Talk me out of buying a brick, please.

[thebob]

Hi all, I'm in Japan.

You have about 10 days to talk me 'out' of buying a 1984 K100RS. It is a 1984 completely original 35,000km full service history. It was last dealer serviced in Oct 2011, for the 2 yearly test here (Japan) which is extremely rigorous.

The bike has side cases and is very clean except for a nick in the side fairing. It doesn't have heated grips but comes with the original tool kit.

Why shouldn't I buy this bike? I'm 6'4" tall so I don't care about seat height. Is it going to roast me in the summer? My present Bike is a Yamaha 850 TDM which I plan on keeping (so I will have a spare).

It is priced so cheap that I'm scared that I'm missing out some kind of glaring fault. Used spares seem to be available in Japan on the internet auction sites. Why are these bikes not popular?

If I buy the bike should I upgrade the alternator for a 50A one? What checks should I do?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[thebob]

Ooops. posted the same pic 3 times.

[BrickFlyer]

Here are some possible issues to look for:

At that age, anything rubber is suspect. Throttle body boots, vacuum caps, crankcase breather tube, coolant hoses and all fuel lines and spark plug wires could be cracked. Fuel injectors will probably need reconditioning.

Cooling fan motor is another issue. Expensive to replace if you buy the OEM part. Check that it is not frozen. Should kick on after a 10 minute ride followed by idling. Sometimes you can just slip a screwdriver in by the fairing and see if it has frozen up.

Electrical gremlins can be an issue as well. The early k bikes have a fuel pump connector under the tank. It can vibrate loose and cause engine cutoff at speed. Not cool. They changed the design later. Also the Hall Effect sensor can go bad at that age. Engine will cutoff when hot. It is pretty easy to replace but a new unit OEM will set you back around 400 bucks here in the us.

Don't trust the miles on a k bike odometer. It has likely been replaced. If you have service records that line up dates and miles but it is hard to believe a k bike has only been ridden 750 miles a year. These bikes love to run so low miles is not a real plus.

They do run hot. Like a blow dryer on high pointed at your calf. If you wear leathers you won't notice much. Thin pants or mesh protective gear and you will feel it.

Early k bikes are also buzzy. Ride above 4500 rpm and it is smooth. 3000-4000 rpm will leave your wrists numb.

That said, the bikes are easy to maintain and run forever. Just don't expect a nearly 30 year old bike to be trouble free.  All depends on whether you like to do your own wrenching. They are great bikes when you have everything in order.

[frankenduck]

If it's had a full rigorous servicing in October then I wouldn't worry about the rubber stuff, fuel injectors, blah, blah, blah..... because they would've found that and fixed it.

No need to upgrade the alternator unless you plan on adding lots of electrical stuff to it.  The 32A alternator is fine.

Go for it!

[wmax351]

It is like a sewing machine. A very fast, autobahn worthy sewing machine.

My only complain on my K75 is that it is too smooth, too little vibration and finickiness. Buy it. You'll be riding it all the time.

[thebob]

After reading the tech pages here I'm not so worried about the mechanical/electrical side.

This present owner has had the bike for 4 years but is leaving the country. He hasn't had any offers and the dealers are only willing to give him a pittance for it.

Where I live the temperatures are extreme, 10 degrees of frost in the winter and 40C in the summer. I'm guessing that the alternator will handle heated grips, because they were an option. But some spot lights would be useful and my GPS.

Is it going to be a handful in stop start traffic? We get a lot of jams here and I like to commute by bike.

Am I going to be using my TDM for the summer or will a K100RS handle tropical weather?

I used to lust after these bikes when they first came out, now I have the opportunity to buy a clean example, I just hope I'm not being starry eyed!

Buying this brick will involve an overnight bus ride, and then a 700km ride home, but the bike is being offered for about the cost of it's last full service and the included compulsory insurance.

Am I right in saying that the cost of ownership, maintenance, gas, parts, of these is usually quite low?

Tire choice does seem a bit limited. Would PR2's be my best choice of radials?

I'm pretty adept at slinging wrenches, and the FI in these is so simple that I can't in visage any problems.

Thanks again for all of your input.

[BrickFlyer]

You sound like an ideal owner. If you can handle intermediate wrenching and won't be riding in 90 plus F degree heat you will love it. If it is dirt cheap what are you waiting for? You can ride it 3 years and recoup your purchase price because it will actually draw more buyers if it has been ridden a few more miles.

In stop and go traffic you will have no issues as long as your fan kicks on. I commute in Atlanta, one of the worst traffic cities in the US and the brick is fine. I put about 1500 miles on month on it  I don't ride it above 90 degrees and 95 percent humidity because I bake in my ATGATT. I do ride into the low 30's in the winter and appreciate the calf warmer feature. .

[mystic red]

You'll like the PR2s. Quit your hand wringing and just buy it. By the time you get it home all your questions will be answered. :biggrin: And how much is a dealer service over there? :dunno2:

[frankenduck]

The stock tires are 100/90-V 18 front and 130/90-V 17 rear.  I could be wrong but I don't think PR2s come in those sizes.   

[thebob]

You'll like the PR2s. Quit your hand wringing and just buy it. By the time you get it home all your questions will be answered. :biggrin: And how much is a dealer service over there? :dunno2:

In US$ about 1k... including 2 years registration

The stock tires are 100/90-V 18 front and 130/90-V 17 rear.  I could be wrong but I don't think PR2s come in those sizes.

You are right, tire choice does seem a bit limited!

[Lawrence]

I found myself in a very similar situation late last summer.  My RS bike is a year later than the one you are considering, but I was mulling over many of the same questions.  In the end I bought it and I know now it was a good decision.  I doubted the odometer reading, but after servicing the bike (especially the drive splines) I am certain the crazy-low figure is pretty accurate. Why so little use?  I'll never know, as I am the third owner (apparently) and the early history is a mystery. 
In the situation you are facing, I'll go out on a limb and speculate why that particular bike may have had little use. They are not the best choice for riders of modest stature.  They are heavy and a real handfull at low speeds.  Japan isn't know as a land of giants.... :tongue Someone may have been looking for a prestigious marque  and bought on that basis.  The reality of actually riding it in challenging conditions (heavy traffic?) could have resulting in it being relegated to a Sunday morning ride only.
The rigorous service and licensing requirements there is a huge advantage.  Knowing the service history of a used bike is really, really valuable. If I were in your shoes, I'd buy the bike! 

[canazei1200]

Bought a K75s here in the uk with 192225 miles on it less than a month ago.I am the third owner. The first was a regional Bmw club presdident and it has reciepts for ever bit of work ever done on it.The service history is amazing from point of sale to date. It looks a bit rough but rides fine it now has 193500 on the clock and it has gone to the garage as the clutch cable went.
Very smooth machine I intend to ride it untils it falls apart and then sell the spare. Its great to be on an old school bike after 4 years on 1200 gs and gsa. At least i can take the spanners to this one and not worry.

Buy it and enjoy. Im going touring in Europe on mine later on this year with my wife on a 1995 africa twin. Will post pics when we get back.

[mystic red]

Buy it and enjoy. Im going touring in Europe on mine later on this year with my wife on a 1995 africa twin. Will post pics when we get back.

PLEASE!!!!

[DRxBMW]

Buy it and enjoy. Im going touring in Europe on mine later on this year with my wife on a 1995 africa twin. Will post pics when we get back.

African Twin is one FINE motorcycle. I wish Honda would import them into the states for sale.

Plethora of different brand bikes to ride when I was in Japan. The AT was my fav hands down.  :yes

[thebob]

Thanks for all of your replies. So far you are doing a terrible job of talking me out of it. :yes

I'm just waiting for the OK that the present owner has all of the paperwork in hand. As long as that is done, I'll be setting off on the overnight bus on Friday.

I'll be taking along my motopump and sticky strings, an electrical tester, a handful of fuses, tape and bulbs.

Anything else I should be thinking of?

[mystic red]

As long as you have your sticky strings, I think you'll be alright.

[frankenduck]

Go post on a Harley site.  They'll talk you out of it. :lol:

Hope everything checks out.  Have a good ride... :mbird

[canazei1200]

Africa twin pics and.a couple from italy dolomites stelvio.

[mystic red]

nice roads!

[thebob]

Just ridden my bike home. 12 hour ride after an all night bus, but I'm smitten.

Doesn't look so pretty in person, but most things work.

I'm bushed, I'll report back later.

[mystic red]

When you wake up tell us more about it!

[frankenduck]

Welcome to the Klub.  Yeehaw!  :mbird