K11 Owners Group

Milton

Went for a ride last Saturday with the gang - a big gang of, in the immortal words of JohnnyOh, old motoGeezers. This is the clubs kick off ride from Morrison, Co to Estes Park along the Peak-to-Peak highway. It is usually held the first Saturday in May but the weather has been so crappy this year that it was postponed until the 30th.

I typically do not enjoy riding in such large groups, usually 2 - 6 is best, but this is kind of a special ride so I make an allowance.

Met at 8:00 a.m at the Red Rocks Grill for some breakfast and b.s before the ride.

Breakfast: It will eventually digest.

Bob Cohen and his breakfast burrito.

A big turn out.

Jim and his brand new R1200GS. He usually has a custom built dog house on his tail rack for his pooch. Made of stainless steel and plexiglas, very nice.

Siggi sitting in the middle of the road looking to get rear ended.

Mike

Paul and Bob

A bunch of old motoGeezers, although not necessarily old K-motoGeezers.

Yes, even the brain dead inbred hillbilly stumpf**k Scoggins show up. Please don't ask me my opinion.

On the left is Gray Buckley - BMWMOA ambassador - he helps to set up the national rallys.

Somewhere up Golden Gate Canyon.

Nice left hand sweeper in Golden Gate Canyon.

These vermin are every where. They have been breeding like rats and in the last several years have infested all the best roads. I should be kind as my middle child is one.

Squiggly lined road sign.

Fishing in Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

Indian Peaks Wilderness Area in the distance.

Piggies were out in full force today trying to catch us outlaws. About 20 miles further up the road there were about 7 cop cars/truck/suvs in a large turn out. They had a guy in the bushes with a radar/laser gun shooting people and then one of the 7 would ticket. After I broke down 1 of then finally stopped, after we had the bike on the trailer for home, and said they had 4 fatalities last year and 2 wrecks so far this year.

Nice seat, ahem.

Clouds were building up for a good rain.

Nederland, CO where the frozen dead guy lives.

Dead on the side of the road. Had just come around a nice left hand sweeper when the bike just died. Started up again momentarily and then crapped out completely.

Out of focus daisy.

Sweeper where she died. Doesn't look it but it is raining pretty hard.

I happened to be the last person in the group as I held back at Nederland before leaving so I wouldn't be caught in the pack. Fortunately I caught up to Siggi who was parked along the side of the road. He helped me for about 45 minutes and then rode off to Estes Park to call my wife to bring the retriever trailer. He did come back and wait with me.

Siggi got caught in a really nasty hail storm after he left, somewhere in those grey clouds.

When I pulled over and stopped there was a bunch of smoke pouring out from behind the engine and on top of the transmission. I thought it was going to catch fire. After the smoke stopped I took a bunch of crap off and discovered one of the wire pairs had shorted out and melted the insulation off. I was assuming it was from a modulating taillight I had recently installed as it was messing with my taillight/ABS indicator light. Come to find out, after I killed my baby, that it is the wire to the gear position sensor. Thanks BMW for fusing all circuits. I'm just hoping it didn't damage the moronicBrain.

I sat here for about 4 hours before my wife showed up. In that time not one person stopped to ask if I needed any help even when I was working on it. I'll bet 10 cops passed me and one finally stopped when we were loading it up. I almost always stop if it looks like a biker is having trouble, sheesh.

After the wife arrived we loaded it up and drove it back home. We stopped at Wondervue for lunch. After lunch I checked the hold down straps and left for the final drive to home. About 1 mile east of Wondervue it fell off the left side of the trailer. How that happened I do not know but it did and she slid on her left side for about 80 feet.

Smashed and scrapped the crap out of the fairing upper, left front turn signal housing, instrument cluster, plastic trim pieces, left foot peg bracket, fairing lower, rear left turn signal, top case mounting bracket, valve cover and scuffed the seat some what. I was sick. A fellow nearby heard the crash and came to help. He had some industrial strength tie downs he let me use and helped me get her loaded back up - nice fellow.

Upper fairing damage.

A bit lopsided now.

Good view of the damage.

Destroyed instrument cluster..

Broken off foot peg.

Ground down round valve cover.

And on a happier note some pretty flowers along the front range after returning the good Samaritan's tie downs.

_________________
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!

1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.

Jim · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:01 pm Post subject: trashed brick

Man! The fire was bad enough - really sorry to hear about your ride coming off the trailer! Sad

Are you going to put it back together?

The transport I use has one of those ride in chocks for the front wheel that locks the wheel in. I used to tie down at the front (using soft ties) and pull the front end down pretty tight. I decided I didn't like that setup - although I still tie the front end, I now cinch it down at the rear (again, using soft ties).
_________________
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."

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject:

Wow - that's awful that it fell off of the trailer.

It doesn't make sense that the gear position indicator would short. All of those wires only carry ground current. The brown wire is ground and then the gear position switch connects the other three to ground in various combinations to tell the instrument cluster what gear the bike is in. Unless it shorted to something with a 12v.

If you need parts.....
_________________
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

Saltcreek · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject:

From the subject of your post I thought you were in a wreck. I guess if you're going to crash a bike the best way to do it is with nobody on it. You seem to be taking it with a sense of humor, I don't think I could do it. That's a beautiful bike, I hope you can bring it back to life.
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Mystic Red · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject:

God, that's too bad. A worst trailer nightmare come true. You seem to be taking it pretty well. Or had you just calmed down before posting?
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

rydor · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject:

Sorry man

I hate it that nobody stopped to help you... anyone on this site would have, for sure Mad

Stoked Steve · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject:

Breakdown? BMW's do NOT breakdown, especially during group rides! Laughing

That sucks about the trailer get off, damn, talk about adding insult to injury!

I was lucky that abreeze and jal88 knew how to tie a bike down properly and she made it 450 miles in the back of the UHAUL without a scratch. But, during the last few miles on some crappy Norfolk freeway, the front end did turn and slacked up the lines, thank goodness she stayed upright.

I hope you have the will to put her back together, you know the group here will do anything to help, just ask!
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

Jim · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject:

Off the grid · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject:

Damn man, very sorry to hear.

Although it seems like a terrible thing, it's all fixable.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

LordGondor · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:09 pm Post subject:

That's awful! fwiw, I shattered my upper fairing in my just bought K11 knocking it over in the trailer in the POs driveway. I got replacement parts from Beemerboneyard, fixed them up as best I could then had a body shop do the finishing touches. It looks great now. You might be able to fix it for not too much.
_________________
93 K1100RS
60K miles now. 30K by me.

owrstrich · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:24 pm Post subject:

uncle milton...

it looks like it was going to be a wonderful day... but it got all messed up... im really sorry to hear about the motobrick... i really dont know what to say... it just bad...

more later...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

hirschhs · Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:15 am Post subject:

wow, that's some serious bad luck. Hope you get it all fixed without too much hassle...
_________________
Cheers, Steve H _______________________________________
K-less in Bucks
2001 ST1100A

1994 Yamaha 600 Diversion 'Hers'
2006 Kawasaki Z750s 'Hers'

Jim Brotherton · Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:08 am Post subject:

After looking at the pix's, all I could think of was 'I could just Crying or Very sad

'. Hope you can bring it back to life.
_________________
1995 K1100RS
2004 R1150RT

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:50 am Post subject:

OUCH!Sorry about the carnage.

Considering what is on my trailer (the few times I have had to drag it somewhere- to go south away from ice, etc..)

-I always use TWO tie downs on EACH side in the front.

-another pair in the rear from the frame to the trailer

and tie the loose tail with a couple of half hitches just below the buckle mechanism.

I'll just ignore the vermin comment. When I am out on my road bicycle- riding at the very edge of the pavement- I have some different words for some "bikers".
_________________
John & Cathy

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

phydeauxbytes · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:44 pm Post subject:

wera32 · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:50 pm Post subject:

I'm happy to share the road but I won't concede it. Some bicyclists are just plain rude. Yes, I ride a bike too.
_________________
Paul - '93 K11/12RS (sold), 2002 R1100S BCP and '03 RC51 KOG 29

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:33 am Post subject:

Milton · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:51 am Post subject:

Thanks to all who have expressed remorse at my tragic loss. I do appreciate it.

First, the trailer belongs to a neighbor of mine as did the straps.

Second, I had asked the wife to bring rope with her but, of course, as a matter of course, she did not do as I had asked. If she had brought rope I would have used that as I've lashed down many a load from pack animals to all sorts of machinery, learning the ropes so to speak, at the masters knee, my father. I would have been able to take as many wraps as I wanted. Anyway...

Third, I checked the tie downs several times between where we left and where it got off.

Fourth, I cannot begin to explain the pain I felt when I saw her go over. A stupid way to crash a bike but is there really a smart way???

Fifth, yes I am going to resurrect the old beast. The most difficult part will be repairing the fairing as it is cracked and ground down fairly bad. I have looked online for a fairing upper but there doesn't seem to be any available so I will undertake the repair. In high school I fiberglassed a duck pram I built in woodshop so how hard can a faring be? I will do all the body work and then find a competent painter to spray the pieces.

Sixth, I apologize if I insulted anyone with the bicycle vermin comment. It was somewhat tongue-in-cheek as you may have noted I mentioned that my son is a bicycle rider.

Seventh, I will keep the group posted as to my progress with the repairs.

Eight, I am hoping that the short didn't fry the brain.

Oh, and Ninth, the wife gave her consent to another bike so look out dual sport here I come.

Thank you.
_________________
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!

1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.

endoman100 · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:00 pm Post subject:

I'm so sorry for your loss Confused

But I am glad you haven't given up on the Brick.. Cool

Good luck in the restoration. and please post pic's of it as it comes back to life.
_________________
In the words of the stones
Time Is On My Side
Yes It Is
1993 K1100RS

Shoganai · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:26 am Post subject: