which is it? 1987 K75?

[gohabsgo k75]

Hey all,  I am the new owner of a 1987 K75.    I am the third owner and the bike has 32000km on the OD.  How can I tell what model it is?  It did not come with a fairing or windshield that I have seen in photos but did come with what looks like an after market big windshield, just one of those clear plastic types.

This bike has been sitting for a couple of years as the previous owner was in poor health and could not ride.  What should I be checking out on the bike considering its mileage and the fact it has been sitting so long.    I just picked it up today and will be taking it in for a safety check at a non BMW dealer, since there are none locally.

Does anyone know of a shop in Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge  (that's in South Western Ontario, Canada) area that they would trust with this bike if it was yours?   :hmm:

Cheers,

Larry

[sch]

Congrats on the new bike. I'm in Toronto and apparently the man is a guy named Chuck Stryker. But in Cambridge area maybe take it to London Ontario BMW dealer? Wolff's I think it is.

[Chaos]

It may be a K75T, a plain K75 BMWNA added bags and a handlebar clear fairing to. (attached a picture of one) The T and the C had drum rear brake, the S had a disc.

The gas tank should be drained and cleaned, the fuel pump damper may need replacing.  It tends to desolve in old gas, gumming up the fuel system. All fluids and tires should be changed.   

[frankenduck]

Look at your title. That should tell you what model it is. (Or at least what model it was when it left the factory.)

What are the last seven digits of your VIN?

[gohabsgo k75]

Look at your title. That should tell you what model it is. (Or at least what model it was when it left the factory.)

What are the last seven digits of your VIN?

I'm not sure what you mean by title?  I have the previous owner's 'Vehicle Permit' which shows K75  YR 87 & Body type of MS.  My VIN ends in 6215833.

Larry

[gohabsgo k75]

Congrats on the new bike. I'm in Toronto and apparently the man is a guy named Chuck Stryker. But in Cambridge area maybe take it to London Ontario BMW dealer? Wolff's I think it is.

Yes, it is Wolf.  I just happen to work right across from them.  Does anyone have any experience with them?  I walked over there at lunch to ask them about
the brick I was about to buy.  Maybe it was not the best time to walk over there (lunch time) since the two ladies did not seem to even know the K series and were rather uppity about buying such an old machine.  Perhaps their service crew are a bit more friendly?

It's about an hour ride to get there and if it would need any work that needed an overnight or more stay,  it would be a long walk home that's why I trying to find another place closer to home.  The previous owner mentioned Tim who may now work for Apex in Waterloo but he is not listed on their website.  They deal mostly with Ducati's.

Larry

[gohabsgo k75]

It may be a K75T, a plain K75 BMWNA added bags and a handlebar clear fairing to. (attached a picture of one) The T and the C had drum rear brake, the S had a disc.

The gas tank should be drained and cleaned, the fuel pump damper may need replacing.  It tends to desolve in old gas, gumming up the fuel system. All fluids and tires should be changed.

That photo looks quite like mine, even the windshield and seat look the same (is that a Corbin?).  Mine also has the rear drum brake.  BMWNA - that means that it was made for North America? 

Larry

[frankenduck]

Not sure what the terminology is in The Great White North but in the US the title is the official document issued by the state that proves you're the legal owner of a motor vehicle.

From your VIN: Your bike is a basic (a.k.a. "naked") K75 built in December of 1986.

BMWNA is BMW North America LLC - the subsidiary of BMW responsible for the US and Canada.

I recommend not taking the bike to a BMW dealer. Given their labor rates and their practice of charging standard (vs. actual) labor hours you can very quickly be spending lots and lots of money.  There's quite a bit of maintenance you can do yourself.

[gohabsgo k75]

Not sure what the terminology is in The Great White North but in the US the title is the official document issued by the state that proves you're the legal owner of a motor vehicle.

From your VIN: Your bike is a basic (a.k.a. "naked") K75 built in December of 1986.

BMWNA is BMW North America LLC - the subsidiary of BMW responsible for the US and Canada.

I recommend not taking the bike to a BMW dealer. Given their labor rates and their practice of charging standard (vs. actual) labor hours you can very quickly be spending lots and lots of money.  There's quite a bit of maintenance you can do yourself.

Thanks for the reply frankenduck.   Would that make it a 1987 model year?  That's what the PO said (actually he mistakenly advertised it as a 1985 then corrected himself afterwards).  When I insured it, they also told me it was a 1987.

I guess what you call TITLE, we call OWNERSHIP in Canada. 

I do have a Haynes manual and a Clymer manual that came with the bike.  I can certainly do the oil change myself but have never done the other fluids.  I don't think I will attempt the brake fluid but I'll read up on the other fluids and see if it is in my capabilities.  Tires will need to be done at a bike shop.

I'll have it in for safety today at a non BMW dealer and see what I learn.

Regards,
Larry

[mystic red]

Brake fluid is a piece of cake, Larry.

[frankenduck]

Yes, at least for North American bikes, most model year X bikes have a manufacture date in the later part of year X-1.

As MR pointed out, bleeding brakes is pretty straightforward.

[gohabsgo k75]

 Only thing needed for safety was a rear tire.  I ordered front also.  Anyone know the cause for squeaky front brake (when stopping)?

Larry

[frankenduck]

Anyone know the cause for squeaky front brake (when stopping)?

Larry

Look at the brake section here: http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,339.0.html

[gohabsgo k75]

I don't think I've seen that 'brake quiet' product in Canada.  Same for the Techron.  Are there any similar products available in Canada?

Larry

[sch]

Brake quiet definitely exists in Canada. I think I got it at Canadian tire.

[gohabsgo k75]

Brake quiet definitely exists in Canada. I think I got it at Canadian tire.

So, I went out at lunch and bought some in the squeeze bottle.  In order to do this, I need to disassemble the pads from the calipers, right?  Is there a step by step anywhere?  Perhaps it's in the Haynes book, eh.  I'll check it out when I get home.

Will this added material make the pads closer to the rotor?  Does this require any adjustment?  Sorry but I am quite a noob at mechanics.

Cheers,

Larry

[frankenduck]

No adjustments required.  No it odesn't mess with thicknesses.

Brake pad removal:

1 - Pop plastic cap off.

2 - Undo 8mm caliper mounting bolts.

3 - Note the pin in the middle and the spring that goes over it.

4 - Tap out the two retaining pins for the brake pads. (A nail set is handy for this.)

5 - Pads will fall right out once both pins are removed.

6 - Apply DBQ to the backs of the pads where the pistons make contact.

Installation is the reverse.... 

[gohabsgo k75]

No adjustments required.  No it odesn't mess with thicknesses.

Brake pad removal:

1 - Pop plastic cap off.

2 - Undo 8mm caliper mounting bolts.

3 - Note the pin in the middle and the spring that goes over it.

4 - Tap out the two retaining pins for the brake pads. (A nail set is handy for this.)

5 - Pads will fall right out once both pins are removed.

6 - Apply DBQ to the backs of the pads where the pistons make contact.

Installation is the reverse....

Great,  that almost sounds simple enough for me to do, and I even have a nail set!  Thanks frankenduck.

Larry

[gohabsgo k75]

Probably a stupid question but I'm sure someone knows the answer right off.  Is there a reserve tank / petcock on the K75 or is the low fuel light the only warning?

[frankenduck]

Probably a stupid question but I'm sure someone knows the answer right off.  Is there a reserve tank / petcock on the K75 or is the low fuel light the only warning?

No petcock/reserve.  You can also reset the trip odometer when you gas up to know approximately how much gas you've used/have left.

[gohabsgo k75]

No adjustments required.  No it odesn't mess with thicknesses.

Brake pad removal:

1 - Pop plastic cap off.

2 - Undo 8mm caliper mounting bolts.

3 - Note the pin in the middle and the spring that goes over it.

4 - Tap out the two retaining pins for the brake pads. (A nail set is handy for this.)

5 - Pads will fall right out once both pins are removed.

6 - Apply DBQ to the backs of the pads where the pistons make contact.

Installation is the reverse....

Do I need to open the fluid reservoir if I am not changing the pads, just adding brake quiet?  The Clymer book goes into some detail about that but would prefer not to have to do that if I don't need to.

[frankenduck]

Not really necessary on a K75 since you don't need to spread the pads apart to get the calipers off like on a K100RS4V or K1100RS and the fact that you're not replacing the pads.

[gohabsgo k75]

Not really necessary on a K75 since you don't need to spread the pads apart to get the calipers off like on a K100RS4V or K1100RS and the fact that you're not replacing the pads.

thanks again frankenduck.  Unfortunately my rear tire did not arrive, so I'll have to wait until at least tomorrow.

[gohabsgo k75]

So I did the brake quiet thing a last week but still major squeal happening from the front.  Pads look good to me but then again, I'm not entirely sure what they should look like.  There is plenty of pad there, almost like they are brand new, thickness-wise.   Is there a plan b to get rid of the squeal?

Larry

[robleyd]

Try a slight chamfer on the leading and trailing edges of the pads.