K11 Owners Group

ColoradoRod · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:21 pm Post subject: Blasphemy? Moving to a K1200LT?

I’m considering selling my 1996 K1100LT and replacing it with a modern-version K1200LT. I realize this might meet with some grumbling here on the K11OG board, but was wondering what arguments you guys would make for NOT making the switch.

Here are my reasons/thoughts for moving to the 1200LT:

1. I like the more modern look
2. Creature comforts—better radio, powered center stand, 6 gears, bigger trunk, cruise control
3. Better/smoother ride on highway
4. More reliable because it’s newer

What say you of the K11OG? Am I full of hooey?

Rod
1996 K1100LT
~23,000 miles
Mystic Red!

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:22 pm Post subject:

German GoldWing. Razz

_________________
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

rydor · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject:

Phil Marvin · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:24 pm Post subject:

Hi, Rod,
I test-rode a K1200LT a few years ago. I also talked to the shop mechanic about them. I would rather have a K1100LT than a K1200LT since I have no one to ride pillion. (When Harriet was alive, she HATED the passenger position and comfort[?] of the K1100LT seat. She never rode on the back of a K1200LT.) These are my reasons:
1. The K1200LT is a good 200 lbs. heavier than the K1100LT. The K1100LT is not the easiest bike to ride slowly, say, in a parking lot or in a traffic jam. The K1200LT is much worse, in my opinion.
2. It's an all day job (shop time) for a spline lube or a clutch on a K1100. It's double that for a K1200LT.
3. The bags stay on the bike; you can't take them off and take them into your motel room.
4. Has BMW gone to hydraulic clutch actuation? If so, I have read a LOT about leaking clutch slave cylinders ruining clutches. This may just be an oilhead problem, but I'd check on it.
5. There are many reports of failed final drives on K1200LT's.

I'm happy now, riding my K75's. I liked the K1100LT's and might buy another. (NO, I have no plans to buy a K1100LT at this time!) The K1200LT is luxurious, but it's not for me.
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Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

owrstrich · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

k1200lt...

the k 1100 rs motobrick...

the worlds most eloquent 2 up mototouring motomachine...

sell the l t... score an r s... game over...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:33 pm Post subject:

Yea, what Phil said.

I looked at them as well, just too heavy and we ain't gettin any younger ya know.

There's even less that you can do for maintenance work yourself. Don't they also have that 'canbus' on-board electronics system that almost makes it impossible to add stuf to the bike that isn't BMW issued.

Just my opinion.
_________________
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)

ljjohns · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject: Been there, done that.

When I got an unexpected promotion to a Army Reserve job in Seattle in 2002, I treated myself to a K11LT since I'd been lusting after one since the K-bikes first came out. Didn't get to ride it as much as I wanted--there was a war that intervened--but I did have some great multi-day rides around the Northwest. When I retired from that job in 2007, I thought I'd treat myself again by purchasing a 2003 K12LT, with the intent to ride it back to El Paso with the SO as a special celebration.

I think I documented the disasters resulting from the transition elsewhere here on the forum: bottom line was that the SO rode in a chase vehicle.

Those disasters were a function of the my lack of awareness of the differences, most notably, the higher weight and the grabbier brakes which make low speed fall overs an intregal part of any K12LT owner's orientation.

Bottom line: I still prefer the K12 to the K11 for long-distance touring because of the "luxuries" including the cruise control (much more accurate), the GPS (even though its now outdated), the larger cases, the integrated brakes (along with ABS), a better sound system and even the heated seats (which got the SO back on the bike).

But the weight is oppressive: I went from a Suzuki GS1000S (Wes Cooley) to the K11 and found that the K11's weight was a small challenge, even though it was only 150 pounds heavier; the K12 was another 200 pounds heavier, and at my age, that's a pain whenever the bike has to be muscled around.

And while I've been extremely fortunate in that I've had to do no major unprogrammed maintenance, my small efforts at installing the Autocom from the K11 to the K12 involved a heck of a lot tupperware removal. I've got some optional projects programmed for the K12, but I'm trying to stack them up so that I only have to take the K12 tupperware off once; it's a pain.

My compromise has been to snatch a K75rt from a neighbor and Unversity colleague for daily riding; the K12 sits on the battery minder for those times where I don't want the K75 heat or where I want some of the K12 modcons for a longer daytrip (we ride year round here in the desert but the winters do make the K12 preferable).

Bottom line: I don't think I gained that much by upgrading from the K11. I'm keeping the K12, but I'm still watching for my old K11 to go on Craigs List in central Washington--I just might buy it back.
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1993 K1100LT (Washington)
1995 K1100LTSE
1996 K1100LTSE (parts)
2003 K1200LTC
1991 K75RT

Technician · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:49 am Post subject:

I thought that i would progress to the K12LT sooner or later thinking that once theK11 got too tired or started to cost too much in time and money to keep on the road. So with this in mind i took another test ride having had a little go a couple of years previously on what i felt at the time was a two wheeled canal barge with tiller steering. I set off from the dealers with a clean frame of mind to give it an objectional veiw, well no matter where i positioned the screen and it was the extended version my head was being buffeted around as though it were in a wind tunnel. I just couldn't get comfortable, the seating position was too far away from the headstock and leaning backwards. The post 2004 facelift models have a shorter wheelbase so i thought i'd investigat a later bike but was informed by the deal that this was done by changing the angle of the headstock so the seating position remained the same. Taking all this in to consideration and adding in the factor of extremely high servicing costs in time and parts my conclusion was to got to the dark side and look into the realities of the R1150RT as a possible replacement when the time comes.
Having said all that it is just my opinion and each to their own, what works for one doesn't always work for all. If you want a K122LT and it will do what you want it to do go for it.
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Fat Ba***d with a K1100LTse
Squire D18 trailer
Garmin Zumo 660
"Run it round the block to see if the wheels fall off!!!!"

Geoff · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:25 pm Post subject:

The K12 is more top heavy than the K11. Besides this, it's a great machine.
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2000 R1100RT
2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic