K1100LT - worth repair after accident ?

Hello.

I'm considering buying a neighbour's K1100LT, which he has had back
from the insurance company after an accident. My intention would be to
put it back on the road for my own use. I've not found many
representative examples on which to base a value for the salvage, and
I hoped I might get some advice here.

The bike is a '93 with 46K miles & was clean & well-cared for before
the accident. It's an SE model in a sort of gunmetal colour. The
damage that is immediately apparent includes: front wheel rim
deformed, L/H hand lower fairing panel trashed & mirror gone, cam-
cover scored & cracked (oil weep when engine running), gear lever gone
& pedal shaft snapped off & R/H side panel gone. The handlebars are
*very* wobbly, but I'm hoping that the flexible mounts can be replaced/
adjusted to cure that. I expect it will need a new battery, having
been sat in a shed for the last 9 months. The forks don't *look* bent,
but I haven't been able to get to the headstock to look at the paint,
or even the lock-stops. The engine starts & runs.

I don't mind taking the gearbox out replacing the pedal shaft; the
rest seems reasonably straight forward. I'd appreciate any thoughts on
(i) whether people think it's a viable project and (ii) a reasonable
value for the bike as it stands.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

The K11LT is in surprising demand because it does exactly the same job
as the latest BMW luxobarge tourers for a damn sight less money *and*
it doesn't break. Several people here (including me) run them, or
other old Ks.

The wheel is fairly easy to source used: it was fitted to the RS and
some other bikes. If that's been damaged, though, I'd also check the
discs for run-out in case they've taken a knock. They are very
expensive to replace with OE.

Cam covers come up all the time on eBay and start at around £20. No
wahala. Bars? A lot of people remove the rubber mounts anyway.

The fairing panel will be the difficult one. New, they're sold in
primer and cost lots. Used, you'll be unlikely to find the colour you
want and will have to paint it anyway. Motorworks
(www.motorworks.co.uk) is your friend here.

So, cost for all the above? I'd reckon £500, including the bits you
mentioned like the gear lever. I'm assuming things like the panniers
and mirrors aren't damaged.On the basis that there's always stuff you
missed when you first looked at it, add 50% and say £750.

Value of the bike: a really good clean LT, that age, that mileage is
worth at least £2k. Maybe a bit more for the SE with its radio, etc.
This is assuming there's a proper history with it, of course.

On that basis, the selling price will have to be well below a grand to
cover the hassle factor. I'd suggest £600. It's worth a lot more
broken as parts, mind you.

 

Thank you for that. The L/H mirror pod is completely gone, but I guess
I can find one. The value you've mentioned is near where I was just
before I went to run it through the gears & noticed the snapped pedal
shaft. Do you have a view on removal of the gearbox to replace the
shaft (it's snapped off flush with the outside of the 'box) ? I've
had the gearbox out of the boxer to change the clutch, but I wouldn't
know if the K presents a more significant challenge.

I used to do this sort of thing as a kid (buying cars & bikes in
boxes, or from breakers' yards). I suppose I should have grown out of
it by now. Some of the hardest work is explaing to the SO why yet
another of my purchases has had to be delivered on a breakdown truck.

 

Sounds like you're trying to justify a trailer purchase.

 

It does, due to the frame construction. Gearbox out is PITA territory on
these but you'd want to do that at some point anyway to lube the gearbox
input shaft before that gives up the ghost.

Mirror pod completely gone isn't that big a problem unless it's taken
the mounting lugs with it. It'll cost you, though.

That's not that uncommon around here.

 

Hah! You think. Used ones come up for sale very rarely. New ones are
about £80 plus £22 for the glass, plus paint.

The value you've mentioned is near where I was just

See the Boxhead's reply on this. As you now need a mirror as well, my
price goes down to £500 max.

Do what I did. Buy a *good* bike trailer. Though once word goes around
that you've got one, every bugger wants to borrow it ;-)

 

I've just bought a second hand one ... except because it was broken I
had to bring it home in the car. *All* it needs now are tyres,
bearings, suspension units, bit's welding on properly, the hitch
trimming down ... ;-(

It'll be good / handy when it's sorted though! ;-)

T i m

 

AOL. My Tarn 1/3 bike (and even at one stage an outfit) job is 30
years old this year. Having a hot dip galvanised chassis helps. The
thrumbling which Pip diagnosed as wheel balance has been cured. One
was obviously out. On going to get it rebalanced they got me to look
at the tyre carefully. It was no longer round and had a very odd
profile. Mini (old type) size tyres aren't stocked by big tyre places
usually these days. In the end it was treated to a new pair of wheels
and tyres from Towsure. Transformed the towing experience it has. TBF
they had been on there for ten years.