BMW 1992 K1 987 cc 4 cyl DOHC 3501

BMW 1992 K1 987 cc longitudinal DOHC four cylinder frame & engine # 6377449

Through the need to meet proposed European Union legislation on emissions regulation, BMW had started to develop an alternative technology to its traditional flat-twin engines with the introduction of the 1,000 cc BMW K100 from 1983 to 1992. The team developed a design prototype based on a liquid-cooled Peugeot car engine. In the base design of the K100, the engine was laid on its side in line with the motorcycle frame, known as a longitudinal four, with the crankshaft on the right hand side of the motorcycle, with the cylinders, pistons, camshafts, injectors and spark plugs on the left hand side. This arrangement keeps the centre of gravity relatively low, which benefits handling.
The K100 was still a cruiser/tourer design in bias, and BMW marketing wanted a sports oriented tourer to appeal to a more youth oriented market perception, and compete with the Japanese factories. BMW was committed to the manufacturer imposed 100 bhp (75 kW) limit for motorcycles sold in Germany, so decided that to address both issues it needed to turn to aerodynamics to solve the problem. The K1 was introduced at the Cologne Show in 1988 and production lasted to 1993. Adding to the “different to traditional BMW” nature of the bike, the early colour scheme of bright red or blue with yellow graphics and highlighting was bold, and hence seen as very different from normal BMW. Later on the colouring schemes were toned down to a metallic black. By 1993, the market had changed and developed considerably, with the introduction of sports bikes like the Honda Fireblade, and K1 production was ended, after less than 7,000 units had been built. The K1 had four valves per cylinder and developed 100 hp @ 8,000 rpm. (adapted from: Wikipedia)

The machine we present here is a very low-milage example (18715 km) in very well preserved original condition. The service books that prove the milage come with the bike. She has been part of a large private BMW collection and hasn’t been on the road for quite some time, so recommissioning will be necesary.