I polished a turd and it came up yellow

I bought a K bike back in march for £750. That included 12 months tax and MOT so I was pretty chuffed. While Burgundy is not my colour I saw the potential in this one. My transformation of the bike has not been as slick as Mike P's but I've been happy with it overall.

Here's what it looked like when I picked it up from the barn in Devon.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7161135414/" title="IMG_4556 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5232/7161135414_b24efa388c_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="IMG_4556"></a>

Cows not included

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7161134172/" title="IMG_4555 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7073/7161134172_a187d34fc1_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="IMG_4555"></a>

It hadn't been loved but neither abused. Just maintained and the essentials like final drive, brakes, fluids, tyres etc were all in good order.

That'll polish up nicely
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7161186448/" title="IMG_4578 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/7161186448_ab06d3c91a_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="IMG_4578"></a>

One bugbear was the instrument cluster which had the well documented moisture and associated reliability problems. The needles would stick, the gear indicator and clock had stopped working and bulbs would go on and off depending on whether it had rained or not.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7161144712/" title="IMG_4561 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7161144712_67daeae53b_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="IMG_4561"></a>

Overall though it was a good base to start from
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7161218468/" title="IMG_4603 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8142/7161218468_bbfa341a1b_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="IMG_4603"></a>

Compared to my previous F800GS this is a breeze to work on. Everything is so easy to access.

Despite being a novice I was comfortable with taking the bike apart and servicing the final drive and other bits.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7238006252/" title="IMG_5043 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7229/7238006252_33df00441c_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="IMG_5043"></a>

Have you stripped the instrument binnacle to sort the flaky clocks etc yet?

The problem is more often the "spike" connectors get furry and the connection becomes intermittent. It can be fiddly but relatively easy fix.

Quite old articles but still relevant:

http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech.shtml

Nice bit of kit for only £750.00 I quite fancy trying a K myself so if anyone's got one languishing in their shed/barn/garage/front room/hallway
I'm interested.

I had the cluster apart, replaced the seals and even put in some breather pipes but alas it was too late for it. There was just too much wrong with the cluster and I decided to wire up an Acewell.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7161274772/" title="IMG_4861 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7220/7161274772_37bd7d517f_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="IMG_4861"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7161275700/" title="IMG_4862 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5276/7161275700_4b905cc562_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="IMG_4862"></a>

After attending to essential maintenance and servicing it was time to attend to the blasphemy that was the Honda Torino paint job. I sourced the BMW sunset yellow paint from RS paints and so the paint transformation was underway.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857299804/" title="Blasphemy on a BMW by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7251/7857299804_a6036c3f7a_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Blasphemy on a BMW"></a>

I did try to rough up the surface initially and spray over the old paint but after defects started showing through I decided to bite the bullet and strip it back to the alu.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857301434/" title="The Alu look by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7857301434_063f450bf3_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="The Alu look"></a>

As the bike was my daily ride I had to schedule spraying time for the weekends. With our wet summer it proved very tricky at times and often resulted in me using the bike halfway through so I ended up with a two tone K for a while.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7462922786/" title="A cheeky German cuddling up after appearing in the night by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7462922786_acd680f4c8_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="A cheeky German cuddling up after appearing in the night"></a>

I did the spraying in my garage and after a few resprays I think it is safe to say that nearly everything in the garage has a sunny disposition

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857271026/" title="Drying by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7857271026_0764a76d8b_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Drying"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857276662/" title="Tail section paint has applied well by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8440/7857276662_f470a7e793_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Tail section paint has applied well"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857287712/" title="mmmm beading by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7857287712_5d5bdf3eb5_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="mmmm beading"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857286110/" title="The tail section is done by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8426/7857286110_622d5b4745_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="The tail section is done"></a>

This was all done with rattle cans. The RS paints/ Lachler lacquer was getting a bit expensive so I switched to Halfords lacquer to quite good effect. It's not petrol proof but I'm hoping to remedy that somewhat with Carnauba wax

The front end still needed to be sorted. The original screen had been aged by the sun and the perspex had age fractures all over it. In the photo below I temporarily sprayed it black.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7462931084/" title="NOKIA Lumia 710_000376 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7462931084_f45fc17f9c_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="NOKIA Lumia 710_000376"></a>


The headlight was exposed to the elements so I wanted to change that. When I looked on the web for a bucket for the lamp I could only find one in the US that was damaged and going for £90 so in the end I just went for a bog standard 7" lamp


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857265674/" title="Looks good here but ultimately went for an 8" lamp by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7138/7857265674_ee0bfbbc89_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Looks good here but ultimately went for an 8" lamp"></a>

It looks OK in the picture above but in reality it looked too small in the picture below. Well to my eye anyway. It turns out the original lamp was 8" and so I ordered one of those from a bike shop in Rochdale. It had a black outer and had been scuffed somewhat. I wasn't best pleased and by the looks of it it is a Chinese import but it is really hard trying to find 8" lamps so for now it will have to do.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857266922/" title="NOKIA Lumia 710_000518 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7250/7857266922_6f9a0c734f_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="NOKIA Lumia 710_000518"></a>

I ordered some Motorworks BMW Dakar handlebars (copies) and it immediately improved the riding position for me.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857267784/" title="The paint job is done by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8425/7857267784_e7716f3824_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="The paint job is done"></a>

Following this with interest.....going to be starting to renovate my brick soon

Nice work on the spray job by the way

This is what a K looks like when its body is off having a respray

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857270104/" title="Bare bones by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8421/7857270104_9ee25e9f63_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Bare bones"></a>

I also got hold of an Acewell. I'd considered Koso and Motogadget but ultimately price, looks and reliability had me going for the Acewell.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857268716/" title="Acewell speedo by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/7857268716_4f5ebbb59a_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Acewell speedo"></a>

Thanks Fanum

The stock badges on the K are wafer thin aluminium and lack some of the zing of the modern badges so I bought some badges from Motorworks from a R1150GS and just ground off the pins on the back. My order was delayed as Motorworks always ask for the model of your bike when you order so they were confused that I should be ordering different roundels.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857296488/" title="BMW Roundel by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8441/7857296488_aa5b38c08a_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="BMW Roundel"></a>

As it happens the curve of the tank is quite pronounced so the bottom of the roundel doesn't quite stick to the recess for the roundel but this can be remedied by adding some extra double sided tape at the bottom of the roundel.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857272102/" title="NOKIA Lumia 710_000609 by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8431/7857272102_e93f0b1b82_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="NOKIA Lumia 710_000609"></a>

The bugs approved too.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857272784/" title="The bugs approve by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7857272784_6d7f443fe6_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="The bugs approve"></a>

Enjoying this. That speedo/dash replacement makes me wonder why OE stuff is so hyooj.

I bought some LED indicators but one thing you need to do is get some inline resistors from Ebay as the LED's will blink fast otherwise. Once this had been sorted I was trying to figure out where to put them. There was an opportunity to put them down by the tank but I figured they may not be as visible down there. My headlight brackets didn't come with enough holes so I made some

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857307950/" title="Drilling holes for the indicators by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8301/7857307950_a5bb0820f9_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Drilling holes for the indicators"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7857293050/" title="LED's are the order of the day by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7857293050_2134086353_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="LED's are the order of the day"></a>

everywherevirtually said:

This was all done with rattle cans.

Click to expand...

all the more impressive

Looking good, I really like the color

Mr K said:

Enjoying this. That speedo/dash replacement makes me wonder why OE stuff is so hyooj.

Click to expand...

That particular speedo/instrument console in the pictures is a Mk1 version. The Mk2 is more robust.

Like Fanum - i'll be watching this with interest and i know already i'll be back to look at the pics for reference.

I MUST at least take an oily rag to my K. ... one of these days

The thing with these bikes and I suppose any bike of this age is to inspect all the rubber and wiring components. My breather hose had cracked in a few places.

The fuel overflow rubber tubes had perished and fallen off

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7858808260/" title="Old K100 wiring by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7858808260_26fbc031b5_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="Old K100 wiring"></a>

Thankfully I never had a situation of fuel flowing onto the hot engine. In the photo below is what is left of the overflow tube. I believe there is now a little plastic cup that can be attached to the frame and a hose then runs from that to the ground should this be of a concern.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7858807282/" title="Old K100 wiring by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/7858807282_35a05a7f4c_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="Old K100 wiring"></a>

I had an issue with the engine cutting out when making a left or right turn. The bike nearly dumped me on a few occasions in one day and so when I got home I investigated. Everyone was saying the HAL sensor was dying or it was the fuel pump and all manner of things but the dodgy wiring running from the throttle side I suspected was the culprit.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7858810320/" title="Old K100 wiring by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/7858810320_a5d5fc6b56_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="Old K100 wiring"></a>

after peeling layers of electrical tape off it didn't look any better.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7858806298/" title="Old K100 wiring by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8306/7858806298_c4589026f4_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="Old K100 wiring"></a>

In fact it got a lot worse. Most of the wires were "just" touching. So of course every time I turned they disconnected.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/7858804534/" title="Old K100 wiring by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7858804534_21e843750f_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Old K100 wiring"></a>

I did a decent repair but to be honest I'm just going to buy a new unit and wiring for the throttle side switchgear. I think they're about £120 from Motorworks.

Great thread. You should post it up here on the K forum as well. http://k100rt.aforumfree.com/