K75RT Buying Advice

[AKBeemer]

I'm looking at 1990 K75RT. $3600 - 33,000 miles. I have not seen the bike yet but a picture indicates some damage to the fairing and a tear on the seat. Otherwise represented as being in the ubiquitous "excellent condition." Assuming it is in good shape is this a reasonable price? What are the top 3 things I should look for as indications of a bike to stay away from? I'm considering this as a bike for my wife and am willing to put some additional money into it if it is fundamentally sound. I'm not very familiar with the older K bikes, but it seems the K75 has a great reputation.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/AKBeemer/Linked/BMW002.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/AKBeemer/Linked/BMW003.jpg

[Acejones]

seems fairly reasonable.

I rode my K75 today. Everytime I ride it I'm reminded why I bought it.

[ljjohns]

Take a look at the Flea Market, searching the K-Bike subset. That will give you some idea of the sellers' asking prices for comparison.

$3600 is probably not out of the ball-park but you need to dig into the details: is there a maintenance history available for the bike? What features/farkles have been added or bought with the initial bike: ABS? other upgrades?

What mechanical support do you have if this old bike has problems (and it will have problems)? Is there a BMW dealer or mechanic in the area? Are you a good wrench or are there other BMW riders in the area (identified on this site or on, for example, K-bikes.com)?

"Costs" vary from individual to individual as a function of their circumstances: for some folks, $3600 is a significant investment especially when coupled with the associated (normal) operating/maintenance costs. For others, it's within reason. Only you can determine that for yourself.

Larry Johnson
2003 K1200LT
1991 K75RT

[Kayseventyfive]

?

What mechanical support do you have if this old bike has problems (and it will have problems)? Is there a BMW dealer or mechanic in the area?

Many BMW dealers do not have good brick mechanics. The age of the mechanic might tell you something. Independant mechanics are often better on older machines.

[rdalland]

The price seems high to me with the damage. If it had ABS and an electric windshield I would feel differently. If it is already in Alaska, I would probably feel differently too.

Take a look at the IBMWR marketplace for pricing comparison. There are a few K75RT's listed.

http://www.ibmwr.org/market/adlist.php?cat=kbs&page=1

[nh7robmw]

That fairing damage is going to be expensive to repair if you have it done.

Why is there a tear in the seat, too? Has it been a bit neglected or abused?

Good point made about brick mechanics in Alaska---seek one out first before you take the plunge; maybe you can get a firsthand expert evaluation. If you can't find one where you are get a Clymer and a Haynes and count on advice from the great gurus on this Forum for help DIY.

But if the bike is otherwise sound I'd say that price is not completely out of line (Maybe offer @$2,800-$3k factoring in some cosmetic repairs?).

That's my best guess/advice if I were in your shoes. Good luck with whatever works out and let us know how it goes.

[DRUDOLPH148006]

I bought a 1992 K75RT 6 months ago for $2900. It has a Corbin seat and ABS.
Had 56,000 miles on it . It had just had new tires put on, along with a new fuel
pump and battery. It doesn't look like the one you are looking at has ABS. It is my first bike since around 1972, and I will admit that the first couple of times I rode
it, I wished that I had gotten something lighter. It no longer seems heavy and
I am very happy with it. The only thing I will change on it is an aftermarket
windshield that is a few inches shorter. There is nothing wrong with the stock
windshield but the top of it is right in my line of vison. The price of the one you
are thinking about may be a little high.

[PHMarvin]

Hi, AKBeemer,
From the pictures, it looks as if the bike has been down on the right side. The right lower seems to be broken near the vent and I think I see a crack around the right mirror. Also, the fairing doesn't seem to be well aligned. In my opinion, the bike is seriously overpriced.

On June 5, I picked up a '95 K75RTP with 14962 miles on it. It was ex-Police. It had brand new full-sized bags, ABS, electric windshield, heated grips, single (police) "BMW Comfort" seat, radio box, etc., etc. The bike runs perfectly and I got it off e-bay for $3716. It does have holes where lights and antenna were removed.

I have another '95 K75RT with 55k miles on it. Everything works - ABS, electric windshield, heated grips, etc. It should be running by next weekend. The "monkey nutz" - rubber dampers in the alternator drive - deteriorated and the vanes in the drive cup broke. I have new rubber "monkey nutz" and the new cup is due in on Friday. I do not have the bike up for sale, but I would entertain offers of, say, $4500 FOB El Paso!

The most common problem with the K75 (any) is the driveshaft to final drive splines. They must be kept greased, preferably every tire change, with a moly paste. The clutch splines need to be cleaned and greased, at least every 40k miles or when it becomes a little difficult to downshift without blipping the throttle. The fork seals may leak. If so, change the seals and make sure there are no burrs on the fork tubes. When you change the seals, install gaiters; they will protect the seals. Check under the bike. If there are a few drops of oil or coolant at the weep hole at the bottom of the oil pump, new seals or a new pump may be in order. If there is oil at the weep hole at the bellhousing, it may mean a new clutch is needed along with a new rear main seal (not often), a new clutch nut "O" ring (much more common) or a new gearbox input shaft seal. The newest K75 is 14 years old; rubber bits do deteriorate and connections do corrode.

Good Luck and Good Hunting!

[AKBeemer]

Thanks Phil and others. Great info.

[JHGilbert]

I bought mine for that price and it was in great shape. There probably aren't many K75RTs in AK, and probably even fewer people in the market for another one. So that K75 will probably be around a while. The K75 would make a pretty good road bike up there with the warmth from the engine and weather protection. Unless you plan on working on it yourself, I'd let this one go. At the most, I'd tell him I was interested but not at that price. Then leave my contact info so that when he can't sell it and he's willing to negotiate, he can contact you.

[osbornk]

I sold me 92 K75RT about 4 years ago for $3,200 with 45,000 miles on it. The Russell seat and the rest of the bike was in excellent condition other than a blinking ABS light. In effect, it just didn't have ABS.

The price seems high to me.

[PhlyinBrick]

Like I've been told by many.....

THE ONLY THING CHEAP ABOUT A BMW MOTORCYCLE, IS ITS OWNERS!

This bike will run for another 100K+ miles and is well worth the dollars, if it fits into your budget.

ljjohns nailed it - re-read that post

[PHMarvin]

Hi, Phlyin,
I agree, owners may be cheap - "frugal" might be a better word. I disagree on the bike being worth what is being asked. Look at the picture. There is a hole near the vent in the right lower. Do I see a crack just above the mirror? Jook at the gap between the lower and upper fairing pieces. It looks, to me, that it was dropped on the right side. The (removed) crash bar broke the lower fairing, the top fairing cracked (maybe) and the fairing bracket was bent. Are the fairing mounts (where it mounts to the bracket) broken or cracked? The asking price is $3600. Repair of the fairing, including painting, plus new fairing bracket, will cost, probably, $1000+. Is a repaired, (supposedly) low-mileage, non-ABS 1990 K75RT worth $4500-$5000? I don't think so! Maybe it is in Alaska, but I don't kave a good feel for Alaska prices. Just my opinion.

[AKBeemer]

Well it may all be academic at this point since the owner has not recontacted me. If he does I will ask that we have George, the long time Beemer dealer in Fairbanks, take a look at it. It may be that George is familiar with the bike already. Thanks to all for some great things to check and think through.

[revtodd]

I've got an 87 k75t thats in way better shape than that for the same price. It's in the flea market.

Todd

[AKBeemer]

That is a very nice looking bike. Does that price include delivery??? :stick

[JHGilbert]

Tell ya what...
I'll buy my old K75 with 30K miles back from Larry,
Sell it to ya for $4K
Deliver it
And I'll see if I can get Larry to throw in some of his great gazpacho!

I'll be up the third week in May.

Deal?

[AKBeemer]

I'm too wimpy to commit to a deal on a bike I've never seen; even tougher since it is for my wife. But I'll commit to buying you a beer when you get up here and arranging for a place for you to stay on the campus of the U of A. :thumb

[ljjohns]

Joel will have to pry the K75 out of my cold, dead hands--and forfeit any future gazpacho--before he can deliver it to you:laugh

But there is another option: he can swap his newly acuired R1150RT even up for this K75. As a pure K-bike guy, I think that's fair. :whistle

Larry Johnson

PS: Joel's an environmental scientist and probably just wants to get out of the desert and onto the tundra....

[revtodd]

That is a very nice looking bike. Does that price include delivery??? :stick

maybe, i could use a little vaca.

[JHGilbert]

I was wondering when Larry would show up.:laugh
And he did get a good deal on mine. Now it's only two blocks away so I get visitation rights. He seems to fit the K75 better than I did and that beautiful red glows in the sun when I see it on the road.

Rev: Having been to AK in late September, all I can say is dress warm, take your wet gear and enjoy every minute. It's awesome. It also gets cheaper after September 15.

AKBeem: U of A in Anchorage, Fairbanks or Seward? If I conjure up a project a visit would be work related. But on the K75, Rev's is beautiful and there are lots more, including one beauty that is overpriced on Craigslist here in El Paso. Use crazedlist.org to search Craigslist in multiple markets. It's been invaluable to me before. It works best with the FireFox browser. Once you browse other markets, you get an idea of the range of values for a K75. Keep in touch!

[AKBeemer]

The housing is at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Details at this thread, but it is summer only. Despite my best efforts the students came back last weekend.
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=34373