Just a quick hello to all members. Just picked up a bmw k and come across this amazing site. Great forum, thanks to all concerned. Cheers, Carl McLelland.

Hi Carl and welcome.

If you go to the home page you will see a section on what to do if you just bought a K. One little tip, check the dates on the tyres, even if the treads are good. Sometimes Ks are left off the road for a while so they could be old. They do not like old tyres at all.

Everyone is very helpful and good fun too, occasionally we meet up and enjoy a few miles together. Any advice or technical information or problems, someone here has the answer.

In your signature if you put the model and serial number it makes it easy for guys to give you answers as there are some quite significant differences between years and different models, but someone somewhere always has the answer.

The guys are everywhere, Australia, Norway, Iceland, Canada, USA and of course everywhere else too.

There are a few things some go to, if you are interested in the occasional rally or meet up. You meet the nicest people on a K [probably from a Honda owned in another life].

When you get a chance a photo is good. Of the bike.

Enjoy the K, its great bike.

Thanks mate, appreciate that. I will post a picture soon and ongoing one's as I'm having a subframe fitted to put a side car on. so a bit of a project over the next few weeks.

welcome carl
enjoy your k, a few outfit guys already on the forum

Thanks Charlie, looking forward to digging in.

Sidecar Paul is in Birmingham, he knows a lot about them too and is a mine of information. You best get your tent out because he spends most weekends under canvas as far as I can see....

Welcome Carl. 

Great stuff, thanks lads. As soon as I've done the servicing and usual checks I will be looking for a drawing to get the sub frame constructed. I've been a biker for years but never rode a combo before so should be a challenge.

Good luck with building your outfit Carl. K's make perfect sidecar bikes, (OK, so I'm biased), and we'll look forward to seeing some pics of your progress.

One thing that might interest you is my steering damper, search 'sidecar steering damper' sometime.

And, yes, there are plenty of camping weekends organised through the Federation of Sidecar Clubs.

Cheers,
Paul.

You sidecar riders. Odd lot.   


If you've got 5 mins to burn this is a great watch. Love this old(er) stuff.

And yes; BMW dominates the podium

Thanks Paul, the steering damper looks great and nice drawing. I will put this on my must do list.
Do you know of anyone with a scaled drawing with measurements for the subframe? I can find some good pictures but no detailed drawing. Thanks, Carl.

Nice vid Kyle, great to see the older stuff. I've been round those roads and would not like to be on one of them rigs.

carlmclelland wrote:Nice vid Kyle, great to see the older stuff. I've been round those roads and would not like to be on one of them rigs.

Lucky you, Carl. Legendary circuit.
Rossi said he wouldn't do the TT for a million Euro. Too, too dangerous.

You've come to the right place! Welcome and enjoy the forum Carl.

88

Welcome to the madhouse, Carl....when you have come inside it's difficult to leave.

Welcome!

Kyle10.....Us...odd???     wouldn't have it any other way.  
Loved the days of 'sitters' before the 'kneelers' and later the 'worms'.

Carl, I did some sketches for fitting a sidecar on a K without using a sub-frame. They've never been tried, but if you're interested, PM me your address and I'll send you copies. It may give you a few ideas.

Also, Alby did a thread on building a sub-frame which may be useful to you. 

Paul.

Hi Carl,

Welcome. As all the other say, this is a great site and almost limitless information about K's. The best bit, no matter what time of day or night you post or ask questions there is always someone some where around the world that is on line and able to help when you need it. This is the best club I have joined in a long time and I am looking forward to getting out there to meet a some of the contributors and talk K's over a beer or two. The tyre advice from Olaf is one that I experienced first hand and it's worth it's weight in Guinness.

Paul

Paul

Dont be giving me too much credit for that. I was just the first one to pick it up after you posted it but I guess maybe not everyone had first hand experience of it! It is pretty scary. Just as well I dont drink Guinness..

Everyone is helpful though and as you say day or night someone is around.
We see the floods down Somerset way and hope you guys are ok.
Anyone venturing over our way we would be happy to meet up somewhere along the way....

Ok ,  if not Guinness, the worth it's weight in Whiskey - which is obviously worth drinking even more (in a sensible sort of way, of course). 

The flooding on the "levels" is pretty grim for those affected, but Somerset is still open for business and most of it is OK. I'm lucky, I moved up to the higher ground in June 2012 so am not affected at all. Thanks for your concern though. 

I have been studying the maps and ferry routes, all I need is a break in the weather and my girls to go and stay with their mum and I'll be over to Ireland in a flash! I'll let you know when (not if). I fancied that meet down in Spain too, but March is no good work wise, for me.

Sorry Carl, getting off on a tangent from your introductory post - but that's just how it is on this site, and who would have it any other way  

Paul

Paul

Excellent idea to come see us.... The ferryport at Rosslare or Holyhead is close to some nice places and a few Ks within an hour of each...

We have planned a meet up on Saturday 15th March but not sure where yet. It wont be too far from Dublin to start with because its sort of central to all.

I am sure we will have some camping weekends and there is a very nice campsite about 75 minutes from Rosslare or Dublin just 4 miles off the M9. http://norevalleypark.com/ Its very biker friendly too, great atmosphere and excellent facilities. For those that like a beer the nearest pub is about 3 miles, in fact there are two very nice ones at that distance. Fishing within 3 miles too.....

It works well for a weekend trip, 88KE and Bjorn and myself have been there a few times.

If you prefer greater creature comforts there are some nice B&Bs very near there, or anywhere else for that matter.


Olaf.

Kyle10 wrote:You sidecar riders. Odd lot.   


If you've got 5 mins to burn this is a great watch. Love this old(er) stuff.

And yes; BMW dominates the podium

Oh yes, let's wear a cromwell helmet, a pair of Climax goggles, a Bellstaff barbour and think that we are 20 YO again. Whoo whoo!
You see, we are not old and are still passionate.

Welcome to the forum.

CF

Brilliant lads, I appreciate the words of wisdom. I'm collecting the side car on Tuesday from near Aberdeen, Bonnie Scotland. It's a Watsonian Squire ST3. Then later in the week or next week I'm picking up (or having delivered) a BMW K100 RS so I'll post a couple of pics. Then it's sub frame built up by my mate in Scotland then finally the side car fitted and new mot.
Busy few weeks but it will be well worth it. Can't wait to hit the bike trips, rallies & camping.

Welcome aboard Carl - enjoy your time here

I think this guy couldn't make up his mind....but its cool...On Motorworks website....