K11 Owners Group

mrfunkface

Gents, any thoughts on the compatibility between a K1100RS (93) and spoked wheels from a R1100GS?

Thoughts so far:

1. Front wheels:
- 2.5x19" (R) vs 3.5x17 (K) - mudguard needs removing at least
- 5-bolt disc connection, new discs required - narrower wheel needs serious shimming to get the calipers on the brakes?
- 305mm discs - bonus! calipers should align radially at least!

2. Rear wheels:
- both paralevers, 4 bolt connection. Could there be a variation in bolt spacing or likely the same?
- 4x17 (R) vs 4.5x18 (K) - shouldn't be too much of an issue as the K11LT has similar narrow width;

3. Bearing, shims etc. - I've not replaced a wheel before so have little knowledge on variations in bearing widths/diameters and how to "shim" either side of a narrower wheel.

These aren't they but v similar:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140511235384&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:GB:1123#ht_4378wt_1139

Cheers.
_________________
1993 BMW K1100RS
2002 Ducati Monster S4
2003 Suzuki SV650S

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:07 am Post subject:

mrfunkface,

The biggest question I have is WHY?? Planning some off-road adventures on the K bike?

Good luck with your interesting mods.

John
_________________
John & Cathy

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

mrfunkface · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:01 am Post subject:

Thanks John!

In all honesty it's a purely visual motivation.The gold 3-spokes are looking worse and worse in my eye and there's something so damned appealing about black spoked wheels...
_________________
1993 BMW K1100RS
2002 Ducati Monster S4
2003 Suzuki SV650S

mtnroads · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:40 pm Post subject:

When I had my black R1100RT I almost bought a set of the polished alum wire spoked wheels (from a GS) for it - they look awesome on those bikes.
_________________
2012 R1200RT Midnight Blue
95 K1100LT Graphit (sold)
01 R1100RT Black (sold)

mrfunkface · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 10:24 am Post subject:

Done the deal - awaiting delivery. Need to source some discs to go with...

Any opinions on powder coating these beauties? Ideally I'd just blast and throw them into the machine as is and hope for the best (all requisite bolt holes covered of course). I'm not too bothered by cracks in the coating at the rims/spokes intersect and I really don't want to remove and replace these fiddly little sticks (or worse pay someone else to do it).

Cheers!
_________________
1993 BMW K1100RS
2002 Ducati Monster S4
2003 Suzuki SV650S

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 10:44 am Post subject:

Remember to pull the bearings if you plan on powder coating them.
_________________
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

mrfunkface · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:14 pm Post subject:

As green as I am, this much I know!
_________________
1993 BMW K1100RS
2002 Ducati Monster S4
2003 Suzuki SV650S

mrfunkface · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:28 am Post subject:

In other news, can anyone confirm how many pistons there are in each front calliper? Looks like the wire spoked wheels need a fixed disc as standard rather than floating... I understand the 4-piston calipers can work with both fixed and floating, is that correct?

[EDIT: of course I mean callipers in a k11RS]
_________________
1993 BMW K1100RS
2002 Ducati Monster S4
2003 Suzuki SV650S

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:10 pm Post subject:

I'm not a brake expert but I don't see why you couldn't use fixed discs.

Four piston front calipers on a K1100.
_________________
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

mrfunkface · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:17 pm Post subject:

Thanks again Duck - I wasn't sure if the specs referred to four pistons total at the front or per calliper.

It seems my understanding is the same as yours - if both sides of the calliper move equally (as opposed to callipers with pistons on only one side), there should be no reason why you couldn't use fixed discs. If one side were fixed, floating discs are a must, afaik.
_________________
1993 BMW K1100RS
2002 Ducati Monster S4
2003 Suzuki SV650S

robleyd · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject:

mrfunkface · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:34 am Post subject:

Number 6 · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:11 am Post subject:

mrfunkface · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:34 am Post subject:

Goody good - will keep you posted on the progress.
_________________
1993 BMW K1100RS
2002 Ducati Monster S4
2003 Suzuki SV650S

Motodeux · Joined: 18 Feb 2011 Posts: 18

An interesting project, I think the bike would look a lot better with spoked wheels. I'm looking at fitting a pair of stainless steel mudguards to my K100RS 16v to give it a more 'retro' look.

Beachcomber · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:27 am Post subject:

OK, as to the "why"? Irrelevant, as the man wants to do it - that's not the question he's asking !

I'm also doing it - why? Because wire spoked wheels will suit the 1960's Cafe Racer style I'm going for. Attached is a pic of the pile of parts I collected last year. BTW - before anyone hollers up - the bike pictured is not one of my K1100s - that one's being used for yet another project.

As to the practicalities.....

Let's start at the rear. The wheel will fit straight in [ mines an R1150GS ], however, you'll also need the caliper carrier and the relevant disc.

The front is a little more complex than just "shimming". The spindle is smaller diameter than the K1100 [ 20mm vs 25mm ], is machined differently and is not the same length. IE - you need to have a spindle machined up and also a new sleeve to bring the diameter back to 25mm where it fits the fork leg clamp. I've had to do this on both the Cafe Racer project and my Streetfighter [ K1200RS 5 spoke wheels ]. It's not a big job [ about $70 here in the UK - stainless steel ], but finding a machinist who will do it in any sort of time frame of this World ?????? I've been waiting 2 months now.

Use all the components from the front wheel [ as the rear ] discs, calipers, etc.

I looked at getting bearings to suit the wire spoked wheel and the K1100 spindle [ the obvious answer ] - doesn't work.

Health issues have kept me out of the workshop for the past 6 months, but I'm raring to go again now.

[img]

[/img]
_________________
Beachcomber '93 K1100RS / '93 K1100LT and several K100's

mrfunkface · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:01 am Post subject:

Thanks for the tips.

By "use all the components from the front wheel" do you mean the R1100 components or the K1100 components? I was hoping not to have to buy new more calipers...
_________________
1993 BMW K1100RS
2002 Ducati Monster S4
2003 Suzuki SV650S

Beachcomber · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 4:26 pm Post subject:

That's all the r1100 PARTS - discs, calipers.

I hope to have the first of the spindles back in 2 weeks - K1200 5 spoke wheel in K1100RS forks.

I'll be on to the wire wheel conversion soon after.
_________________
Beachcomber '93 K1100RS / '93 K1100LT and several K100's

ronink1100rs · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:36 pm Post subject:

If you are a purist it may not make sense but BMW is known for producing some visually interesting models by swapping parts among models around (ie R1200C). I will be interested to see how this comes out Very Happy

_________________
Living with a German builds character.

2017 Africa Twin
2004 RC51 NHE
1996 K1100RS (The Marrakech Express)
1995 Ducati 900SS
1991 VFR750F
1984 Moto Morini 350 K2

mrfunkface · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 12:49 am Post subject:

So the project was put on hold for a year (and a half!) while I moved across the pond. Old K11 is in pieces waiting for me to return, time to get a new one on the road!

So Beachcomber, did you ever get your spoke mod working?
_________________
1993 BMW K1100RS
2002 Ducati Monster S4
2003 Suzuki SV650S