K11 Owners Group

Michael · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 23 Location: WATERFORD, MI

I am new to BMW and new to the K1100RS I bought. I bought the bike about a month or so ago and have been riding ever since and I love it. I went riding with friends yesturday and they told me that I had a puff of blue smoke come out of my exhaust every time I got on it and shifted gears. I did some research on the forum and I don't know if the bike isin't broken in yet with only 23,000 miles or if I need valve seals. Can someone help me with what they think the problem might be or might not be? Thanks in advance.

Thanks,
Michael

Jim · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject: smoke

hi Michael - welcome to the forum!

Some of these bikes use a bit of oil - some a bit more than others. Did you change the oil yet? If so, why don't you watch the oil consumption? If it's not too bad, maybe you can live with it.

With that few miles on it, you should probably NOT be using synthetic.

I don't think mine had a proper break in. That said, it doesn't use much oil - I'm not going to change the rings at less than 50,000 miles.

Some guys have apparently had some success getting the rings to seal by riding at high rpm's for extended periods of time. Might try that one myself next time I'm out west somewhere.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

BlackHoof · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 10:25 pm Post subject: Re: Puff-of-smoke QUESTION

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:45 pm Post subject:

Do you have maintenance records for the bike to tell if the valves have ever been checked or adjusted?

If not, then I'd recommend checking your valves. There's some write-ups on how to do it at the link below if you're do-it-yourselfer:
http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech.shtml

FYI: Valves should be checked/adjust every 20-25k on these bikes.

Note: Now that you've joined, it would be a good idea to put the year and model of your bike in your profile signature.

And welcome to K111OG! Cool

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94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
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Off the grid · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:43 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum!

Smoke from K-bikes is not unusual at all. Mine smokes like Willie Nelson (especially after idling for a while like at a light) but has zero loss of power.

K-bikes are strange, the break in for them is almost exactly the opposite of a "normal" bike, you need to beat the hell out of it in the beginning to properly seat the valves or else they may never "seat" correctly, requiring more adjustments down the line.

Enjoy your K, and congrats on buying a bike that you don't see every 10 miles on the road. Beemered

-Dave
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Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
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DaveVoorhis · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:54 pm Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:49 pm Post subject:

Tootles · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Preston, England

Hi peeps, I'm new to the forum as well, so thought I would comment on this one. Had my RS for four years now, (53,000 on the clock,) and oil usage has been slight, but erratic. However, I have noticed that when I am town riding, as opposed to 'pasting' it around the country lanes of the English Lake District, it tends to use more. Is the suggestion that as the mileage progresses you change over to synthetic? Mine is still on the normal stuff from Mr Castrol. Also, I have read that K engines must not use 'slick 50', or any oil additives, but why I'm not sure, as they have a dry clutch....Any ideas?
By the way, nice forum! I'm "K Bike Stupid", love it to death, and the best bike I have owned in 42 years riding, so expect to see me on here quite a bit.
Dave. Very Happy

will3hawks · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:37 pm Post subject: Der Kbiken Schmokin'

An old German told me that the German rings are made of a much harder material than those from Japan (whose rings tend to set within 1000miles). on the one hand, you have harder rings and on the other, you have silicon carbide bores which make for the irresistable force verses the immovable object, so to speak.
Having been involved with German cars and motorcycles for quite some time now it is my finding that some of them simply use oil. I have seen this with BMW bikes and cars, Audi's, Mercedes, Volkswagens and Porsches not to mention BMW cars. Some German iron is absolutely oil tight and some is not. If your consumption is not excessive, I would not spend too many sleepless nights, but rather, simply carry a can of oil with you. Often German iron is like a Zippo lighter in that it needs rather regular attention, but is given same, will last forever.

Regards,

Will
_________________
The truth is 100 miles east of Memphis
BMWMOA# 70125
94 K 1100RS (Speedwagon)
"Even if I should die on the road, this would be the will of heaven"
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Michael · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 23 Location: WATERFORD, MI

Thanks for your help and the welcome. I will be doing a winter inspection on the bike shortly. I was riding on Saturday and today we had flurries... I bought the bike, did a fluid inspection and have been riding ever since, I didn't even wash it yet. I just enjoyed riding.
_________________
Michael
93' K1100RS

bikerfish1100 · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Banana Belt, CO

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:47 am Post subject:

Slick 50 is snake oil - or worse.

Settlement with FTC over thier lies:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1997/07/slick.shtm

PFTE helps lubricate?

DetroitDan · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:

Tootles · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Preston, England

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:51 pm Post subject:

Michael,

As I havn't seen anyone else mention it yet, my '97 w/25k had a tendancy to use a little bit more oil when I would park on side stand for extended period of time. like at work or overnight. If I placed her on the center stand, no negligable puf- or usage of oil was noted. As I get more miles on her she's doing better for both oil usage and fuel mileage.

Ride safe

Scott

will3hawks

If the bike sat on the sidestand for an extended period of time, the oil would seap past the rings and I would kill all the neighborhood mosquitos for a three block radius. It stopped when I did the valves and put in Deeves Rings from Sweden. I had a K75 that would smoke when it had been on the sidestand for extended periods.The engine angle when on the sidestand causes all the oil to run to the left side of the engine. Nothing to worry about though.

Regards,

Will
_________________
The truth is 100 miles east of Memphis
BMWMOA# 70125
94 K 1100RS (Speedwagon)
"Even if I should die on the road, this would be the will of heaven"
Matsuo Basho, 1644-1694