K11 Owners Group

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject: RS tracking - my theory

My LT trakcs pretty straight - maybe a little to the right due to the crown in the road.

But both my K100RS4V (which admittedly was a Frankenbike) and my RS both track to the right more.

In looking at the parts catalog, both the RS and LT have the same right axle spacer on the front but different on the left - and the RS wheel is wider. I suspect this may have some influence on the RS tendency to track.
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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

rover759 · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:25 am Post subject:

Perhaps you could check the wheel alignment too?
BM specify a maximum offset in the wheel track Cool

chopper_harris · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:26 am Post subject:

Looking beyind the obvious, have you checked your riding position.

I am occasionally behind riders who sit askew on the bike, or have an upper body position which is abnormal.

A good friend was doing just this, and had been for several years due to trapped nerves in the shoulder.
The body compensates for these problems without conscious effort.
He rode with his body twisted to the right.

Maybe the forward position of the RS is highlighting this wrt the LT.

Worth a quick check from a buddy, riding behind you Wink

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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

Shoganai · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:08 am Post subject:

Mine tracks strongly to the left. So much so I can almost never take both hands off at once. Dispite that, tire wear is even.

When I do, I have to shift my butt in the seat to get it to go some-what straight.
My R1200ST was so stable, I could ride for miles and gentle turns w/o ever touching the handle bars.

At some point I plan on doing that wheel alignment I hear all you guys talking about.
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1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:01 am Post subject:

In the 4000 miles that I have ridden my RS, I have not noticed this at all.

But I have noticed on the RS bikes that the rear tire is not centered directly ahead of the fender, but on LTs it is.

Last service at ABS (one man operation- certified but independent BMW wrench) pointed this out. He had my RS on one lift and an LT on the other and standing behind both it was obvious. Is this due to the RS having a wider wheel and tire- with a single sided swing arm that width gets offset to the left? The front would not be offset since the wider tire remains centered between the fork legs.

Or maybe I'm just imagining it .
_________________
John & Cathy

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