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MOTOBRICK.COM => Welcome To Motobrick.Com => Topic started by: Shinyballs on May 25, 2023, 11:38:37 AM

Title: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Shinyballs on May 25, 2023, 11:38:37 AM
My son found this bike abandonned in the woods and after buying a Carfax report for it, we brought it back to our garage. No liens, never accidented, not stolen, it came out clear. We have the key but we don't have the ownership.
It is missing signals, tank, seat, headlight and all the fairings. The engine was seized but aftet 24 hrs of the pistons bathing in oil and WD40, it came loose. We took it all apart and to our surprise, the inside looks very good. The tranny works and looks mint, the pistons, crank, connecting rods and cylinders look mint.
We found a grounding wire on the third coil was severed, injectors are trash and a couple vacuum or cooling hoses are cut open. The wiring loom is pretty dry and grungy.

So the kid wants to make a café racer out of it, I do agree the bike is a good candidate for it. It's our first experience with a brick so feel free to give us pointers and tips to make this revival a success.

Thanks for reading.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in ghe woods.
Post by: frankenduck on May 25, 2023, 12:18:03 PM
http://bit.ly/new2kbikes
http://bit.ly/kbikemandm

Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in ghe woods.
Post by: Laitch on May 25, 2023, 06:18:55 PM
My son found this bike abandonned in the woods and after buying a Carfax report for it, we brought it back to our garage. No liens, never accidented, not stolen, it came out clear. We have the key but we don't have the ownership.
Must you report the finding of an abandoned vehicle to the RCMP?
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Shinyballs on May 27, 2023, 12:53:21 AM
Must I? You tell me. 🙂 Frankenduck, thank you for the links.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in ghe woods.
Post by: frankenduck on May 27, 2023, 01:36:43 AM
Must you report the finding of an abandoned vehicle to the RCMP?

No matter where you are you need get a vehicle properly titled before you can register it for legal use on the street.  In the US it varies by state. Here in WA state, you can get a provisional title (or some name like that) for a VIN and register it but you still don't have a clean title. If, after three years, nobody else has filed a claim of legal ownership then you can get a clean title to the vehicle.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on May 27, 2023, 09:21:27 AM
First, Carfax only reports information that is sent to it by dealers, insurance companies and associated repair facilities.  It does not search data bases for things like thefts or unrecorded transfers.  That it doesn't show that the bike was stolen doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't.

The fact that it was found "abandoned" in the woods makes me, at least, suspicious of it's history.  If indeed it was stolen, and the theft was reported to the police, you or your son could very possibly have an extremely uncomfortable experience when you attempt to register it.  I would strongly suggest taking the VIN to the local police and having them run a check on it.  If it comes back clean, you can ask them how to get title to the bike. 

Because of the nature of how you found it, I suspect that if you can get a title, it will be a salvage title which makes the bike not worth very much, and possibly difficult to register for highway use.  Still, if you are willing to do what needs to be done to register it, it is an ideal candidate for a cafe build.

Last, Ontario is a pretty big chunk of real estate, and I suspect that local laws might vary a bit from place to place, so it might help us understand what you are up against if you maybe narrow down your location a little bit.  It can also help us make recommendations for sources of parts or service.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Laitch on May 27, 2023, 10:15:14 AM
Must I? You tell me. 🙂
Ask your caregiver; help like that is part of the job description.  :laughing4-giggles:
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: triplek on May 27, 2023, 01:31:27 PM
Vermont has a simple procedure to register untitled vehicles over 25 years old that pass a VIN check.  It is open to non residents and does not require a Vermont address.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Laitch on May 27, 2023, 03:47:55 PM
Vermont has a simple procedure to register untitled vehicles over 25 years old that pass a VIN check.  It is open to non residents and does not require a Vermont address.
What's Vermont's rules got to do with this? When Ballsy first posted about the abandoned moto, I went directly to the RCMP site and it seemed to indicate such vehicles should be reported to them. They can then sift through the details to determine if the moto was stolen, or it's owner was kidnapped or disappeared. I was just interested in determining whether Ballsy was a Goody Twoshoes, or a rebel with a cause. We all must avoid stereotyping, eh?  :laughing4-giggles:


Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Shinyballs on May 27, 2023, 04:01:53 PM
Went to Service Ontario to get the history of the vehicle, it is still registered to someone and needs to go through an inspection to be deemed road worthy. That someone it is registered to is an ex co-worker I worked with for 11 and a half years. I don't know where he is now but will find out and give him a call to know more on what happened to this bike and what the next steps will be.
Is that satisfying to you Laitchy?
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Laitch on May 27, 2023, 04:12:07 PM
That someone it is registered to is an ex co-worker I worked with for 11 and a half years. Is that satisfying to you Laitchy?
Small world, isn't it? Watch out all this doesn't get him cited for littering. All things considered, a maple creemee would be far more satisfying, but I've reached my limit today.  :laughing4-giggles:
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Chaos on May 27, 2023, 10:53:51 PM

So the kid wants to make a café racer out of it...

Thanks for reading.

K's don't really lend themselves to cafe-ing, blocky engine, radiator, endless electrical gremlins.  Find an old carbed Jap twin and let that carcass rot away in peace. 
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: rbm on May 28, 2023, 05:53:15 AM
Because of the nature of how you found it, I suspect that if you can get a title, it will be a salvage title which makes the bike not worth very much, and possibly difficult to register for highway use.
In Ontario, there is no such thing as a salvage brand for a motorcycle.  That's only available for cars. Motorcycles  are branded either "Fit" or "Unfit".  If branded unfit, the motorcycle is not roadworthy and can never again be registered for roadworthiness.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Laitch on May 28, 2023, 08:43:39 AM
Motorcycles  are branded either "Fit" or "Unfit". 
It's at that point when a box of Vuelta Abajo Cohibas judiciously applied can have a profound influence on a favorable branding outcome.  :laughing4-giggles:
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Shinyballs on May 28, 2023, 11:24:32 AM
In Ontario, there is no such thing as a salvage brand for a motorcycle.  That's only available for cars. Motorcycles  are branded either "Fit" or "Unfit".  If branded unfit, the motorcycle is not roadworthy and can never again be registered for roadworthiness.

According to the "used vehicle information package" we have from Service Ontario, and I quote: "Unfit - Ministry records show that this vehicle may be mechanically unfit. License plates cannot be attached to the vehicle unless a safety standard certificate is provided to the ministry."
I don't see how this unfit branding is not reversible.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Shinyballs on May 28, 2023, 11:34:09 AM
K's don't really lend themselves to cafe-ing, blocky engine, radiator, endless electrical gremlins.  Find an old carbed Jap twin and let that carcass rot away in peace.

He saw some really cool café Ks (Kafé?) and his mind is set on doing it with this bike. I feel like it is easily doable and I agree there are better contenders but I find this bike is brilliant in its simplicity. Dry clutch, alternator, everything can be fixed in the engine without taking the block off the bike. Love it! It's basically a little car engine in a bike.
He loves the blocky engine, I would rather deal with liquid cooled than carbs and as for the electrical gremlins, we are keeping the ECU/efi loom but the other will be replaced by an M-blue unit and a new custom loom.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on May 28, 2023, 12:04:50 PM
Well it looks like you have a course of action to follow now.  Good luck getting everything straightened out so your son can do this build.  Definitely be a Phoenix rising from the ashes, so to speak. 

Normally I'm not a fan of cafe projects on these bikes, but your bike has nothing to lose and probably needs a lot of parts that could more easily be sourced through cafe vendors.  I hope you start a project thread when you get it going.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: rbm on May 28, 2023, 12:56:13 PM
According to the "used vehicle information package" we have from Service Ontario, and I quote: "Unfit - Ministry records show that this vehicle may be mechanically unfit. License plates cannot be attached to the vehicle unless a safety standard certificate is provided to the ministry."
I don't see how this unfit branding is not reversible.
Sorry, I mixed up Unfit and Irreparable.  Unfit simply means it was registered without a safety present.  Bring in a safety and that's it. No insurance, no plates. You can register then as "Fit" and "Unplated".  Get your plates later.

Stay away from "Irreparable", "Salvage", or "Rebuilt" as in Ontario it can NEVER be put back on the road - no matter what you do with it.  That's why you stay away from. salvage-title motorcycles from the USA as they fit this definition.

from the MTO website (https://www.ontario.ca/page/mandatory-vehicle-branding-program#section-4):

" ... All imported motorcycles previously branded as “Irreparable”, “Salvage”, “Rebuilt” or an equivalent brand in another jurisdiction are branded “Irreparable” when registered in Ontario.  A Structural Inspection Certificate cannot be issued for a motorcycle. This means that the motorcycle will never be eligible to be driven on Ontario roads and can only be used for parts.  ... "
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Chaos on May 28, 2023, 01:23:39 PM
and his mind is set on doing it with this bike.

Save the loop, they're valuable!  http://www.motobrick.com/index.php?topic=13444.msg120339#msg120339.  :laughing1: :laughing1:
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Martin on May 28, 2023, 05:43:11 PM
It is now mounted on my wall.
Regards Martin.
 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: rbm on May 28, 2023, 07:33:05 PM
That might not be enough @Martin.  You are advised to build a bullet and bomb proof enclosure around it, like the Louvre does for the Mona Lisa
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Martin on May 28, 2023, 08:07:25 PM
I have two highly trained attack Koalas on duty.
Regards Martin.
 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Shinyballs on May 30, 2023, 04:21:54 PM
We have a green light to proceed, we got a hold of the last registered owner of the bike, an ex co-worker and he is going to provide a bill of sale for us at no charge. We got the bike for free! 🙂 From the police department, if we had reported it to the police, it would've been seized and destroyed.
There are times when it's good not to comply.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Laitch on May 30, 2023, 04:28:25 PM
There are times when it's good not to comply.
Are we certain which times are which yet? I guess we'll all find out.  :laughing4-giggles: Anyway, please start a thread in the Custom Projects section so we can follow along.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Shinyballs on May 30, 2023, 05:30:46 PM
Are we certain which times are which yet?

I'll let you figure that one out on your own. 😁
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Laitch on May 30, 2023, 05:35:49 PM
I'll let you figure that one out on your own. 😁
I'll wait for the excitement of the Grand Reveal.  icon_cheers
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Past-my-Prime on May 30, 2023, 11:49:57 PM
Sorry, I mixed up Unfit and Irreparable.  Unfit simply means it was registered without a safety present.  Bring in a safety and that's it. No insurance, no plates. You can register then as "Fit" and "Unplated".  Get your plates later.

Stay away from "Irreparable", "Salvage", or "Rebuilt" as in Ontario it can NEVER be put back on the road - no matter what you do with it.  That's why you stay away from. salvage-title motorcycles from the USA as they fit this definition.

from the MTO website (https://www.ontario.ca/page/mandatory-vehicle-branding-program#section-4):

" ... All imported motorcycles previously branded as “Irreparable”, “Salvage”, “Rebuilt” or an equivalent brand in another jurisdiction are branded “Irreparable” when registered in Ontario.  A Structural Inspection Certificate cannot be issued for a motorcycle. This means that the motorcycle will never be eligible to be driven on Ontario roads and can only be used for parts.  ... "

This is a good situation where you purchase a "parts bike" with title, even if the engine is blown, wheels are missing, everything is broken, and you use the frame from that bike (which is the "essence" of the motorbike) and then attach whatever is good from your existing "unrepairable" bike onto that.

However, all of this seems like a lot of work when you can find normal, titled K bikes for a few thousand bucks all day long. Especially if they're not running very well.

Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Shinyballs on May 31, 2023, 12:49:56 PM
However, all of this seems like a lot of work when you can find normal, titled K bikes for a few thousand bucks all day long. Especially if they're not running very well.

"A lot of work" is what we put in to save a few thousand dollars, which can be used to get better parts for the café build.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on May 31, 2023, 04:06:13 PM
It's good to hear that you were able to get a bill of sale from the owner of record, now you have a bulletproof legal transfer.  You mention that the police would seize and destroy it.  Man, it would really suck if that happened after you did the build because you didn't have the proper transfer of ownership.  DMV people can be royal d***s on a good day.  I'd hate to be there when they're in a bad mood.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Shinyballs on January 09, 2024, 06:10:52 PM
So the "dude" decided to start work on his lost and found K75C. He bought a few measuring tools to determine if the cylinders are round and straight (not tapered). They are straight but slightly oval, according to the cheap gauges he bought, so they might need to be bored. Waiting for the machine shop to get back to us on how the cylinders are.

If the cylinders need to be bored, we need new oversized pistons. The dude wants to turbo the bike so forged pistons might be preferable.

Anyone know where to get oversized pistons? Or if pistons from a totally different bike would work? We would also need new rings.

We started searching the universe but if someone has a lead, it would help tremendously.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: AtLarge on January 09, 2024, 06:53:56 PM
Good thread with a happy ending. Best of luck to you both.  103123
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: Chaos on January 09, 2024, 08:55:33 PM
Don't hear about reboring a K bike very often, probably because decent used engines are cheap and the cylinders have that Nikasil coating.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on January 09, 2024, 10:08:51 PM
Keep your fingers crossed that you don't need to bore.  My understanding is that the cylinder bores are aluminum with a Nikasil coating.  Once you bore through the coating you are into aluminum alloy which isn't going to wear very well. 

The good news is that the coating is so tough that it's unlikely they are actually ovalized or tapered. 
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: jbt on January 10, 2024, 09:13:16 PM
You can't rebore cylinders on these engines. Furthermore, you won't find oversize pistons, you would have to buy custom made pistons and find a company who is able to coat a new nikasyl layer on the cylinders.
That would cost more than a perfect condition K75.

If the cylinders are OK and you want a turbo on it, you should replace the pistons by K100 pistons, that will decrease the compression ratio.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: frankenduck on January 10, 2024, 10:31:52 PM
Several years ago I chatted with a German guy from the LA area who said that back in the day he'd rebored a K75 to 900cc.  Didn't get any details from him though.

I own an 86 Lufty turbo K75C. It doesn't kick in until above 4,000 but it rips pretty well after that. Smoked a guy on an R1150 going up a long steep hill one day. He's probably still wondering how a K75 did that to him. :laughing4-giggles:

It also has Lufty "high-performance" cams which give it more oomph in the lower RPMs. More useful than the turbo if you ask me.
Title: Re: 1986 K75C abandonned in the woods.
Post by: jbt on January 11, 2024, 01:11:22 AM
I have doubts about the 900cc K75;
Technically,  you can rebore the block from 67 to 70,5 mm, but no more: the cylinder wall is then too thin (this explaining the oil consumption of the K1100, because of the deformation of the cylinder)
That will give a 819cc engine capacity.
To get a 900cc, it would be necessary to increase the stroke from 70 to 76,8. That exceeds by far the K1200 stroke (75mm) , I wonder how it could be possible to use such a crank with big rod angles in the K engine block.
Financially, of course, it's nonsense : if reboring and coating cylinders is almost affordable, casting and machining a new crank costs more than a new K75 did back in the days.