Ricor Intiminators

[Lone Amigo]

Anybody try these with a K bike (or especially an 85 K100)?

[G.Kennedy]

I do not use those.

I do use Race Tech Gold Valve Emulators along with RT Straight rate springs on my '85KRS. I think my springs are 0.9 and I am using 12.5 weight oil.  I'd have to look at my notes for my exact specs.  I believe Race Tech developed the Emulator and all others are clones.

With my Race Tech front end and Wilburs rear shock. My old K is as good as its going to get. Unless I do a full front end replacement to something more modern.

With these old K bikes. It's tricky sometimes. Investing $$ into a bike that's not really worth too much. Make sure you plan on keep it for the long haul. You will never recoup money invested in suspension upgrades.

[Lone Amigo]

I have already put Works Performance dual rate springs calibrated for my weight up front along with the fish oil the shop guys suggested. I have a Works Performance remote reservoir shock at the rear, again calibrated for my weight. I talked to the Race Tech representative when he was at Sandia BMW last year, but they didn't have the Emulators ready for the "85 K100 yet, and I didn't feel like waiting for months or a year so I went ahead with Works because I have used them before. (The Plain Jane K100 had two different forks, as I understand it. I seem to have the one that was lightly larger in diameter.) The rear shock I ordered was designed to lower the ride by one inch at the saddle, and I raised the tubes in the fork clamps accordingly. I ALWAYS, do suspension and brakes before motor on my bikes, and have done so ever since I got my R26 on my 16th birthday in 1960. It is worth every penny to me, because I know how I ride. Let's just say that I do not ride with an eye towards recouping my investment.

It would be interesting to me to ride your bike and my bike side-by-side. Then I'd know what I missed by not waiting for Race Tech to call me back as they promised they would but never did.

[G.Kennedy]

Hmm. I did not know that the K100 had two different fork tubes. I have heard of that on GSPD's. But never on a K. I am certain that my 85KRS has identical legs.  Some one with more knowledge than me can chime in on that topic.

I think the RT emulator for the KRS is a pretty standard size and has been available for a long time. I have had them for a couple years.

My bike came to me in '07 with the Wilber's already installed and stock gear up front.  I road it that way for a couple years. It had a real nasty habit of harmonic wobbling in high speed sweepers. If felt very unbalanced front to rear.

I did all the changes at once. Springs, emulators and oil. It probably would have been wise to do springs and oil, then ride it. Then I would know exactly what the emulators are doing.

As long as my suspension is working reasonably well, I am not too picky. I am kind of a set and forget guy. My benchmark suspension was a R1100GS with Ohlins all around. This is nowhere near that good.

I have eliminated the wallow and it feels pretty tight in corners. This winter I am going to play with oil levels and see if it can be even better.

I work in the film biz and have been in Santa Fe and ABQ a whole lot the last couple years. Unfortunately. I am not able to bring my bike on the road. So you will have to come west to try it.

[frankenduck]

The fork tube diameters never changed on the 2V bikes.

[Lone Amigo]

Perhaps I have been misinformed. When I was researching fork braces such as the telefix, one site warned to measure because there was supposedly a change in suppliers and the external diameter at the fork seal was supposed to be slightly different, and that this happened sometime during the '85 model run. I have also read that the '86 seat base is different from the '85, and that you have to be careful about tanks, as well. But I will certainly defer to your experience, Count Frankenduck. I did order a fork brace and it didn't fit. I bought my bike from a dealer, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a Bitsa.  

Edit: I just got curious so I went down to the basement and got that brace. I got it in spring of '09 just shortly after I got the bike. It looks like the telefix, but it isn't. It says on it "BMW  Made in W. Germany". as I try to repair my Halfzheimers here, I vaguely remember that this brace supposedly also fit an R bike. The thing is I can't remember who I ordered it from. Maybe I'll be lucky and find the box.

Anyway, about riding west, G-- I know some film industry people, such as Steven Poster ASC, and Larry Brody. It is in the works to make a big loop when the weather warms up to see these guys because no matter how hard I try I haven't convinced them to go to our 50th high school reunion. I've got some scripts I want to leave with them. I'm always up for a ride whenever the kids (I'm an elementary school teacher this year) are on vacation.

I almost got emulators for my ZRX, but sold the bike before I got that committed. I know one person who just put the Ricor things in his KLR and he is a convert. Two others on that forum chimed in and said they liked them as well. When I went to the site, they make them for F800s and R bikes, and will custom build also. The commonly available ones seem to be 39mm, 40 mm, and 41 mm. A few weeks back I had the shop racer guys back off slighty on the compression damping of the rear Works Performance --the dual rate springs front and rear are for a 300 pound load and the frost heaves were making the back end slap me a bit at low speed. The result after the adjustment was that I finally wore off the last of the tire nubbins, the ones in chicken land. I conclude that I have the Dred Hun sufficiently dialed in that I don't really need more--- but who can resist?

[G.Kennedy]

Yes there are a few parts that are unique to the '85 K. Seat and tank, possibly the cams, but that is subject to debate and little documentation.

My angle on the Biz is mostly from the seat of a truck as I am a Teamster in Local 399.  I used to be an on set prop person (still have my 44 card) and had to read lots of scripts. Now, I am happy to be off set (and away from all that goes with it)

[G.Kennedy]

So tell me about your ZRX and why you sold it. There are great bargains on those bikes. A Rex has been on my short list for awhile now.

My only hesitation. I think I want my next bike to have 21st century brakes and suspension. Which the ZRX lacks.

[Lone Amigo]

Not much to say.

I put Works Performance boingers on the back and heavier dual rate springs upfront and lowered the bike as much as possible. (Just like the K.)

Plenty of torque. You have to be careful with chain alignment.

It turned too easy -- well, not really, but there was less feedback than I like about which way the bike is headed when one's head is on a swivel. I felt it was more of a shorthaul blaster than an all-rounder.
The brits had their cafe racers with rearset pegs and clubman bars-- the ZRX is more of a Sonic racer. You sit up more. Clubman bars make it easier to puke since your head is already down. The Rex is just right for keeping an eye on rollerskating waitresses and hawties in convertibles talking on their cellphones while they back up into you.

I also have a K1200LTC and was using it more because of the carrying capacity.

Sold the Rex to help with expenses when my wife got cancer and passed.

[G.Kennedy]

Wow... Bummer. Sorry to hear of your loss. Sound like the Rex was put to good use.