K11 Owners Group

CaptainBalrog · Brick Rider Joined: 14 Jul 2018 Posts: 38

Hi

My wife bought me this old 1996 bike for my birthday and I actually really love it.

Rode 100 miles yesterday.(first day of use)

There's a couple of issues with the bike though. One is the noisy fuel pump thing which i can sort out myself. But the other is a little more frightening.

When I blip the throttle there's a rattle somewhere at the bottom front right of the engine. It sounds tinny and random. No clunking or heavy impact sounds.

Only does it when I roll off the throttle. No sign of it when reving up or on idle.

Also it's backfiring a bit. Like it's running too rich maybe.

I hope to sort this stuff out without the wife noticing anything is wrong because she's really happy with how pleased I am. And I really am. I've ridden a lot of sports and adventure touring but I've never had a bike like this before. Really love it and hope the issues won't be to difficult to fix.

Would really appreciate some advice. I'm handy enough with fixing bikes but I've only really worked on big singles and Japanese fours. This BMW engine is alien to me!

Cheers.

Simon.
_________________
Be gentle it's my first time (owning a BMW)

Al. · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 9:24 am Post subject:

Let's have full details of model/version etc.
I wouldn't know but somebody will have suggestions.

Where in the world are you??

Welcome and best of luck with it. Very Happy

_________________
1994 K1100 LTSE + Blackbird

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:02 am Post subject:

How many miles(kms) on the bike?

Are you SURE it's coming from the front right and maybe not the middle right?

It's not uncommon for a higher mile bike to make noise from the alternator when the rubber drive cushions for it get old and a little worn.
_________________
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

CaptainBalrog · Brick Rider Joined: 14 Jul 2018 Posts: 38

Hi

Thanks for the responses.
The bike is a k1100LT 1996. 57000 miles on it.

I'm in Belfast NI.

I guess the noise could be middle right. I'll get another listen tomorrow. Any thoughts on a likely cause of the backfire? I read somewhere that there's an air temp sensor that causes this when it fails.
_________________
Be gentle it's my first time (owning a BMW)

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 1:08 pm Post subject:

Here's a thread on backfiring:

http://www.k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=76939&sid=d75ae0ea0bc785f213d0bb85a4e2e0b4
_________________
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

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:52 pm Post subject:

RE the fuel pump noise..... the stock pump is naturally noisy, and gets louder as the fuel level in the tank gets lower. Replacing the fuel filter may quiet it down some if the existing filter is restricted.

The only way to really get a quiet one is to replace it with an aftermarket pump.

You will find as the bike is now 20+ years old, rubber bits will start requiring replacement. Fuel lines, Vacuum lines, TB metering caps, intake manifold o-rings, throttle body bushings, clutch nut o-ring, clutch push rod bearing boot, brake lines, exhaust vibration isolation/support bushing, alternator drive bushings(aka Monkey Nuts), etc.......unless someone before you has replaced any of it.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
1997 R1100RT ZC62149
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)

CaptainBalrog · Brick Rider Joined: 14 Jul 2018 Posts: 38

Hi

Thanks for all the info folks.

I think because i know so little about these engines I'm going to take it to the local BMW dealer.

Normally i'm not keen to do that but they seem to have a very good rep.

I've ordered a manual but i think it'll take some reading before i tackle this motor myself.

Cheers.
_________________
Be gentle it's my first time (owning a BMW)

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:05 am Post subject:

Not that dealers are necessarily bad but most of the techs working at dealers these days have more training and hands on experience with the newer bikes and may not have a lot of in depth experience/knowledge about our old K bikes. So many of them, when it comes to the older bikes, are little more than manual readers/guessers at a rather high labor rate.

Another option might be to ask around to see if there's a local indy shop that has some specialty/expertise in working on these old dinosaurs.

A PDF of the factory service manual can be found here:
http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/shopmanuals/BMW_K1100_LT_RS_Repair_Manual.pdf
_________________
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

Mike d · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:11 pm Post subject:

There's a guy called Jaythro who lives in Islandmagee, County Antrim who may be better equipped to help you.

He works on numerous models and was a Dealer BMW tech.

As has been mentioned, these bikes are getting on a bit and are probably older than most of the main dealer techs!

Mike

CaptainBalrog · Brick Rider Joined: 14 Jul 2018 Posts: 38

Hi Again

First of all thanks to the recent posters for the info.

This is a bit of an embarrassing one i have to say.

I rode the bike up to a BMW specialist near Ballinderry last night and he walked round it a bit, revved it a bit and said it was the exhaust.

Certainly explains the backfiring. Never heard an exhaust make a noise like that before but there you go.

Going in on the 30th to be fixed.

Cheers for all the help folks.
_________________
Be gentle it's my first time (owning a BMW)

Corkboy · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 1:39 pm Post subject:

Hi Captain,
hop over to
http://www.k100-forum.com/
as well. There's a load of us over there from Ireland, including ComerJohn in Belfast, a good few in Dublin, including Ringfad who is originally from Belfast, and now living in Dublin. Dai is in the west.

Most of us have had, or have k1100s so you will get someone to cast an eye or ear over the bike. I'd reckon there's a lot more combined knowledge (and parts!) there than at the specialists.
_________________
'08 K1200GT
'87 K100RS 0140995 (Gone)
'97 K1100LT 0188024 (Gone)
'08 Transalp 700 (Gone)

CaptainBalrog · Brick Rider Joined: 14 Jul 2018 Posts: 38

Cheers for that mate :0)

I'll have a wee look on there now.
_________________
Be gentle it's my first time (owning a BMW)

CaptainBalrog · Brick Rider Joined: 14 Jul 2018 Posts: 38

Hi

Just an update here.

So the bike didn't really make the noise i was talking about when i went to see the mechanic. He wasn't wrong. The exhaust is doomed. But it definitely was making a very timing chain like noise the day that i posted this.

So i've been doing a bit of reading in the manual and beyond and i was wondering if the wrong oil could be responsible? The timing chain tensioner works by oil pressure from what i've read and if the engine got unusually hot with the wrong oil in it it could lose oil pressure couldn't it?

It was really hot that day. Close to 30 degrees which is rare for Belfast. It's not been anything like as warm since and the bike seems fine. However, i bought the bike with the idea of doing a bit of touring in hotter countries so I think i might change the oil just in case someone's put something very light in it.

So i was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for oil. I don't think I'll be riding the bike over the winter much if at all so i'd definitely want to bias my oil choice toward hot weather. Maybe 8 to 40 degrees?

Any recommendations would be much appreciated.

Cheers.
_________________
Be gentle it's my first time (owning a BMW)

Corkboy · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:08 am Post subject:

I used bog standard 20w50 dino oil, and changed it every 6k miles or if I felt like it. I changed the filter every oil change. It is harder to come by now, so buy enough for a few oil changes when you get it. (10W40 is more common, but 20W50 is better for the Ks).

These bikes rarely fail from oil issues.

These engines are pretty bullet-proof. Have a look at the forum and you will come across the usual issues, e.g. weeping oil/gear oil from the drain hole under the clutch housing, rubber seal/wear on the water pump, rubber hoses getting brittle with age. None of them will leave you stranded and will give lots of warning before they fail.

As regards Irish meetups etc., the other forum is more active, but this forum has more information on the K1100. I check both, (even though I've a K1200 now Razz

).
_________________
'08 K1200GT
'87 K100RS 0140995 (Gone)
'97 K1100LT 0188024 (Gone)
'08 Transalp 700 (Gone)

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 8:11 pm Post subject:

Some are using 15w-50 synthetic over the hard to find 20w-50 dino.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
1997 R1100RT ZC62149
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)

Grunter · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 3:26 pm Post subject: Rattle

Errr.....Rattle?

Is it in fact the the noise caused when the ABS is setting itself up as you move off? That had me puzzled with my 1st KLT. (and my 2 R1100RT's). If it doesn't happen any other time then that is my best guess.
_________________
1997 K1100LT
1994 R1100RS