K1100LT Replacement...

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K1100LT Replacement...

Post by [email protected] »

I've had a K1100LT for about 12 years. It's been used for general commuting and occasional touring (not so much in the last few years). Notably it gets ridden to a car part and left there overnight for a day or so when I've got to go to London/wherever with work (and use the train).

Today the clutch went. It slipped once yesterday and then today it did it again... and it was all over within a mile- clutch engaged and there is negligible drive, just lots of slipping. Won't pull itself uphill.

I've done the clutch on a K75 and a K100 and those were hateful. This will be even worse since it's an ABS bike so besides pulling off the more complicated suspension there's also the ABS unit in the way. I think that this has killed the bike (for me).

I'm wondering what to replace it with. Budget up to about 3k since I need a bike I can leave in public places without worrying about someone stealing it.

I need a big barge of a bike with panniers so I'm thinking something like K1100LT, K100RT/LT, K75RT/LT, R1100RT, K1200GT.

I've had a PanEuropean in the past which I really didn't get on with- weather protection wasn't as good. And I'm thinking that the old Kwak shaft drives are past their time- and no fairing.

Anything else I'm missing?
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92kk k100lt 193214
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Re: K1100LT Replacement...

Post by 92kk k100lt 193214 »

Sadly its the one job that's painful on the bricks but otherwise a great bike.

There really is only one solution and that's another K. You know there isn't anything to beat it for weather protection and luggage. Since the rest of the bike is probably well maintained and trusted to the point you have confidence in it I know if it was mine I would bike the bullet and have someone do it for me, change the rear engine seal at same time and put my 3K in the bank. The write down you will take for abandoning it with a bad clutch, you will get it back selling a good K with a new clutch.

Also, they are not really known for being interfered with.

After 12 years with it you will know the foibles and things that go and I would lay a bet you have them sorted.

I tried a K100 recently for a friend and was impressed with it compared to my own K100RT and K100LT and would love one but for me I prefer the lesser weight of the K100RT. But the 1100 was definitely a winner.
1992 K100LT June 2010 110,000 miles
1984 K100RT July 2013 36,000 miles, 90,000
1983 K100RS Nov 2018 29,000 miles, 36,400 miles
1996 K1100LT Oct 2020 37,990 miles
1984 K100 Sprint March 2023 58,000 miles
BIG DON
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Re: K1100LT Replacement...

Post by BIG DON »

B)

You like the bike, and you know the bike and are willing to get a similar or same replacement, can you trust what you are buying?

I did my clutch on my ABS K100lt last year and "NO" its not as easy as some bikes but the ABS modulators simply bolt off and if you split them can be re-bled no problem.

When some folk spend £500 plus for a service and tappet check a clutch in a K is within scope and a fraction of what you are going to have to spend for a replacement, I agree with the other post "but" it may be different for you, these bikes can do galactic mileages if looked after have a look on the K100 forum hope you get sorted soon.

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Re: K1100LT Replacement...

Post by [email protected] »

Thanks for the advice guys. I don't have the time to sort it right now (I need to prep my XT660 for the summer trip to Albania/Montenegro/Greece/wherever). I also don't trust other people to do the work and it would be a horrible price I'm sure...

But, you're right that I know the bike, know its foibles and trust it.

So I've ended up buying an R1100RT for 2,500. Pretty tidy and reasonable paperwork with it that makes the 51k look believable.

I'll see how I get on with it, if I don't get on with it then I'll repair the K1100 in my own time and flog the R1100, I shouldn't lose too much on it if I do this.

Shame really, but it's the first failure that's needed it to be recovered (in my brother's digger trailer...) in 12 years and about 50k miles of my use. 82k in total.
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Re: K1100LT Replacement...

Post by 92kk k100lt 193214 »

82K and the clutch makes it a reliable bike. Seems a shame to let it go. What I have learnt is that high miles with fastidious maintenance is what makes for the more reliable steed. You don't get surprises and you know where the fail points will be. You already know the engine runs forever. Your plan isn't such a bad one......last time I met someone who planned doing that it didn't work out as he intended.

He ended up keeping the two bikes.
1992 K100LT June 2010 110,000 miles
1984 K100RT July 2013 36,000 miles, 90,000
1983 K100RS Nov 2018 29,000 miles, 36,400 miles
1996 K1100LT Oct 2020 37,990 miles
1984 K100 Sprint March 2023 58,000 miles
AndyB
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Re: K1100LT Replacement...

Post by AndyB »

Fix it over the next 12 months and by then you'll have had plenty of time to get used to the boxer and realised that the K1100 is a miles better bike.

I test rode a couple of R1100s between selling my K100 and buying my K1100 and as soon as I rode the bigger K the decision was easy. More power, the handling on the one I bought was better than the R1100 and at fairly high cruising speeds while over in Europe the K1100 is very good on fuel. I wish they'd kept making them and still had an RS model in the range because one would be in our garage right now (thumbs)
MarkR
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Re: K1100LT Replacement...

Post by MarkR »

Ooh Spares!!
450 exc-f
r1100gs
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Re: K1100LT Replacement...

Post by AndyB »

MarkR wrote:Ooh Spares!!
Are you going to break yours so he can have the clutch?
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Re: K1100LT Replacement...

Post by MarkR »

Nah.

Mine does need splitting at some point. At least to grease splines.
450 exc-f
r1100gs
ChasF
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Re: K1100LT Replacement...

Post by ChasF »

I would say that the R and the GT are both a bit too desirable to leave kicking around in the station carpart. I would fix what you've already got as for your use seems the best option.
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