K11 Owners Group

k11pfc · Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 1:01 pm Post subject: Crap ride out

I just had a bad ride, nothing went right, I felt like a beginner again not an advanced motorcyclist of nearly 30 years riding experience. So what happened, I went out today on a beautiful warm sunny day at my first roundabout I approached it as I always do taking 3rd exit off a tight rondabout on a steep incline, as I went to take my exit the rear stepped out of line, enough for me to instinctively put my foot down. It must have looked very amateurish. I carried on and stopped soon after to inspect rear tyre, apart from a small drop of oil, probably from me changing final drive oil yesterday, could it have been that on some overbanding? Don't know but I do know I couldn't get any right hand bends right after that and the bike felt wrong. I stopped at a garage and checked tyre pressures, yes they were out but only by a few pound not much at all. The ride was crap until I went back to said roundabout, yes there was loads of overbanding but it was a dry day so I don't know. Anyway I went round that place at least 15 times getting braver until I was convinced all was well with my confidence and the rear wheel. I hate rides like that one, very frustrating.
_________________
Riding a 1995 Marakesh red K1100rs
Formerly owned:-
1 k1100rs
2 k100rs's
2 K1200rs's
2 F650's
2 R1200gs's
1 K1200s's

Play up Pompey

abreeze · Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 3:03 pm Post subject:

you survived....the main objective has been met!!

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 3:31 pm Post subject:

A bad day on the bike is MUCH better than any day in the office.
_________________
John & Cathy

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

bmwtf · Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 7:10 pm Post subject:

Had a flat reveal itself enough for the bead to come off rim on a corner near my house. Sweeping left highway intersection going about 20 mph. Didn't go down 8D and service station with air compressor was easily within pushing distance. Made it home and flat fixed but I still feel a slight rectal vacuum every time I approach that corner.

Stoked Steve · Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject:

Last year at HM3, we were riding some very twisty mountain roads, and it was raining lightly and there were mud over runs here and there from previously heavier rains, and I felt my back tire slip out two or three times while leaned over and I've never been more terrified in my 8 short years of riding. It totally ruined what little cornering confidence I had built up.

I'm just now, a year later, feeling confident at speed in the corners, even when dry.

That rear tire slip out has to be one of the worst feelings while riding, an arse puckering moment for sure!.

(what is overbanding?)
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 9:09 pm Post subject:

k11pfc · Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:56 am Post subject:

Overbanding is a black slippery filler they use over here to fill in cracks in roads, it's normally strategically placed to keep bikers alert as it offers little grip in the dry and zero in the wet.
_________________
Riding a 1995 Marakesh red K1100rs
Formerly owned:-
1 k1100rs
2 k100rs's
2 K1200rs's
2 F650's
2 R1200gs's
1 K1200s's

Play up Pompey

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 6:45 am Post subject:

DLBass · Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject:

I feel your pain. My RS has Conti Road Attacks fitted. They were brand new on when I bought the bike last August, and the back has stepped out on me powering out of low speed left handers a number of times. I've checked pressures, oil contamination etc etc and can find no reason for it

Now I don't trust the tyres, and it has cramped my flow badly. I hate feeling nervous going into a corner, my shoulders tighten up, and there is a distinct lack of swoop going on. Especially after 37 years and a 7 figure milage (ex London courier) under my belt

So I'm thinking that even though there is plenty of tread left on them that they will be coming off and a set of Avon's going on.
_________________
There is only now, yesterday is gone and is unchangeable, tomorrow is uncertain. Live in the moment.

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 7:59 pm Post subject:

grandiosedelusionary · Big Brick Rider Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 64

Sliding the front tire on a K-Bike demonstrates poor motorcycling skills.

When riding in a group, sliding the front tire can cause property damage and bodily injury to those riding behind you.

I suggest you either ride alone or learn how to handle a motorcycle before jeopardizing the property and body of another K-Bike rider.
_________________
Communique via Garmin ZUMO 665 via HTC DROID Incredible ADR6300 via The Spoken Word Talk to Text

lee richter · Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 3:12 am Post subject:

I can think of at lease a half dozen other mechanical reasons for the front end coming loose before I would jump to rider ability. But then I've only been riding and pulling wrenches for 47 years, what the hell do I know. Obviously not as much as much as Grandiosedelusionary! No mater how long I live I'll never get that good. But hey, you know what they say about opinions, everybody has one and some people have two, one on each end...
_________________
Lee Richter
Orlando, FL
I like flying, HIGH or low, Wings or Not
182 Texas Tail Dragger
'39 J3 Cub
2000 HD Soft Tail Sold
2002 R1150R
1994 K1100LT

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 5:35 am Post subject:

grandiosedelusionary · Big Brick Rider Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 64

With 47 years of riding and wrenching, I would expect you to think of a dozen mechanical reasons that would cause the front tire to slide in a corner.

Just for the record, list a dozen mechanical reasons.
_________________
Communique via Garmin ZUMO 665 via HTC DROID Incredible ADR6300 via The Spoken Word Talk to Text

robleyd · Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 8:09 am Post subject:

Bloody hell, here we go again.
_________________
David, owner of:
1996 K1100 LT

grandiosedelusionary · Big Brick Rider Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 64

He says can think of a half a dozen reasons. Let's see them.
_________________
Communique via Garmin ZUMO 665 via HTC DROID Incredible ADR6300 via The Spoken Word Talk to Text

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 9:21 am Post subject:

_________________
John & Cathy

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

lee richter · Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 1:36 pm Post subject:

Moderator, this post is long. If you deem it to long and not worth the space, I understand. The issue is that there are more viable reasons for tire to loose its grip than Rider ability. The Rider is not going to suddenly find the experience, knowledge or finesse to instantly recover when a tire fails to stay planted. If he didn’t have it going in he is not going to have it coming out. Any aggressive rider will experience this at sometime, the key is stay loose and don’t loose your cool.

The rider needs to understand the lateral loads on the suspension(from the side) increase exponentially as the lean angle increases and vertical load on the tire decreases, tire guy mumbo jumbo is frictional coefficientcy decreases. At a point, spit is going to cause it to go away and your ass to bite holes in the seat as the bike slides out from under you.

Well Let us see, there are so many places to look. If you’re willing to spend the time then I guess I am too. Let’s start at the top.

Steering Head Bearings. The bearings on the “Lower Fork Cross Brace Shaft” check to make sure that the head rotates freely, no tight spots or notches. Ensure the preload tension is good. Tighten enough to take out all the slop but not so tight as to cause binding thru the full range of motion.

Triple Trees, I think BMW referrers to them as “Upper and Lower Fork Cross Brace”. Make sure that these do not have the struts racked out of shape (twisted). Often over time they will take on a slight twist. (it’s not just a BMW issue). Unload the front wheel, struts at full extension, front tire just resting on the floor, loosen the front axle, Loosen the clamps so the struts are free, compressing the struts slightly will help re-center them. re-torque the axle, re-torque the triple trees in place. (Make sure that the forks have not slid up or down in the clamp).

The fork struts. Ensure the struts retract and rebound smoothly and completely every time. This does not mean climb up on the front of the bike and bounce up and down. People that do this kind of work will have a lifting device with a gauge that is used. I have a hydraulic jack with a pressure gauge on the ram. Apply lateral pressure (20 lbs is enough) to the forks and make sure the action is not hampered. Issues can be a bad bushing, a deformed spring, a spring that has lost its tension, a strut tube that is not perfectly straight. Even quantity and quality of strut oil can be an issue.

Obviously, the condition of the tire itself, if it is in question, replace it.

Wheel bearings. You need to check more than if it rolls smoothly. Leaving the bearings in the wheel, lock the axle in a vice, if you don’t have V blocks use a couple of blocks of wood so you don’t damage the axle. Hang the wheel on the axle in one side at a time, so the wheel is placing the bearing in a bind and rotate the wheel, it should rotate freely and smoothly. If it hangs or binds any where, replace the bearing. Place the axle in a couple of V blocks and run a dial gauge on it to make sure it is straight and true.

I’m not going to get into the aerodynamics involved with fairings and the ground effect as the air builds pressure between the fairing and the pavement. Or the effects of the riders frontal mass.

Even the smallest amount of water, oil, antifreeze, animal guts, sand or a few rocks act like marbles.
_________________
Lee Richter
Orlando, FL
I like flying, HIGH or low, Wings or Not
182 Texas Tail Dragger
'39 J3 Cub
2000 HD Soft Tail Sold
2002 R1150R
1994 K1100LT

grandiosedelusionary · Big Brick Rider Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 64

1 - We all know a skilled rider can scrap peg on that concourse so lean angle was not a factor.
_________________
Communique via Garmin ZUMO 665 via HTC DROID Incredible ADR6300 via The Spoken Word Talk to Text

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 3:20 pm Post subject: