K11 Owners Group

Bob T · Last edited by Bob T on Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:32 am; edited 1 time in total

OK...rebuilt the forks and go to put on the Official BMW fork gaiters...
Ordered the standard boot from Max BMW for the /5 /6 /7 model R bike...
Part number 31421234908...

How in the bloody heck do you get these to stretch over the lower fork tube top?
The top of the lower tube is about 2.4" and the bottom, (larger), end of the gaiter is 1.75"...

Who among us has actually done this?
I used every tool I could think of...stretched it, pulled it, greased it...and finally gave up.

And yes, I know about the low cost Rancho boots...thought I'd be cool and get the "real" thing... Rolling Eyes

_________________
Bob T.
'96 K1100RS
'95 K1100RS - Totaled
'01 Triumph TT600
'83 Suzuki GS1100E

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:06 am Post subject: fork boots

Pretty sure those will not fit your K bike.

The fork lowers are a bit diffrent.

Go online, maybe Amazon.con, order the Rancho's for about $12.00 shipped.

They fit snug and I did not use the tie wraps that came with them.

Use hose clamp for the lower
I painted the hose clamps with truck bed liner as my lower portion of the belly pan hasthis treatment too.

Looks like this.

_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

Bob T · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:30 am Post subject: Re: fork boots

Thanks for the reply...

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:43 am Post subject: fit & forums

Yup!

Ya gotta watch what you trust on them der forums.

I might be missing something on the fit though, not fully certain.

I have an 81 R100 RS with BMW boots on it, I got rid of the stock fairing closure type boots as they do not protect the tubes.
_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

Phil Marvin · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:58 am Post subject:

Hi, Bob T.,
On my earlier K1100LT, when I didn't have the time to replace the fork seals, I took it to my local (now defunct) dealer for new seals and to have gaiters added. As far as I know, the /7 gaiters were used. Since that was 12 years ago and I sold the bike 5 years ago, I no longer have the work order so I can't check the part number for you. Since then, for all the bikes I've added gaiters, I've used Rancho or "aftermarket Rancho" gaiters. They work, fit reasonably well, and last. I put them on the '94 K75A/3 in 2004 and the still look and work fine.
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

Kneophyte1100 · Joined: 22 Apr 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Elkridge,MD

I'm dealing with my 1st rebuild of forks. Heres the bike's history; bought the bike Apr 2009 w/15k on it, Been serviced at local BMW dealer, in fact they did my inspection. At about 22k forks are leaking. Dealer shows the forks were serviced by them at 9k !? Does this seem fishy... any advice?
_________________
96 k1100rs

Bob T

Jim

Scott_Anderson

Kneophyte1100 · Joined: 22 Apr 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Elkridge,MD

For my 96 K1100rs- A mechanic friend said he has used ATF as fork oil in various Hondas. Supposedly keeps the rubber seal swelled better than fork oil. My local BMW shop DOES NOT concur. Any thoughts
_________________
96 k1100rs

Flying Duck

552255 · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:12 am Post subject:

Installation probably requires removal of the tubes from the fork tree/upper to slide on from top. I just cut the back of the gaiters, punched small holes and used small black snap ties to stitch up the gaiter. Can't see it all from the front or sides really...i think the gaiter is just to keep bugs, etc. out, it doesn't have to be 'sealed' tight.
_________________
1997 K1100LT-SE
1996 K1100RS-SE
"Black & Silver Duo"
Lincoln, NE

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:36 am Post subject:

Anytime I have something flexible to stretch over a wider item, I throw it in boiling water for a few minutes.
_________________
John & Cathy

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

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:37 pm Post subject:

Somebody on ADV claims to have used a hook tool to make them work.

A&S shows part 31422311077 as the correct ones for Ks. That would make sense as those are the fork boots for the early 90s GS bikes which most likely have similar forks to Ks of the same era while the ...908 boots were used in the late 70s.

http://ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=1640
_________________
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

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:57 pm Post subject:

BTW, the lower hose clamp for those boots on a GS is 31421458226 which is a 61mm diameter hose clamp. 61mm = 2.4016" so the diameter sounds pretty close to the 2.4" measurement that you took of the top of the fork lower.
_________________
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

tibbe · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:30 pm Post subject:

Put /7 rubber boots on my -94 K11LT 4y ago, no bigger problem fitting them, by dismounting the covering centre of the mudguard front.
Fixed the rubber boots with strappers on both ends.
Disadvantage a whissling sound by compression of the fork.

About fork oil my personal favourite LMZ hydrauic oil to Citroen ( SAE 7).

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:13 am Post subject:

malcolmt · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:20 pm Post subject:

Bob,

I fitted fork aiters to my K11 in June last year.
The Rancho boots were not available in Souf Efrika.
I tried a tack of off road bike and car places, the only ones I found to fit were PURPLE.

A sharp sales dude at a MX bike shop suggested univeral steering rack boots. Each end is stepped and you cut them down to th required size.
They fitted great, look as goo as the OE part and cost $3/leg.

Take a look at my posting. http://www.k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9005&highlight=

BTW..I've now swapped the cable ties with SS pipe clips.

Malcolm(t)
Joburg
Sou Efrika
_________________
******************************
A Bike on the road is worth two
in the shed
******************************

Bob T · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 4:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the help everyone....

Next time the forks come out I will be using the Ranchos...but for now, too late...

Next up...shopping for a rear shock...RAM, YSS...?
_________________
Bob T.
'96 K1100RS
'95 K1100RS - Totaled
'01 Triumph TT600
'83 Suzuki GS1100E

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 4:10 pm Post subject: shocks

I like my Ram shock.

Look at my posts, search " jpberens1994k1100rs "

Add in fork boots, and rear shock.

I also painted my SS hose clamps with TB liner. It's held up VERY well!
_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge