K11 Owners Group

[mnb]

So my right front fork seal is leaking again. I had gaitors put on after the last time the seal leaked (which wasn't that long ago). After he polished the fork on a lathe, Ted (from The Beemershop) said that there was pitting on the fork.

It only seems to leak when I'm riding on really crappy roads. Which is fairly often since our roads are crap here in CA. Smooth roads, no leak. A day of backroads with aggressive fork movement, it leaks.

So it seems the fork is unrepairable. I wouldn't think I'd need to replace the entire fork, but BMW doesn't list just the tube as a part.

Anyways, I'm looking for some advice as to what my options are for getting this fixed. The cheaper, the better, but once I put the new fork on, it needs to be in good enough shape to stay on for good.
_________________
M N B
1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition

[jarnbak]

According to bmw etk the part number is 31 42 2 312 032 .It says stanchion.
Regards Palle.

[mnb]

Ah, thanks.

Those darned Euros and their confusing terminology. That part didn't look like a fork tube on the diagram...

Rather Pricey at $300. I can get a pair of used forks of eBay for that and not just the tubes, the entire fork! Brand new a complete fork is about $800 from BMW.
_________________
M N B
1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition

[chopper_harris]

Skimming the fork stanchions, even by a couple of thou will inevitably lead to leaks with the standard seals.

You have taken them out of tolerance

The technique here in the UK classic market is to linish out any heavy corrosion, and then have them triple dipped at a reputable chrome shop to build up a good coating. This takes them beyond the standard diameter, and they are then turned down to a thou OVER standard.

This works with a classic Matchless, BSA or AJS, where the bike has real financial or sentimental value to the owner.

Alas K11s have neither, so the eBay route is your answer.
_________________
C1 200 (2001)
R100 RS (1990)
NSU Quickly N (1964)
Honda 400/4 F1 (1977)
MotoGuzzi 1000C (1978)
Suzuki TL 1000 R (1999)
Kawasaki KLV1000 (2005)
K12R Sport (2007) - Wifeys

[tmarshall57]

Here is a site which refurbishes forks by grinding, replating and grinding back to size. Seems a reasonable price. I would think there are similar places in the US who offer such services?

http://www.allbikeengineering.co.uk/html/forks.html
_________________
K1100RS Special Edition 1997
Arctic Silver/Black

[Tim (Midland Section)]

[Adrian]

Thanks for this link. I'm going to get them to do my forks. I called today and they'll do the complete job, grind, rechrome, polish stanchions, new seals and oil complete for £220. I didn't check, but assume that this does not include post either way. The other option was Motorworks - £58 each stanchion (replacement), £10 each seal plus p&P and all the aggro myself... and it would probably go wrong

Anyone else experience of their work?

Adrian
_________________
Adrian in Somerset, UK
K1100LT SE
145,000 miles and counting

https://sites.google.com/site/worlestone/

[Ralph C]

I kept blowing out the right fork seal until I mentioned it to Bob's when ordering another set. They said try less fluid. Manual says 350cc left and 400cc right. I put 350cc in both and no leaks! It's been two years, and still ok.
_________________
'95 K1100RSA