Went to view and test ride a 1996 k1100LT se today

Grey in colour and 45k miles with service  records from a  local bike shop 

New tyres back and front.

New battery

What can possibly go wrong?

Nice and clean on the outside, but....

1. Timing chain noisy on start up, though quiet enough off tickover, but needs attention.

2. Rear shock rebounds like a pogo stick

3. Oil leak in clutch arm boot

4. oil weep on water/oil pump housing 

5. Alternator noisy

6. Rear brake ineffective

7. Really WEIRD noise from front of bike when under load, possibly headers people might say, but ruined the ride as soon as I got going.

8.Engine performance dissapointing

9. Handlebars rubbers had been replaced, with sponge I reckon, way too giving.

Bike was up for £1900

Guy was very genuine.

As he was a  non mechanic I gave him  my list of "things to do" and the cost of repairs.

I could not  believe it when he told me he was not aware of the noise from the front, but if the noise was always 

there, and he didnt do very many miles anyway, then its understandable.

I would have thought a mechanic would have heard the noise from the timing chain, and the alternator 

My partner said she thought the engine was noisy when it started.

A long trip in the car, lot of traffic jams, but there are others .

the dark blue K 1100 Motorworks looks worth a look

Especially as I forgot to tell their  stores guy, that the k75 tensioner I asked for has the toothed rachet system 

and has a rear oil inlet spigot .

I duly received the k100 type.  hey ho. my fault really 

A drive to Motorworks Monday morning me thinks.

I wouldnt mind if bmw had used a rubber gasket on the timing cover instead of  gasket poop, which need s24 

hours to cure.   oh and that pain in the ass Teflon seal. Lord give me patience..

Bob

Two of my three K1100s sound like a box of rocks at idle but run fine with any RPMs so I don't worry about it.

Hi Duck,

There was too much work, especially given the amount I have done to my K100lt recently.

Having only the one K , I been without transport for too long ,  apart from the bloody car. God they are so boring 

to drive..  I understand sidecar Paul in not ever having four wheels

I just wanted an K1100 with no issues to ride until I am finished with my k100 lt 

Plus I only like certain colours....

Bob

Yeah, I agree. With all of those issues you'd need a much better price to make it worthwhile.

I told the seller that if my bike was 100% then I would offer him only £1000 ...

He was shocked as he said it drove fine..

But he was grateful for the information.....at least I think he was....

Bob

I had exactly the same experience in similar circumstances with a K75 Ultima while I was doing the rear seal and all the other work on the K100RT. I didn't buy it and decided against adding another bike with issues [brakes, main seal, tyres, electricals] at that time. On paper it was a gem but no. That was about Jan/Feb last year. Then in September the K1100LT came up and I was more than happy. It needed a few things but price reflected it and I was content.

K1100 exhaust headers crack and that may have been your issue. Mine did, just after I bought it, but then a nice new Remus came along and sorted that out.

Engine performance should not have been disappointing so something amiss there.

Motorbike Mike just sold his K1100LT and I know it was mint or near mint, about 46k miles too.

I saw Mikes bike but I really prefer the darker blue like motorworks have, or the dark red, silver is okay 

I will look at Motorworks k1100 as I need to be there 9 am monday to swap a k100 cam chain tensioner for the 

k75 type, which they sent out.  I asked for the k75 unit but perhaps the chap in the stores was not aware that 

there are two types, my fault I guess.

Then I will find out if the k75 design will fit into the oilway on mine

So unless bmw had to redesign the front casting to allow the spigot to fit into the oilway, then I will have to fit my 

k100 unit.

I wonder whether the spring could get weak over a period of time..Will measure mine against the unit i got from 

Motorworks out of interest

Will post any findings on my Cam chain post

The one major thing I noticed about the k1100 motor, it had none of the buzz anywhere in the rev range or 

cruising. My k100 buzzes during acceleration a little but is dead smooth when the throttles are steady , might

have one cylinder slightly out of sync

Bob