K11 Owners Group

omarsbuddy

Hi, everyone! First off, I've been lurking here for a few weeks, and have already learned quite alot about my newly acquired ride. I just picked up my '95 K1100LT (with 41,721 miles on the clock) on the 3rd of December, and so far, I'm delighted with it! Here's a shot:

I've been riding airheads for years, and this is the first BMW I've owned that isn't an airhead. (not that that's a bad thing! Wink

) Therefore, there's alot (more) I'm eager to learn about my brick.

I did read Flying Duck's suggestion that I introduce myself in the Campfire forum, and I apologize for not following protocol, but I also have a bit of a problem, and I figured the tech forum would be the proper place to post.

Going in, I knew that one of my first orders of business would be to replace the 5 year old, and quickly dying battery. I bought a Westco sealed AGM battery, and installed it yesterday. Therein lies the problem.

It appears that the eyelet that attaches to the positive battery terminal is a larger O.D. than it should be. When I installed the battery hold down plate, the bottom of the plate came in contact with the positive terminal wire eyelet, which was protruding above the top surface of the battery. I didn't realize this until I re-installed the injection control unit. While I was tightening the control unit retaining screw, the battery hold down bracket rotated just alittle bit, and the edge of the control unit touched one of the hard brake lines close by. The result was a huge spark, and the control unit becomming "welded" to the brake line! Shocked

It took quite a bit of effort to separate the two, and I took steps to (temporarily) insulate the treminal from the bottom of the hold down plate.

I got everything back together and went for a very short ride. My problem is that now, the ABS light on the left stays on. It was starting to get allitle cold in the garage, so I just quit for the day, and didn't troubleshoot the problem.

So, any ideas on where to start?

Thanks, and I'm very proud to be a K1100LT owner! Very Happy

_________________
Scot
'95 K1100LT

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:08 am Post subject:

Scot,

First of all, welcome!!

Have you tried to reset the ABS? Simple to do (although you may have to repeat it several times- this tends to be one the the more finicky parts to a K bike).

Use the search feature at the top of the page. Enter abs reset and specify that you want to search for all terms.
A little more than one page of threads should come up- I have found that reading through similar searches can fix most problems I have and gives me just a bit more knowledge about a brick.

Let us know if you fix your problem- if not there is a wealth of info here and in members brains.

Good luck!
John
_________________
John & Cathy

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

omarsbuddy · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:34 am Post subject:

Thanks for the help, John. I thought about the search option, but wasn't quite sure what to search for. Embarassed

I guess I'm facing a pretty sharp learning curve, being used to the relative simplicity of the aiheads I've owned.

So, if I'm cypherin' what I read after having done a search, I need to ground pin #2 in the diagnostic plug, and watch the temp warning light for the code(s) right?
_________________
Scot
'95 K1100LT

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:12 am Post subject:

Scot,

Yeah, at first glance these bikes seem complicated. I was in your place a few years ago but I started slowly getting more adventurous and did a complete clutch job a couple years ago.

Yes, you can use the gauges to read out faults but the reset (ground the #2 pin with the key on and hold down the ABS switch for 30 or so seconds) might fix it.

John
_________________
John & Cathy

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

omarsbuddy · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:29 pm Post subject:

Thanks again, John . . . but now, I'm really embarrassed. I just returned from my (detached - unheated) garage. It's 25 degrees here. See where I'm goin' with this? Laughing

Anyway, according to the owner's manual, the fuse block and the diagnostic plug are supposed to be somewhere behind the battery cover. Would you believe I couldn't find either one of 'em? Embarassed

With the weather being the way it is, I'm not real eager to tear into it until maybe the end of the week, when it's supposed to get back up into the upper 40's, but I do appreciate your help, and especially your patience.

I can remember feeling this stupid when I bought my first airhead. I didn't like the way it felt then, either! Confused

_________________
Scot
'95 K1100LT

Finn · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:39 pm Post subject:

On the left side:

Courtesy of http://www.k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3659
_________________
K1100LT -93 | ex K1100LT/SE -94

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 3:14 pm Post subject:

omarsbuddy · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 7:43 pm Post subject:

Okay, guys . . . I've used a big black majic marker, and wrote a big R on the back of my right hand, and an L on the back of my left hand. Embarassed

What threw me was the fact that the owner's manual describes both side covers as the "battery cover." Wouldn't ya think that the "battery cover" would be the one that . . . well . . . covers the &*$# battery?!! Rolling Eyes

Had I looked at the picture that is 2" above the text I was reading, I would have clearly seen that the "battery cover" they were talking about was the one on the left side of the bike.
_________________
Scot
'95 K1100LT

omarsbuddy

Well, I got the word last night. Took the bike to Motohio, and they hooked it up to their diagnostic computer.

The abs control unit is toast.

Great . . . just @*&$^% great.
_________________
Scot
'95 K1100LT

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:57 am Post subject:

Ok, so the abs won't work. still not a complete loss.
You have some options.

For your reference if you are looking to replace it, your unit will be ABS2. So it will be on K bikes '94 thru '97 (here in the states, thru '00 overseas)

1st you could look for a replacement abs controller, there are some out there on the net if you look. Flea-bay (be very careful). Flying Duck's parts site would be a good place to look. Beemerboneyard is another one.

2nd option, take all the abs system off the bike. lighten the bike up a little bit, and it will ride like a bike of the past before abs.

3rd option, leave it all in place, (but unplug the connector to keep the lights off) and ride the bike like a bike of the past before abs. And if you happen to run across a cheap replacement, or someone parting out a post '94 K-bike, you could pick up the abs unit and make it work again.
_________________
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)

miKeinWIs · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:32 am Post subject:

Hey Scot,
I agree 100% with Scott_ --coming from an Airhead you won't know the difference. ABS would be nice, especially on the rear, occassionally but we all road for years without it, right?
Mine has been tested, on purpose, only on the sandy surface of my road. Have practiced 70mph panic stops n the dry without engaging abs--no haven't practiced in the wet. Perhaps some day it w ill work in a panic stop on a rainy road--but haven't had that happen yet.
As Scott_ suggests: Ride it 'til you find a reasonably priced unit.
Good luck
mike
_________________
'97 K1100LT
Bought 6/30/09 w/26,750 miles

552255 · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:25 am Post subject:

Once again, the ABS gremlins... If mine wasn't working, I'd S__tcan it. Weighs a ton, hard to bleed lines, limited use, etc.

I got rid of the useless radio and speakers as well, can't hear it when running and lost the pounds, (modern tech. has replaced with much better smaller, Ipod type things)

If you enjoy working on bikes the K1100 will provide hours of challenging opportunities....get a repair manual, (Haynes, etc.) this will answer many questions.

Three overiding themes will be apparent with K1100 maintenance: rubber seals age/wear out...all 'precious fluids'...need changing occasionaly, and electrical problems with switches/connectors.

It's a fun bike to have, once your familiar with it won't leave you stranded. (unless a spline shaft goes--thats for another day-- Wink

Welcome to the forum, these guys are a wealth of knowledge.
_________________
1997 K1100LT-SE
1996 K1100RS-SE
"Black & Silver Duo"
Lincoln, NE

old guy old bike · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:34 pm Post subject:

omarsbuddy · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tips and reassurance, guys. Being new to te "K" world, I certainly appreciate the feedback.

I bought a Clymer K-manual, and have learned alot already. I suspect that the K manual isn't much different than their Airhead manual, in that not everything printed is, or should be considered gospel.

I'm especially gratified to see option #3 suggested by Scott, and promoted by others. I have been considering just that, but wasn't quite sure if:

1) The abs lights would go out - for sure

2) It would adversly affect the operation of the braking system (other than abs not being available)

I'm just alittle disappointed in myself, having been a mechanic for the better part of 25 years, and something as (seeingly) simple as replacing a battery, which I've done dozens of times without incident, turns into a major cadaster. (that's a cross between a catastrophe and a disaster Shocked

)

Anyway, that's probably what I'm gonna do, and keep my eyes open for a reasonably priced unit. So, how much is a reasonably priced unit? I guess that's a pretty subjective question, huh? Just for grins, I had the guy at Motohio quote me a price on a new one. $2200!!! Yeah . . . right!

Again, thank you all for the words of encouragement.

btw . . . Scott . . . has anyone ever told you there are too many t's in your name? Wink

_________________
Scot
'95 K1100LT

Stoked Steve · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:05 pm Post subject:

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:33 pm Post subject:

Hopefully it NEVER happens. BUT

If a vehicle or a large animal comes out of nowhere and you GRAB the brakes HARD..........that's when we are very grateful for ABS.

Several MC riders I have talked to think that they are able to stop faster than ABS can. But if in a panic you NAIL the front brake and don't have ABS, it is very likely that you will be down on the ground.
_________________
John & Cathy

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

drikko · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:45 pm Post subject:

Anyone who says they can outbrake an ABS bike is kidding themselves. Much like the people who won't wear seatbelts in case they drive into a lake.

I've had the ABS save me twice in the last 3 years Once on a slippery road when a car pulled straight out of a driveway without looking. I know for a fact I would have dropped it had it not been for the ABS, the other time was when I was being dumb and sidetracked and nearly hit a stationary car in front who was at a red light. The ABS kicked in the whole time I was stopping, once again the road was wet. Real wake up call that one. I ride the Laverda a lot which of course doesn't have ABS, so if it's already raining or am expecting to be running around in traffic in the rain then I will always take the bimmer.
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

whyoldbill · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:39 pm Post subject:

omarsbuddy · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:00 pm Post subject:

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:48 pm Post subject:

There is an individual over in Japan that currently rebuilds the ABS 1 modules.
At this time he is not working on the ABS 2 units. But he might in the future, only time will tell.
_________________
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)