K11 Owners Group

[brickzilla]

Hello Brick Owners:

i bought a used BMW K1100RS from a listing on Craig's List. The seller gave me this web site address as a technical resource. On the way home it started sputtering at 3,000 RPM. It felt like it was going to die then it caught and had power. Then I was driving to a red light in fourth gear when it suddenly turned green. Instead of downshifting I gave it throttle and it did the same thing. Sputtered and then caught and had power.

I emailed the seller. His replay is below. I am looking for guidance as how to proceed.

Thanks,

Sam

sam...

i have no idea what the sputtering could be... it never sputtered on me... gassing it in 4th gear coasting to a green maybe the problem... i told you i rode it hard... that motobrick has to be ridden hard... if you ride it hard it will always be there for you... my mindset is ride it hard and ride it till it wont move... just like we talked about last week...

look... if you are experiencing buyers remorse then you just gotts to get out there and ride it hard... 3,000rpm aints riding it hard... if you still gotts questions you can ask them here... k110g.org... they are the technoheads... that was our agreement... no warranty.... no guarantee... use the internet and dealers for technical issues... thats it... ride it hard and ride it often...

take care...

j o

[Mystic Red]

I ain't touchin' that.
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

[Phil Marvin]

Hi, Sam,
Many of us know Johnny. I do, personally. Like him, I have no idea what is causing the sputtering. I would suggest to start with a tune-up. I would check the valve clearances, look at and maybe change the air filter, change the plugs (Autolite 4163 or NGK DR8EA work well, but NGK comes without the cap at the top of the plug, necessary for our K-bikes), and change the fuel filter (Micro Guard 33032 from O'Reilly's or Luber Filter ff3424 from Auto Zone work, as does the BMW filter, but the BMW filter is over $30 and the Micro Guard is less than $3). The Throttle Positioning Sensor may need adjustment or replacement, too. If you bought the Bugeye MotoBrick, the fuel system is probably ok, but it wouldn't hurt to run some Chevron Techron through it. Good luck, and Welcome!
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

[Jim]

Hey Sam - welcome to K11OG! There are some good people here - and a few cranks and nuts. This is the best place for tech resources. Hope you get the spluttering issues sorted out. I'd say change the fuel filter, and possibly check the fuel pump for proper pressure. Techron is a good thing, too.
_________________
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."

[brickzilla]

If the inside of the gas tank is as dirty as the rest of the motorcycle then I guess I better drain the fuel tank and fill it up with fresh gas. While I'm at it I will replace the fuel filter and spark plugs too.

I took it out on the freeway this morning when traffic was lite. I can't find the off switch for the cruise control. The seller said top was slower and bottom was faster. He said there was not an off switch. I didn't think much about it until i had it engaged and it would not shut off.

Luckily there was no traffic and I got the key turned off and back on before I was completely out of control. I looked in the manual book he gave me and I couldn't find the cruise page.

I need to know how to disengage the cruise.

[Flying Duck]

Never buy anything from someone who lives out of his truck.

Except a stereo maybe.
_________________
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]

[aguirrl]

Thanks for posting up this issue. I have been meaning to post the same issue and have scanned all the posts over the last 2 weeks to see if somebody already addressed this same problem. Nothing was specific.

My bike seems to surge or sputter as well but, can be in almost any gear or any RPM. Mine's a 96 with 29,000 miles. I bought it 2 years ago with 18,000 miles on it. It's never consistent either. It started about a year ago sproadically then more often this year. It'll stop for some time and then act up after a couple of rides?. I thought it was hotter weather, like vapor lock, but then it did it this winter. I ride about 25 mi. each way to work and it was a cold winter here in San Antonio. Could act up at slow speeds and highway. It feels like all of a sudden the bike isn't getting fuel. I thought it might be electrical so I have had a series of things done as a process of elimination...I usually take my bike to MotoHank in Dilley Tx. Awesome mechanic and well known in area...twice, to no avail. My mechanic thinks at this point it could be an ignition switch or Hal sensor.

I tend to differ because my business partner (who drives a GS) drove behind me one night and it started cutting out again. We pulled over and he said it's not electrical because no lights flicker or cut out. Thinks fuel related. Some times it will completely die when pulling up to a stoplight. If I sit and wait about 5 mins..it'll run but, I have to stay on the starter and then slowly, very meekly it'll come back to life and run. Put it in gear and take off without incident or sometimes it will still sputter as I get up to 3-4 gear but, then clear out. I have had it die on me a couple of times but, never twice in a ride? It's getting somewhat dangerous now. My ride to work is hill country and twisty roads, I could be in 4 gear about 63 mph in turn and it starts lurching...or when I'm mergning on to highway, I'll be getting up to speed and then it will start cutting out...nothing like doing 70 having traffic barrel down on you and it starts slowing...!!!!!!

Here's what's been done...

replaced fuel filter
cleaned contacts first...
then replaced contacts altogether
replaced spark plugs and wires (ouch expensive)
ran seaform a couple of times (thinking maybe water in tank?)
ran injector cleaners (a couple of times, best type Autozone had and the good stuff BG recommended by BMW dealer...
mechanic checked cracked hoses, nothing
new battery
throttle bottles were checked by mechanic

it seemed to run a little better each time only temporarily...it has come back.

Any other input based on this stuff mentioned would be good. I would hate to take it to the deaership. My mechanic lives so far, I lose half a day trailering it or driving down to see him. Almost 80 miles one way...the other option is to find the tallest cliff in area and push it off the ledge! I like the bike and it's solid, taken it Indy GP races back in 08 and last year to AZ, Sedona, without incident.
_________________
Luis Aguirre

[brickzilla]

My neighbor helped me with the repairs. The only tools I have are in the pouch under the seat. My neighbor is a lawn mower mechanic and has tools. Actually he did all the work because I was struggling with spark plug wires. He is impatient and would rather do it than tell me what to do.

We drained the gas tank, replaced the gas filter, filled it with Chevron Supreme, added a bottle of Techron and replaced the spark plugs.

I don't know what it was but it didn't sputter after that.

Next question:

The rear tire looks like the right half is new but the left half looks like its worn down to the wear indicators. My neighbor put what he called a plumb bob string on it and thinks it's in perfect alignment. What would cause the tire to wear like that ?

[Jim]

[drikko]

Um, lots of left hand corners? A track near here (Lakeside for the locals) is predominantly right hand corners, only one sweeping left. People are always complaining about wearing their tYres down on the right after track days.
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

[Saltcreek]

There's a huge thread here about uneven tire wear on the bike that you now own. Someone more persistent than me will find it.
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold
2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

[brickzilla]

I am going to have to take it to the BMW dealer. I noticed finely razor knifed black tape on the instruments. I peeled it off to find alternate flashing and triangle brake lights.

[Ernie-NH]

Re: "" I peeled it off to find alternate flashing and triangle brake lights.""

What did you find again ?????

Regards...........// Ernie-NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

[brickzilla]

The red light in between the neutral light and the high beam light is steady on all the time. The ABS lights flash on and off when parked and when driving.

I found some more stuff too. I'm just going to have to find someone to sort this out. It's just too much for me. Both side panels are held on with bungee cords and the headlight is held in place with bungee cords. All the dash switches have been removed and the wires tapped off. The most unusual thing is there was a painted black bubble wrap aluminum foil rain guard under the gas tank and seat that I already removed and threw away.

This BMW looks like an experiment gone bad. I guess I should have bought the K75 with the K11RS fairing which is just down the road from me.

[Mystic Red]

I think a pic of this fine specimen needs to be posted before further diagnosis can occur. Did the PO look anything like this?




Try to imagine him without hair.
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

[SugarHillCTD]

Anybody else ????? about this thread?.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

[jpberens1994K1100RS]

Ha!

Mystic said we wasn't touching it.

We need a pick of the bike too.
Did the bike really sell?
_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

[Ernie-NH]

Hello all.......

Yes... but in the meantime poor Sam is in trouble !

Sam...

Do you have an 'online' copy of the service manual, the tools, the place, and the mechanical skills to proceed with diagnosing the problem(s) ?? Here is the link to the manual at least to get you started:

[url] http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/4978514-bmw-k1100-factory-service-factory-repair-manual [/url]

Keep checking in here and someone will be on to help..

Regards......// Ernie-NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

[Stoked Steve]

Now we know why it was pennies to maintain!

But seriously Sam, you've purchased a bike that was ridden long and hard. A veritable legend on this site (at least the owner!) If you take it to the dealer, they'll tell you that you that you need a bunch of work that would probably end up costing more than the bike itself was.

The folks on this site can likely walk you through just about everything, but it's going to take some time and patience.

Basic tools are going to be a must and having a copy of the shop manual essential, but if you're not mechanically inclined, you might have bitten off more than you can chew. You probably need to prioritize the needs and start at the top.

Good luck and we'll do what we can to help!