There are a few threads on folks making a K100 into a dual sport, mostly info on tires. To do this to mine I know the side bags and trunk can be kept because I can make these easily removeable. It has an adjustable Koni shock on it. But the fairing has to go, the front fender has to be relocated up, the muffler modified, maybe the forks resprung or replaced, the headlight and turn signals have to be relocated or replaced, and much of the heat shielding has to go. The final drive may need to be changed. I would keep the radiator shroud. Basically making a naked bike with better tires, much better on gravel and dirt roads. Long distant trips will still be possible, and aftermarket windscreen could be added when needed, and it should be better in town. North Carolina summer heat is a big issue!
Keeping in mind that this bike only has 22K on it, is it worth it? I can recoup some money by selling the fairing and associated bits. Has anyone done this or have knowledge of someone who has, how they liked it, and how it performed? I want to be able to go to back country areas maybe Alaska in the future. Another bike right now is not feasible. Any thoughts or insight would be helpfull in my decision!

Thanks and Best Wishes!

Hi Steve,
My thought is the bike will still be way too heavy. I used to have a Gold Wing and was fine with the weight of that and then bought a Honda XR500 for road and cross country and it was too darn heavy if one had to lug it, yes it was very powerful, yes it was fast and accelerated well and was OK on the road but again it was too darn heavy when the going got really rough. I am 6' 4" and strong but when I rode a friend's Bultaco on the rough it was sooo much better.

Now as they say your mileage may vary, but I think the K bike will be too heavy even in stripped down naked form. For me it would be better to get a cheap light 2 stroke dirt bike that can be ridden on the road.
Regards,
K-BIKE

Hi K-Bike.

I am 6'4" also and around 240lbs! I've been riding since I was around 9, that was along time ago! I want to be able to go on back roads and long trips at the same time. Like Alaska or New Mexico, out of the way places... I have had several bikes even a Honda. I have two Suzuki's now, neither one good for long trips. So another bike is not on the list that my wife checks!! I wanted the K because of it's reputation for durability and miles! My thought was if dumped on a little loose dirt I could loose the fairing and most likely end the trip. Without the fairing I might at least be able to continue. Never had a fairing before on any of my bikes. Is it worth keeping it on? Could tires alone save it?

Thanks All!!!

Steve

Hi Steve, I think a fairly big call on your part but by no means out of the question.

There was a K75? raced in Dakar and if you do a search you will come with at least a few pics that will give you an idea of what can be done.

Tyre choice could be an issue unless you go for different rims but at least we are now spoilt for choice re dual purpose tyres wheareas it used to be knobbies or road tyres.

Regards,

Phil

Hi Phil, The idea came from those k75 articles. Many have been done as a Dual Sport. There was 1 pic of a K100 done as a Dual Sport but no written results of the effort. While you can find a set of dual sport Bridgestone tires for less than $100, do they hold up?

The bike is going back together now so it's do or die time. I have the Koni shock, the comfy Corbin seat, an extra round 7" headlight, and a bracket that will raise the front fender. Still painting on the rear seat fairing. I am worried about the smallish air intake port, and how removing the fairing seal bits will affect the cooling.

Has anyone modified the intake by making a direct route through the sensor with the bypass separate, eliminating the big black box? That would clean up the top of the engine case, less restrictions for airflow through the radiator. You could move the intake around to find a better location, creating less restriction for the intake. As long as the bypass volume matched the original it should'nt change idle or acceleration. Right? Any ideas?

Thanks to all for the help!

Steve

Hi Steve, Can't comment on the longevity of the dual sport tyres although from what I have read they seem pretty good although $100 is pretty cheap. TrailWings are not as good as the next model (BattleAXE?) which are supposedly much better. Also the Metzeler Tourance has a good reputation but I guess it will come down to available size.

Should not worry about the cooling as effectively you are turning it into a naked K100 which probably did not make their way to the US but still use the same air intake with small panels fitted to the front of the tank for the mounting, so short of making it a bit more water resistant there may not be any need to change.

The scary thing is that when finished it will probably weigh about the same as a Varadero and LESS than a GSA.

Regards,

Phil

Hi Phil, Whats a Varadero?

We can get Dunlop tires for $93 a set that fit the K. Shinko makes em for about $65 each, or $130 a set. It has the Avon tires on it, keeping those, still good tires. Thinking maybe getting a second set of rims and trying it out that way, forgoing any modifications until it proves itself.

OK... A Varadero is a Honda, I see it. Never owned a Honda.... Coming to America it say's in the ad!

I'll let y'all know how it turns out... Soon I hope!

Steve

Hi Steve I will look forward to the pics.

Those tyres are are real bargain and a Varadero weighs something ridiculous like 260kg wet so it should be less than that as well .

Regards,

Phil

My "85 K is not much heavier than my 2004 Bonneville which I fitted with the scrambler tires for use on gravel and dirt Forest Service andreservation roads. Also, for 10 years i used a Suzuki 850 G as a dual Sport. Of course, it all depends on what you mean by dual sport, if you mean proceed at a race pace, you better be young and strong. If you mean survive riding gently on non-paved roads, then all you need is tires, and be careful not to knock off the drain plug on a rock or high-centering.

As for tires, Only Pirelli comes close: they have the 100/90 X 18 front, but for the rear you have to choose between a 120/90 X 17 or a 130/80 X 17. Stock is a 130/90 X 17. Rider magazine recently recommended the Pirelli Scorpions for riding on gravel and dirt roads in Colorado for a BMW event. I am going to go with the 130/80 X17 rear figuring I will keep stock widths and maybe lower the gearing just slightly. When I get a round tuit, I'll let you know how it's working out for me. Here's some gravel road on Conti TKV 11 and Dunslop 404.

Been gone to the races at Charlotte.

I lived at White Sands for 4 years! Army... Loved it! Been on a few roads like that one myself! Looks like you found an old adobe ruin. Stay out of the Malpai!

Back roads and fire roads are exactly what I want them for. Not much on freeway travel unless I need to get to the good stuff fast. Or the wife is along......

Picked up the second set of rims. Saved the shipping, he lived in Charlotte luckily, $75. They have a good pair of Kendas on them. (NICE DEAL)

More pics soon.

Steve

I have hiked across the Malpais. Riding it would be something else.

hi,

I am really happy to have seen your posts.

I live in Israel and have been bothered that I cannot take the old mule on dirt roads. We have many dirt roads here and because of lack of water damage most are kept in reasnable shape. also because country is so small being stranded is at most a 50km thing.

If i understand corretly you are saying that this is 90% a tires issue as long as I do keep to dirt roads and slowly negotiate the more difficult parts?

What about other platforms:
dirt roads that are more stony - ie not fine gravel but rough large gravel - can this still be done
sandy bits - 5-10cm of sand - not dunes naturaly.

my bike is a naked 1987 k100 - and I have not found heating to be a problem - accept that the eng does throw off a lot of heat and riding slow on dirt roads will be probably hotter experience. However I have not spent extended times in low gears - in your riding can u profile how much time u spend in the different gears?

Can u give me a sense of how fast do u ride on fravel roads? tire choice here is very limited and i need to see what I can get.

thank u very much for the info
Roy

Roy,

Hi, I am making mine into a more user friendly dirt road bike. Lone Amigo and others who have already done it may know more about the BMW than I.
I have used a Suzuki GS off the main road quite a lot. And the tires make all the difference. This is my first BMW and so my first try at it.
I hope someone else can answer your post better, for both of us!

V/R
Steve