Even though I have the best handling...

[Semper Gumby]

...R65 in the world, I don't have enough speed to keep up with some of the Georgia Club  members.

One of these has shown up locally.



A 1990 BMW K1!  What do you think.  For some reason it has caught my interest.  The ABS still works suposedly.

[nhmaf]

Personally, I don't like the looks of these - never have.   They certainly seem to be a "love it/hate it" sort of thing, as some people I've seen who owned one said it was their favorite bike in the garage.  I've also seen some for sale in Massachussetts for 3 years running - the price goes up and down with the seasons, but the bike never moves.   I'd rather get a "normal" K100 RS of similar vintage - they are fast enought to keep up with most bikes.

[montmil]

Although it looks like something Luke Skywalker might ride, the K1's fairing design is comfortable on long rides and helps the BMW deliver great mileage over long ranges.

With its 987cc engine, double OHC, 16-valves, liquid cooling and 100 ponies, the K1 will keep up or exceed anything in your Georgia club.

As a sports tourer, the bike has limited storage space and is a bit heavy, but you don't use a beautiful bike like this as a "grocery getter". Priced right, go for it.

Just don't forget who brung you to the dance. [smiley=beer.gif]

Monte

[darrylri]

The K1 is definitely collectable, if you're planning on keeping it.  Until the new transverse bikes came out, it was the highest speed stocker BMW had produced, in part because of the aerodynamics of the fairing, and also because of the tall gearing.

In 5 more years you'll be eligible to join the Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners club on the basis of that bike.  Just FYI.  

(Of course, you can already do that based on your R65.)

[DanielMc]

K1s are becoming much sought after bikes over here in the UK. I sold my low-mileage full-history bike last year, but would be getting around £1,000 more for it if I was selling it now. Rumour also has it that they're becoming ultra sought after back in Germany too.

I reckon they were a concept bike that allowed BMW to introduce the 16 valve engine and ABS in a dramatic new package. They're flawed masterpieces: decent acceleration, rock solid stability to 130 mph and superb build quality with ridiculous fiddly plastic body panels designed never to be removed.  Unfortunately they lack much of the careful attention to detail found on other BMWs: you have to remove lots of the fairing to check the coolant level and changing the front brake pads took me a day. Idiosyncratic and very un-German but not impossible to live with...

What really persuaded me to sell the bike was the one thing you'll notice right after a long fast ride. As soon as you come off the motorway (Interstate?) and hit traffic the cooling fan cuts in and pushes all the (very) hot air from the radiator over the exhaust pipes and out from under the fairing towards your left thigh. No joke - this is excruciating and on a warm day is frankly unbearable.

The same exact package without the bodywork is available as the K100RS, and will cost around half as much. Both bikes are long and hold their weight high up meaning manoeuvring can be interesting for spectators.

[Lucky_Lou]

I too have a love hate relationship with the K series bikes ...ive never owned one never liked them but have considered buying a Honda (sorry) Pan European which are available at very sensible money.
Lou

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Remember that cheerleader you always lusted after in high school?  Damb she was good looking.  And then comes the day when you have both matured and gone through some hard living and meet again.  You finally get to kiss her, and guess what?  It's just not what you imagined it would be.  That's kind of how I feel about K bikes.  They are hot.  Literally.  They'll toast you in traffic.  You can't diagnose any of their problems unless you have the BMW specific software.  And like the mature lady, the K bikes seem to have more of a whine than sound like a motorcycle.

But hey, go for it.  If you don't scratch that itch you'll never know what you missed.