Post Sale Update: After 60 bids on eBay, this K1 sold for $6,099.
The BMW K1 was very impressive in many ways – especially the aerodynamic coefficient. With that said, lots of riders didn’t care for the styling or the the paint schemes. This example avoids the paint scheme issue because just 1 year into his/her ownership, the original owner apparently wanted it to look like something Darth Vader would ride.
The K1 featured BMW’s first implementation of BMW’s Paralever suspension system, their second-generation rear driveshaft technology. Despite the ‘halo’ nature of this bike, there were two serious flaws: the turning radius of a Greyhound bus and the heat of Hades building up in the plastic fairings. Some riders reported nearly having their thighs burned when the cooling fans would turn on at stoplights. Flaws or not, the bike definitely brought plenty of attention to BMW, and cemented public opinion that BMW was capable of building more than boxer-engined touring bikes.
This example (VIN: WB105350XP6365673) is one of 142 K1s build in 1993 and it has just 13,372 miles on the odometer. The seller claims it is like new, but that would require you to ignore a crack in the left fairing, the missing 1000cc badge, and of course the paint job. Still, it does look to be in decent shape and the mileage is quite low. Someone needs to buy this bike and ride it! I can’t remember the last time I saw a K1 for sale with no reserve, so find this K1 for sale in Winnetka, Illinois with bidding up to $2,050
This bike-uriousity brought to you by Brian D!