K11 Owners Group

jim'sbeemer2 · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:37 pm Post subject: Breaking out the bike

Ok fellow beemers. I have got a question about the bike. I decided it was time to take a ride today. It got up to the 60's and the itch could not be ignored. The bike is garage kept, and is on a battery tender all through the winter and even summer months. Reason? I got 4 years out of my first battery. Now comes the question. Last year I would go out and start the bike now and again bring it up to temp let it go for a few usually 1 beers time then shut it down. This year I did not do that at all. So when I went out to fire it up, I had a problem getting it to run continually even with the choke on full. It did manage to catch and run but it realy smoked like I used to back in the day... I mean real bad thick smoke. OIL? It had that kinda smell to it. I had to take it out side to help the smoke dissapate. Well after running for a long while the smoke cleared, 5-10 minutes. I decided to ride it to see if it had any problems but ran as good as it did the day I put it up. Now last year this situation never happened nor any other year. What would cause this? The bike sat on the center stand all winter too. Any comments? Confused

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Live free and ride hard. 94 K1100RS Brick rider

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:25 pm Post subject:

How many miles does it have on it now?

Did you change oils between last year and this year?

Did it spend any time on the side stand before you put it on the center stand?

If it went away in 5-10 minutes it was probably just oil that seeped past the rings and I wouldn't worry about it.
_________________
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

jim'sbeemer2 · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:55 pm Post subject:

Hey Ted. Yes I did do the oil change between the season's end, however, I did ride the bike a few more times before I put it up say 100-150 miles. The bike never sits on the side stand, saves room in garage if it is on center stand. The bike has just over Shocked

25,000 miles. Very young for a brick I'm told. The bike was so so cared for by previous owners, but is pretty sound with a few blemishes I plan on fixing. I am told it might be the nature of the beast issue, but I do not recall this happening before only because in the past I'd go out and start the bike up about twice a month. Some say ok to do others say I should not.
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Live free and ride hard. 94 K1100RS Brick rider

mtnroads · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:16 pm Post subject:

Did you use fuel stabilizer in the tank? Gas goes bad and can gum up after several months if fuel stabilizer isn't used, at least that's my understanding. As a result I always ride the bike at least once a month for 100 miles or so, even in the winter months. It can be pretty cold, but I believe that also helps keep seals in the brakes, forks, tranny, etc from drying out. Then I top up the tank afterward. I realize not everyone can do that, especially if they get a lot of snow.

The reason I mention this is your symptoms sound the same as when I bought a used 93 K11RS a few years ago that had been sitting for a year and when I first started it smoke just poured out. I had to warm it up and drive it several miles before it finally cleared out. At the time I suspected a gummed up fuel system, combined with some oil burning from seepage past the rings, as Drake suggested.

Lastly, I don't really see the benefit of just starting and warming up the bike in the winter months if you can't ride it. Just change the oil, ride it one last time, top up the tank and add fuel stabilizer before putting it away for the winter.
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2012 R1200RT Midnight Blue
95 K1100LT Graphit (sold)
01 R1100RT Black (sold)

Mystic Red · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:08 am Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:42 am Post subject:

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:53 am Post subject:

OK, FD- TMI, TMI Laughing

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:16 am Post subject:

It's more an issue of the wear induced by doing cold starts.
_________________
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

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:48 am Post subject:

Mystic Red · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:02 pm Post subject:

Hey, that's my wife. She's more worried about "no starts" than cold starts.
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:00 pm Post subject:

Made some reference to a soft side stand too. Laughing

_________________
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