RS]

Since it's got colder, my 93 K1100RS temp gauge just mostly will not get past 1/4 the gauge line from cold blue zone.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, thought T-stat was stuck open?
Go for a ride & flog it good, pull ner 8G regularly on the tach. 20 min of that & I run home, gauge still BARELY at 1/4 of temp.
Wash bike as it was raining & sleeting the other day & got kinda cruddy.
Start bike up, let er' idle while drying, a loooong time, temp gauge gets just past the 1/3 mark & the fan kicks in?

So, t-stat is opening, bike runs AOK, plugs look AOK normal, exhaust has black ring at the end of pipe, gray inside a bit.
Cleaned the connectors back of guage, same dealio, low reading.
Dash HOT light does not come on.

Bad temp senor or sending unit? Is it a PIA to replace?
I still have the ijit light on the dash, but you know, bugs me when chit like gauges that monitor the engine temp of an H2O cooled machine ain't workin.
Thanks guys & gals.
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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

[Flying Duck]

Our bikes have two temp sensors. One on top of the head. That's the one that matters as it talks to the Motronic and the fan relay.

There is a separate one on the bottom of the oil/water pump and all it does is control the temp gauge.

An easy test of the one for the gauge is to remove the belly pan, pull off the temp sensor lead from the bottom of the water pump and then ground it - it should peg the temp gauge to the right. If it doesn't, it's most likely a bad temp sensor. (Relaitvely cheap part in the BMW scheme of things.)
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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

[Scott_Anderson]

I noticed today when riding to work the temp guage barely made it to the 1/4 mark as well. But it was also only 20F out. After work when the temp was 55 the guage made just over 1/3. Normally with the temp at 70 outside it make the 1/2 -2/3 easily.
Not sure it's anything to really worry about.
When my '96 would run at 2/3 on the guage my '97 would barely make 1/2. Same run time and same outside temp.
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Ride safe.



1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

[jpberens1994K1100RS]

Thanks Drake & Scott!
I figure since the bike is running well, gotta be the one senor that just drives the gauge, but I did not know there were two.
Might even just be dirty connection down there. Supposed to get into the 60's by the weekend. Good time to check that lower connection.
Will report back to share with all who may care.
Guess that's why BMW has the 2 senors. 1 for show & 1 for go.

I checked with the local dealer when I thought it may be a t-stat. They had one in stock, $45.00. WTH is that thing made of anyway's huh?
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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

[Scott_Anderson]

[Flying Duck]

[chopper_harris]

It is very likely to be either a Bosch or Marelli part - have you taken a look for a manufacturers part code - this will x-ref at a local auto store.
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C1 200 (2001)
R100 RS (1990)
NSU Quickly N (1964)
Honda 400/4 F1 (1977)
MotoGuzzi 1000C (1978)
Suzuki TL 1000 R (1999)
Kawasaki KLV1000 (2005)
K12R Sport (2007) - Wifeys

[bmwmick]

[jpberens1994K1100RS]

Thanks!

Yup, will check the lower sensor, first & clean teh connections. That don't work, I'll pull & replace the t-stat. Looks pretty straight forward to do.
Nice mod on your t-stat too! Good stuff to know
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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge