K11 Owners Group

Geoff · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 11:07 am Post subject: Clutch Life Expectancy

What's the average life expectancy of a clutch (miles) in a '94 K1100RS? Also, what do BMW dealers charge to replace one?
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2000 R1100RT
2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 11:43 am Post subject:

It can vary greatly depending upon your riding style (how much/how often you slip the clutch) and type of riding. (city stop-n-go, cruising, hammering twisties)

I'd say at least a grand at a dealer. Varies by dealer though. In general you're much better off going with an indy wrench (who knows what he's doing) since they'll charge actual labor hours at a lower rate vs. a dealer who will charge standard labor hours at a dealer rate.
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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

Geoff · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 12:04 pm Post subject:

old guy old bike · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 12:34 pm Post subject:

Changed mine over the winter after 89,000 miles. I do not know for sure if it was original or not. None of the service records I have ever show it being changed. It still had friction material left but was oil soaked from a faulty clutch nut o-ring.

If your seals hold up I don't see why you could not get 150,000 highway miles. Remember, this is an automotive style dry clutch. They can and do go a long way.
Jeff
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1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 12:42 pm Post subject:

Unless the bike has been seriously abused, you'll get 50k easily.
_________________
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

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 12:44 pm Post subject:

Geoff · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:05 pm Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:26 pm Post subject:

Yes. But of course maintenance helps. (Lubing at both ends.)

Your whole bike should last to 50k as long as it's well maintained. (Although I have yet to find a tire that will last that long.) Laughing

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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

Al. · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 3:40 pm Post subject:

63,000 Irish ! ! ! miles on K1100LTSE

2xcelr8 · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 10:17 pm Post subject: Indy in WI

Turbine · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:36 am Post subject: Clutch life

With my K100RS after a hard life-96,000 Klm the clutch was slipping.
The 93 K1100RS at 100,000-62000 miles the plate was 4.8 with it having min 4.5 so put a new EBC plate in which had 5.3mm on it.
I was greasing the drive area so just went in to mainly change the clutch O-ring before it let go.
Its called preventative maintenance - my new work ethic.
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Yamaha TX650A
K100RS x 3
K100RT TO RS
Ducati 705F1-87
K1100RSM-93

Ernie-NH · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 11:13 am Post subject:

Good morning Geoff....

I had the clutch replaced this last May at 66k miles, by Second Wind BMW here in NH for a complete cost of $968 US. ( as best we could tell by PO docs it was the first replacement )

Best regards......// Ernie in NH
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AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

Tim (Midland Section) · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 6:55 pm Post subject:

Did mine @ 58K Miles driven plate OK, pressure plate spring was weak. One day it started slipping in high gears, not the gradual loss of drive one gets with a thinning driven plate.
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Regards Tim,

Grey haired riders don't get that way by pure luck
1996 Guzzi Cali3 LAPD
1972 750 Commando
G6HRN
#485

jimbenge · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 12:11 am Post subject: Clutch

I Have 194,000 miles on my K100RT with EML sidecar and we pull a 500 lb trailer. Have had several BMW's with over 100,000 miles with the original clutch disk. Most of my miles are touring and I try not to abuse it, but the sidecar rig is really heavy with 2 people, trailer and gear it exceeds 2,000 pounds.
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Jim Benge, San Diego, CA.

1995 K1100LT
1993 K1100RS & Getaway trailer
K100RT with 1985 EML sidecar & Kwik-Kamp Trailer
2006 Harley 1200R Sportster

Frank T · Brick Rider Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 26

I replaced the clutch at 104k miles on my '92 because of an oil leak, probably could have gone longer. My bike is a K75s so my experience my not be helpful.
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Frank Tarpley
1992 K75s
1976 Hercules W2000
1968 Suzuki Cobra

kstones · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:45 am Post subject: Clutch life

Yes, lot of different things in play; i had a K75 clutch fail because the clutch plate centre splines were worn through; the g'box input shaft worn too so replaced; the clutch plate was still at "new" thickness all this at 60000 miles. I did the clutch on my K11 at 55000 miles just in case and found the plate not worn but some signs of oil getting past the flywheel nut, otherwise still working fine, no spline wear etc. So fixed the lot and now I treat it with care, no hard take offs, fully disengaged between gear changes, because getting at it past the ABS mountain and BMW design is no fun!
Ride safe
Tony.

TMCKRS4V · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:53 pm Post subject: Clutch life....

Of course it depends as mentioned previously. Obviously a smooth technique (see Reg Pridmore's "Smooth Riding the Pridmore Way") will help everything including the rider last longer. -still working on that one myself!
That said... when I bought my 91' K100RS4V at 45K it needed a rear main seal, so I had the clutch disk replaced anyway with approx 45% life left..because you are in there any..Honda Moly splines too.
When the front U-joint failed 50K later I replaced the disc again as it was getting a transmission anyway. (at the time money was more scarce than time) I believe the disc was about $110. from my local BMW dealer. I wish I had put a caliper to the pressure plate also. But no slippage 3K post surgury. Now it has a fresh disc for the next 100K +.
This job is much more straightforward than ..say rebuilding a transmission. Be sure to download the OEM shop manuial...about 9MB.- there is a link here somewhere... Disclaimer: Take your time...proceed at your own peril. I am not a qualified tech..I just play one in my own garage on my own bike when necessary! Good Luck!
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Tom Connolly

91 K100RS4V

Novato, CA

MOA / BMW NorCal / AMA