John2023
Active member
Saw this ad and was wondering if any of you have direct experience with the BMW K100 in that era. Seems like a good deal for a bike to ride around town with but never own one so not sure??
TIA!
TIA!
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Thoughts on the K100?
- Thread starter John2023
- Start date
Ducati geezer
Member
Doesn’t mention the mileage.
Did not own that bike. But I had the k75. Very reliable bikes, bulletproof in fact. But not very exciting. Smooth, but not fast. Fairly comfortable, but not a canyon carver. I liked mine,
Probably about the right price for that bike.
Did not own that bike. But I had the k75. Very reliable bikes, bulletproof in fact. But not very exciting. Smooth, but not fast. Fairly comfortable, but not a canyon carver. I liked mine,
Probably about the right price for that bike.
ST Guy
Well-known member
I’ve heard that they can smoke terribly upon start up, especially after being on the side stand. When BMW designed it, they put the cylinders on the wrong side and oil would flow past the piston rings and into the combustion chambers when leaned. BWM tried to fix it with different oil control rings on the pistons but it never worked that well. A major oops on their part. If they had put the cylinders on the other side, they wouldn’t have had that problem. But by the time they discovered the problem, it was too late to correct.
I’d avoid all K bikes for this reason.
I’d avoid all K bikes for this reason.
ratpick
Well-known member
I had a 85 k100rs, put 80,000 miles on it.
The smoke issue is not a problem, a little oil seeps past the rings sometimes it will smoke some on start up.Never was an issue for me.
You can always just park it on its center stand.
The only problem I had was a u joint going out on the drive shaft .
Super reliable and the rs fairing worked better as the speed went up.
They are a little buzzy at some rpm’s.
Tally Whacker
Not another Mike
I put over 150,000 miles on a K100RT. Dead reliable. Yeah, it'd smoke on startup if I left it on the side stand overnight, but so what? It never caused a measurable loss in oil volume.
Not fast by modern standards, but perfectly happy to spend all day at 100mph on the freeway.
Would I buy one now? For $900, why not? It'd make a good commuter, and if you're into that kind of thing people are doing amazing custom bikes with that platform.
Not fast by modern standards, but perfectly happy to spend all day at 100mph on the freeway.
Would I buy one now? For $900, why not? It'd make a good commuter, and if you're into that kind of thing people are doing amazing custom bikes with that platform.
Lucytriple
Wrrrench
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All I know is that people still have them after all this time and the ones who don’t complain bitterly about ever getting rid of them.
I flipped a k75 and a k100rs after doing some mechanical work on both. I rode both long enough to know they're hammer reliable but also kinda boring.
Things to watch out for if it's been left to sit a long time:
- stuck fuel injectors. I sent MJ e out to be cleaned on the 100.
-dead fuel pump. Factory replacement last I checked several years ago was ~300$. Can be done for much less if your up for some tinkering and a non-stick repair
-aluminum gas tank gets a pinhole leak in the front lower left corner where the water/alcohol sludge congregates and corrodes the metal. I fixed one with epoxy putty inside and out and diaclaed that to the buyer when I sold it.
At any mileage if your buying used inspect the drive splines. They are notorious for slowly eating themselves on both the male and female sides because owners don't do the maintenance and use a molybdenum paste every time you put a new tire on. Good used parts are available but supplies are limited. Theyr was a guy making new parts but it was in batches when he felt like it or something like that
They're good bikes. Every seller thinks they're made of gold plated diamonds tho
Things to watch out for if it's been left to sit a long time:
- stuck fuel injectors. I sent MJ e out to be cleaned on the 100.
-dead fuel pump. Factory replacement last I checked several years ago was ~300$. Can be done for much less if your up for some tinkering and a non-stick repair
-aluminum gas tank gets a pinhole leak in the front lower left corner where the water/alcohol sludge congregates and corrodes the metal. I fixed one with epoxy putty inside and out and diaclaed that to the buyer when I sold it.
At any mileage if your buying used inspect the drive splines. They are notorious for slowly eating themselves on both the male and female sides because owners don't do the maintenance and use a molybdenum paste every time you put a new tire on. Good used parts are available but supplies are limited. Theyr was a guy making new parts but it was in batches when he felt like it or something like that
They're good bikes. Every seller thinks they're made of gold plated diamonds tho
bmwbob51
BMWBOB
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74 Norton Commando
Sold 2021 KTM 890 Adventure R
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I had a K100RS. Engine will last longer than the chassis! They came out in 1995 and they still show up in the market in good condition!
GAJ
Well-known member
K75 was a better bike.
I rode my friend's K100 and it was far less fun than my K75S.
San Jose BMW/CC products did some engine work on the K75S that woke it up though.
Still miss that bike I had for 20 years; killed by a crafty left turner that killed the bike but not me.
I rode my friend's K100 and it was far less fun than my K75S.
San Jose BMW/CC products did some engine work on the K75S that woke it up though.
Still miss that bike I had for 20 years; killed by a crafty left turner that killed the bike but not me.
Attachments
CDONA
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I did see a Flying Brick, just two days ago, only a shadow outline, in town.
I did get my warm fuzzy, thinking if it was the favored K75.
I did get my warm fuzzy, thinking if it was the favored K75.
GAJ
Well-known member
Not the K75.
The K100 was certainly not as smooth and was actually quite a pig though truth be told it wasn't anywhere near new or upgraded in any way.
Pushrod
Well-known member
K75s was a very pleasant rental surprise for me in Vancouver. Would do it again.
ST Guy
Well-known member
Now that I remember more of my test ride of the K100, I remember that the buzzi felt was not only annoying, but it would have quickly numbed my hands and arms. The sales guy told me I shouldn’t be on top gear on the freeway, which was bull shit.
In my opinion, the bricks were the worst BMW’s ever made.
In my opinion, the bricks were the worst BMW’s ever made.
ST Guy
Well-known member
I also found the leg room to be lacking. My knees would be jammed hard against the fairing.
And the operation of the turn signals was horrible. Fortunately, in more recent years, BMW switched to the more common actuation found on most bikes.
And the operation of the turn signals was horrible. Fortunately, in more recent years, BMW switched to the more common actuation found on most bikes.
ST Guy
Well-known member
I would also never buy a shaft drive bike without pulling the rear wheel and checking the male and female drive splines. If maintained properly, they should out live the rest of the bike. If not maintained properly, it will be very expensive to fix. And if you don’t do your own work, double or even triple the cost.
Tally Whacker
Not another Mike
On My K100RT my knees would tuck inside the fairing. I could ride in the rain and only my helmet and the tops of my shoulders would ever see a drop of rain.