Work is getting a small bit dodgy and unfortunately may interfere with my Saturday plans. Will keep posted.

Olaf

Comberjohn wrote:Let me know if you want to meet up at Newry. Early start though.
I used two part epoxy putty to fix a leak beside the fuel pump on my last K.

I used some of that epoxy putty by ProSeal (specifically for sealing 'gas' tanks & rads) on the outside of the tank so I'm gonna stick some inside too this time...am surprised that it started leaking again...

What time are you thinking of meeting in Newry?...just thinking of how many miles in the dark...not my fav...

Comberjohn wrote:Philistine!
That's THE road racer of our time, Joey Dunlop.
This is his memorial statue in Ballymoney.

Thanks John:D

Mark. Was thinking of meeting at McDonald's on the Newry ring road about 7. About 120 miles from there and reckon on being in Stradbally about 9.30.
It's motorway all the way except for last few miles and the roads should be quiet.
Let me know if you are up for it.
Hope you can make it, Olaf. 
Light cloud and 16°in mid October for Saturday.
How does he do it!

Comberjohn wrote:Bit like saying the current Bonneville is the same as a T140.

And are they not the same? :)49bhp out of 744cc on the T140, 67bhp out of 865cc on the present Bonneville - 36% increase partly due to 16% bigger displacement. Plus they look pretty similar. Yes, I know, new tech in but still...

"Just took 30 years for the boxer to catch up with the K100. 
You know, water cooling, fuel injection, decent power output, etc.
By the way, that R1200 shaped hole in the hedge outside Maghera village is growing over nicely now. "

The basic principles in building the boxer are still pretty much the same since 1920 - at later stages carburetors were replaced by injectors, some of them have two spark plugs per cylinder, some of them partial oil/water cooling but the structure and theory are still the same. Simple, reliable and indestructable. Remember that one in Maghera brought to the centre stand after sliding about 10 metres on the cylinder head (sparkling up the night ) and started on the button straight away . Never aimed to "catch up" with in-line fours. BTW I would not think of water-cooling as a development - much happier with the oil cooling.

The K100/K1100 was a great machine, without a doubt, the start for "modern" motorcycle engines for BMW. On the other hand after the K1100 it was all downwards for BMW K series for a while - the first 1172cc engine introduced in K1200LT performed not quite bright. Later (I think around 2003 but you can correct me on that) BMW had to re-think the whole concept and re-engineered the engine, replacing the 1172cc longitudinal in-line four cylinder engine with a 1157cc transverse in-line four which seems to be the way in future, even for the 6-cylinders. Followed by K1300 and K1600 - these can hardly be called BMW engines, Ricardo did most of the job.

So from my point of view, the top of the line for touring in BMW is the K1100LT (what I was trying to get), the bike having the most character and soul is the R1100/1150 (which I finally got and do not regret it). Once I get too old for motorcycling, may go for a car on two wheels (K1600GTL) but not in the next couple of years.

So even though production of the flying bricks ceased after 25 years (in 2008) and the boxer is still in place, we can celebrate both of them for being great machines. It would be interesting though to see if BMW ever comes up with the idea of 4/6 cylinder boxers either the Porsche or the Subaru way.

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:Work is getting a small bit dodgy and unfortunately may interfere with my Saturday plans. Will keep posted.

Olaf

Hope you make it, keep in touch.

Keeping in touch but getting less likely.....

But this is what I am working on......I have to finish it by Sunday evening. Taking Saturday off from it looks dodgy for now. Keeping an eye on progress.

Don't take things so seriously, Bjorn.
Must have taken ages to write all that.
Borrowed a K1600GT for a few hours last Saturday. Don't knock it until you try it. A gold wing it ain't.
Very impressive, even for us old folk.

Take it as my Ars Poetica, John - just to tell you why I'm still in love with the boxers. Once in, hardly ever out

May have a closer look at that beast at some stage, but not for a while. Reason for that, if I happen to like it, I will pity myself for not being able to afford one...

BTW riding a Gold Wing is like programming in Assembly. 1% of people do and like it, 99% would never understand why

The bad news is I have to miss tomorrow and watch from sidelines.

Have to get planning another trip but looks like the Saturday after Christmas might be on the cards? Will try a few miles with some of our Cork Ks.......

Best of luck and a safe day too.

Looks like I'm out for this run too...have a good one & hope the roads dry out!

Sorry you can't make it Olaf and Markzz. Looks dry out there and sky clearing .......... So I'm still looking forward to a Stradbally breakfast! Be thinking of ye.

Sorry I wont make it either.
Girlies have organized  a horsey event / open day and I'm cook.

Looking forward to the next run already !

Enjoy the Stradbally breakfast and run.

Rod

Back home around 7 - turned out be a lovely day at the end, having lunch in Bunclody.

Here are the lads outside the Stradbally Fayre with the bikes lined up

Sorry I missed out on today, next time. Making the run for the breakfast wasn't even an option for me.

Seems the Ks have slimmed down a bit. Pat O'D and Ringfad are looking a little puzzled wondering are they 8 or 16 valve models. Looks like Ringfad is checking that one for ABS, pun intended.

Am glad it was a good day and looking forward to next one at Stradbally, hopefully just after Christmas.....

92KK

Just in myself. Covered 390 miles today.
Last 100 in the dark. Forgot how bad the headlight is. Starring to think the illegal 100w bulb might get a try out.
We decided to blame Olaf for the rain we did get today. His absence messed up the cosmic alignment. That's my excuse anyway.

Comberjohn wrote:Just in myself. Covered 390 miles today.
Last 100 in the dark. Forgot how bad the headlight is. Starring to think the illegal 100w bulb might get a try out.
We decided to blame Olaf for the rain we did get today. His absence messed up the cosmic alignment. That's my excuse anyway.

I had the same problem (poor dipped headlight) on the F650 back ages ago. A pair of Hella Micro DE spotlights solved this problem eventually - they are legal and also better than just a brighter bulb. On the other hand, the 100W bulb may damage the reflector mirror of your headlamp because of the extra heat. They are about 70 pounds on German fleaBay (delivered to your place), I can check for you if you want..

On the other hand it's quite obvious that Olaf will have to take the blame. The absent one is always the scapegoat

Sorry I missed today, but it was for a good cause. Helping my dad clear out the clutter in the garage so that I can store the new addition  

Regarding the headlight, have you put in a set of relays so that it is wired direct from the battery, and only activated by the switch? That improves the lighting enormously.

A job that takes a few hours to do, and only costs a few relays and a bit of wire.

Björn wrote:

Comberjohn wrote:Just in myself. Covered 390 miles today.
Last 100 in the dark. Forgot how bad the headlight is. Starring to think the illegal 100w bulb might get a try out.
We decided to blame Olaf for the rain we did get today. His absence messed up the cosmic alignment. That's my excuse anyway.

I had the same problem (poor dipped headlight) on the F650 back ages ago. A pair of Hella Micro DE spotlights solved this problem eventually - they are legal and also better than just a brighter bulb. On the other hand, the 100W bulb may damage the reflector mirror of your headlamp because of the extra heat. They are about 70 pounds on German fleaBay (delivered to your place), I can check for you if you want..

On the other hand it's quite obvious that Olaf will have to take the blame. The absent one is always the scapegoat

Well you have obviously all got your revenge. Sitting here in the office emails bobbing back and forth to the oriental regions at this hour and listening to torrents of water running off the roof. Bike parked outside and a few miles to go home in it sometime later.

I am hoping to get my hands on my LED lights and will see how they do. Relay also in pack plus brand new H4 connectors. And I have a box with 2 driving lights [problem is where to mount them] and now have some serious wattage bulbs on the way that my son kindly collected and forgot to pass on. I think the standard headlight would take my nice 130/110 H4 car headlight bulbs too if the LEDs don't do the job. I also found a few 160/130 H4 in my shed. When I had the Honda 500-4 I had the high wattage H4 in it plus 2 160w driving lights and no motorway then. Never underestimate the benefit of good lights. The car passes the NCT [MOT] with the high wattage lights in it.

As for 'blame Olaf' I suppose its my fault too someone shrunk the bikes????

That's right, the direct wiring with a relay also improves them. Xenon lights are obviously out of question for the old ribbed-glass headlights.

I'm kind of paranoid about lights too...

I think Bikerboy has done a Xenon conversion. Take a look out for it. He is down east of Bordeaux and therefore within sighting distance.

Managed to grab a single pic of the line up at Stradbally on Saturday morning. I took a short spin after with the guys back as far as Carlow riding Bjorns R/RT, a bike I've always wanted to try,  as far as Abbeyleix. 

I forgot to warn Bjorn about the sidestand/smoke on the LT and fumigated the troop as well as the Southern side of the town in Alarming fashion as I rode off  .   Looks like the Valve stem seals have completely gone. So that's going on the list of To Do's.

Still not convinced its the valve stem seals are the problem......

Still think its oil seeping past the rings through the piston ring end gap that correctly opens when the engine is cooling letting oil that's at the 'crank case' end of the piston seep into the combustion chamber. If you kill the engine when the bike is vertical then there is no oil in this area so no smoke.

Just my thought.

Right, next time I'll know, it just did not seem necessary to put her on the centre stand as expected to ride off in minutes... Sorry Will.

On the other hand, even though I love the dynamism of my R I also admire the very smooth and even torque delivery of the K. Just kept kicking the poor beast for a while as looking for the 6th gear   Less clutch work on the K otherwise. And now on those lovely bends you just experienced why policemen love their Rs... 

Saturday 28th December.

11am Stradbally Fayre........if we get a day like last year?

Just a long brunch and Christmas cheer??

I'm game - provided the weather plays ball.

To be honest I will probably need the break from all the merry-making.

Lets see closer to the day. Much as I'd like to take the new KLT, I can't see myself getting full service/battery/tyres organised beforehand. More because of financial reasons than anything else.

Still, that only leaves me with the choice of two bikes - tough life I know

That meet was to your credit guys, for the stalwarts who couldn't make it, next time eh?

As far as the 28th Dec goes, if two of you meet, and I do understand your weather, you will earn, in my book, 

The ultimate gong for your efforts. We in OZ have it pretty easy, in a way, you Irish lads lead IMHO.

Ghost who rides wrote:The ultimate gong for your efforts. We in OZ have it pretty easy, in a way, you Irish lads lead IMHO.

I don't know about that. We only have to travel down the road to find something interesting, you have to go a couple of hundred Ks (if my talk with Ozzie riders is anything to go by).

And we don't have to deal with 40 degree heat, (or even 30 degree), wildlife that can kill you, kangaroo strikes (although the odd stray cow has been known), Hailstones the size of golfballs, box jellyfish (although not on the bike hopefully),

But I suppose we both have to deal with whinging poms

Hi GWR

I missed the 19th October through work. But it was a good day for those who made it.

We had a meet up Saturday after last Christmas too, decided to make it a leisurely day so we could leave in daylight and get home in daylight as well as allow for family commitments later in the evening. It started cold as a sunny day does in winter but the sun came out and was a very pleasant occasion. The location is brilliant because a 2 hour travel radius pretty well captures all of us.

Its all very informal but I have to say so far it has been a good K year. The meet over Christmas is nice to look forward to and just means keeping an eye on the weather.

Hope we can do the same again.

In this part of the world GWR can ignite flames of passion among steam train enthusiasts....go check out Big Boy 4012 for interest.

Bearing in mind the time of year and if we aren't planning on a run, what about the option of using a (whisper) car?
Might help the numbers as is just a get together.

I agree with ComberJohn. Given the choice, I'd prefer to see everybody meeting up rather than being worried about how they got there.

And I think everybody brought a "Kris Kindle" type gift last year (although I wasn't there - didn't even know you existed then  ).  How's about the same this year, with a lucky dip type of distribution?

I am 100% with that too. Its a great idea as it make it much less weather dependent. Can take the bikes off the trailers up at Portlaoise.

That's definitely lateral thinking.

In theory I'm O.K. for 28th December, by that stage I'll be back home (from home) again - so count me in.

In fact if we have difficulties getting there I can offer the Cork lads with 100% transport solution: both the car and the van have winter tyres on, also snow chains in the back - I can even take ourselves and the bikes to Nordkapp

Only thing we may need is either a ramp or a small trailer but that may be under my Christmas tree too...