500,000 kilometers with the BMW K 100 RT

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500,000 kilometers with the BMW K 100 RT
BMW

Extreme long distance

500,000 kilometers with a BMW K 100 RT

Over half a million kilometers on a motorcycle are already record breaking. The BMW K 100 RT did it.

The average motorcyclist drives less than 10,000 kilometers a year. Die-hard touring riders can manage 20,000 kilometers or more. The Dutchman Axel Loef, however, has a whopping 512,000 kilometers in nine years, an average of almost 57,000 kilometers per year with his BMW K 100 RT covered. A mileage for which the normal driver would need more than 50 years. MOTORRAD’s long-distance tests usually end after 50,000, in special cases sometimes even after 100,000 kilometers, i.e. only a fifth or a tenth of the running time of Axel Loef’s machine. Reason enough for MOTORRAD to take a closer look at the driver and machine.

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The 44-year-old administrative officer from the small town of Ophemert near Rotterdam generously fills the tachometer account on the weekends. Day tours of 700 to 1000 kilometers are the rule, with the exception of winter road conditions. His BMW then takes him back and forth across Holland, France, Belgium or even the Eifel to tour meetings. The driving Dutchman shows extreme stamina on his trips, as he sits in the saddle for 24 hours at an average speed of 70 to 80 km / h on country roads and 120 to 130 on highways at the weekend.

When asked what excites him about this kilometer marathon, he simply answers with the joy of riding a motorcycle. Axel Loef accurately documented the resume of his BMW in a 73-page analysis using tables and diagrams. The average consumption, the fixed costs, but also the repair costs down to the smallest light bulb are listed. The K 100 RT consumed 5.2 liters of fuel almost constantly over the entire distance. The endurance runner had only a few major repairs. A new shock absorber was due at 143,000, 262,000 and 385,000 kilometers, the front brake discs quit after 168,000, 302,000, 408,000 and 512,000 kilometers and the rear at 458,000. BMW Holland also liked the frequent rider and was so impressed by the unusual mileage that the importer asked Axel Loef to be allowed to inspect the motorcycle at 250,000 kilometers. He completely dismantled it and renewed the engine internals free of charge.

The gearbox remained untouched. The most expensive repair was the replacement of the silencer at 360,000 kilometers. After 512,000 kilometers, the cardan shaft went on strike. Otherwise, in addition to customer service and wear parts, only small parts were included. The first and only time Axel Leof let his motorcycle down when the odometer reading was 388,000 – because of a penny item. The generator coals were worn out. Axel Loef wants to stay true to his K 100 RT up to 600,000 kilometers. After that, of course, it should be a BMW again, an R 1100 RT, but not until he has once again won the title of Golden Tour Champion for the highest mileage per year in his motorcycle club in Ophemert with the K 100.

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