K11 Owners Group

[amtoro]

I'm really interested in buying a K11 as our first touring bike (I have had many bikes over the years but now my wife wants us to travel a bit further)

My question is in regards to reliability of a high mileage bike and if according to you guys is a good purchase.

It is a 1996 K1100 with 80,000+ miles in it; I have never had a bike with that many miles under its tires and I don't know if one like this will carry a demanding maintenance schedule.

What type of things would I be looking for in the future that are beyond the regular maintenance of a younger bike? would it be prohibitively expensive?

I'm all ears.

Thank you!

[ol-Levi]

I am no expert but here is my $.02

Got a 97 K1100LT back a few years ago having 87000 miles on her.

Now she has 113 thou and running fine.

I have done a few things to the ol gal; (listed front to back)

Replaced the brake rotor bobbins, (~$130)
Had the forks taken out to a shop and seals put in. (~$150) (Gateway)
Put the Rancho 1950 (or something like that) rubber shock covers over the tubes, (~$24)
I got into the instrument cluster and did the 12-hour mod.
(Later i went back in there and repaired a bad connection so I have instrument lamps working),
Replaced the windscreen, (~$250)
Replaced the fuel filter, (~$12)
Had to exchange the Motronic (fuel computer) with one that Duck had, (~$280 don't remember $$)
Cleaned the air filter,
Replaced the clutch plate and o-ring and seal, (~$ 200parts)
One clutch cable, (maybe $35)
Replaced all the brake hoses (one had opened) new braded stainless covers, (~$250)
Checked the splines in the shaft (were fine),
Grease from Bentonville for the splines (well I was there getting brake hoses),
Replaced an O2 sensor, (~$95)
Had the exhaust header re-welded, (~$20)
The left heated grip broke (haven't replaced it yet), (~$110)
Sparkplugs, (maybe $14 each?)
Had the seat re-covered, (~$160 nice marine fake lether)
Tires and battery.

(The fuel filter and O2 sensor was while in the process of finding that I needed the Motronic).
_________________
97 K1100LT le (Kaw lady) with 119,000 miles.

[ol-Levi]

Still haven't gotten the ABS working.
But at least it 'fails' back to normal brakes.
_________________
97 K1100LT le (Kaw lady) with 119,000 miles.

[amtoro]

Thank you for all the detailed information, I think I'll go for a newer one if the price difference is justifiable based on your experience.

[Scott_Anderson]

[ColoradoRod]

I've been thinking about selling my 1100LT. It's well-sorted mechanically, but has a few scratches--the result of a tip over when the center stand sunk through the asphalt.

In any case, mine's the best color (Mystic Red) and has 26,000 miles on it. I'd sell it for $4000. I'm in Loveland, CO and could deliver it or meet someone halfway. I can fly home for free from most any major city with air service.

If it doesn't sell, I'll just keep it. Not desperate.

Rod
_________________
1996 K1100LT 26,xxx miles-SOLD
Mystic Red

[amtoro]

I have been looking at different models and even came across the series R which also looks very interesting, bot, aesthetically and technologically; I might go with a R1150RT, but it all depends what shows up in the market.

Thank you for your advice, I will post my decision.

[Mystic Red]

[amtoro]

I completely agree with you, I'm not expecting a maintenance-free machine... In fact, I found an R1150RT with little over 36k miles and all maintenance records including the relatively big maintenance for the 32k mark.

If it passes my inspection, I'll buy it

[Mystic Red]

What I'm sayin' is, that giant maintenance list above, is not stuff a shop is going to normally do unless there is a problem. It's not on BMW's schedule to say, replace fork seals, clutch cable or bobbins. Motronic failure is fairly rare. You do that when they wear out and then it goes another X amount of miles.
I got my K with 37K on it and I've done bobbins, brake rotors, brake lines, fuel lines, all the rubber bits on the intake manifold and headlight bulbs over approx. 50K miles. It now has 82K on it and this stuff is now in the past or till I get another 50K on it or so.
The people who do not want to do these things get rid of a bike when it gets say, 35K on it.
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

[Alan Walker]

The K-Bikes were obviously engineered by experienced mechanics that knew what would work. So most all of the maintenance on them is relatively easy to those with moderate mechanical abilities and a full box of tools. I have been turning wrenches for over 25yrs and so far have only needed to reference the LT's repair manual for torques, everything else is just laid out plain and simple. The only real weakness to these bikes is the electrical wiring was engineered to the absolute minimal end of the scale, I assume to save weight, but just as on aircraft that comes with a price, meaning increased failures due to overloaded wiring or connectors. My LT has 47k miles on it now which is low by most standards around here, but for a 17yr old bike is quite reliable and the other great thing with Beemers is, most parts can still be purchased from the manufacturer and at your door step within a week, I dare you to try that with a Japanese or Italian machine.
_________________
95 K1100LT Current ride
05 Suzuki DL650 sold
86 Honda Nighthawk 450 sold
76 Honda CB400F sold

[Moondog]

I bought my 1996 K1100RS back in 2005 with 82k on the speedo. I got 118k on it now and runs like a dream. I do all my own maintenance so expense is minimal even though BMW parts can be expensive if not found used.