1985 BMW K100

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

By the 1980s, it was only BMW and Harley-Davidson that were making solely air-cooled engines. BMW had at one point considered building a water-cooled flat-four but risked copying Honda’s Gold Wing, so the Germans came up with a much more creative solution which ideally suited their shaft-drive system. These new designs were the BMW K100 four-cylinder and K75 three-cylinder water-cooled DOHC engines, laid over on their righthand sides. The K100 launched in 1983 with the K75 triple two years later. Both models utilized the automotive-style dry clutch and shaft final drive found in the boxers, while the fit and finish remained solidly Bavarian. 

The K100’s four-cylinder engine displaced 987cc and produced 90 horsepower. And like so many previous BMWs, the K-bikes lasted because they were overbuilt. The K100 was hefty at 526 pounds wet, yet it handled well and had abundant torque (63 lb-ft) to make up for the weight. Some of the smarter engineering included a monoshock, single-sided aluminum swing arm, a steel frame with fully stressed engine member, aluminum tank, stainless exhaust system and open loop fuel injection, all of which helped make K bikes among the best sport tourers of their day. 

Highlights 

• Finished in black paint over black seat upholstery 

• Powered by a 987cc inline four-cylinder engine rated at 95 horsepower 

• Five-speed manual gearbox 

• Eight-spoke alloy wheels  

• Dunlop 130/90-17 K627 tires 

• Stainless steel exhaust 

Features 

• Service on 25 October 2024 included: 

  • Replaced rear fork seal  

  • Replaced fuel pump 

  • Cleaned fuel tank 

  • Oil change 

• Hella accessory plug-in system 

• Adjustable headlights 

• 160 mph speedometer 

• 10,000 rpm tachometer 

• Top speed (declared by factory): 130 mph 

• Zero to 60 mph: 3.7 seconds 

Known Imperfections 

• Paint chips up front and on front side of mirrors 

• Marks on seat 

• Covering on BMW badge is peeling on right side 

• Left side of tank is scraped 

Ownership History 

The consignor of this 1985 BMW K100 motorcycle has owned it since June 2024.