New Turbo K Found: Advise Needed

[stellarkyle]

Hello everyone,

I have managed to locate another K100 with the Luftmeister Turbo installed. I think this makes 1 out of 4 or 5 known?


https://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/mcy/6051460587.html


I've been talking with the seller and he sounds like a stand-up guy. He has another guy interested but is giving me first choice. I'm having a hard time deciding whether or not to go for it. It's been a dream of mine to have a K100 with turbo.


The Good:
Not a bad price
49,xxx miles so still some life left in it
Boosts up to 14 psi instead of 8 psi
Split intercooler
White Power aftermarket shock
Engine and turbo have been rebuilt (seller is looking for parts list)
Appears to have beefier front brakes installed


The Bad:
I live in Georgia and the bike is in Hawaii ($1,200+ to get it shipped)
Bike looks slightly rough - afraid salty, humid air may have started to take its toll


I have a good friend who's brother is a mechanic and lives in Hawaii. However, he lives on a different island so I'm waiting to hear back as to if he has any contacts locally. He would be able to check the bike out in person for me and then possibly help arrange payment and shipping.


Do you guys think I should keep pursuing this bike?


Thanks in advance,
Kyle

[stellarkyle]

Another thing I forgot to mention, he's been trying to sell it for almost two months with a beginning list price of $6,000. Is it a warning sign that it's been listed so long and hasn't been bought yet?

[Filmcamera]

$6,000 is a lot for a K - even with a turbo - and you are probably not the only person who is having to factor in shipping costs.  I doubt the local market in Hawaii is huge...


Even $4,500 seems a little high but it is a very rare bike so that really depends on how much you want it.  it seems like the owner loves the bike and has looked after it pretty well.


Tell you what, pay for my ticket from Costa Rica to Hawaii and I will check it out for you!


Seriously you know this is not a wise investment but it is purchases made with the heart that are often the most rewarding in the end.  If you want it and can afford it - go for it. If it means your kids will starve - maybe best skip it!


But for sure have a local mechanic check it out.

[stellarkyle]

That's what I was thinking; the market in Hawaii isn't the biggest and, while it is a extremely rare bike, it's not as much of a collectors item as, say, a BMW R6.


Thank for your sacrificial offering of letting me pay for your ticket to Hawaii.  :riding:


I think you're completely right. It's not the wisest investment and if I had to sell it down the road, not that I'd ever want to, who knows what I could get for it? I have to determine if the regret of not buying an awesome bike when I had the chance outweighs the regret of a possible bad purchase.

[Donmystic1]

Pm sent

[stellarkyle]

I just got an update that doesn't bode well. My friend's brother doesn't know anyone on Big Island so I won't have anyone to check out the bike for me... Can't ask him to fly from Honolulu, Oahu just for that.


There wouldn't happen to be any members on the site that live on Big Island, would there?  :yes

[K1300S]

i would ask for a walk around video of it starting and running/reving to make sure it isn't seized.  looks like it has aftermarket shocks too.

it is rare.
you have always wanted one.
it is complete.
it is fairly cheap in the bigger picture.
fulfill your dream.  buy the dang thing. 

any old bike will need a little work.  bricks are easy to work on.  if you don't pick this one up you will regret it if you don't find another one.

[Filmcamera]

How about using these people or something similar?


https://wegolook.com/ebay-inspections/motorcycles?itemID=322480799596

[Dennis de Vries]

I'm with mlytle on this one. If you allways wanted one, and can now afford and get one, jump on it. Every older bike wil need some work, and you can be sure another one of those wil probably not turn up very often.
If it was me, i'd go for it... Still kicking myself for selling my zx750e for way to little money back then, can't afford another one now even if i find one...

Verstuurd vanaf mijn HUAWEI CUN-L21 met Tapatalk

[Filmcamera]

I agree it is the things you do not buy that you end up regretting most of the time - so go for it.

[Laitch]

I agree it is the things you do not buy that you end up regretting most of the time - so go for it.

You might regret that but you'll still have money to repair the things you have bought. Besides there are already at least two of those turbos owned by forum members already—one really nice and one on its way to being really nice.

[Donmystic1]

By the time that Kyle takes delivery from Hawaii, refreshes it to mint condition he will be close to $10,000.
The fellow in Vermont that is restoring the Turbo that he bought in Maine would have a good idea of the costs involved.
The seller says that the Turbio has been rebuilt. Find out by who and look at the invoices for both the engine and the Turbo rebuilds
Was it a "quickie" rebuild or substantial rebuild. If the latter that would have cost a lot of money.

[Chaos]

save shipping, do a fly and ride

[stellarkyle]

Still trying to work on the shipping arrangements and if we can somehow work it into the price. He sent me the information on the turbo:


Turbo Spec VC19 8911
Turbo Serial # RHB8 30-0720
Parts No. 5T-503

[stellarkyle]

Can you edit replies?


Turbo serial # is RHB5 30-0720 not  RHB8

[Donmystic1]

Here is a picture of the turbo that you are talking about.
It is an IHI Turbo VC-19,  S/N RHB6 Parts number M

[Laitch]

Can you edit replies?

Although you are already stellar, kyle, you will need to post enough times to be elevated to demigod status—a mysterious and extemporaneous rite. Until then, hire a proofreader. :giggles

[stellarkyle]

Guess who's about to officially join the K club? Just have to finalize the logistics for shipping.


What ended up happening is he didn't want to budge on his price and I couldn't pay his list price plus shipping so we ended negotiations. After a week of not hearing from him, he texted asking if I was still interested. Apparently everyone on the Island that was interested in the bike didn't realize how special it was and he wanted it to go to someone who fully appreciated it. We agreed on a price and I found a mechanic familiar with K bikes who was willing to take a look at it. The inspection went well and definitely worth the $60 for the extra peace of mind.
Fun fact: the bike has Luftmeister's modified wide rear wheel that has 160/60 rubber on it.


Expect to see a new thread in Project-K Bikes in the coming months! The bike is mechanically in good shape but could use cosmetic TLC. I'll take it down to the frame and repaint it when I have time (still getting my undergrad...).

[Martin]

Hope all goes well. :clap: Good Luck with your new project .
Regards Martin.

[BENSPEN]

Welcome to the club! Not the best price, but you certainly have found a rare bike! Let me know if you have any questions about the system, I've been inside all of it and I'm happy to say it's completely possible to restore these to like new condition. I'm planning to reveal my bike in the next week or two!


-Ben

[stellarkyle]

Thank you, everyone! Looking forward to riding it.


Ben, I'll definitely let you know when I have questions! I've been keeping up with your rebuild and am excited to see the finished product!

[Vespa no more]

Stupid question dept:


Apart from the turbo, what other changes are on these bikes?


Can't we just buy any old (similar sized) turbo, whack it on with duct tap and see how fast it goes?


Curious

[BENSPEN]

As much as almost everyone on here likes to think that that is the case, it's pretty far from the truth. These bikes have handmade headers, handmade intercoolers, handmade intake manifolds. They also have a wastegate plate and a secondary fuel pressure regulator and some computer tuning. Some bikes even have custom cams. The exhausts are also unique as well as the oil pan and sump. There are likely other things I am forgetting.

[racket]

As much as almost everyone on here likes to think that that is the case, it's pretty far from the truth. These bikes have handmade headers, handmade intercoolers, handmade intake manifolds. They also have a wastegate plate and a secondary fuel pressure regulator and some computer tuning. Some bikes even have custom cams. The exhausts are also unique as well as the oil pan and sump. There are likely other things I am forgetting.

Basically, everything you need to put a turbocharger on a motorcycle. Who would have thought?

Also, got a laugh when picturing someone riding around with a turbo duct taped to their bike.

[Laitch]

As much as almost everyone on here likes to think that that is the case, it's pretty far from the truth.

That statement is a fair distance away, too.