Has anyone here replaced their K100 clutch plate with a clutch plate from an early VW? I have a link to a series of posts covering a clutch plate replacement for a R1100 bike. Although the link discusses an R1100 bike, the K bike clutch plate has the same overall diameter, same number of splines and the same hub inside diameter. I think it should work for the K, but would like to hear from someone who has already done it. This could be a huge savings over the price of a stock BMW clutch plate and the added thickness could provide a longer service life. Another potential plus is the length of the VW hub is longer than the stock clutch hub and has to be cut down. However, it could result in something slightly longer than the stock hub which will provide more spline contact area between the clutch and the transmission input shaft.

I can't post the link yet at this early stage of my membership. Sorry.

I don't know of anyone who has used a VW clutch but the price will vary by a lot depending where you buy a K100 Plate
I and a lot of the upside down Aussies buy from Motobins in UK http://www.motobins.co.uk/bmw-parts.php?model=K%20Series as the Aussie dealers are to put it very plainly a bunch of thieves. This mob in Oz are about the cheapest http://www.munichmotorcycles.com.au/index.php?cPath=506_1328_53_518

The price of an unsprung clutch disk for an early VW can be as low as $25-$30. Much cheaper than any BMW clutch plate I've found.

Granted the price difference is substantial but I would be a bit wary of a clutch that was originally designed to transmit 36HP as against 100HP as they do with the 16v engines.
I realize this is why you are asking and I gather you want to see the proof before using one just as I would.

There's a lot of discussion in the link about HP differences being displaced by weight differences. But you're right, I would like to hear from someone who has done a K-bike. Although to be fair, it was done successfully to an oilhead, which has similar HP and weight.

Here is the link I was referring too.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=551097

Jimz49 did you attempt this? Mine's not due for it yet, but always keep an eye out for slick frankenK engineering that could save cash.

does it really matter about the designation for the application ?

to me unless the plate carrier to the clutch centre is really under designed ...it should theoretically, do the job

I wouldn't worry about the unsprung centre as there is already a cush rubber on the output shaft of the engine ...and a cush centre in all the drive shafts already

if the contact surface is similar or more  and the spline centre is equally well deigned ,,,then its up to the spring plate and pressure plate surfaces to do the job of holding the torque through the friction device

ill bet there are just as many rivets and the same compound friction material fitted up

bmw have a habit of designing things ...just slightly different than everything else ...just so they command a following and a price to do so .

I just have to say that I spent over 200,00 euros on my clutch disk. And may I say it was money well spent. (Oil resistant, and if it stays dry, lasts 2x normal time and if the main seal lets me down (again), my clutch will still work normally.)

Hey guys, I think our machines are getting to the age when parts substitution is going to be more and more common.

I always share info on parts that are available cheaply and I really appreciate it when others do the same.

If anyone has done the VW clutch replacement, please share.

I know a lot of purists shake their heads at putting non OEM parts on these bikes but I think it is in our interest to keep as many of them on the road as possible.

Hi there, I did the search for the VW plate and found that the paste thickness is significantly greater than the K´s one, so the work required to correct it erodes the price advantage, at least around here. The other point was that the VW plates I saw were glued not riveted, guess that has to do with the operational power as pointed by Rick.
So I went the safe way and bought a K plate
Best regards
JAP