New K 75 LT owner and a BMW virgin

[samih]

Hello everybody. Greetings from Ireland in the midst of the pandemic. But now I have something more to look forward in 2021 

After a short break from motorcycles I just bought myself a very low mileage 1992 K 75 RT with luggage. She's got less than 21k miles on the clock. Picking it up later today and very exited indeed. I tend to keep my bikes for long time and take good care of them so I expect this one to be a long term relationship, seen the condition of this particular bike and the reputation of longevity of the Bricks.

I will need to repair the rear brake like switch and there is also some corrosion at the seams of the alu fuel tank. The bike is also missing the heat shield from the muffler. Apart from that the RT seems to be in outstanding condition for a 29 year old machine. Love the general smooth nature of the triple after all those V-twins in my past.

Looking forward putting miles on the bike and finding the soul of this finely engineered machine.

[Laitch]

Welcome, samih!

See if you can decipher the photo posting instruction in the Photo Guidance section and post some photos of your prize. I suggest using a computer first instead of your phone but do it however you can do it.

[samih]

Laitch, many thanks for the instruction. Hope this works now:



Really enjoyed the spin home. The 75 cruises in surprisingly effortless fashion on the motorway. You can tell that it was designed for Autobahn use. Can't wait to get to know the Special K better.

[Chaos]

Fine looking LT you got there!  So nice to see one kept original, way too many are stripped and cut up in misguided attempts to improve them.  Enjoy it the way it was meant to be!

[samih]

Thanks Chaos. I'm much in with your opinion as well about the originality and planning to keep it that way apart from some careful upgrades like heated grips. But have to say that the cafe racer type of bikes can look sweet also as the bricks are so mechanical looking. But this bike definitely won't be one of them.

Looks like my new bike still has plenty of miles ahead as your K 75 shows. Impressive!

[samih]

I keep calling this LT for some reason but it's RT of course as K 75 LT doesn't exist. K 75 RT, K 75 RT, K 75 RT :-)

[Laitch]

Thanks for the photo of your LT. 

[samih]

 

[The Mighty Gryphon]

If you like to tour, the K75RT will certainly make you smile.  I have one and it effortlessly consumes massive amounts of highway.  I have had a couple K100's as well, and can say that in my opinion, the K75 is a nicer machine and despite the smaller engine can easily run with and ahead of traffic anywhere.

[samih]

Great The Mighty Gryphon. The smooth triple feels so nice compared to especially the V-Strom 1000 which even with clutch basked mod never quite felt what I would have ideally wanted. The smaller engine on those was much smoother.

I have done my fair share of travel on the old bikes (Finland, Italy, some shorter ones) and love camping trips in Ireland. The old ugly head of the idea to do another SS1000 ride, which I first attempted a couple of times on the Africa Twin before completing it on the V-Strom 1000, sounds like potential source of amusement for 2021. Looking back I should really have had a comfy touring bike before this RT I think. But better late than never I guess.

Thanks again for a warm welcome everybody: I think I will like it here. Love working on machines in general and the K bikes appear to be very well thought out and built just right.

[Past-my-Prime]

Lovely bike.  Could be twin sister of my K75 RT Rocinante. I've had mine since 1996 and can't get the smile off my face every time I climb aboard. Are you sure no grip warmers? I thought they came stock on the RT. . .

[samih]

Rocinante indeed looks like the long lost sister of my yet unnamed steed. Sounds like you two also have gotten together great long term.

No heat grips on her, I'm sorry to report, just a blind switch. I will probably have to do the right thing and add a factory toggle in the switch panel. My previous bike had a set of Oxford grips fitted and those were very good with a great range of adjustment. Pity the controller doesn't quite fit with the rest of the aesthetics...

[Laitch]

Pity the controller doesn't quite fit with the rest of the aesthetics...

You mean looking like Mickey Mouse with a beak?  View the Oxford controller as a piece of cheese.

[samih]

Had to clear my garage and sort out the insulation for better working conditions before really tackling the "new" bike.

I have slowly taken the Brick apart and so far everything looks perfect apart from the fuel tank which actually weeps at the usual location at the left and side bottom. The driveshaft and gerbox/final drive splines are as new, swinging arm bearings likewise which I greased those from inside the swining arm. Clutch lever boot and seal are good also. I also dained and refilled the suspension fork fluid. Brake fluid service next using a vacuum tool and clean the gear position sensor which was the real reason I removed the swinging arm.

I'm planning to use stuff called HTS-2000 with the tank filled with water, which seems like a good match for this type of repair. I'll report at the project section when it's done. If the repair fails I'll probably go for epoxy inside the tank.

[Laitch]

Hey, samih. Please add your moto's year to your signature because there are differences that occur in model years and doing that makes it easier for readers to understand exactly what you've got.

[volador]

I'm planning to use stuff called HTS-2000 with the tank filled with water, which seems like a good match for this type of repair. I'll report at the project section when it's done. If the repair fails I'll probably go for epoxy inside the tank.

HTS-2000 rod with MAPP gas torch seems too good to be true. Why "HTS-2000 with the tank filled with water" ?

[alabrew]

I messed around with several products trying to stop the weep on Big Red before going with the KBS Cycle Tank Sealer Kit.
Not exactly cheap at $45, but it did work.

[daveson]

I'll say filling the tank with water leaves less room for fuel fumes that go boom.

I saw an "empty" 44 (gallon drum) go boom once, and some people without eyebrows took a day off work.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Remove the fuel pump and the filter.

Empty the tank and blow compressed air through the outlet and return spigots.  Slosh the tank well with Dawn detergent and hot water, dump and rinse with more hot water.  Drain and let it air dry overnight. 

If you can still smell any fuel the next day it's because you did a crappy job, you're incompetent and will probably f-up the repair.  Do it over or have someone who knows how do it for you.

Fix the hole.

[daveson]

Or fill it up with water.

I've had success with a bricks tank just using Fuel resistant epoxy filler. On another one it didn't work completely, I took the advice on the label that said the repair can be done even on surfaces wet with fuel. Didn't work well cause when I pressed it into the tank, it would stick more to my finger than the tank, cause it's wet. It's back on the "to do" list.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Aluminum solder is they way to go.  One of my bikes had a tank that was repaired with it.  The previous owner said it was really easy.  Like the video, the repair was many times tougher than the metal around it.  If I ever have to repair a tank that's the way I'll go.  With metal, there's no need to worry about something in the fuel softening an epoxy patch.  IMO, epoxy is like repairing a rusted out rocker panel on a car with a gallon or two of Bondo.  It will get you home, but I couldn't trust it long term. 

[samih]

We are in 5 km lockdown in Ireland due to this dreadful pandemic at least until March so no rush job needed with any of the work needed.

Yes as some suggested already, going to fill the tank with water to avoid any thermal events during the repair. Were a bit disappointed about the tank situation but actually looking forward seeing how this almost too good to be true metal is to work with.

I was also thinking that I might seal inside the tank as well to make sure there won't be any repeat work needed. The paint on one side of the tank is faded so will be able fix that quicker than expected.