| Here's some
basic information to get you started. More maintenance and
modification information can be found at this link:
BMW K75, K100, K1, K1100 Maintenance &
Modifications
Scroll down for
documents related to particular models.
At the end of that
there's a list of recommended initial
modifications.
Links to K bike
discussion forums are at the end of the page.
Basic
Terminology:
Bimmer vs. Beemer:
Not that it really matters but If
you're new to BMW motorsports then "Bimmers" refers to BMW cars and
"Beemers" refers to BMW motorcycles.
Classic K Bikes:
The term "Classic K bikes" refers to K100s, K75s, K1s and K1100s
which all have the same basic design based on the original K bike
design, the 1983 K100. In the mid 90s the K1200 models were a major
redesign in terms of the frame, suspension, bodywork, etc...
Flying Brick:
Nickname for
K bikes due to the appearance of the three or four cylinder engine
lying on its side. Some also attribute the term brick to the weight
of K bikes.
Miscellaneous:
Little Paint Spots:
Many people wonder why some of the bolts and nuts on K bikes have
little spots of paint on or near them. During the assembly process
these were used to indicate that a bolt or nut had been properly
torqued.
Maintenance:
Owner Maintainable?
Yes. With a modicum of wrenching skill and experience K bikes are
fully owner maintainable if you're a "shade tree" or DIY mechanic.
Sites like
www.motobrick.com are a good resource where you can get
maintenance advice from other K bike owners. But remember that if
you do your own work then you do so at your own risk with
your motorcycle's safety and reliability hanging in the balance.
Professional Shop
Maintenance:
If you are not comfortable performing some or all of the maintenance
on your K bike then you'll want to find a qualified mechanic.
Personally I would not
recommend taking a classic K bike to BMW dealer. To start with, BMW
dealers have relatively high hourly labor rates and charge standard,
not actual, labor hours for the work that they do. Next, the
mechanics working at BMW dealers are only trained to work on newer
BMW models and have little to no training or experience working on
old K bikes. They may be good, qualified mechanics but when it comes
to working on old K bikes most BMW dealer mechanics these days are
merely "manual readers."
When looking for a good
independent shop try to find one with experience working on BMWs
and, in particular, K bikes. Ask around on motorcycle forums or seek
advice from a local BMW rider club to find one near you. There's a
fair amount of former BMW mechanics that have gone into business for
themselves to work on BMWs. Most will charge you actual, not
standard, hours at more reasonable labor rates than a BMW dealer and
they have valuable experience and insight into working on older
BMWs.
A list of independent
BMW shops in the US and Canada can be found at
this link. There may be others so if you don't find a nearby one
at that link then ask around.
Generic motorcycle shops
may do OK for routine maintenance like fluid and filter changes but
for more complicated mechanical or electrical work it's a bit of a
crap shoot. However, if you're not comfortable doing your own work
then it is something to consider.
Manuals And Documents
To Download:
K
Bike Wiring Diagrams
NOTE:
The distribution of the following BMW shop manuals is OK with BMW
and does not constitute a copyright violation.
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