The R80 RT is the old bruiser that I would probably never sell having had it 8 years, it rattles a bit and leaks a little oil but seems to go on forever, it rides okay and I find it very comfy and they are very easy to maintain. However I also had a Bandit 600 for 5 years as a second bike to the R80, they are good bikes and for the first 3 years I really enjoyed it, then the novelty factor stopped as I got fed up with the revvy engine and the slightly cramped seating position ( getting older ) the last 2 years I seemed to fall back in love with the old R80. So after trawling the internet I came across the K100LT at a classic bike dealer in Manchester who did me a good deal taking the Bandit in part exchange. The K100LT I bought had obviously been some ones pride and joy, very clean with fork brace and progressive springs up front and air shock on the back, steel brake lines etc, I find it has echoes of the R80 in the cycle components which I like and find easy to work on, the big difference is the weight the engine and the electrics. The weight was a problem at first due to me being short in the leg and have to tip toe when I stopped, cured this with a lowered seat and adjusting the rear shocker, the engine I love after the R80 as it is so smooth and more power I love the whistling of the petrol pump, and what I do like is the riding position which is close to the old R80 but the K feels more planted on the road, the electrics look a bit more complex with the fuel injection but no trouble so far. I like running two bikes and these two are far enough apart to give a change of riding experience but I do seem to like BMW's, previous bikes have been a lot of british, then CZ, MZ, Enfield the a few Japs before these two.
Hello from lancashire UK. Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:11 pm
