K11 Owners Group

[malakiblunt]

Hi guys
im wanting to make a lightweight LT as my bike is perfect accept for the weight! i want to be able to park it with out haveing to worry if ill be able to push it back up the road camber!.

im wondering if anyone knows the weight of indivudal componetnts/assemblys.

As far as i can tell the fairing weighs 50kg as thats the diference between a naked and LT bike, so a Kevlar replacement and alloy subfames could eisly lose 30kg right there. Im geussing the exhuast is a prime candiete for weight loss, and im also wondering about new forks and front wheel. For a few kgs and a boost in handeling. My bike has abs2 anyone know how much that weighs?

any other ideas for sheding weight, i have the skills to make composits and alloy fabrication and casting , so the skys the limit, but would like to start with simplest quickest things first.

My dream K1100LT would weigh 200kg i relise that is probley not possible but every pound helps!

cheers

philip

[Mystic Red]

Maybe a different bike would be easier? A K75 maybe?
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Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

[mtnroads]

Everything is heavy on these bikes, especially the engine/tranny, since they are an older automotive design. Even a K75 is fairly heavy. I think trying to lighten a K-bike significantly is going to be difficult because all of the components are heavy - frame, engine, trans, shaft drive, wheels, brakes and yes - the fairing too.

Maybe look for a salvage F800 twin to start with since it is in your target weight range already. Certainly you could sell your LT for what a cosmetically-damaged F800 would cost. Then use your skills to repair the body damage and customize to your preference.
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2012 R1200RT Midnight Blue
95 K1100LT Graphit (sold)
01 R1100RT Black (sold)

[malakiblunt]

yes agreed its not a sencible thing todo but i have growen to realy like the K -the relibilty the weather protection and the performance, i just dont like the weight. i have thought about changeing to a diferent bike but im not convinced theres anything that is lighter than the K that will do the K's job as well? the F800 is nice but how good is the fairing? and more to the point i doubt i could a salvaege one for the price of my K (in the uk salvage is realy expensive it works out the same or cheaper to just buy a good one )

oh well ill keep thinking about it, like i say what i could realy do with is a list of the component weights that way i can work out just how much weight i could remove- spose i could just strip mine down and weigh it all cept its my only transport.

thanks

philip

[Flying Duck]

Though I'm obviously a fan of K bikes, I think the advice to just buy something Japanese is sound. As pointed out, even a non-ABS K75 is a heavy little bitch and the Japs build some pretty decent machines that weigh much less while being quite reliable.
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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

[Beachcomber]

Malak,

I LOVE playing with my Kays [ Streetfighter, Race Rep, Cafe Racer ], but I have to agree with the concensus - you really are flying in the face of if weight saving is the only consideration.

Yes you CAN save over 100lbs [ 60 kgs actually] by ditching the fairing [ K100RS = 40 kgms], the seat and the silencer - but you end up with a naked bike which is not going to give you the comfort and convenience that you so love in your Kay.
The frame at 11.3 kgms is not heavy at all - so no real savings to be made there.

As an excercise in "I can so I will" that's commendable - after all that's how my own projects evolved - but as to whether the effort would be worth it?

I realise that Kays [ 100's anyway ] are for nothing here in the UK - but if it's light weight that you are after, there are plenty of alternatives out there.
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Beachcomber '93 K1100RS / '93 K1100LT and several K100's

[ssray2]

I too want a lightweight Kay, so far I have looked at a diffrent front wheel, late gsxr etc or dymag etc.
Diy Carbon- http://westfield-world.com/SV_Carbon_Tank_project_for_Zoran.pdf

If i had the time diffrent front end etc.

The battery is flipping huge- havent weighed it yet but I dont want to drop it on my foot- http://www.customfighters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32323

The clocks weigh a ton as do the mounting bracket-cycle speedo?

If you replaced the fairing with carbon/kevlar you could use aluminim subframes-

Just my 2p`s worth.

Ray