k75

[wxpotts]

Hi All,

I currently own & ride a couple of R bikes but am looking at a k75 w/58k mileage..kinda dirty around the shaft, i.e. oil grime, bit of oil under sump at filter area, but otherwise decent shape. scratches etc, new tires other new stuff not perfect but rode good, very menuverable (?) fast too.

After reading the K site here seems the k bike is a GREAT bike to own & even maybe better to ride.

My question is, how will the k hold up to 2 up w/gear on a 5k mile trip next summer. how long should the clutch last in this bike,barring it (the clutch) hasn't been abused

any other insight to this bike would be nice

price $2500..what do you guys think

[PGlaves]

Hi All,

I currently own & ride a couple of R bikes but am looking at a k75 w/58k mileage..kinda dirty around the shaft, i.e. oil grime, bit of oil under sump at filter area, but otherwise decent shape. scratches etc, new tires other new stuff not perfect but rode good, very menuverable (?) fast too.

After reading the K site here seems the k bike is a GREAT bike to own & even maybe better to ride.

My question is, how will the k hold up to 2 up w/gear on a 5k mile trip next summer. how long should the clutch last in this bike,barring it (the clutch) hasn't been abused

any other insight to this bike would be nice

price $2500..what do you guys think

Some folks would say the K75 is a little underpowered for 2-up. I don't agree when comparing it to an Airhead. If the comparison is to an R1150RT or K1200LT then, maybe OK.

The K75, if maintained will last a very long time. I put 370K on one before it was totalled in an accident. Engine and transmission never opened up. I'd say the clutch ought to last 150K to 200K if the bike is ridden properly.

Voni just took a 25,000 mile summer trip on hers.

[35634]

Good price. The K75 seems to have the right combination of practicality, size,
dependability, sport-touring-commuting abilities, and a couple of quirks to give
it personality. Go for it.

[kentuvman]

I demo'd the K1200GT at the Wyoming rally and fell in love with it. But I own three bikes, F650, R65LS and a wife who likes to keep the house looking nice and kids going through school.

I started reading threads on the K75 and the pleasure owners exude over this bike. Financially the K1200 was a lot of bucks for my current financial situation. I started looking around and found a very nice '87 Columbia Silver K75S on Craigslist with almost 30k miles on it. At one time the bike had been well maintained but the current owner had left it sitting and covered in a garage for a year or so. I rode it and instantly identified with the similar characteristics in the way the engine whined (like a turbo) like the K1200 does. It was a nice ride. I towed her home because all the fluids were really dirty.

The work I've done on her to date: Front and rear spline lube (thanks to Paul Glaves, Don E. and Jon Diaz coaching me on the clutch spline lube), GPS mount and tied in electrical lines, driving lights, aux. power outlet to keep a charge when not riding her, Stebel Air Horn (wish the buttons were more intuitive), heated handgrips. I also changed the fuel filter in the gas tank. The front brakes really sucked - they pulsed and it really bothered me a lot. After a couple attempts to resolve this, I bought EBC floating rotors, new pads and new front wheel bearings. Also added the Spiegler Stainless brake lines in front so far. The rear shock was shot - I put on a Progressive rebuildable shock - like it a lot. It came with a Corbin seat. I also drained the fork oil and replaced with a little heavier SAE grade oil.

I cannot tell you how much all this work has done to enhance the ride! Yesterday I rode from the Western suburbs of Minneapolis to Stillwater, along the St. Croix River. What a beautiful riding bike. It was a wonderful ride both ways. It is really the way a BMW should be - precision engineering, handles nice, rides better, sounds great!

This winter I need to remove the fairings, tank and radiator to replace the seized fan motor. While off, I plan to get some of the scratches touched up on the tank and a couple small cracks on the fairing repaired & touched up. I also need to resolve the glare I get from the instrument panel but I'm told a couple 1/4" shims will take care of that.

I'm hoping to ride her to the rally in Oregon next summer. A very nice ride!

Good Luck! I'd also recommend your investing in the Full Volume Clymer Book - you can get it on Amazon - a great resource for DIY repairs.

[nh7robmw]

+1 on what Kent said above, but I'd also recommend the Haynes Manual as well (generally better photos and more logical layout, IMHO). Doesn't hurt to have both; sometimes two manuals are better than one:love:fight

Change all the fluids before you ride it if you can; clean up all the weeping areas and see if it is leaking or weeping much---you might need some new seals (ouch!).

Good luck with what you probably find to be a very fun bike and let us know how it shapes up.:thumb

[mieczkow]

I've owned a number of airheads - a real nice R69S, an R75/5, and an R90S. I rode them a lot. Then I stopped riding for a number of years (little kids came along and the family came first). Little kids grew up and I got back to my love of motorcycling and bought a K75S recommended by a friend who had driven as many Beemers as anyone I've ever known. I was thinking of getting another airhead and he said - "try the K75 - you'll never go back". He was right.

I have never experienced, overall, a better motorcycle when considering it as a total package. Fast enough, nimble enough, plenty pretty to look at, runs forever and comfortable as it's ever gonna get on a motorcycle. Requires minimal maintenance and it will take you anywhere you want to go.... Still "primitive" enough for you to be able to do darn near all your own work.

I can't imagine you not falling in love with this bike if you give it a bit of time. Clean her up, treat her right and she will treat you like a king. :kiss

And she will take you anywhere you want to go, no questions asked.

[JALAIMO146577]

Check out the one on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110434283851&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT

[wxpotts]

Thanks for all the info...I really liked the ride I had the other day..I'm sold... going for it although I think I found another bike w/less mileage for a couple of 100 more.

I'm Stoked!!