K100LT

[Cheesehead]

Hi All Brickheads!

I have some questions regarding the potential purchase of a very nice '89 K100LT, and any differences that may exist between that model and the '85 K100LT.

I currently own an '85, and for the most part really enjoy it. A couple of characteristics I am not crazy about, but can live with, are the relatively poor fuel mileage, and the lack of clearance for my knees agains the fairing (and I am not that tall).  The one item that is very troublesome, to the point of being hell, is the toaster oven that exits directly in front of my shins. If the temperature hits anything over 75, my shins will bake like pizza if on the bike longer than a half hour. It really puts a serious dent into the fun factor.

I noticed that the '89 model has louvers on the outside of the upper portion of the fairing to direct air directly to the shin area. My question...how effective is this venting in reducing shin temp?

While we're at it, any other differences in the two model years worth mentioning? How 'bout fuel mileage? I current average 35 mpg, is there a chance that has been improved?

Any other updates that make the '89 a reasonable improvement over the '85?

Thanks for all of your feedback!!

Cheesy

[Tuco]

For reference my 87 LT gets 45mpg. I removed those panels in front of your knees, seems to give me more room. Warm air off the engine warms my legs, weather here on the coast tends to be cooler.

[Scott_]

Not sure about your mileage, many factors play into it.
For me, I can get 45-50 for maintained hwy riding, ie. riding longer than 20 minutes.
Anything less than that, like my daily commuting to work, I get only about 35-40 at best.

As far as your knees go, if you don't have the "low seat" option, you could check into a different seat, or you have have to have a custom seat made that sets you back a little bit more.
I have 2 Russel seats, and one gives me a touch more leg room at the front, the other, not so much but the wife likes her perch better.
Something else that can play into your knee room, riding pants. Any tail bone padding and knee armor can have the potential to cut down on your knee space too....

[NickE]

I've got an '89 LT  and in the UK summer my right ankle was being toasted. Found that the heat was coming from a 3" x 1/2" vent on the right side between the gearbox and the block casing - not from the radiator as I first thought.
 
Put 2 double sided foam number plate stickys onto the aft bit of the block and attached a postcard sized piece of black stiff plastic to redirect the  heated air away behind my ankle.  All seems to be good so far! Bit crude - but works.

[84K100RT]

There are baffles that should be inside the fairing, 2 horizontal ones where the lower panels meet the main fairing plus on the left one that drops downward at the back of the leg panel to close the gap between the lower panel and the intake air box. Make sure they are in place and also the foam ones that should be under the gas tank. I have the early type on the 84RT and the later ones on the 92LT. Those baffles do make a difference but once yo hit 75F or 30C it all does start to get warm!!!