bmw k75

[Grahameeboy]

My neighbour's partner is looking at one of these.
What are they like?
Any particular issues or things to look out for?
ABS? Is this reliable?
Electrics?

Any good enthusiast websites?

Cheers

[Ixion]

Smooth as a very smooth thing. Fast enough for touring. Not for hooning. Comfortable. Very comfortable. 1000km and walk away and repeat tomorrow.

Decent fuel range, I get 300km to a tank. Electrics are Bosch. Enough said.

Hold out for one with an electric screen, best invention ever for tourers. Luggage goes without saying.Lights are excellent.

ABS is ownderful, I totally recommend it. Not had any trouble at all, except once when the battery was nearly flat and I flattened it trying to start (my fault I left the auxiliary lights on). That just needed a reset.

Ask VERY searching questions about when the splines were lubed. That's the only weak point. They're reliable as PROVIDED they get lubed every 20 or 30 thousand ks.

They last . 100000km is nothing.

They'll often smoke for a minute or two on startup, its not a problem, just cos of the flat cylinders. And they backfire like crazy. They all do it. The gearbox needs getting used to, once you mastered the knack it's not TOO bad. Some people complain about the switches, but once you are used to them they are very logical and really easy to use.

Not as fast as the K100, but more than fast enough to hold their own (ask Blackbuell ). And smooth.

Not a kid's bike.

Mine's only done a 100000 km. I imagine I'll keep it another 20 years or so, get the goodness out of it. Not much out there that does the same job near as well for less than $20K. If then.

[puddy]

PM xgnr, he has a K75.

[xgnr]

Smooth smooth smooth, reliable, easy to maintain.

It ain't no (modern) sprotbike but is plenty comfortable and a pleasure to ride. Will break the speed limit no problem. ouch

Send me a PM when you like and we can discuss the pleasure of owning such a machine...

Cheers

Stu

[xgnr]

More info since thinking about it...

Spline lubes only required for later models if there is any erratic behaviour. This was a problem with earlier models.

Early models had issues with the instrument fogging/failure etc so they fitted Goretex panels.

Check the fan, should spin easily. Should start at around 90 degrees (but S models don't have temp gauge)

Make sure the rear shock has been replaced (very surprised if the original is still fitted)

There are heaps of web resources on the K. Google is our friend.

Mine has 108,000k and (as the BMW mech sez... its barely run in).

Cheers

Stu

[Ixion]

One point - if the partner is a she, they're quite a tall bike, freaking heavy and top heavy also. So might be an issue for the shorter people. I hacked the seat to make it narrower, and with that I can just tiptoe both feet. I'm used to bikes being too tall, but some people don't like not being able to get their feet down.