June '94, my first trip on the chair, its first rally in my hands.


Sidecar on honeymoon, '95. The RT fairing fell off too much on rougher roads so we removed it, a huge improvement.


We took the sidecar and bits off and sold them. I rode the K as a solo for a few years.


When I finally bought another solo, we bought another sidecar and fitted it to the K, by now just known as the 'Black girl'

Another few years on, the original bike was getting tired with approx 400,000kms under the wheels, so we bought a 16v RS and fitted the sidecar to that. I'd found a leading link and 15" front and rear wheels by them.

We took this around OZ in '02, total weight of the rig on the road (weighed when we returned home) was 880kg with me and the dog. We sold this outfit eventually, I did a few sidecar free years.


But then I bought this, an '87 RS had only 60,000kms on it. Cost $6000.


I had the oppprtunity to buy another outfit, a naked K100 with a DJP body, looked scruffy, but I bought it for the parts. For a small amount I got a leading link, billet aluminium 15" front and rear wheels and an excellent sidecar mounting subframe. Combining the good parts from the scruffy outfit with my bike and sidecar body was the plan.

I put the other bike back together with the leftover bits, got it running properly and sold it on as a project to the man that runs the TTT rally.

So this is what we have today. Next step K1100 engine.

That house looks a bit better than when I saw it AL. Are you back there yet or did you move on.

Rick G wrote:That house looks a bit better than when I saw it AL. Are you back there yet or did you move on.

Thats pre-fire.
We rebuilt on the same block. Been in the new place for close to 18 months now. Its much better, not just cuase its new but because we've built knowing where the wind comes from etc. Still need a big shed in the back yard though, cant move in the garage.
Al

Hmmm I have a big shed in the back yard and can't move in that. 1st law of junk is that it expands to fit the space available.
BTW is that mini me stuck in the screen of the RS?

Rick G wrote:Hmmm I have a big shed in the back yard and can't move in that. 1st law of junk is that it expands to fit the space available.
BTW is that mini me stuck in the screen of the RS?

I need it for workshop space, have to setup the sewing machine and cutting bench properly and it all takes space. The aim is one for storage and one for work. I cant really strip down the 2 K bikes for the engine change until I get some space. And there isnt much junk, we burnt most of that or let the demolishers have it, havent had enough time to collect since then.
On the screen is the dog I take to rallies when they say 'no dogs'.
Al

Nice pics, thanks Al.
Know what you mean about the RT fairing. I think I have broken fairing mounts 4 times ....as well as the big main mounting piece now. Too much rigidity with the sidecar attached?
Sean.

Ah yes the dog I recall hearing that somewhere now.

Saxon7 wrote:Nice pics, thanks Al.
Know what you mean about the RT fairing. I think I have broken fairing mounts 4 times ....as well as the big main mounting piece now. Too much rigidity with the sidecar attached?
Sean.

I'm sure the corrugations going out to Mt Dare in NT didnt help it much at the time ('94 OCR). You have to keep an eye on the lower mounts, when they go the big one has to take too much stress. The K1100LT main mount is a much sturdier item. I've never had an issue with the RS fairing at all.
Could be too much rigidity too, My current bike frame/sidecar setup has no flex at all, I feel the front end too much as the springs are too hard also. Gives me something to do I guess.
Al

hopefully ill get those new brackets bent up today seanii

some good pics there al

Great pics Al.

Thanks for posting them, you give a real sense of history. Important I think with this classic old machinery we all ride.

As soon as I have worked out how to easily post pics from my Mac I will put on some of my mods.

Good story al,
Once you've had an outfit the bug is there, a bit like Kpox.
Paul.