BMW:BMW K1

BMW-K1

From 1989-1993 BMW produced they elite high-speed sports tour and called it the BMW K1. Although based on the standard K100, the BMW K1 was in fact a very different animal. While the general layout was the same (liquid-cooled inline four, disc brakes front and rear, fuel injection) the K1 received a new 4-valve cylinder head good for another 10 horsepower and 10 foot-pounds of torque (74ft/lb versus the K100’s 64ft/lb). It also got an improved version of the K100’s Bosch fuel injection, which supposedly accounted for much of the engine’s improved performance. BMW could have made the engine more powerful yet, but continued its voluntary adherence to a 100 horsepower maximum for motorcycles in Germany. By the time the K1 was U.S. emissions compliant it was down to 95 horsepower, still the most powerful BMW made to that time.

From 1989-1993 BMW produced they elite high-speed sports tour and called it the BMW K1. Although based on the standard K100, the BMW K1 was in fact a very different animal. While the general layout was the same (liquid-cooled inline four, disc brakes front and rear, fuel injection) the K1 received a new 4-valve cylinder head good for another 10 horsepower and 10 foot-pounds of torque (74ft/lb versus the K100’s 64ft/lb). It also got an improved version of the K100’s Bosch fuel injection, which supposedly accounted for much of the engine’s improved performance. BMW could have made the engine more powerful yet, but continued its voluntary adherence to a 100 horsepower maximum for motorcycles in Germany. By the time the K1 was U.S. emissions compliant it was down to 95 horsepower, still the most powerful BMW made to that time.

The K1 has a large following and good examples of these bikes are hard to find.