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Cataract2
| Posted on Monday, August 08, 2011 - 12:59 am: |
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So, I happened upon a 1989 BMW K75 for sale here. Was wondering what the opinions on this bike are? |
Natexlh1000
| Posted on Monday, August 08, 2011 - 07:41 am: |
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I remember the magazine reviews were pretty positive. They did a comparo of all sporty 750 bikes and they said the BMW was the smoothest of the bunch with the least amount of power. What do you expect if it's up against ZX7 and GSXR750? I think that said it ran like a sewing machine |
86129squids
| Posted on Monday, August 08, 2011 - 12:00 pm: |
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These 3-cylinder "Flying Bricks" were under appreciated when they were sold new, but kinda developed a cult following after BMW stopped production. Not as much power as the 4 cylinders, but riding a Beemer isn't about the raw power anyway. I used to own an old R65, enjoyed it for many many years, grew to appreciate most any BMW. Check out the owner's forums. If the $$$ is right and everything else, I'd get it. |
Moxnix
| Posted on Monday, August 08, 2011 - 12:24 pm: |
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When the K75S came out I was living in Germany. Really like the styling. Much better record than the K100. |
Fltwistygirl
| Posted on Monday, August 08, 2011 - 12:57 pm: |
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Not familiar with the '89 version, but we really like our '94 flying brick. Agree it'd be a fun ride for the right price. We've had a couple electrical/fuel system gremlins over the years, and found the fixes on a german beemer owners board. In german. It does, as mentioned above, run like a sewing machine, but a sewing machine built to put hundreds of thousands of miles on. |
86129squids
| Posted on Monday, August 08, 2011 - 03:46 pm: |
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Ummm, I know someone who can advise/help you... once upon a time she posted here. PM Buellgrrl. She's a Beemer tech, knows her stuff... Met her a couple of years ago at the national rally in Johnson City TN. Nice grrl. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Monday, August 08, 2011 - 04:18 pm: |
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Just don't ask her about Buells. |
86129squids
| Posted on Monday, August 08, 2011 - 07:02 pm: |
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I love you Jeremy. Such a way with words. |
Cataract2
| Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2011 - 12:53 am: |
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I remember her. Ug, I'd rather not talk with her. Seriously though. Got to take it for a spin. Starts right up without the choke (engine was stone cold) so I would say it's in good running order. Took it around the parking lot going through the gears. Steering is a bit heavier than the Buells (not surprised) but all in all it seems like a good comfortable ride for going two up some place. Bags are spacious as well. |
Closetbueller
| Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2011 - 01:20 am: |
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Check and see when the drive splines were last greased and if the hall effect sensor has ever been replaced. speedo and tach have a tendency to warp and stick if left in direct sunlight or malfunction in general. Examine the coils for any cracks or arcing. I find it to be a little cramped for 2 up riding compared to our uly's, but all and all our 94 edition has worked well. Does it have the progressive suspension rear shock upgrade? |
Cataract2
| Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2011 - 07:18 am: |
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Looks to be stock suspension. I kinda figured the forks springs were a bit soft and could use an upgrade. Is there an upgrade to the hall effect sensor? |
Trojan
| Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2011 - 07:24 am: |
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The K75 was much nicer to ride than the K100. Smoother, lighter and handled a lot better than the bigger bike with only a slight loss of power by comparison. Most will leak a little oil into the cylinders when parked on the side stand, so expect a bit of smoke on start up. Other than that they are pretty bullet proof |
Closetbueller
| Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2011 - 09:27 am: |
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No upgrade on hall effect sensor, just one of those parts that could eventually fail and cause running issues. The nice thing about these bikes is that you are many times able to find automotive parts for replacements for the bosch components that were used. No such luck for the hall sensor. I was lucky and found one used for about 1/2 the cost of a new one, but it still was almost $200. |
Ourdee
| Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2011 - 09:54 am: |
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For us ignorant ones, What is a "hall effect sensor"? |
Trojan
| Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2011 - 10:09 am: |
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It senses when you are in the hall and puts the kettle on for you BMW efficiency |
Closetbueller
| Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 - 12:48 am: |
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It's the BMW name for the crank position sensor. when it fails it shuts down the motor when it sensor gets hot. Run down the road, pull of at the exit for fuel, and wham,no power, total shut down. Scratch head, look for usual gremlins (got real good at spark plug changes) and after a while, bingo it starts and off you go, until it gets hot and shuts down again. Its under a cover on the front of the motor, so stays sort of air cooled when going down the road and heats up on slowing down. Like twisty said, found some info on a german BMW owners site and was able to figure out what my issue was, replace it and no problems until the temp sensor went funny and make it run rich and foul plugs/cut out. Has been trouble free since then. 77K on the bike and it runs great. The 3 cyl is so well balanced there is no real vibration, only complaint is the gearing, as you run some fairly high rpm's at highway speed. |
Slaughter
| Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 - 08:45 am: |
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Love the bike for a not-quite-sport touring machine. One very minor thing is the rubber intake boots tend to crack and suck air - rough running. Cheap fix. Danielle Hebert (our musician friend) - is travelling on one (named Beowulf) for her Canadian tour - WITH a custom-made travelling guitar! http://www.daniellehebert.com http://daniellehebert.wordpress.com |
Cataract2
| Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 - 11:00 am: |
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Well, my wife and I talked a bit more and decided not to get it. It was just a stepping stone to what we really want and we will wait until we're back in the states to get her a new bike first and then myself a good touring/sport style bike. |
Gaesati
| Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 - 06:12 pm: |
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re: Danielle Hebert: Wow! |
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