K11 Owners Group

[ackgs]

I has been a couple of months since a K75 followed me home and I am smitten. I am thinking that another K should be in my garage, keeping the 75 of course. The '99GS is looking for a new home and I am thinking K100RS or K1100RS. I realize I am posting this on the K11 website but I am curious as to the plus and minus of the different engine versions. What are the strength and weakness of the K100 two valve, K100 four valve, and the K1100. I am leaning towards the K1100RS just because I like the looks but was curious about the different models. I don't see a lot of the four valve K100 available.

Thanks for the help.

[Flying Duck]

Get a 4 valve K100RS or a K1100RS.

Why? (Numbered but not in any particular order)

1) 10 more hp
2) Paralever final drive (better handling and doesn't wear out like a monolever)
3) MUCH better front brakes
4) Radial tires
5) Mirror extenders

A K100RS4V and a K1100RS are more or less the same bike but the K1100RS has a catalytic converter and different fairing. The K1100RS puts off a bit more thigh heat so if you're planning on running in the upper 80s/90s a K100RS4V might be better even though it doesn't look as good. (IMO)
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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

[jpberens1994K1100RS]

I've ridden K75's.

I really like the low end torque and extra HP of the K1100.

Some say the K75 will out handle the K11 when the road gets curvy. Don't beleive it for a minute. When the K11 is set up right they flat out fly and out power the K75. But then again, I think a majority of bikes out there have more tech than riders have skill. I count myself in that group by the way. I am no moto GP rider, but the K11 can really get up and go.
Don't skimp on the tires. The K11 is a bit heavy and long, needs good shoes to perform well.

Some say they vibrate more too, but with a little TLC it can be greatly minimized. I don't find it obtrusive at all.

I like ABS 1 better than ABS II but I've only owned them for a couple years now.

I looked at K100's but I'm a K11 believer now.
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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

[drikko]

Agree with all the above, having owned both a 2 valve K100 and a K1100, oh and yes get ABS if you can, it has saved my life once already, although no doubt that will start a whole other discussion
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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

[ackgs]

Thanks for the info guys. The ABS does bring up a few more questions. Are the ABS I the units I see on K75s the units located behind the passenger pegs? When did ABS become standard on the K bikes or was it always an option? When did BMW go to ABS II. I think that may be the system on my '99GS but perhaps that is ABS III. My '91 K does not have ABS and I like the brakes quite a bit. For me in the area where I call home I find the ABS on my GS not to my liking. When I purchased the bike it had torances on it and in my riding area we have a lot sand on the streets and choppy pavement. I found at first that when coming to a stop the ABS would cycle and I would find myself in the middle of an intersection. I replaced my tires with anakees, a softer compound I think, and the ABS function was greatly inproved although still not wonderful. Anyway not having ABS is not a deal breaker for ME. I am curious as to what version I have on the GS and what was available or standard with the Ks. From pictures of the K1100 the ABS rings look like my'99. I am not really interested in starting a discussion about how many times ABS has saved anyone, if you have to have it fine if not thats OK too. ABS I consider an individual choice. I am interested in what ABS versions were available when though.

Thanks again

[Ted]

ABS I was an option on the K75 and 8v K100 bikes (though I have never seen a 16v K100RS without it so it may have been included with them.) ABS I came on the 1993 K11 Bikes along with the smaller 420w alternator, from 1994 on the K11 bikes all came with ABS II and a 700w alternator. The ABS II is hidden under the seat unlike the noticeable cans on the ABS I
bikes. You can always disable the ABS I believe by just pulling a fuse

As for the bikes ... I've owned both K75s and a K11RS and the most immediately noticeable difference is the raw "grunt" power of the K11, it is a revelation after riding the K75. At 75mph on the K75 I am hunting for 6th gear, at 90 on the K11 you hit the throttle and are well into triple-digits before you can blink. That said, it is also a noticeably heavier bike and in my experience less nimble as it likes you to pick a line and stay with it. The suspension is also vastly improved with teeth-knocking bumps on the K75 being barely noticeable on the K11.

In my brief rides with a friend switching the K11 for a K100-16 I found the K100 to be buzzier and not have as much of the grunt power of the K11. Something to think about as well, the K100-16 is somewhat known for fractured driveshafts, something they apparently fixed in the K11.

If you like both I would put effort into finding one of either with a complete and verifiable service history and regular use.
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Ted
KOG#1

[jpberens1994K1100RS]

I had a 94 K1100RS for a breif period. All flashing lights with the ABS II, sometime it worked, sometimes not. Before I got a chance to work on that it got crashed out.
The 93 I bought to replace it has ABS I, no issues at all and within a year I had an opportunity to test it.
I had a car pull out on me from the right directlt across my path while traveling at 45 MPH. Clear day, clean road. I OVER reacted and pulled in the clutch and POUNDED both brakes. I stopped so fooking fast I almost did not get a foot down in time to stop from falling over. I had almost 2 car lengths to the car left. Needless to say I was amazed.

Not sure when the change over occured, but I think it was ABS II in 94.

It's supposed to weight less and be more accurate, but I don't know.

Drake has a preferance as well I think, but remember, if you really like the bike your find, and get a steal on it, you can always pull the ABS off. Others here have done it.
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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

[Flying Duck]

You won't like the K75 brakes after you've ridden a four valve K. I built a K75 with a K1100 front end solely for the purpose of getting the front brakes.

Of course a K75 will always be smoother then a four cylinder because it's a triple. As pointed out, a well-tuned 4 valve really isn't buzzy. Good spark plugs and well-synched throttle bodies are key.

If you test ride a K1100 you'll find the handlebars a bit mushy as they're rubber mounted but that is easily cured with a couple of washers and ten minutes to install them at the base of the rubber bushings. Then the handlebars become more or less solid.

A 93 RS will have ABS I, 94+ will have ABS II. Having both, I prefer the ABS I. It gives fewer false positives and splines lubes are easier. Under "Oh, shit!" scenarios both seem to perform about the same as far as I can tell. Unlike 2 valve Ks, both ABS I and ABS II brains are mounted under the seat. (The 4 valve Ks lack the toolbox under the seat that the 2 valve Ks have.)

If you ride a K75 in the upper RPMs, it won't outperform a 4 valve K but will get pretty close. (Riding one up.)
_________________
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]

Here's one up on your coast of the words.

" http://www.bmwmoa.org/flea/detail.php?siteid=25783&catid=1 "

It's on the BMWMOA web site. a 93 rs, pine green metallic with only 17,000 miles on it. The coveted BFD, and some minor farkles.
Kinda pricey. but low miles. Weather or not it's had enough love needs to be discussed between the PO & you.

I have a go worker fishing for a bike. He's always looking at mine, saying it's too cold, too rainy, or too hot to ride his Ducati. I ride as much as I can and most always to work till the roads ice up. I told him I'd fly out & ride this bike back for him. He got cold feet.

This time of year sellars may drop the price rather than mess with storage.

Good luck!
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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

[ackgs]

Thanks guys for all the info. Lots to think about. I have to get rid of the GS first I will work on that this week. A couple of local guys were curious about it so maybe? When I said I liked the K75 brakes I was referring to the lack of ABS. It is nice to ahve a back brake that I can use again, the GS with the ABS in pretty much usless. I had seen thyat Ad for the bike in NY looks nice. Whats the BFD though?

[robleyd]

BFD = Black Final Drive
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David, owner of:
1996 K1100 LT

[jpberens1994K1100RS]

There was once an owner whom is still a rgular on this site.

He had it bad for the BFD.

I've seen one LT in Pine green, but never an RS.
Black, red, palmetto green, graphite = mine paint code 670 I think, silver, white pearl, the SE in black & silver.

Here's my BFD. Get it all cleaned up real nice, then just apply Turtle Wax Ice liquid wax. Have a cup of coffee or what have ya, then buff it with a terry cloth. Lasts the whole riding season & nothing sticks to it.



And the RAM shock with BFD.

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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

[RJTrucker]

I have a 1993 K1100LT but I also have a few 1985 K100RSs. I am very fond of the 2 valve k100s. Also they are cheap to buy and cheap to maintain. Spare parts are cheap and I have been able to buy a few spare bikes cheap to have as projects or for parts bikes. I think I have anough K100 parts to last a life time. And the few parts I do need to buy once in a while I can get at Beemerbone yard or on E-bay. I am also not a big fan of ABS. the ABS on my K11 crapped out and I will not fix it again. Just pulled the plug on the ABS brain and covered the light with Gaf tape.
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Ron
1993 K11LT
1985 K100RS with over 100K on it
1985 K100RS Luftmiester Turbo Work in progress (any help is appreciated)
1974 R90/6

[ackgs]

[supercat1]

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(formerly) 1993 k1100rs