K11 Owners Group

supercat1

is it acceptable practice to use it on start up? for some reason i got it into my head that i shouldn't be using choke on start up of the bike ... but that ended up meaning it didn't start up correctly. tonight i got my copy of the clymer (holy crap awesome) and it says to use it. so i gave it a shot, and what do you know, it starts first try and warms up great. it is at the "position 2" location (about half way). is that too much? i know after a minute the bike has no issues so the choke isn't needed beyond just initial start up.

also ... gotta find that clicking/rattling noise i mentioned earlier. here is a vid i just took that has the sound in it. it is most evident at the 15second mark. does this all sound normal? i just don't remember the sound previously.

click to view

thanks!
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(formerly) 1993 k1100rs

Jim · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:49 pm Post subject:

Sounds normal to me. Yes - use the choke. I don't have to use mine when it's 90 degrees out...
_________________
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."

supercat1 · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject:

yeah, it isn't 90 out right now. just rained and is only like 70. but it is also in a garage (with the door just opened to vent fumes) so it probably is even cooler than that and it has sat all day. i have noticed it starts right up after sitting outside at work. so yeah, i guess that is all cool then.

after duck said that the bikes sound like a box of rocks i figured the sound wasn't a big deal (still don't know what the timing gear is though ... clymer maybe?). but thought it prudent to check. i know the sound on my digital camera sucks but, it can be heard a little.
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(formerly) 1993 k1100rs

Phil Marvin · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:57 pm Post subject:

Hi, Supercat1,
If you don't know, the choke lever is basically a throttle advance. There is no problem with using the lever - full on to start and 1/2 on at idle so it doesn't die. After a couple of blocks, it is no longer needed.
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:11 am Post subject:

I didn't hear anything out of the ordinary to me.
Actually sounded pretty good.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
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.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

owrstrich · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:14 am Post subject:

good evening supercat1...

some k11oldgeezersi use nitrous instead of the choke...

results may vary...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

Off the grid · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:55 am Post subject:

Sounds pretty fkn good to me.

Just ride it and enjoy it. You are over analyzing much like I did when I first got the bike. It's good to have your ear tuned in to problems, but I think that motoheap is running jus fine says bug.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

max · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:16 am Post subject:

Sounds OK - the idle might be a bit low (due to the cold engine, as you say) so yep - use the fast-idle "choke" to get the oil moving, then you can back it off when it's a bit more "loose". I think the official idle is 950-1050rpm (IIRC - check your Clymers) and because the RS here always sounded a bit labored on really cold starts I've upped mine to about 1050-1100 anyway as a personal thing - I don't get to idle much in my riding anyway.

Also, if it helps, there is a kind of choke - it's built into the engine electronics to notice a cold engine (low coolant temp) and run a bit richer... The even older Ks with the analogue fuel injection even had a "richen mixture after starter pressed" feature, don't think the Motronic bikes kept this tho.

Anyway - welcome to the OG - hope you enjoy the bike!

Max

PS about the Clymers too - if in doubt, ask here. It's usually good, but in places they've swapped info between models and got figures wrong too - I'd always suggest running any repairs in parallel with the official BMW service manual (see the Tech Stickies forum to find a link to download the PDF) and past that ask here as there's usually someone who's been there before! Wink

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:50 am Post subject:

Sounds really bad to me. I'll take it off of your hands for a grand. 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

supercat1 · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:05 am Post subject:

Phil Marvin · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject:

[quote="supercat1] this weekend is spark plug replacement weekend. supposedly they haven't been changed in about 3 to 4 years.[/quote]

Hi, Supercat1,
Do you already have the plugs? If not, do you know what plugs you are going to put in the bike? There are cheaper, as-good-as or better, plugs (NGK, NGK Iridium, Autolite, etc.) to replace the (ridiculously expensive) Bosch plugs.
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

supercat1 · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject:

yeah, got the bosch set that duck suggested in my other thread. the reason i got those is because it was $24 for the set of 4 and it seemed the ngk were more expensive + needed the cap, and a census of the people i work with produced little to no positive feedback on autolites. so i just got the bosch.
_________________
(formerly) 1993 k1100rs

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject:

Just to clarify, I didn't actually "suggest" the Bosch plugs. I mentioned them because they're what BMW uses. My recommendation would be to get the NGK iridiums as they really helped smooth out my LT compared to the Bosch plugs. Either that or go the cheap route with the Autolites as Phil recommends. I used those in the K100RS4V that I had and they worked fine.
_________________
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

supercat1 · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:42 pm Post subject:

owrstrich · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:50 pm Post subject:

before i got cruise control i used to use the choke lever as a thumb throttle...

it was kinda like a chokemeister instead of a throttlemeister...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

supercat1 · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject:

well, got the plugs changed. are k11rs' supposed to have plates covering the spark plug wires? cause mine doesn't ... duck you got one available?
_________________
(formerly) 1993 k1100rs

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject:

No they generally don't. No need since the RSs have a belly pan. I can't remember if the RS valve cover even has bosses for the mounting bolts.

But I gots one if'n you wants one.
_________________
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

rydor · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject:

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:11 pm Post subject: