r-bike, k-bike, big deal who cares ?

[Isamemon]

So I got your attention
I’m a new BMW person, and also an old fart not into bikes where you can’t see the motor, and have a weird thing called reverse in the tranny, might as well be a cop bike
Shoot, might as well be driving an old Alfa or TR-3a
Yet as being new to Bimmers, and I love my airhead
What is the big deal of the k bikes?
Mainly
If a person, say had 5k to spend, and the go to e-bay
They can find all kinds of Bimmers, R and K series
So why get a k over an r
Why get an r over a k (at that price)
Here is a prime example to me
And it’s darn pretty
280009892130

So what is the big benefit, what is the nightmare?

Not trying to be rude or bad, just trying to learn
Love my new ride, my first bmw
I think Im done with the Japanese bikes

Josh

p.s this is inspred by my son who, will be returning soon from the middle east , and wants to join me and "mom" with his wife, two up

[Hodag]

I kinda like my k-bike
but I like r-bikes,
hondas and harleys,
those urals are neat,
wouldn't mind a big chopper
oh and a ktm dirt bike
maybe a hayabusa too




I like bikes

[R90S]

It's Beemers.

Bimmers are cars.

[Bob_M]

The Aprilia 450/550 twin, that has yet to be released in the US, really has my curiosity piqued. For now I am very happy with good running airheads. My boy has an 84 and I have an 82. The airheads are simple, classy and have enough pep to go faster than is legal. The newer R bikes handle wonderfully and have yet more pep. There are discussions regarding their maintenance, but I can only discuss the upkeep on my bike, which is simple to the point that I (an eager "shade tree" mechanic) can usually do the maintenance and repair. K bike are described as indestructable by some, and is common for them to amass very high mileage. BMW made its reputation of the air cooled boxer twins and it is still a high quality machine. The people who ride BMWs are intelligent, clever, good looking people (humble too) who enjoy life, and you are most welcome to join the fold.
Riding with my son has been a great experience, I trust it will be as rewarding, and fun for you.

[lkchris]

If you get a $5K K-bike, you'll be having fun with lots of fuel injection stuff, including electric fuel pump, etc.

If you get an Airhead, you'll have a couple carbs that only require a few o-rings to "rebuild."

The earliest Ks vibrated terribly and had lots of other problems.

Airheads are smooth but a little finicky themselves.

For $5K, you can now get an early Oilhead--you'll need to check its history to see if it has replacement transmission and you should check to feel how bad it surges, but otherwise, it's the best of the three, if you can stand the two-piece seat.

[Motorman]

In a nut shell the advantage of the K over the R's (I'm talking airhead here) was power and smoothness.

Today the R has the power angle worked out to about the same. The K is still smoother and has a turbine like feel when you roll it on vs a boxer.

The R will be lighter and you have half of the engine components. They have fuel pumps and fuel injection so other than being half the injectors its a wash tween the two models in that regard.

In short, try test riding a few examples and see what ya like.

I had an airhead for over 17 years and a K for the last 13. Now I'm looking at an oilhead as a possibility, or another brand bike.

[Isamemon]

thanks for the replys
as I implied earlier I am still learning about BEEMERS ( see I learned that difference already)
Im happy wiht my airhead so far, and for me, being ablr to serivse as much as I can is important
I grew up with old SU carb cars, so fiddleing wiht a pair of bings is no big deal, compared to fuel infection
just trying to learn more about the new toy

didnt mean to offend anyone

thanks

[James.A]

Welcome to the club, Isamemon. The advantege of the Airhead(typeR247motor) is exactly what Motorman said. It is lighter and simpler. The bike you posted on " Post a Pictureof your Airhead" can be made to run forever. If you set aside the price of a used Oil Head today in a savings account, you might NEVER use the Balance of funds in keeping your Airhead on the road. I lost $4000 dollars on owning a new Oilhead for 6 years. Every Airhead I own is saleable for more than I paid, although it has been a great many years. If you consider all the fun I've had on those airheads, I could give them away and still be happy.

[Hodag]

Why get an r over a k (at that price)
Here is a prime example to me
And it’s darn pretty
280009892130

thanks pal....
I've been looking at that thing...

same bike as mine but different attitude.

then it got me thinking 115HP....... still better than any R

[jmerlino]

I don't know why, but there's something about twins that really intrigues me. I don't care if it's a parallel, boxer or V, I just like the idea of two pistons. I can't explain it.

K bikes are cool in their own way. But to me, a Beemer is a boxer.

[Isamemon]

I agree if its parallel or boxer
to me it goes back to my olden days
back in the age when rocks were soft, ( acording to my kids and grandkids) I used to race Honda's and kow's
street class, I raced small honda 4's (550 and 750, and I think the 550 is a better bike then the 750)
but my racing days ended on a kow z-1 900 racing at summit point west virginia against BMW's.
short straights, I can blow the bmw away, long straightaways, the BMW would go past me, (remeber this is old day stuff)
in a corner, bmw
and there was always the "thing"of a boxer
the smooooooothness
the design, the balance
so now after a bazillion years, my wife blew me away, and bought me a 78-r-80 for our wedding aniversary
the year (1978)after watching me hit a few hay bales, made me quit riding
( kids and stuff too)
to me it was always, if I could ride again I want a harley, no, no way, for me , if I could ride again, I would want a BMW
and as of a month ago, thanks to my wife
I have a boxer
dont know if its old age, but this is ,now my favorite scooter, a boxer, bike #11 for me
someday I might move up to a r-100 rs or something
but keep it simple, keep it clean, keep it a boxer
and again, thanks babe , you blew me away, how did you find such a nice scooter