BMW motorcycle owners?

[TowPro]

I am looking at a 93 K75 sport tour. Its low mileage, but any know problem that should make me run?



I called my BMW friend, he said he would recommend a jap bike, that only real BMW's are the R series (opposed cylinders). He went on to say they don't have the resale value of the R series (which is OK with me because I don't have a lot to spend on it).



I rode dirt bikes for around 10 years, then street bikes for around 10 years, then went back to dirt bikes in 91. Now I am thinking of getting back into a street bike. Just no time to ride the dirt bike and places to ride are getting far and few between unless I rode some Enduros, but you end up spending $100. 00 every time you ride between fuel, getting to the race, parts, etc, etc. If I had a street bike again, I could ride every day to the train station (around 20 miles each way)



Currently I have a Husky TE-250cc 4 stroke with electric start, under 250 lbs and its sweet, but I only put 150 miles on it since I bought it in the fall of 2003. I would have to sell this for the money to buy a street bike (play fund's are pretty dry since I bought the new truck)

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Here is a link I found with a quick search:



http://www.largiader.com/k75/



and here's the BMW motorcycle owners of america forums:



http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/index.php?



I haven't heard much bad about the k bikes. The K75 would be BMW's entry level bike of that time period being a 3 cylinder 750. The biggest problem I've heard with them is using oil and smoking on startup because the pistons are horizontal and point to the left so when you put it on the side stand oil is sitting against the rings and inevitably some make it past the rings into the combustion chamber.



I just did the opposite, I've been a street rider for 20 years and just started getting dirty (still riding on the street though and always will)

 

[mazdarotary]

I used to own an 88 R100 GS,and it was my first,and only bike. I sold it a few years ago when we had my son. It was a great first bike,and I wouldn't hesitate in getting another someday. With all that said I love the R bikes,but sometimes I think having a water cooled bike(like the K series) would have been better. The K series bikes are just fine regardless what others say about the only "Real" BMW's having to be air cooled. I can also say that the Japanese bikes are great,but I would rather buy a BMW anyday over one,especially as a used bike. BMW owners tend to take better care of thier bikes I think.



If you can find a K75 with the ABS system it would be a great bike. Remember parts for the BMW's are sometimes expensive,but so are the Asian parts,and we don't even need to mention the orange,and black brand. Who cares about re-slae value if you like it,and plan to keep it a long time.



Chris

79 Mazda RX-7 GS

83 Mazda RX-7 LE "parts car"

74 Mazda RE/PU

92 D250 club cab "for sale"

03 Ram 1500 quad cab 2wd Hemi

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Although I never had a K, I had a 65 and a 90 R. Fantastic bikes. Simplicity at its finest. Easy to work on and great to ride... . even long distance.



Having said that, bikes are dangerous pieces of equipment that should be avoided at all costs. I consider myself fortunate to have survived my bike days. Now when I pass a bike I chuckle knowingly, adjust the temp, turn on the wipers, turn up the XM radio, and crawl into the back at night for a snooze.



Just pass on the deal. Let the flames begin. :-laf









PS: I have to admit I scanned the "Advertizer" for a Beemer yesterday. There was a 1100 GS... ... sigh.

 

[RustyJC]

The K-bikes have earned the nickname "the indestructible flying brick" for good reason. I have really enjoyed my K1200GT.



Rusty

 

[Texas Diesel]

I'm a long time BMW fan, starting back with a 1976 R90/6 that I wish I still had. Wife rides a 97 R-1100R, when some property closes on May 28th there will be another RT here. Wifey says to buy a new one but I think I will find one a couple of years old.



Now to your question, I've heard nothing but good about them. The thing Steve mentioned is about it. I have considered a few times geting a K bike but... Hard to break old habits, I love the opposed engine. I hanvt decided for sure yet but wouldnt hesitate to buy either.



If you think you want a Jap bike, be sure to search the model, i. e. , Vulcan 750 etc on the yahoo groups site. I discovered so much about the internal "wet" stators burning out that I was disgusted. A Goldwing site even had a poll where you could check the failure mode of your most recent burned out stator.

 

[RustyJC]

Park the K-bike on the centerstand and don't overfill it with oil and you'll have no problem with smoking at start-up or oil consumption unless something else is amiss. I've never added any oil to mine, and I always keep it on the centerstand.



Rusty

 

[ThompsonS]

I sold my bikes after several near death experiences caused by some inattentive drivers.



Riding a bike is like a video game where everyone else is trying to kill you.



that said, look at the auctions for a scratched up bike.

http://www.ridesafely.com/ they go really cheap.

http://www.verastar.com



Ive seen 3 yr old BMWs at verastar sell for $1500, and all that was wrong was they had been dropped and cracked all the fiberglass.

 

[RustyJC]

Ive seen 3 yr old BMWs at verastar sell for $1500, and all that was wrong was they had been dropped and cracked all the fiberglass.

I would be very careful purchasing a $1500 3 year old BMW. There's a reason it's selling that cheap - price the tupperware replacement for a BMW as well as any other damage - $8000 to $12000 repair bills aren't unheard of after a crash!



ON EDIT: If you're looking for used BMW K-bikes for sale, check HERE. Another excellent source is the classified ads in the BMW/ON (Owner's News), if you can pry a copy away from a BMWMOA (Motorcycle Owner's Association) member.



Rusty

 

[ThompsonS]

Well, at an auction it sells for what its worth, since you have to pay cash on the barrelhead.



And patching fiberglass, while time consuming, is not rocket science and you could still ride it without the fairing and such on it anyway,



price the tupperware replacement for a BMW as well as any other damage - $8000 to $12000 repair bills aren't unheard of after a crash!



Bad for the ins co, good for me.



Besides, if its been years since you've ridden, its gonna get dropped again anyway.





My brother bought a spotless repo Honda Vtwin 1100, I tried to get him to buy a dropped bike at the auction, then on his third ride he dropped it in a gas station parking lot. Might as well buy a scratched one.



Its the only way Id ever buy a bike or car or truck, Im not about to pay retail for ANYTHING!

not a bike, not a car, not even for a house.



Bought both of our houses from motivated sellers, with medical problems or just days from foreclosure. If I cant buy whatever it is I'm shopping for, for less than 70% of retail, I probably wont buy it.



Not gonna pay retail for a CTD either, thats why Im still looking, I'll find a motivated seller sooner or later. Or just give up and buy a 24valve with a slushbox transmission, they are at every auction.



Bought the wifes 4Runner "totalled" at an auction

it had $12K in damage, I spent $3K on used & aftermarket (i. e. not from the Toyota stealership)

the driver & passenger airbag are $2500 at a dealer not counting instalation, I got an undeployed ones for $500.



the airfilter box at a dealer is $460, I used a K&N. since the ins co must buy new parts from the dealer, and pay someone $80/hr to repair the car, its cheaper to pay off the claim & auction the vehicle.



I never would have believed that a 10K bike could be "totalled" by falling off the stand or getting dropped in a parking lot, but its true.