87 K75s

[StLouRider]

I may have made a mistake, but it's not that bad.. I hope.
It looks like I will end up being the high bidder on a 1987 K75S on ebay. It looked like such a good price $3350 (then I checked kelly bluebook :banghead ) Anyway the bike looks beautiful and in fantastic shape. 22,000 mi. tires looks good the guy selling it has fixed some fuel line issues.
My questions are: I'm 6'5" can I fit on a K75S? I have a 1,000 mi trip back to St Louis, would you reccomend riding back? (that's my plan.) Is a 87 K75S a desirable bike from a collectors point of view. I just bid because it was cheap and looks great. (I know I sound like a idiot, please don't remind me.)
Just looking for some moral support here on what could be a minor disaster..
Thanks,
Jeff

[Voni]

No mistake. You've chosen a grand bike!

I can't tell you how many K 75's Paul and I have owned over the years, but right now we each have one and our two sons each have one!

They last forever, get great gas mileage and just purr.

Just back from Daytona on mine.

And yes, the S is the BEST ; )

Voni
sMiling

[barryg]

In the late 80's when I started going to BMW rallies, I used to see a really tall guy who rode a K75. He would ride up, stop and put both feet on the ground, put the centerstand down, pull the bike up on the center stand while straddling the bike. It really impressed me at the time. I thought the K75S from that era was one of the best looking bikes around, I should have bought one. Ride and enjoy.

[GregFeeler]

Sounds like you got a beautiful very low miles bike, and every year they are harder to find. Personally, I love my K75S and a have, or have had, four other K-bikes, plus a number of airheads. With some good brake pads, fresh tires (I prefer radials) and a good aftermarket rear shock, they can be a very sweet handling bike that is good around town or coast-to-coast. Post some pictures. :thumb

[StLouRider]

I lost it:dunno :dunno
Man that ticks me off. I was already looking at routes from CT to Missouri.
Oh well... The K75S really is a great looking bike. I will keep my eyes open for one.
Is $3,500 a fair price for a 87 with 22,000 mi and looks like 90%..perfect.
Thanks,
Jeff

[SheRidesABeemer]

Welcome to Ebay, you don't have the bike until it's in your hands. :dunno Better luck next time, bidding is heavy on those low mile K bikes!

I used Buy it Now for this baby!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2331324004_fb71fbe402.jpg

[SheRidesABeemer]

oh yes, your original question was about your height.
Just watch out for bikes were people have lowered the seat or some such thing.

This guy is 6'4, he fits just fine.

[DrPaul]

I lost it:dunno :dunno
Man that ticks me off. I was already looking at routes from CT to Missouri.
Oh well... The K75S really is a great looking bike. I will keep my eyes open for one.
Is $3,500 a fair price for a 87 with 22,000 mi and looks like 90%..perfect.
Thanks,
JeffJeff,
I own a '87 K75S I have recently gone through and put in near perfect condition. It has only 8K miles on the clock. I have chronicled the story of this "barn find" on this forum (New Old K75 in the stable) if you are interested in the history and would like to see a couple of pics. I am planning to sell it so PM me if interested. I'm a lot closer to you than Connecticut!

Paul

[monkeywork]

I have a K75C. It is my dream bike. I'm 5' 6" and it fits me just fine!

Or perhaps because you're tall you were worried about it being too small?

I can stare at that machine all day...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/2108316301_4f47762d8e.jpg

[StLouRider]

That "C" is a nice looking bike. It looks like the same color as the "S" I missed.
There was not a "buy it now" option on it, or I would have.
Just out of curiousity are there still aftermarket items (seats, windshields) available for these 87s?
Thanks,
Jeff

[GregFeeler]

I have a K75C. It is my dream bike. I'm 5' 6" and it fits me just fine!

Or perhaps because you're tall you were worried about it being too small?

I can stare at that machine all day...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/2108316301_4f47762d8e.jpg

The Klassic K-bikes have some very nice lines. They looked good to my eye when introduced and I think they have held up very well over the years. I still get people telling my how beautiful my K75S or K1 is.

[GregFeeler]

That "C" is a nice looking bike. It looks like the same color as the "S" I missed.
There was not a "buy it now" option on it, or I would have.
Just out of curiousity are there still aftermarket items (seats, windshields) available for these 87s?
Thanks,
Jeff

Yes, plus there is a lot of good condition used accessories.

[ziegelreiter]

I have a K75C. It is my dream bike. I'm 5' 6" and it fits me just fine!

Or perhaps because you're tall you were worried about it being too small?

I can stare at that machine all day...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/2108316301_4f47762d8e.jpg

My wife loves to laugh at me for spending time in the garage "talking" to my bike. '90 k75:laugh

[cafecubano]

I bought my '86 K75s 07/07/07. She has brought me great joy. I'm 5'9" and it is my very first bike ever so I've dropped it half a dozen times (always on the same side, the right). I can't wait to ride from California to Texas or Baja California.
Good luck and happy hunting.
A

[mrich12000]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/mrich12000/IllfatedtriptogreenrallyplusK75s-21.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/mrich12000/IMG_0014-1.jpg
Taken at Tupper Lake N.Y. GPS is abord the Loalyst ferry going on to route 17 southbound to Mountain.Ontario.

Top picture is my wife "Tink" as I call her she is reliable and sure footed has been to so many detinations with me and the p/o Ron henderson(Betty)He puchased it from the Toronto police services as it was a parade bike.(He was a PC) over 160,000++ Miles second speedo if it was documented it should' have received a milage award. You have a splendid bike it will give you such pleasures and places to go enjoy and may your brick keep purring...:thumb

[sgborgstrom]

I have a K75C. It is my dream bike. I'm 5' 6" and it fits me just fine!

Or perhaps because you're tall you were worried about it being too small?

I can stare at that machine all day...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/2108316301_4f47762d8e.jpg

Monkeywork:
I don't remember seeing that fairing before. Pichler?

StLouLTrider:
Too bad about the bid, I've lost in the closing seconds myself a few times.

Last summer I bought a bike (advrider fleamarket) in northern Colorado and rode it home. Those 1400 miles allowed me to get to know the bike as it was and get comfortable while evaluating what modifications it might need to be better.

Too often (IMO) people buy a bike, ride around the block and start fiddling with the ergonomics right away. As somebody with a small fleet of bikes, whenever I switch, it takes time to adjust to each one. A 1000 mile shakedown ride on a new bike is perfect for getting used to how it feels and revealing any real shortcomings.

[StLouRider]

I thought I had a 2nd one bought on ebay, but lost it too. I can't believe how these bikes seem to hold up. I have yet to see one in person, but the pics make them look like new. I have been looking at S and C models that have less than 30K on clock, and my 04 LT has 33 already, maybe that is why they still look new.
The biggest concern Istill have is the seat height. Like I mentioned, I'm 6'5" I don't want to look like I'm sitting on a mini-bike. Or sit on the passenger seat to be comfortable. I have not found one near St Louis to go actually see.
Still looking..

[crgrbrts]

You've made a beautiful deal, believe it or not. I paid the same for my K75S and it had 90K miles on it. I put at least another 2-grand into it for routine maintenance and some cosmetic work. It came out a shining jewel. I (sadly) sold it for much more than you paid in order to help finance my K1200R Sport but surely wish I could have kept it.

As for your height -- celebrate it, man! You're perfect "BMW stature" -- just ask us little guys.

If you find you truly don't like your K75S when you get home (I'm from Jennings, originally, by the way), let me know. I'll gladly buy it for $3,500!!

Craig
exiled to Washington, DC

[98lee]

I would recommend against buying any bike solely based on what it looks like in a photo.

A K75S is radically different in size compared to a K1200LT. It might take you two seconds after sitting on one to decide you don't like the difference. You NEED to at least sit on one to decide.

It is a very personal decision. Personally I do not care for the overly large feel of the full fairinged R1xxxRT or K1200 (at this point in time, with the type of riding I currently do most).

I'm 6'1" 240lb. The K75S feels VERY comfortable to me with barbacks and 1/2" higher and 1 1/2" wider bars (Not C bars). Your extra upper body length would probably have you comfortable with the stock bars and no barbacks.

My pants have a 32" inseam. Your longer legs MAY make the seat to peg distance maybe a bit closer than you want (depending on personal preference) but that could be adjusted with thicker seat.

Under NO circumstances, consider a LOW SEAT mode. If the bike has the body colored battery cover panels on either side below the seat, it is NOT a low seat model.

The K75S is a GREAT bike, but it is VERY different than a K1200LT, some people love them, some people hate them. Find out before you buy.

Another point to ALL prospective early K-bike buyers:

All 2valve K100s and K75s had speedometers that were prone to gear and moisture problems. A VERY high number of these bikes have had their speedometers replaced, some more than once. The milage shown on ANY 2valve Kbike is NOT a good indication of how many miles are actually on the bike.

That being said, the milage doesn't really matter that much because these things run forever! Many times a higher mileage bike is actually in better condition because the previous owner rode alot and maintained it well so he could depend on it. I am very leery of 20 year old bikes with 15,000miles. If someone didn't care enough about a bike to ride it, did he care about maintaining it properly?

Just my 6 cents (I've got 3 K75Ss, so 2cents x 3) worth.


:dance :dance :dance

[beemerguru]

The one bike you'll want to keep forever...and ride and ride and ride. And if something isn't quite to your likeing, there's still all kinds of gadgets and tricks to customize.

[jbertarellis]

I thought I had a 2nd one bought on ebay, but lost it too. I can't believe how these bikes seem to hold up. I have yet to see one in person, but the pics make them look like new. I have been looking at S and C models that have less than 30K on clock, and my 04 LT has 33 already, maybe that is why they still look new.
The biggest concern Istill have is the seat height. Like I mentioned, I'm 6'5" I don't want to look like I'm sitting on a mini-bike. Or sit on the passenger seat to be comfortable. I have not found one near St Louis to go actually see.
Still looking..
I have a 1988 K75S and live in St. Louis. Be glad to show her to you.