MOTOBRICK.COM
MOTOBRICK.COM => The MBdotCOM Community Center => Topic started by: Ned on June 01, 2011, 06:29:38 PM
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Good day:
I'm a 68 year old returning rider whose last bike was a Honda VT500. My wife has no interest in motorcycles so I like to say I ride solo, I ride slow, and I ride locally.
Actually very seriously considering a Suzuki TU250 or the new Honda CBR250 but as I fantasize on Advrider and sites such as this I keep thinking for the same money I could likely get a K75 in pretty decent condition and I've read many very favorable comments about those machines. My main concern is the "ride locally" part; I might be able to get in the occasional longish day ride but I'm not about to undertake a cross country jaunt.
Do many of you use your "bricks" primarily for short rides or do you have other bikes for that and keep the K for touring? Other than perhaps more frequent oil changes would you think any added maintenance would be required for frequent short trip stop-and-go rides?
Would welcome your opinions.
Ned
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My K75 Frankenbike is my "city bike." It has a C fairing and my personal opinion is that that's the best fairing for city riding.
I had a K75RT that I mostly used for touring. A little top heavy and big for city riding.
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I would agree with Ducker, and go for it. I wish I had come across a K75, as it is somewhat nicer, but my K100 is sweet, and I use it for local and short trips, 100 to 250 miles. You know you can go longer, but I like short hops, more often to pack in miles. Go for it, you only go around once, hate to be sorry!
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greetings ned...
welcome to motobrick.com...
now commence to looking for a k75 standard (http://www.motobrick.com/index.php?topic=317.0) or a k75c... (http://www.motobrick.com/index.php?topic=316.0) fetch it up n dont look back...
jaxedmash... (http://motorcycle.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.cgi?cat=mcy&fil=k75&itm=bmw&state=&ps=&pe=&ys=&ye=&so=d&submit=+GO+)
j o
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Ned,
The K75 is going to be taller and heavier than the VT500. Just be aware of that. Also some dealers will not work on bikes that old, but if you are willing to work on the K75 yourself there is lots of knowledge and advice and encouragement available on this site.
The TU250 is an excellent little bike with the vintage looks and sportbike brakes. I have not yet ridden the CBR250, but I am sure it is sweet also. The 250's will be easier to swing a leg over and be great in town. They will also cruise at highway speeds and get good gas mileage. Also being new, they should not need worked on for a long time except for the oil changes.
It all depends on what you plan to do with the bike and what your physical limitations are. Go look at all of your choices before deciding. Just choose what is right for you.
Or you could buy them all.
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Hey Ned
I have three bikes, each for a purpose:
BMW R1200CLC -- to tote the Bionic Freckle and all her mountain of gear to faraway B&Bs
KLR650 -- to tote me and my Hennessey Hammock to a faraway camp site
K75C -- for exactly what you propose: commuting and around town
Now here's the kicker: I too live in Dull-Aware! I am going to PM you. Maybe you can come over and throw a leg over the K75 and see if you like her.
Davis
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hi ned:
i'm another 68 y.o. ned who uses his k75rt/c as a tourer and around towner. before i found this one, i did local store trips on my suz dr650 (my local explorer bike - we have more unpaved roads here than paved), but had to sometimes get creative carrying things. with the bags and rack on the k75, shopping isn't a problem. they are tall, especially with a corbin seat, but you get used to it (that's why there's a crack in yer butt).
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Ned,
I use my '90 K75 for commuting and have taken a couple of 1K trips as well.
BUT my '00 K1200LTC is my tourer . . . sweet!
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Looks like it's unanimous.
Of course asking that question here is a like asking a dog if he likes steak. :D
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After I got my 86 K75S up to scratch, I rode it around town for about 2.5k worth of miles for testing and loved it in that mode. The bike handles well and as long as the clutch splines are well lubed it shifts well and showed no issues with heat (ride in TX). I then took it out on a small 700 mile run to Little Rock. Testing it on the highway, again it performed very well. To be honest, this K performs all tasks very well. To be dead honest, if I where forced to choose only one bike out of my stable the K would be it; sorry Triumph Scrambler you where bumped.
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I have commuted on several K75's. The K75C is the best commuter motorcycle I ever had.
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My thanks to all who took the time to reply.
Ned
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Totally appropriate for in city. I notice many triumph Bonnies and scramblers in town. I think the naked K75 or similar is a very nice alternative. That's why I'm having my second K75 built.
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Great city bike. . .I commute daily on my K75S. Never overheats in heavy stop and go traffic, unlike my old R65.