I found out what is so special about this BMW

TANK STRAPS : TANK STRAPS: EVERYONE IS ALWAYS ASKING HOW TO GET THE TIE DOWN STRAPS THAT SRKCYCLES USES AND THE ANSWER IS RIGHT HERE!

#srkcycles #bikesandbeards

[paulkent]

I have a 94 k1100rs had it about a year now, wanted one when they came out but couldnt afford one at the time as they were very expensive, i am over the moon with it how it rides, goes, stops, far better than I ever imagined it could be, and it's in perfect condition even after all the years, it has documented 45k miles and still feels like a newish bike. I love it.

[Lyingleyen]

I had a 1989 BMW K75S the same Polaris Red color. It also had the two-tone horns, heated grips, 4-way flashers, but it didn't have ABS. A lovely comfortable, relatively fast and very planted bike on the fast corners. Seeing this one brought back the memories. Thanks.

[raybrensike]

These classic K's were one of the most dependable bike BMW ever made, but you do have to tear the whole back of the bike apart all the way to the clutch housing to clean and grease the splines every 30, 000 miles or so, using special grease. I used a grease Beemer Boneyard sold years ago called Guard Dog, and then mixed in as much ...What was that stuff?...Titanium Disulfide Powder that a company called Lower Friction sold? I think that's what it was called. It's an excellent lube that doesn't dry out or fall off.

Some of the interesting things about these bikes are aluminum fuel tank and stainless steel exhaust. The bulky block motor does give it a relatively low center of gravity, the way the longitudinal 4 is laid flat. Cylinders were coated with a Silica-Carbide or whatever, so they do last as long as they do.

Has anyone heard of these motors blowing up? I've heard of plenty of Harley's blowing up. I don't recall hearing of any of these motors failing.

I put 148, 000 miles on a '85 K100RT and was impressed at how free and smooth the front wheel spun. Original sealed wheel bearings. The wheels themselves were very light. Impressively light. Was so used to that bike that I bought a K1100 LT after that one. Kids in the neighborhood made a game of tipping it over in my apartment lot. It looked like hell having had a hard life sitting out in the weather all the time and it was time to move on. The K1100LT is so much like the old K100, it almost makes me think it the same old days. That's over 35 years riding these bikes, which are almost the same to ride. Old friends are hard to part with, I guess. Lots of trips, and lots of memories.

If you buy one of these old bikes, all the rubber stuff is subject to...well let's just say it's suspect to be in need of replacement, all the rubber lines and hoses as well as the brake lines. Replace those with steel braided lines. However the radiator hoses last what seems like forever. The fuel injectors will likely need to be replaced or professionally cleaned. BMW makes a fuel system cleaner which is basically an overdose of Techron. Look for PEA, that's the stuff to use. Use it every year or so at least.

[mike.thomas]

I owned a ‘96 in the early 2000s. It was my first bike. Out of MSF class and onto a used K1100RS. Mine was a crazy vibrant green called “Palmetto Green”. Once a guy stopped next to me commented “that is the ugliest bike I’ve ever seen — I LOVE IT!”. Haha. Well, I loved it too. I found it quite attractive, except for the front end, where it’s a bit ungainly looking. Other angles are good. I did quite a bit of touring, commuting, fun riding on it, in Colorado and neighboring states.

The engine is the “flying brick” because it’s an inline four sitting on its side. Good thing they hid it behind fairings.

Pay special attention to the helmet-cam view, because you can see that the instruments and mirrors are in the same horizontal plane. Excellent, thoughtful design.

I test rode many bikes while I owned my K1100RS, and I enjoyed quite a few of them. But every time I got back on “the Goblin”, I was happy to return to it. I took a 15+ year break from riding, but am now back into it, and own a ‘17 R1200GS Adventure and an Indian FTR. Watching this video makes me want my K1100RS back, too! Here I go, to eBay …. 😃

[thepassionofthegoose]

These were the more refined alternative to the VFR (of the day). They are a fantastic value and definitely fit the bill for a great 'do everything' machine with mountains of character and credibility.

[demetriuscooksey]

I rode this bike many years ago and when I got off it, I went home and described it to my wife as the ultimate riding experience.

[Gaaaz]

Best bike ever! I own a lot of bikes that are a ton of fun, but after a month or two, I always start longing for my '89 K100RS I already put 125K miles on. It's fast, comfy, and very direct. Even directer than the K1100's due to the pegs mounting direct to the gearbox & harder rubbers in the handlebar mounts. btw: highest mileage I've ever seen on a K100? 470K.. miles that is (750K kms)!

[superioroilDOTinfo]

You really need to wind it out. You are just about lugging the engine on that whole ride. Live above 5K for awhile, run it up to redline before you shift... Then you'll see her real performance.

[GeFeldz]

The flying brick is in reference to the inline 4 mounted on its side, the engine is the flying brick. The older k100s and k75s had the engines more on display. Have you seen how the engine is configured? The newer k-bikes have conventional inline engines, but the early k-bikes have the engines mounted length-wise in the frame with the cylinders perpendicular to the ground... Probably the first and last time this was done!

[timgeorge]

"ABS on a motorcycle in '95?" Yeah. They had it ten years earlier too on the k100s. I have one.

[raybrensike]

BMW was known for making lightweight touring bikes, simple and basic. Then they got too much stuff on them, and got too heavy and with more weight they needed a bigger motor, and then they got even heavier. The old K's were best on the highway, the faster the better is where they like to run, all day long, day after day. Suspension was weak, though. Very dependable.

[RRRRefuelRideRace]

A cool one. I also like the K100 from the 80s. :) Great video mate. I like it.

[svcodemonkey]

Your vlogs get better every day. Love the verse from the Word. Keep it up. I'll be buying my next bike from you.

[carlarthur]

I've owned a K75 for 14 years it's a great bike plenty of power, and stable handles well for a heavy bike .

[spiderbeardancing]

ABS on a motorcycle back in '88, actually- check it out 1988 K100RS SE

[arbitr]

Don't forget that they all had fuel injection. Some of the first motorcycles that did. The LT also had electric windscreen.

[TheEnergyball]

Lol @ the end sequence...there's no bag dragging on a K bike. Not for the rider's handling but the bike is so high up that I don't even know if its possible to happen on these bikes. Fun video - feeling the genuine appreciation for the bike...do a K75 ride when you get one in ;)

[GaryMCurran]

I was looking for a review on this bike, my local BMW dealer has a 1996 with 48, 000 miles on it. I have a friend who has the older K75, and he's got over 140, 000 miles on his.
But, you asked, who would buy this bike.
Me.
I'm 59 years old, this will be my first bike. I'm 6' and about 250 pounds. Don't have a lot of disposable income right now, so I'm not able to shell out $20K for a new R1200RT, and the K1600GT is not what I would consider to be a good first bike. Now, I can get a medium mileage K1300GT, about 69, 000 miles on it, and that engine is so great, compared to the pre-2006 K bikes. But, I don't want that many miles. I could get the 1996 for $3, 300 or so, depending on how hard I bargained. This would make a great commuter bike, mostly highway riding, enough power to get the job done, heated grips for the winter season, nice fairing, as you pointed out, very stable and planted. I've known several people with earlier K bikes with the 'brick engine' in it, and they've all been rather happy with them.
So, yeah, this would be a great first bike. Sure, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles a newer BMW has, but it's still a good choice and a good buy for the $3, 000 price range, or less.

[SinnerSince]

These bikes are iconic. Sad thing is, you hardly see them any more. I have a '95 myself. The build quality is amazing. It makes my Honda VFR feel like a cheap toy, even at 24 years old. And honestly, the technology isn't that much better on the VFR, except it is nice to be a bit lower to the ground. The only disappointing thing about these bikes is the visibility in the mirrors.

[LinuxGalore]

years ago a bike magazine put over 200, 000km on a K1100 engine then pulled it apart. What they found is next to no wear. I have heard BMW guys brag they have done well over 350, 000KM on a K1100 before anything serious broke. The only issues the bike has were rear end diff seals leaking if you thrashed it too much.