21 year old BMW K1200RS gets a new lease on life.

[JimVonBaden]

Finally back from vacation and back to work on the project.

Easing back into it with the seat recover. I left the original set cover on to offer some foam protection since the new seat cover does not appear waterproof.

Cleaned it with alcohol, then sprayed on some adhesive to keep the dished part dished.





Used some weights to set the glue.


Then worked all the way around it with 3/8 staples and an air stapler.




Will trim the fabric today on the back side.

Came out pretty nice, not perfect, but nice.



I added the weight back to settle the rider seat area more.

 

[Soggy Biscuit]

Nice project! My brother has the same bike. He bought it while stationed in Okinawa and has imported it to the states. It has had a slew of gremlins. The remaining seems to be a misfiring issue.

If I were to ride down that way again, could you maybe show me how to do better and more in-depth work on my 2015 V-strom? I'd hate to attempt something beyond minor and fuck something up.

 

[JimVonBaden]

I'm far from a specialist on the Suzuki, but I would be happy to help.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Started on the wrap. First with the rear side panels, then to the main fairing inserts. Not perfect, but not bad.










Using the cutting string was new for me. The insets came out OK. Next I will wrap the main color, a kind of blue purple metallic colot, not too far off the original color.


More to come tomorrow.

 

[JimVonBaden]

One saddle bag done. the other tomorrow. I have to admit, it was a PITA to do.

Not perfect, but better than the original bags that were both pretty badly road rashed.

 

[JimVonBaden]

I've come to the conclusion that I am not good at wrapping. Good from 10 feet, not up close.

Today's failure:

 

[ZoomerP]

Does it look better than before? Yes

Can flaws be seen at 30 mph? No

 

[Alan F.]

It sure is healthier than painting them to get the same results. They look great from here.

 

[R100_Steve]

JimVonBaden do you have a plan when you buy these? Like "fix this, but not that"? Or just dive into anything that needs doing? Also, Do you set a hard budget before you begin?

 

[JimVonBaden]

It sure is healthier than painting them to get the same results. They look great from here.

Yeah, more healthy, costs similar. But my paint jobs come out much better.

 

[JimVonBaden]

JimVonBaden do you have a plan when you buy these? Like "fix this, but not that"? Or just dive into anything that needs doing? Also, Do you set a hard budget before you begin?

Sometimes I have a plan, like the bike above. Other times I develop the plan as I take a bike apart and look at what needs to be done. I generally try to keep the total costs below what I can sell it for.

This one started out as a referb, then I decided to go a completely different direction. I made it full electric.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Since I did the one side panel, I decided to do the other. My thought is that I will give the rest of the wrap to the new owner and he can try it himself, or pay to have it done by a pro. I just don't think I can do a good enough job on the other complicated parts. Lesson learned, paint over wrap. The cost is similar and I am a much better painter (still just OK) than wrapper.




Something else that helps is wrap primer. I didn't use it on the other side and the cut points are struggling to stay down. This helps a LOT.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Started easy today. Removed the gas tank, then the air filter. Ugly, but it did its job.





Then on to the servo-ABS. I had hoped to repair it, but it was just done. I pulled out the unit.




It was toast. Fortunately the electronics looked good. So on to the ABS delete. Took out all the old lines, and unnecessary bits.


Then installed new SS lines to bypass the ABS unit.








Bled and they felt good.

Then built a cover for the electronics needed to preserve the cruise control and brake lights.




Tomorrow I will test everything, then seal up the electronics and put it all back together.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Started easy today. Removed the gas tank, then the air filter. Ugly, but it did its job.





Then on to the servo-ABS. I had hoped to repair it, but it was just done. I pulled out the unit.




It was toast. Fortunately the electronics looked good. So on to the ABS delete. Took out all the old lines, and unnecessary bits.


Then installed new SS lines to bypass the ABS unit.








Bled and they felt good.

Then built a cover for the electronics needed to preserve the cruise control and brake lights.




Tomorrow I will test everything, then seal up the electronics and put it all back together.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Removed the ABS relay to kill the ABS lights, and verified the electronics board is good, then sealed it up for install.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Mounted the ABS electronics package. Small win, but good. I also freed up the throttle linkage, which as very sticky.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Way to take a 45 minute job to 90. I changed the fuel filter and sock today. It was pretty straight forward:

Mark for orientation, then open:



Pull out and disconnect the vent lines. Note that I marked the top one with a ziptie so I know which is which for assembly. If you do it wrong you end up sending drain water from around the fuel cap into the carbon canister, which ruins it.




Then pull the pump and filter all the way out. Make a note of the filter orientation/direction and lay out the replacement.




Remove the factory Oetiker clamps. Beemer Boneyard supplies proper FI clamps with the filter. They also give replacement quick disconnect O-rings:





Reassemble and done.


Sharp eyed people will see my mistake.

 

[Soggy Biscuit]

My brother's 20-something year old K1200RS still has gremlins. It's a shame he lives in base housing at Vandenberg Space Air Force Base. Otherwise I'd tell him to hit you up for guidance.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Proper orientation:



Installed orientation:




Pulled it all back apart to turn it around after I noticed what I did looking at the photos on my phone!

 

[JimVonBaden]

Changed the fluids, and oil filter, on the K-Bike and started it. Then cleaned years of dirt off the motor.









This runs great. Cant wait to ride it!