Hello everyone! I'm Jeff a.k.a. skidmore from west-central Illinois.
A 49k mile 1992 K75 just took up residency in my garage this past weekend. I paid $1500 for it. Solid mechanical condition, clean, cosmetics show its 21 years of age here and there but it still makes a helluva statement in the eye candy department. It needs nothing. Tires are great, gel battery new, well, the seller did say it was time to change the oil but you get the picture. 1500 bucks, wow. A peek at craigslist indicates the asking price of decent/maintained mid to early 80s Japanese cruiser bikes and the like are in the 1500 to 2000 range if not more. And I picked up a Beemer for 1500?? Life is good!
The K bikes are new to me. Up until about 5 years ago I was a long time airhead owner (83 R100 dressed up like an S model by the original owner the day it was bought at Motorrad of St.Louis back when). Sob story - one I regret having to recite - but I sold the airhead (it was setting far more than being ridden) due to a money crunch in my household. I talked myself into it by thinking I would use the situation to eventually springboard into a newer airhead or perhaps an oilhead. Fast forward to now....after jonesing heavily for another bike and unable to quite afford the going rate for an airhead, I turned my attention to the K bikes.
Wow, I hadn't ridden a bike in 5+ years. The first 5 or 10 miles of the 200 mile ride home felt awkward for lack of a better term. Once I acclimated myself it was heaven! Me and the K bonded quickly. I even had a rite of passage you might say. Er, ran out of gas about 25 miles from home :yow :clap: :hehehe :dunno Blasted low fuel light bullshit....I will address the situation in the appropriate section shortly.
Anyway, I love and I mean LOVE the little bike. It is perfect for my desires at this point in time. Nimble, compliant, perfect for buzzing around my small town of 35,000, more than capable of day tripping as well as interstate destinations, tire requirements are $$ modest $$ (compared to the R100RS I looked at prior). And, it is mad sexy looking, especially in blue! There are so many things I want to do to it i.e. bags, shock/springs, bar end mirrors etc. I need a little patience, time, money....
I look forward to bonding further with it. Job #1: spline inspection/maintenance. Look for my posts elsewhere on the site. I have many questions about the K's.
-skiddy
