K11 Owners Group

lbyvik · Joined: 25 Jan 2012 Posts: 3 Location: United States

All

I am about own a 93 K1100 (my first BMW and first K bike).....Rode it for a solid hour the other day just to listen, feel and understand the particular bike....

It seems that it is geared really low. In 5th and going about 70 I was running rpms that are north of my KLR at the same speed. something in the region of 5000 rpms...The strong end of that.....

Is this normal for the bricks? It felt smooth and powerful, but also like it was looking for a 6th gear.

Enlighten me

Thanks
Lrb
_________________
Larry Byvik
2008 KLR 650, 1993 K1100
I put the Laughter in Manslaughter
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

Kenji · Joined: 06 Nov 2009 Posts: 18 Location: Oakland, CA

That sounds about right. BMW wasn't into 6-speed transmissions back in the 90s, which is a shame because the K1100 engine has so much low-end torque.
_________________
Kenji
1996 K1100RS

mikey11000 · Joined: 04 Dec 2011 Posts: 21

I thought the same when i bought mine,just the way they are.im always going for 6th gear,thats the one thing that spoils an otherwise superb bike
_________________
1997 k1100lt se

Jim · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 4:38 pm Post subject: revs

Hi Larry,

Welcome to K11OG!

We're all looking for 6th gear, but don't be afraid to take the rev counter way up - these bikes were built for high revs.
_________________
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."

lbyvik · Joined: 25 Jan 2012 Posts: 3 Location: United States

Thanks ya'll!

Im excited about this bike. I appreciate the input here. My only other frame of reference was a honda ST 1100 I had years ago and loved. Which of course was a 6 speed and had a great, progressive range of gearing

I'll be taking ownership of my K11 in a few weeks. YAY!
_________________
Larry Byvik
2008 KLR 650, 1993 K1100
I put the Laughter in Manslaughter
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

lbyvik · Joined: 25 Jan 2012 Posts: 3 Location: United States

Thanks ya'll!

Im excited about this bike. I appreciate the input here. My only other frame of reference was a honda ST 1100 I had years ago and loved. Which of course was a 6 speed and had a great, progressive range of gearing

I'll be taking ownership of my K11 in a few weeks. YAY!
_________________
Larry Byvik
2008 KLR 650, 1993 K1100
I put the Laughter in Manslaughter
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

Number 6 · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:34 am Post subject:

You can fit a K1 rear drive to have a longer 5th speed (and all speeds too).
_________________
I am not a number, I am a free man.

94 K1100LT

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:16 pm Post subject:

You will find she comes alive from 5k on, enjoy.
_________________
'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

rbm · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 2:21 am Post subject:

There is a speed calculator in Excel imbedded in this page:

http://k100rt.aforumfree.com/t357-rpm-to-speed-calculator-draft-1?highlight=speed+calculator

It is designed for K75/K100 but might work for the K1100 depending on the rear wheel size (fixed at 17") and final drive ratio (selectable from a limited set). Try it out and see.
_________________
- Robert
1987 K75 @k75retro.blogspot.ca
2011 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:57 am Post subject:

Larry,

WELCOME.

My '92 K100RS only has KPH, no miles per hour. (it was originally sold in Canada) And while I have gotten used to what metric speed is equivalent to our goofy MPH, I found that if you do a quick tachometer calculation in your head you have speed.

(first 2 numbers of) RPMs x 1.5= very close to speed

by your post- 5000rpm 50 x 1.5= 75mph

Now that I have that nearly useless piece of info out of the way... Laughing

As others have mentioned, these bikes will REV!

I think it was Scott_Anderson who has said that many of us tend to sort-of "lug" our brick engines because they pull so well from low RPMs.

So don't be afraid to get that engine spinning.

BTW, WE NEED PICTURES! Very Happy

of your new ride. Please!

Also, where are you located?

John
_________________
John & Cathy

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

drikko · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:12 am Post subject:

Not sure wot you people are on about! Once you've got out of 1st gear all you need is 5th! Not sure what 2-4th are there for! Have spent hours at 110mph no problem and you can overtake 60mph cars easily with just a little twist of the throttle. These bikes are awesome! Compare that to my Laverda and you'd be devastated. You have to rev the crap out of it to do the same.....

So why do I ride the Lav a lot? It's got balls and by christ does it sound great!!

Nah u don't need 6th gear, just use the acceleration!
_________________
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

552255 · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 2:51 pm Post subject:

My bike at 70mph is a little less rpm's...say around...4200ish. Its hard to tell and tachs could differ. At 4000 rpm the felt vibration dissappears so 65-70 is sweet spot. Around 5000rpm range its kinda strange how the engine noise seems to dissappear as well.

With as many mechanical genious's here on this forum, its a wonder there isn't a 'bolt on/in' modification to have those six gears! I'm sure its been thought about...enjoy the bike, any questions can usually be answered here, many past posts with great info.
_________________
1997 K1100LT-SE
1996 K1100RS-SE
"Black & Silver Duo"
Lincoln, NE