YOUNG GUN, OLD METAL: A BMW K100 LT FROM A RISING STAR

[weeksy]

https://www.bikeexif.com/bmw-k100-lt-1991

[Count Steer]

Some nice work gone into that. Doesn't get my pulse racing though - take a bike with a very unexciting engine (the 1200 version was a bit of a plodder, so I assume the 1000 was too), take most of the useful bits off (luggage, weather protection, pillion seat)...and then put bar-end mirrors on.

Some good fabrication work though. (V impressive for someone that age).

The other thing it emphasises is just how big the shaft drive housing has become on the modern BMWs. That one looks very neat and unobtrusive.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Modern ones have paralever which naturally makes it bigger? Also doubles as the swingarm so you're gonna make it bigger and stiffer over the years anyway?

Unlike the typical owners of course

[Count Steer]

Modern ones have paralever which naturally makes it bigger? Also doubles as the swingarm so you're gonna make it bigger and stiffer over the years anyway?

Unlike the typical owners of course

True, but it makes the older ones a better bet for customising I think. Looks a lot less hulking.

[Horse]

Modern ones have paralever which naturally makes it bigger? Also doubles as the swingarm so you're gonna make it bigger and stiffer over the years anyway?

Original airhead R twins had a 'fork'. Ks always had single-sided.

[Horse]

Has a sort of 'V Max' look.

[Skub]

I've always disliked the brick engined beemers,but this looks very tidy.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I think pretty much the only thing I'd change about that is the bar end mirrors.

I love the switchgear. Sure, it's not labelled (I think?) but if it were your own bike you'd soon get used to it and that wouldn't matter. Top marks for the satin finish carbon too, 'ardest form of carbon bodywork to pull off well is that. I also can't quite tell if the front mudguard extends much past the forks, it's in shadow.

Maybe some slightly more elegant pegs.

9.2/10 from me

[KungFooBob]

The switch gear on my K1200 isn't labelled, cos a previous owner seems to have 'cleaned' all the iconography off them.

[DefTrap]

They've done a great job of disguising all that stuff lurking under the tank each side - that could have been an awful mess

[Horse]

They've done a great job of disguising all that stuff lurking under the tank each side - that could have been an awful mess

The CF moulding on the RH side almost aligns with the shape of the tank. They could have done a matching panel on the left.

[Mr Moofo]

Is that space for carrying a big bag of Doritos? Or maybe a weeks shopping?

[The Spin Doctor]

It's no good. I just look at these sawn-off rear ends and think "hideous" almost every time.

[lostboy]

It's the perfect example of how to overstyle something. The Harley engined thing on the other thread shows how less is more - which is ironic as this has less but it's all shit.

It all goes wrong from the right of this........

[Bigjawa]

Modern ones have paralever which naturally makes it bigger? Also doubles as the swingarm so you're gonna make it bigger and stiffer over the years anyway?

Original airhead R twins had a 'fork'. Ks always had single-sided.

Monolever R's just had a tube with the bevel box bolted to the end.

[mangocrazy]

Very neatly done, lots of nice touches (like the minimalist BMW tank badges), but why choose a flying brick as the starting point? Even after all that's been done to it, it's still going to be overweight and underpowered (and thereby unexciting) compared to any other remotely modern 1000cc bike chosen as a donor.

[Mr. Dazzle]

If you want a bike that rides like a modern bike...well...I'm sure you can figure out the rest Not the point is it.

[mangocrazy]

My point is that by choosing a flying brick as the starting point you're automatically handicapping yourself in comparison to using other bikes from the same era. And what the builder has done is to try and make a bike that rides like a modern bike - so not really sure what your point is...

[Horse]

Modern ones have paralever which naturally makes it bigger? Also doubles as the swingarm so you're gonna make it bigger and stiffer over the years anyway?

Original airhead R twins had a 'fork'. Ks always had single-sided.

Monolever R's just had a tube with the bevel box bolted to the end.

They were later airheads, probably introduced after the K series.

[Horse]

It all goes wrong from the right of this........

If they'd put in a Buell-type laid-down shock, then completely cantilevered the seat, it would have been far more striking.