BMW K1300 S

[SpeedyCBR1100]

I wonder whether there are any past or current or past owners of the K who could give me some advice.

Underneath each fork there is a bolt that goes in vertically upward that is described as a "pinch bolt". On one of them the head has corroded off leaving most of the bolt in the bike. My very friendly local garage is happy to get it out, along its twin on the other side, and replace them with SS.

I'm asking with some trepidation whether anyone knows if I can safely ride the bike to the garage without it trying to kill me? It'a a distance of about a mile and a half with a 30mph speed limit. There appears to be no movement in the fork that shouldn't be there. Any advice would be welcome.

[P.]

I'd be happy to ride it however, what metal are the forks? Any reason you want to use stainless steel in aluminium forks (if they are alu that is) as that looks to be a bad idea.

I'd probably get OEM ones and just take care of them.

[davebike]

PAddy I bet the issue is BMW use stainless as OEM hence seize and snap
Stainless int alloy requires anti-seize alley slip best or copper slip grease at a pinch
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[jeffyjeff]

You can ride a mile and a half to your garage. Your bike won't try to kill you.
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History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[SpeedyCBR1100]

Thank you for your input. It was very useful. I've found out that the bolts simpluy "pinch" onto a part of the front axle to stop those bits turning and/or moving sideways. It is therefore safe to ride. With regard to the ally/stainless thing, are titanium bolts ok?

[MCN]

The bolts hold the axle/pin.
The forks are cast aluminininiuim.
Stainless can be funny in any metal.
High nickel content is something to do with it.
Copper and stainless is not recommended as the copper reacts in the 'cell' (electrolysis) so it can all bind up electro-chemically.
A graphite or molybdenum disulphide anti-seize is reccomnded. BMW use a plethora of Apothecary ingredients in their build.

I would just go OEM and OEM recommended anti-seize.
And.... buy yourself the BMW workshop manual DVD off eBay for the beast.
Too much info in that to list.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[SpeedyCBR1100]

Thanks for all your help. I took the bike to the garage yesterday with no drama. I've bought OE bolts and they'll be installed when the current bolts are removed.

Thanks again.