K11 Owners Group

voneschenbach · Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Posts: 2

Hi All,

This is a great forum and I was hoping for a little advice. I have been looking to add a bike to the stable and have been offered a 1994 K1100RS for $3,500. It's in excellent condition, has 22K on the odometer and has had some performance parts added.

I ride a Vespa GTS 300 on a daily basis on the local roads and highways in Seattle, and have done the MSF basic rider, so have the endorsement.

So my questions are whether this is a good deal for the bike, and whether it would be too much to jump into this as technically my first bike. My concern is mainly around the learnign curve on shifting as my Vespa uses an automatic CVT transmission.

Otherwise, I have been admiring the BMWs and this model for a while now, and was hoping to use the bike for a little daily commuting and some day trips . I will keep the Vespa for the local trips, but for those trips on the freeway I need a little more power to avoid sticky situations when everyone is already speeding about 70.

Thanks in advance for your help,

John

owrstrich · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject:

Need more info:

Age, sex, height, weight, build, inseam?

How many miles/years riding the scoot?

Do you know how to drive a car stickshift?

The K1100RS is a heavy bike which, for a nOOB, will be easy to drop. Though it's not a sportbike, it has a fair amount of power and is not particularly forgiving.

K bikes arent the most forgiving bikes with respect to shifting either. If you're looking for a nice forgiving bike that can handle the freeway then you might want to start out with a used Jap bike. If you've done your research then you know the Ninja 250 is renowned as a great starter bike. The clutch on that bike is incredibly forgiving and on the low end doesn't have much torque so it makes for a great learner bike. Another bike that comes to mind would be something like a Nighthawk 450 or 650. Those are bikes that are easy to ride and weigh less so will make it easier to work your way into motorcycling. Buy a bike like that, ride it for a year to develop your riding skills, and then sell it for about what you paid for it, and move up.

As the saying goes, it's your first bike, not your last one.

(Those are just my opinions on Jap bikes, there's plenty of good starter bikes out there. Take a look over at www.beginnerbikers.org for more suggestions. Since you've got some scoot experience you could probably lean a bit more towards the middle and larger sized starter bikes.)

If you're set on getting a BMW then you might want to consider getting a K75, K75C or K75S. Those bikes are a bit lighter and have less torque than a K1100 so would be a bit easier to learn on.

You can learn how to ride on any bike, including a K1100RS. It's just that some make it easier to learn on than others.

ALthough that does seem like a good price, I don't think it would be a great learner bike. IF you have the cash and really love the K1100RS(very understandable), then buy it and also a better starter bike and then dump the starter bike once you've developed some skills.

If your deal is going down in the Seattle, if you need someone to ride the K1100RS home for you I'd be happy to do it.
_________________
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

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:33 pm Post subject: 94 K1100RS

HOLY HELL BATMAN!!!!

A Vespa 300?

It'll be like stepping up from a 68 VW beetle to a 427 Ford Cobra jet!
Like some one stuffed a booster rocket in your back pocket!
Like... well you get it.

If you learn to shift it, 2 3 4 5 and in about 4 seconds your at three digits on the overly optimistic speedo, but you'll be moving pretty fast.

Good on ya for taking the class's, that's a big plus.

Everything JO said is true.

The bikes do have a high center of gravity. My bikes are always female, she'll be heavy, but will repsond in wondeful ways when appropriately touched. You will learn easily if the tires are good.

If you research it and all is true of what the PO implies, you can always
sell it for what you paid for it providing it's in teh same shape.

Good luck!

We'll be here for ya, oh, and post pictures.
We want to see what we are missing.
_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:35 pm Post subject:

Another thing: I assume that you took the MSF course in order to be legal on you scoot, right? If you took the MSF a while back it might not be a bad idea to consider taking it again. The rider coaches will get you off on the right foot in the clutch and shifting department so you'll start by building the proper habits instead of bad ones.

Plus you can crash their bikes while going through Phase 1 of learning to clutch/shift.
_________________
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

owrstrich · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 3:52 pm Post subject:

kbmwrs · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject:

Be aware that a bike that is 15 years old and only has 22k miles means it wasn't used much. Good and bad. Check all the rubber and fluids.
And I would suggest a fuel filter (inside the tank) change right off.

Oh and these bikes can be fast.....had mine to 154mph indicated and could have gone faster but I was worried about the panniers.
_________________
Mike Gullery
"Beemerhead"
'06 K1200GT
KOG#43

holyspastic · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 7 Location: coeurdalene

where is the poster located? Question

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: Should I join the darkside?

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject:

holyspastic · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 7 Location: coeurdalene

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: Should I join the darkside?

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject:

I bought my 94 RS with 31k on it 2 and a half years ago. Nary a problem. Pennies to maintain.
_________________
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

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:30 pm Post subject:

owrstrich · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject:

Off the grid · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject:

I got nothing.

Ride what moves ya, life is too short!
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject:

Wait. I did have one problem with the RS. The front tire was mounted backwards and wearing a weird pattern in the tread so I had to replace it. Kind of hard to blame that on the bike though. (Tire was mounted by for the previous owner by Ventura BMW. Keep your bike away from those fools.)
_________________
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

Mystic Red · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:48 pm Post subject:

rydor · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:23 pm Post subject:

Man, '94 was a good year RS Very Happy

And welcome!

voneschenbach · Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Posts: 2

Thank you for the replies and advice. I visited the bike and sat on it - I am 6'3" so it was pretty comfortable from that regard. The previous owner was pretty mechanically inclined and replaced the rubber tubing with mesh tubing, etc., so I am less concerned that it has sat and parts have dried out. The battery is relatively new and has been tended as well. That said, I expect that the savings in getting a older bike will be eaten up in increased costs in replacing parts, etc.

I appreciate the words of caution about shifting and the high center of gravity - I would much prefer to drop a learner bike than this beauty, especially since I did the MSF with a scooter and have zero experience with handling a bike of this type. I will make the decision tomorrow when I go out to visit the bike one more time. If I delay, I will probably do the intermediate MSF course and do it with one of their motorcycles next time around.

Thanks again for the feedback,

John