Alabama K75 Restoration

[DanPete]

Just saw this, and reminds me of the condition of my first 1988 K75. I let it succumb to the same neglect, sadly. Got that bad even though a lot of its storage was under a roof! Dirt floor pole barn, so a lot of rust. I at least got all the gas out of the tank first, after the pump died. Unfortunately, with the tank off the bike, it grew legs and walked off all by its lonesome. After that, I was disgusted, and it sat out in the woods for two and a half years. Had not faded much till then, but looks like yours now. Only the tail and front fenders left, anyway! After riding the 1987 K75S I just bought, it reminded me how tough a brick is, and I'm gonna put 'er back together. Prolly take a couple years as my time and funds (and motivation) ain't what they used to be!
Seeing your brought back to life, gives me great inspiration. Fantastic job.

small woods.JPG (58.87 kB . 507x322 - viewed 456 times)
Got a way to go...

[DanPete]

 
Got it up to the carport, and vertical:

small w seat n tank.JPG (43.95 kB . 498x352 - viewed 514 times)

and, starting to look a bit like a motorcycle:

small w seat n tank.JPG (43.95 kB . 498x352 - viewed 514 times)

I did pressure wash mine, since the harness is toast, anyway. And just a cheap electric, so not hi power!

OK, hijack complete now

[The Mighty Gryphon]

The bike looks a lot better away from the mud and the weeds!

Maybe the moderators will move your posts to a new thread so we can follow all your adventures with this restoration. 

[Laitch]

Maybe the moderators will move your posts to a new thread so we can follow all your adventures with this restoration.

Here we are, all safe and sound.

[DanPete]

Thanks for the title! Hope everyone has lots of patients; this is gonna be one sllooowww build! Its way low on the priority list, end even lower on the honey do list! Not real sure what direction it will go. I've got a line on a 75C with a prichler faring, or maybe the farings off the 93K1100RS I got as a parts bike. An R-bike RS faring would be a good choice - even found one at a decent price... till ya add in shipping!
The 88 started life as an S, but a PO turned it into a standard, with all BMW K bike pieces. I was glad at the time, but got old and need more faring to hide behind. A lt of that has been repeated in other posts, but, incase someone is starting here...
The tank I got from Wiz, right after joining here, and was quite stoked to find a decent tank for a fair deal. Its a K100, but since it will not get stock S farings, no worries. Being that the 88 was a factory S, it has the nice black engine / trans / drive, rear disc, and 17" rim on the back. Also S forks, so its a great platform to start from. got it with only 14K on the clock, and only rode her to 35K. A couple oops, and then neglect, and here we are!
Might be a good while before any more pictures of the 88; nothing new to show for a while.

[DanPete]

Zero fwd. movement on restoring the 88. Did discover the 87K75S needs a front tire, so I dropped the price. One guy that is trying to get enough money together for it plans to make a scrambler, so hes weighing the options on mine or a couple of full "project" Ks I directed him to. My wife says I'm the worlds worst salesman! I just like helping folks into our ... hobby... er... obsession! Would rather find someone that actually wants an S, not a project to cut up.
I have to rethink my plan to put the RS tupperware on the 88. I had the chance to test ride a big ol' K1100LT full blown old folks dresser... and I fell in love with it! Despite being heavier, and not as smooth as my triples, it did not FEEL any heavier than them! And although I understand the master yoda position (and have the core strength) I still find comfort in the sit up and beg ride. Besides, I only ride the 35 miles or so to work these days. Don't need a 1100 dresser for that, but hiding behind all the tupperware would sure be nice on these old tired bones this winter (such as it is in Lower Alabam"!)
I did find a LT being parted out, so could change to making my own K75LT, instead ov my RS plan. It would leave me with a choice of Y-spoke rims (narrow 18 F and 17 R) or the gold RS 3 spokes (17 F and really wide 18 R)

I know its been beat to death, but... (dons flame suit)   will the K75 as a LT with 1100 front and paralever rear ride ok with the RS 17/18 rims, or should I try to find an alternative for the rear (if I go that route)

[frankenduck]

On my K75 Frankenbrick (which is essentially a K1100RS with a K75 motor) I decided to go with the "skinny" 2.5x18 front and 3x17 rear 3-spokes.  They weigh less than the "fat" 3.5x17 front and 4.5x18 so they "spin up" easier and the bike turns easier. A K75 with the fat wheels might be a little "piggish" in the turns.

And if you're doing speed over puddled water the fat wheels will hydroplane at a lower speed.  It's not a big deal though - as long as you're going in a straight line.

Also, although the K1100RS/K1100LT forks are the same they have a different fork brace and brake lines.  The RS fork brace will not accommodate the skinny wheel without some mods because the radius of the skinny LT 110/80-18 tire is 0.66" more than the radius of the fat 120/70-17. Not a big deal though. I put some K1100RS forks on one of my K75S bikes and to make the RS fork brace work I just installed a few washers to jack up the RS fork brace to work with an LT wheel.)

If you want weather protection it would also be easier to put a K75RT fairing on a K75S frame than a K1100LT fairing given how the fairing attaches to the front frame members.  (The front of a K75 frame slopes back at a steeper angle due to the "missing" front cylinder.

This is the Frankenbrick with a K1100LT fork brace:




This is a K75S with a K1100RS front end with the fork brace "jacked up" to accommodate the skinny front wheel:

[The Mighty Gryphon]

The K75RT fairing is the way to go if you want all weather protection, the only down side is that there isn't a lot of airflow on you when the weather is hot.  You will probably need the RT bars because the others will hit the fairing well before lock. 

I have no opinion on larger wheels for a K75 other than I have no problem with the stock sizes.  I will admit that I'm getting up in years, though, and don't ride quite as aggressively as I used to.  It's been a while since I've dragged a peg in a turn. 

[DanPete]

On my K75 Frankenbrick (which is essentially a K1100RS with a K75 motor) I decided to go with the "skinny" 2.5x18 front and 3x17 rear 3-spokes.  They weigh less than the "fat" 3.5x17 front and 4.5x18 so they "spin up" easier and the bike turns easier. A K75 with the fat wheels might be a little "piggish" in the turns.

And if you're doing speed over puddled water the fat wheels will hydroplane at a lower speed.  It's not a big deal though - as long as you're going in a straight line.

Also, although the K1100RS/K1100LT forks are the same they have a different fork brace and brake lines.  The RS fork brace will not accommodate the skinny wheel without some mods because the radius of the skinny LT 110/80-18 tire is 0.66" more than the radius of the fat 120/70-17. Not a big deal though. I put some K1100RS forks on one of my K75S bikes and to make the RS fork brace work I just installed a few washers to jack up the RS fork brace to work with an LT wheel.)

If you want weather protection it would also be easier to put a K75RT fairing on a K75S frame than a K1100LT fairing given how the fairing attaches to the front frame members.  (The front of a K75 frame slopes back at a steeper angle due to the "missing" front cylinder.

I knew you had done at least one 75 with 1100 stuff. Glad for the reply, without having to look around through search for it.
Thanks for the reminder on the frame difference affecting the brackets. I'll go with price there; I can fab bracket differences, if I have a decent starting point. Did not know the fork brace was different, but makes sense with the tire difference. I can fudge that as well, if needed. Good reminder on unsprung weight, as well.
Its funny. My work computer will show the LT picture, but not the RS. stoopeed computer.

[DanPete]

The K75RT fairing is the way to go if you want all weather protection, the only down side is that there isn't a lot of airflow on you when the weather is hot.  You will probably need the RT bars because the others will hit the fairing well before lock. 

I have no opinion on larger wheels for a K75 other than I have no problem with the stock sizes.  I will admit that I'm getting up in years, though, and don't ride quite as aggressively as I used to.  It's been a while since I've dragged a peg in a turn.

In my earlier days, I would not have put up with the heat issues; now, as a night shift commuter, I'll likely survive
Never even remember reading they HAD heat problems, back then, since my younger self thought dressers were for stodgy old-timers that should be in cars!
Now I have to admit I am a stodgy old-timer
I'm with ya on the peg drag. Was fun back then... If I ever drag one again, it will not be intentional, and I may have to have some seat material removed!
My smart plan would be to buy a 75RT and add the 'lectric windscreen, or buy a bone stock 100LT and simply ride it.