K11 Owners Group

kbmwrs · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:34 pm Post subject: Hey guys......its been a while

Yeah I still pop in once in a while and have been catching up on all your escapades.
Well I went for a short ride this past summer....5,260 miles
Not breath taking by beemer standards but two weeks, two up for that many miles is not bad in my book. Of course its on my GT. Very Happy

I did sell my K1100RS last spring to a nice guy in Carlsbad, CA who now says he needs cash and will have to sell it.
Oh well its his bike. Crying or Very sad

Here's my GT on the road in Utah.

Oh and keep a eye on the "Campfire" come January for the annaul KOG T-shirt orders.
_________________
Mike Gullery
"Beemerhead"
'06 K1200GT
KOG#43

Off the grid · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject:

Hey Mike, thanks for stopping by!

Beautiful ride you have there, I lust after the GT like it was my 3rd grade crush.

How is the bike? (ie give us a brief synopsis)
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

Klinker · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:52 pm Post subject:

OH YEAH.

I love how you've tricked-out the bike a bit. I've never been so keen on the GT in silver, but the red accents make your bike. Tastefully unique.

What kind of pipe did you put on it?
_________________
tlp
1994 K1100RS

Only the Reasonists. They believe in an evidence-based world, something called Rationalism. But it's a tiny group, not so influential.
- Page Griffin

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:28 pm Post subject:

The K-GT is about the only "newer" BMW that I have liked the looks of. Most just seem to be too wide for my taste.

The scarey part of the GT is what I might tear up in the way of expensive side panels if, God forbid, I dropped it.

Looks great, enjoy.
_________________
'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject:

Mmmmm..... Utah. Very Happy

_________________
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

owrstrich · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject:

motobrick turncoat goes riding... 5260 freaking miles to be exact... and all we get is one stinking photo...

well that 1 more photo than we got from das boot...

crazy aint it...

thanks...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

kbmwrs · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject:

Well I didn’t want to post all about the GT on my old KOG forum….but since you asked
It’s a longwinded description so be forwarned. Embarassed

My ol’brick RS had 88k miles on it and I really wanted to get to that 100k mark but opportunity knocked. Well that knock was more of me taking advantage of SWMBO’s agreement that if we were to take any major ride she wouldn’t do it on the Brick. That Corbin seat was like a brick (brick…get it?...hahaha Razz

) to her behind.
Mmmm someone’s at that door and I had to open it quick. Well in that case to get her to come along on rides I needed a new bike. Yeah….the GT. That was last October. So I started shopping the internet. I buy used because dang these things are north of $22k new. I finally found one in Southern California (Newport Beach). I also need to be able to see and touch a bike before I buy….no shipping to me stuff.

It was a 2006 model with electric cruise, grips, seat, suspension, on-board computer, panniers electric windshield and a Two Brother’s can (10lbs lighter than stock). The PO also threw in the inside BMW panniers bags and the stock can. Paid the $15,500 and rode it home.

When I got home I switched the right bar end for the Wrist Rest (throttle lock) that was on my RS. I’m so used to using it I only use the electric cruise when on long straight roads. I also bought a 49liter top case for that big trip we would take to Canada (last July). My wife was also excited about it. We got new helmets, intercom, extra accessory outlet and she got a complete First Gear suit for all weather and a electric jacket. From that point on we planned on the roadtrip.

Now for the comparison.
Well one does notice rather quickly the 101hp(RS) versus the 152hp of the GT. It is one fast bike. Two up in second we hit 80mph within seconds. Then I got the hit in the ribs…my own speed limiter. So the speed is definitely faster and quicker than the Brick.
Passing is so much faster even with two up, it’s amazing.

As for the transmission…I think it sucks Crying or Very sad

. The RS did have a clunk when changing from 1st to 2nd occasionally but the GT has the clunk N to 1st to 2nd to 3rd, from 3rd on up its smooth. Of course the forums have advisories on how to avoid it but more often than not the clunk still occurs which is embarrassing at stop lights or when riding slow through a town.

It’s a more top heavy which is expected than the RS, especially with that top case and two up. I have the stock seats and two weeks and more than 8 hours a day and neither of us complained about them. Others on GT forums hate the seats but that is all subjective.
We really like the heaters in them though. I’m short at 5’7” and I was on the balls of my feet on the RS, now I’m on tip-toes with the seat at the middle adjustment. The height adjusted seat seems nice but at the lowest setting it tilts too far forward which slides you against the tank too often. You are constantly pushing yourself back.

The suspension is fantastic. You can set it for preload and rebound from the seat. Settings range from single, with luggage, and two up . Also the latest Paralever and Duolever makes the handling a none issue compared with the RS. I know I, wrongly, would change throttle position in a turn and really feel that shaft rise up and down on the RS. The GT has none of that shaft raising/lowering when applying or removing power.

The ride is great and you still can carve corners with the best.

Now the bad news for my 2006 model Evil or Very Mad

.
BMW has finally admitted and is fixng (only when you PUSH hard Mad

) a fuel/air delivery problem. Seems there is a plunger that slides in and out of the air box made of plastic that expands and contracts at different rates than the surrounding box creating a stuck plunger. Doesn’t seem like a big deal until it sticks at 5-6k rpm while you’re on the road. Shutting down the throttle has no affect. The fix is with a brass wrapped plunger and a software fix. Well mine was fixed under warranty and didn’t give me a problem on the trip.

Others have noted clutch chatter, high speed wobble and other maladies but I haven’t and we all know for some reason each bike has its own personality.

Some maintenance comparisons:

Changing oil is easier, more difficult and messier.
Access to the drain plug is easy with no removal of belly pan like the RS.
As for draining the oil tank….yeah it has an oil tank under the seat…you need to pop off the return overflow tube (also doubles as a sight level for the tank) at the top of the tank, weave it through the frame and let it drain for about an hour while making sure it doesn’t drain on the exhaust. Refill at the top of the tank in a small opening which means slowly.
As for the filter it mounted sideways on the left behind the shifter mechanism. It also needs a special wrench and spills oil as soon as it’s loosened down over the exhaust headers.

Rear tire change is easy. Just remove the can, which has one hanging bolt and one clamp bolt. Then the 5 wheels bolts and it comes out. The brake disc is on the same side as the driveshaft so you no longer need to move the caliper to get the wheel out.

Front wheel removal is easy also but again a special tool is needed to insert into the female hex of the axle…..or the opposite end of a 1/2” drive socket fits great. Remove 4 screws that hold the fender on and loosen one side of the axle compression bolts and use that tool to unscrew the axle. The brake calipers are needed to be removed in order to get the wheel out but two bolts on each and hanging them to the side is easy.
Supporting the bike for this is difficult though. I used to use a scissors jack under the Brick to support the bike. The GT the belly pan is not something you want to jack nor are the headers (although some folks do). The best is to have someone push down on the luggage rack while you quickly remove the axle/wheel and then replace the axle with a steel bar then supported on each side with jackstands.
_________________
Mike Gullery
"Beemerhead"
'06 K1200GT
KOG#43

kbmwrs · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject:

Pics from the road:

Nevada

Hwy 95 Utah

Natural Bridges NP, UT

Ouray, CO

Spen, CO

Independence Pass , Aspen, CO

Grand Tetons,WY

Yellowstone NP

Banff NP

Home after 2 weeks
_________________
Mike Gullery
"Beemerhead"
'06 K1200GT
KOG#43

Off the grid · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject:

Great pics mate...man I can't get over the lines of that GT..one of the nicest looking Sport Tourers out there imo.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the write-up and photos. Looks like a great trip. and a great new ride.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

drmalacarne · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject:

Great GT, and beautifull pictures!
Thanks fot sharing!
Guilherme.
_________________
1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together!

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject:

Nice review. Sounds like a great bike.

Can you strap hot dogs to your knees and cook them while riding? 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

kbmwrs · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject: