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Missing 6th gear on a K 1100 / installing different final dr

 
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ffbikersa



Joined: 17 Jul 2017
Posts: 14
Location: Bosnia-Herzegovina

PostPosted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 3:34 pm    Post subject: Missing 6th gear on a K 1100 / installing different final dr Reply with quote

Hello everybody,

A buddy who runs a BMW workshop approached me today with an unusual question: someone who owns a 1991 K 1100 LT complained to him how he's "missing a 6th gear" in his gearbox. I often had the same feeling while riding my K 1100 RS. The LT in question has the final drive unit marked with 31/11 - and my buddy asked me to check if final drive units with other ratios have been installed on the Paralever models. I had a look at the Motorworks site and found out that 32/11 too was installed on K 1100 LT as well, while 33/12 was foreseen for K1.

Has someone tried installing a 32/11 (or 33/12) unit instead of 31/11 - and if yes, what were the results? Is it possible to obtain just the different gear wheels and replace them, instead of the whole unit? Of course this question may be answered by K 100 and K 75 owners too, as there too final drive units with different ratios have been installed.



Cheers,

Tarik
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SugarHillCTD
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Joined: 10 Oct 2007
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Location: Now in Eastern Pennsylvania

PostPosted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but going from 31/11 to a 32/11 will have the engine spinning FASTER, not slower, in 5th gear right?

This seems like you would be making a step in the wrong direction?
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'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
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Flying Duck
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Joined: 27 Jan 2005
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 9:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is not "missing 6th gear." The K engine is engineered to run at high RPMs.
If you don't like high RPMs then you should buy a different bike.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
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ffbikersa



Joined: 17 Jul 2017
Posts: 14
Location: Bosnia-Herzegovina

PostPosted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 11:02 am    Post subject: And K1 Reply with quote

SugarHillCTD wrote:
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but going from 31/11 to a 32/11 will have the engine spinning FASTER, not slower, in 5th gear right?

This seems like you would be making a step in the wrong direction?


But what about 33/12 from K1? K1 is supposedly sportier than both RS or LT, right?
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ffbikersa



Joined: 17 Jul 2017
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Location: Bosnia-Herzegovina

PostPosted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 11:11 am    Post subject: First by LT's owner Reply with quote

Flying Duck wrote:
It is not "missing 6th gear." The K engine is engineered to run at high RPMs.
If you don't like high RPMs then you should buy a different bike.


This question was first asked by a LT owner. I have nothing against high RPM but would be glad to have more "lively" bike, e.g. when overtaking. After all - owners of chain driven bikes too DO change the chains and sprockets with a different ratios, don't they?
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SugarHillCTD
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 5:21 pm    Post subject: Re: And K1 Reply with quote

ffbikersa wrote:
SugarHillCTD wrote:
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but going from 31/11 to a 32/11 will have the engine spinning FASTER, not slower, in 5th gear right?

This seems like you would be making a step in the wrong direction?


But what about 33/12 from K1? K1 is supposedly sportier than both RS or LT, right?


Make that final drive change and after that we are looking at what? 200, maybe 300 rpms less at highway speed? Tiny difference and in my opinion, not worth the effort.

As FD posted, these engines are designed to run at high revs. I have the two BMWs in my signature. The '92 K100RS is easier and more fun to ride than the R1200RT that runs at lower revs on the highway.
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Jim
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 10:31 pm    Post subject: Re: And K1 Reply with quote

SugarHillCTD wrote:

The '92 K100RS is easier and more fun to ride than the R1200RT that runs at lower revs on the highway.


Don't tell me the honeymoon is over already!!!
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1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repairing
1992 K75RTP 46,000
1992 R100R 24,000 - FOR SALE

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."
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SugarHillCTD
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 4:37 am    Post subject: Re: And K1 Reply with quote

Jim wrote:
SugarHillCTD wrote:

The '92 K100RS is easier and more fun to ride than the R1200RT that runs at lower revs on the highway.


Don't tell me the honeymoon is over already!!!


No, not at all Jim. I don't have 1000 miles on the K bike this year (the driveshaft disaster has a bit to do with that Embarassed ) But I am at about 6000 miles on the R1200 so far.
The R bike needs to be at highway speed (65+) to get into 6th without it being below the powerband and unhappy. I find myself in 3rd and 4th on back roads.
The other day I was on a state highway on the K bike and realized that I was in top gear at 45 mph and it was smooth.

After the winter going over and tune up of both bikes, it will be decision time about the K. My garage is way too crowded (I'm also storing our son's Ducati) and having the 2 BMWs is a problem.

Sorry for the thread hijack!
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Flying Duck
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 1:31 pm    Post subject: Re: First by LT's owner Reply with quote

ffbikersa wrote:
Flying Duck wrote:
It is not "missing 6th gear." The K engine is engineered to run at high RPMs.
If you don't like high RPMs then you should buy a different bike.


This question was first asked by a LT owner. I have nothing against high RPM but would be glad to have more "lively" bike, e.g. when overtaking. After all - owners of chain driven bikes too DO change the chains and sprockets with a different ratios, don't they?


Yes, but what you're talking about is a "deader" bike, not more "lively" by installing a final drive with taller gearing. As you can tell by looking at available gear ratios for the 4V K final drives, there really isn't a huge difference. Even the K1 final drive isn't that much taller. (And my suspicion as to why BMW did that was just to give the K1 a higher top speed in its specs.)

The "missing 6th gear" for K bikes is an issue that been raised a million times since the first Ks came out. It's like an oil thread for K bikes.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
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Jim
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 10:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Tarik,

If you want a more lively bike, you can do a super tune up on it, balance throttle bodies, make sure the rubber bits are all in good condition, etc - then go out and ride it like you stole it.

As Drake said, these bikes are made for high revs - all the lively you need is built in - just downshift and twist the throttle.
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1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repairing
1992 K75RTP 46,000
1992 R100R 24,000 - FOR SALE

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."
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Gary Bennett
Mad Brick Rider


Joined: 06 Jun 2005
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Location: Brisbane, Australia

PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2018 9:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ffbikersa, don't listen to all the negative comments on this thread, I have had the final drive gears from an R1200C fitted in a K100 monolever back in 2002 and it was a great mod, giving me a bigger range out of a tank for a small lose of power in 5th gear. If I forgot to click down to 1st gear at traffic lights it would still take off from the lights in 2nd gear.
When I got my K1100RS in 2005 I fitted the R1200C gears in it's paralever rear end in 2006. In my opinion the extra torque of the K11 engine suited to the taller gears more so than the K100 and didn't seem to affect the performance in any gear at all. It knocks 500rpm off top gear at 100kph. It was the tallest ratio that BMW had in any bike at the time and I would highly recommend installing these gears. My fuel range for the bike is now 440km at a steady 100~110kph on open road. There was no noticeable lose in pulling power and no more looking for 6th gear but after 16 years since first fitting these gears the negative comments still come from a select few.
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Flying Duck
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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2018 1:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The other issue is that the K1 33/12 FD has more of a raw metal casting finish whereas the K11 FDs have a smooth silver(or black or gold) painted finish so if I were to do it I'd swap both in since it would look ghetto to have different finishes on the swing arm and FD.

I suppose one could tear down the K1100 FD and install the gears from the K1 FD but that's too much work IMHO.

I have a pretty low mile K1 33/12 FD and swing arm (matching finish) in my garage. Maybe someday if I'm bored I'll swap it in on my RS and take it for a spin.

And whether you notice or care, using taller gears does give up some torque. Basic physics.

If you're happy with the mods you made to your bike then power to you.
_________________
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
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Buy parts HERE
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Gary Bennett
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PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 10:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wouldn't bother with the 33/12 2.75 ratio, go the whole hog and put the 33/13 2.54 ratio in.
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