Better everyday rider?

[georgej]

Those of you that have ridden or owned both,which in your opinion would be better as a daily rider? The R100RS or K75S.

[krehmkej]

Ridden both, owned neither. I would pick the K75 hands down.

[keelerb]

And better than both would be any UJM...so what's that tell you? Is there a Honda in your future?

Frig practicality, buy a bike you will LOOOOOOOVVEEEE! (For me that would be the RS but either you've named sound real good...)

[shire2000]

I think it all depends on your riding style. I love both those bikes, but would never own one again. My body just won't take long rides in the position that they require to ride well. my body much prefers a more upright position such on an R100RT.

Both bikes are very capable of being daily riders.

:ca

[R80RTJohnny]

Depends on what your definition of daily rider is. If you ride in hot climates go for the K75 as the R100RS will cook your feet. That being said if you ride in rain, cold or cool weather you will love the Airhead.

Good luck in your decision as both are great examples of BMW's best.

[AnnapolisAirhead]

Ridden both, owned neither. I would pick the K75 hands down.

I'm curious. Why so decisive?

[rinty]

I owned an R 100 RS for 15 years, and I've ridden the K 75 S. I would also choose the K, hands down. The key requirement is that it's to be a DD, which means commuting, and liquid cooling is better for that mission.

For touring, I would pick the R, because it's got more power, down low.

[Littleleroy38]

The big consideration is how well the R100RS's riding position works for you in city traffic. I have owned one since 1993 and find that leaning over at a stop light, for light after light, is not the most comfortable thing to do. The narrow bars give you less leverage than normal, so flicking from lane to lane is a little more awkward.

I have never experienced the heat issue on my feet--even in long periods of stop-and-go traffic--but you will be a lot hotter behind the fairing on warm days.

If you are commuting and will get up on the highway, then I think the bike would be a decent commuter. However, if you want a bike just to run around town on and nothing more, then I would not pick an R100RS (which would be overkill for the task at hand), but would look for a bare bike or an S fairing bike.

I have no experience with the K75s, so I can't compare.

[35634]

For a daily, worry free driver, get the K. Liquid cooling and fuel injection make it as
dependable as a car. The R might have more emotional appeal and a better fairing,
but also valves & carbs that need more attention and a weaker charging system.

[krehmkej]

The R100RS was designed as an autobhn flyer. Great in that mission, but no what I would want for everyday running around. The k75 is, IMHO, much friendlier in everyday running around. Ergos, primarily. As always, YMMV.

[osbornk]

Liquid cooling works best if your daily travels include a lot of stop and go riding. Traffic tieups are not the friend of air cooled bikes.

[Littleleroy38]

You have to check the valves every 2000 miles. A twenty minute job that requires an inexpensive feeler gauge. Weak charging system? Unless you are running heated grips, heated vest, GPS, and so forth, I don't think it will be an issue. It hasn't been for me, but I don't use any of that stuff.

On the subject of carbs: I refreshed mine two years ago after never touching them in 13 years. If I, an English major, can rebuild Bing carbs, then you can too.

I have to disagree about not using Airheads in city traffic because of heat issues. I've been stuck in stop-and-go traffic and never had a problem. The RS comes with an oil cooler btw. I suppose that if you lived in El Paso and were riding in 106 degree heat, it might become an issue, but I doubt it. Remove the emissions junk (makes your valves hotter), and the engine will be a little cooler yet.

I don't know what the service intervals are for a liquid-cooled bike, but you will have to pay attention to the radiator. In cars, at least, radiators do have finite life spans.

You can change the original bars for K-RS bars, which will bring you up and back quite a bit. However, it is still a sporty riding position and more leaned forward than, say, S bars. Being long-limbed helps.

[26667]

It doesn't take 106 temps to get hot behind the RS fairing. About 80 and slow traffic wil do just fine if you're aiming at discomfort. The solution is to remove the lowers for summer. Assuming you live in a three or four climate area of the woods.

For me, the 75 S was more of a hot rod than I wanted, but quick, and very nimble in traffic. Zero, however, on the weather protection. Over the years I've become used to low bars and finding a comfortable position or three, and the RS fairing is excellent in terms of protection. Nice when the temps drop below 60, too.

The early RS bikes don't have oil coolers, but there are deep sumps available that help somewhat.

[georgej]

Thanks to all who replied and gave experiences and opinions.I'm getting the RS.it's closer to me than the K and less money.Needs some attention but not too bad overall.I'm replacing my '78 R80 (which was set up like an S) with the RS.
George

[92r100rs]

Good choice. I've had both and prefer the RS by far.

[lkchris]

The big consideration is how well the R100RS's riding position works for you in city traffic.

When you're moving it isn't much problem.

The RS is not so much fun horseing into parking spaces, etc.

Best "commuter" Airhead is G/S.

[AnnapolisAirhead]

Best "commuter" Airhead is G/S.

Roads? We don't need no steeeenkin' roads! :dance

I would love to find a nice old one.

[ducatipaso]

for a commuter/daily the K wins hands down

[rvbeemer]

I've owned a K75 and still own a couple of Airheads, I would take a K75 anytime over a Airhead for daily in town stop light to stoplight riding. The Airheads really thrive on the long roads. JMO.
Ronnie

[92r100rs]

Unless you're commute involves dirt roads a GS is not a better commuter than an RS. Bags are smaller, tires are compromised, weather protection nonexistent. And comparing a k bike to an airhead as a commuter is like saying a Porsche 928 is a better commuter than a 911. It may be, but by the same standard, so is a Honda.

[ducatipaso]

Unless you're commute involves dirt roads a GS is not a better commuter than an RS. Bags are smaller, tires are compromised, weather protection nonexistent. And comparing a k bike to an airhead as a commuter is like saying a Porsche 928 is a better commuter than a 911. It may be, but by the same standard, so is a Honda.

not to mention, if the commute is in California, ever split lanes on a GS?
been there, done that. it's hairy enough on the K11RS with the mirror spacers.
i actually took them off to reduce leading edge width as I used to split past 10000000000s of cars every day.

[criminaldesign]

You can change the original bars for K-RS bars, which will bring you up and back quite a bit. However, it is still a sporty riding position and more leaned forward than, say, S bars. Being long-limbed helps.

My R100RS has the higher positioned bars. I'm not sitting straight up and I'm not leaned directly over. It works as a nice medium. I can get behind my fairing (not stock) when cruising on the highway and I can sit up when in town or taking my time.

The only time I've ever noticed any extreme bit of heat from the Airhead was when we were stuck in a jam in St. Louis for a good bit of time, idling and moving a couple of feet at a time so I couldn't turn the motor off. My dad was on his HD which could boil a river by that time. The bike seemed to start idling at a higher RPM. We pulled off and let the bikes cool down. The bikes were fine a moment after.

I did have a feet propped up on the heads from time to time to warm my boots. I haven't noticed my feet or toes getting hot underneath by any means though.

[criminaldesign]

I must add I do have the bike out on a daily basis and love the machine. Be it on the super slab, 2 lanes, or the wonderful WV back roads.

[Littleleroy38]

Great choice. The monos are vastly underrated for reasons not quite clear to me, but they are more modern motorcycles than twin-shockers, and should be easier to live with. Certainly the suspension alone is a huge difference. I suggest losing that Boge boat anchor of a rear shock as soon as finances allow.

[georgej]

Here is a picture of my new everyday rider.Sold my R80/7 and picked this RS up to replace her.Needs a little cleaning up and going over.

[sumran]

Here is a picture of my new everyday rider.Sold my R80/7 and picked this RS up to replace her.Needs a little cleaning up and going over.

Very nice. I predict you will be in a good mood by the time you get where you are going.

[PGlaves]

And better than both would be any UJM...so what's that tell you? Is there a Honda in your future?

Frig practicality, buy a bike you will LOOOOOOOVVEEEE! (For me that would be the RS but either you've named sound real good...)

Well, lets see. I owned a UJM, 750 3 cylinder shaft drive bike. At 42,000 miles the engine was loose and in need of a complete top and bottom end overhaul.

I then owned a BMW K75 - and 370,000 miles later the head had never been off and the transmission had never been opened up.

So - go ahead and buy that UJM - they're the same, he says.

[brickrider]

Well, lets see. I owned a UJM, 750 3 cylinder shaft drive bike. At 42,000 miles the engine was loose and in need of a complete top and bottom end overhaul.

I then owned a BMW K75 - and 370,000 miles later the head had never been off and the transmission had never been opened up.

So - go ahead and buy that UJM - they're the same, he says.

+10 on Paul's post.

My brand new 4-cyl UJM received extensive care, valve adjustments on time with the correct tools, factory service manual guidance for all maintenance, and engine oil + filter changes every 3,000 on the dot.

At 53,000 miles, the very smallest available shim on two on of the 4 exhaust valves would just barely make minimum clearance.

A new cylinder head (just the part, not the valves, guides, gaskets, machine work, and service labor), cost $300. The Kelly Blue Book value for that 4 year old bike, at that point, was --- $300.

I sold it for $300 to a mechanic who knew the condition of the bike, and felt like I'd won the lottery.

I put a lot of money with the $300, bought my first BMW, and haven't looked back.

Ride Safely,
BrickRider

[535is]

Here is a picture of my new everyday rider.Sold my R80/7 and picked this RS up to replace her.Needs a little cleaning up and going over.

Looks great! Do you know which windshield that is? It looks more like the Clearview than the Parabellum. Did you get the bags?

[orbitangel]

Here is a picture of my new everyday rider.Sold my R80/7 and picked this RS up to replace her.Needs a little cleaning up and going over.

Holy cow!

That bike reminds me so much of the gold '78RS I owned between August of 1980 and Spring of 1988.

Very nice machine and that Brembo on the back is very effective, much more so than the drum brake on the back of my '77RS.

That WAS my daily driver in El Paso (didn't somebody mention that place) and I never had any trouble with it during summers (hell, it's ALWAYS summer in El Paso!) and I had no oil cooler, never removed the lowers.

My feet never cooked but sometimes my ankles did!

The RS riding position and bars happen to fit my long-armish 6'1" frame nicely and I am comfortable on an RS in any kind of traffic.

I will admit that the RS is a bit of a tank around town - but not like my 750iL!
The sedan, however is much more comfortable during brutal Wisconsin winters!

[92r100rs]

A lightweight bike with flip back tank bag, top case, heated grips, fairing pockets and a radar detector wrapped in a fairing that provides unparallelled protection. For my commute of 2 mi twisties, 5 mi freeway, and 2 mi across town, I can't imagine anything better. Cumbersome around town? Huh? Even new BMWs look like buses compared to this bike.