Hi to all fine folks on the forum from the new non kid on the brick!

Ive got me a 1987 krs thats a bit rough around edges but otherwise love at first sight. Got it just under the 2k fence but runs well. I am 70 and it was a birthday present, with my money and wife approval. She had a weak moment don't ya know... Since I got the machine delivered by seller on snowy day had to wait to take test spin a few days. Finally it cleared up and I head out on somewhat cleared highway. First thing I noticed, this beat is heaaaaaavy! Feels great siting on it, but yes there is a but, concerning my butt. This thing is highhhhhhh, I have 32 inseam but still dam high at stops. Now ridding high in the saddle is just peachy, its the stops that bugged me. Anyway, came back from test ride, felling smug and conceded, well who wouldn't eh at my age? gently rolled into garage with snow on tires of course as I have plenty in my yard. Squized front brake, gently of course and was about to use the rear brake only for final stop, but I newer got to it. The beast slid from under me like ton of (yes pun intended) brick's.
See, the garage has a nice slippery white epoxy floor.....Which wasnt an issue with my other old bikes. The whole thing tought me an instant lesson. Do not ride on K bike in snow without the side car. Avoid putting the brick in garage when wet. And shorten the distance to the floor because my legs stopped growing a while ago. and I wont be a cross dresser with high heels anytime soon. I also learned that the mirror comes off by design when idiots park the bike.
Now I had the machine on the side and was admiring the underside and contemplating what I could clean there. See, some riders do that to gain time between the rides, its safer. I knew there is no chance of me lifting this beast upright by myself on that slippery floor. So having a chain hoist, I mounted it above the bike to the rafters I was able to gently hoist it up. Fast forward now, I just aquired a low seat for it on ebay. Its the start anyway, next are the slick and narrrrrrow handle bars that have to go, because I have feeling that they could spell trouble for old foggy like me on curves at slow speeds. And where I will ride is all curves, hwy 33 in British Columbia.

I last rode full time in 1963, in Austria, year round, was pretty good on two wheels then, but now I should start drinking WD-40 as a supplement to get all that rust out first. I work on bikes a lot since last 2 years and restore them. Will post pics, of course soon. My stable contains oldies such as 1978 Suzuki 750gs, 1968 305 Honda Dream, 1978 Honda 350xl, 1975 Kawasaki 175 F7.

anthony

Canada

welcome to the nut house mate and enjoy your new you. As for the height problem you can put a smaller lower shock at rear and drop the forks not sure how much you lower it a few of the vertically challenged will probably have better answers /help

If it feels a bit heavy check tire pressures and headset bearings. If they are not to spec you are right, she'll feel heavy. Though the bars feel narrow, if your back can stand the riding position, you will grow to love that narrow feel. If you put on RT bars, which are wider/higher, you will need to change your front master cylinder brake line (longer one) and maybe cables too. For used parts try Shails Motorcycles in Langley. They will ship to you. Google for the website.

Did you tell you wife about the undercarraige inspection?

You live in a great area for riding, once the snows clear off.

Nice to see another Canuck joining the pack.

You are very good because in one short ride, you discovered all the 'undesirable features' of the K100. As everybody says, it's the first drop down that counts. You should be OK for many years to come now. Hope the bike is OK.
If you search the forum, you will find solutions from other 'vertically challenged' people to lower the bike. An inch makes a difference ( ).

Anxious to hear about your next ride.



CF

Welcome Anthony. You're a braver man than me heading out in snowy conditions! But a new machine is an itch that just has to be scratched. Toto_GP has mentioned lower shockie and dropping the front forks. On the handle bar side use the google seach on the portal page to search for forum members "two wheels better" aka TWB's handle bar mods I think he's added 25mm extenders and throttlemeister (I think) grips/end weights to extend the leverage on the bars. k75c bars also work well on the RS I'm told.

88

Welcome from sunny Queensland Oz Anthony you sure have come to a good forum.

Anthony - welcome to the forum from a snowy UK

Hi Anthony welcome to the forum mate.



BIG D

Aw chuks guys you made me feel at home, thanks guys!
Yeah did already look up some sites (the one closest to me in Vancouver is also the newest as I did not know about it, so thank on tip) will need to get that gastank skirt, can kiss 90 canadian godbye it seems. What the heck it couple cases of Okanagan Spring beer less. Someone asked before me how to post pictures on here, well I am joining the question too. I am on mac if that matters. Yes I read up on longer brake lines up front. Its doable even for this foggie. I love the sound of this thing, so civil, heck is downright a polite machine. Come to think it sounds a heck of a lot like my old 3 series 1.8 litter......that I converted to P/U truck, but thats another can of fishing worms altogether....

Just wonder, anyone from the Tassie on the list too? Got an ancient friend there from days gone by in Europe. We crashed a1962 Puch I had at the time on a mountain road (ok, I did) got him strung up in hospital for a week, we did ride the rest of the way into the valley. Did scare byjeeesus out of him but is all right now. We both had a little to much of refreshment at the ski lodge and came upon a truck coming out of the query which spilled some nasty gravel so that did not help.....

You have alot to offer the forum, Anthony. Welcome

UJ

Welcome to the fold brickpolisher.

Hello Anthony.

Welcome to the forum. I learn a lots from this forum since I joint.

Greetings from the tropical country of Indonesia.

Best regards.

In relation to shortness of leg I have a 31" leg and an RS (sounds like a confession). For the first 12 months of ownership I made the bike lower to suit after having a couple of early crises of confidence and hell did it feel heavy and unstable - I had two low speed drops in as many months.

Of the lowering options I tried, I found that fitting a shorter shock and dropping the forks through the yokes was better than removing foam from the seat; the latter felt a very unnatural riding position. What was lost by the low shock option was the superb solid handling of the stock machine. There is a factory low seat option I suspect not too different to cutting foam out of teh seat in effect.

What I would say is that having put some time and rides under my belt I have now changed the bike back to its factory settings and enjoy riding it much more that way. Just a suggestion but it could be worth sticking with the stock set-up and giving yourself a chance to get used to it. Soon you'll be feeling much more at ease with it both in the garage and out and about.

Cheers
Dave

Hi Anthony,
Two options for the slip, a strip of carpet a metre wide and the length of the bike plus a bit to ride the bike onto and park, that will also stop the side and centrestand damaging the surface of the paint. Or paint the strip you are going to park on with more epoxy and blind it whilst still wet with the special non slip grit, you will never slip on that when it is set. I am not keen on the cow horn look of the wide bars the RS bars look great to my view. Great to have you with us.
Regards,
K-BIKE

Welcome Anthony . I am from Tasmania and there are a couple of others too . One ex european i know is le Frog ( Bertrand Cadart ) famous in Oz from starring in the movie Stone leading the bikers on lightly modded Z900 s . Also as the importer of Fournales damper units as used on Concorde !
I know he is not our CF 'cos he prefers Gold Wings and trikes , perhaps to compliment his larger than life personality ? A couple of years ago he was elected Mayor of his area and bought as the official vehicle a Silver Wing Honda instead of a car proving he has some style ! Just like the forums' own Crazy Frog !

Yes welcome to the fold you young 'un. I know exactly how you feel, you have quite a few years yet to enjoy life.

I will be keeping an eye on you.

Ajays

PS. Position your shock to the lowest position....you will drop an inch or so.