might be getting a k75

[dougrs]

Hi Folks,

I am looking at getting a '94 K75 with about 20k miles, 2 owner bike. I have not seen the bike in person yet. I have an '89 FJ1200, so I am familiar with the sport touring type of bike. The bike has been outside for the last 3.5 years, seemingly without a cover, which has me a little concerned. The owner is also unsure of how long the tires have been on the bike, but he has had the bike for seven years, so it will definitely need tires. He is claiming that it has had routine maintenance of oil changes, radiator flush, hub-side spline oiling, brake pads/discs. It apparently was a low seat bike but was then converted to a standard seat. It also has an aftermarket adjustable rear shock. 

I have been trying to glean as much information that I can from the forum so I know what to look for when I see the bike. Any suggestions for specific things to investigate on the bike would be much appreciated. thanks

[Elipten]

Remove gas cap, check hoses, wires, and the rubber that supports the fuel filter.  Also for water in tank.

Check tank outside left side for blister and leaks.

Check for oil and coolant leaks.

Hear it start and run.

[dougrs]

I definitely will be taking a test ride before a purchase. I'll be sure to inspect the gas tank and components, thanks for the heads up. That is probably especially pertinent now considering the characteristics of gasoline now.

[Bokobob]

If bike is equipped with ABS brakes, see if they work or not....can be a costly fix if need an overhaul..
In checking gas tank for leaks, pay special attention to the seams along both sides of the bottom of tank, especially at the lowest points..

Be aware, bike may smoke a lot when first starting.  Not a worry.  Owner's manual of my 87 K75 says this is normal....should go away in less than a half minute.  I reduce this by leaning bike to right side for 15 seconds before pressing start button....Also lean to right for 15 seconds after shutting off the engine and before placing on side stand...This issue is more prevalent with the first two or three years of production (mid 80s.)..

You are correct on tires...I bought Pirelli Route 66 tires for mine for $160 for two tires total delivered to the door...seem to be wearing fine after a year...forget who the vendor was..I just searched on line and found them..

Fortunately there is not much chrome on the K75 so the outdoor exposure may not have done that much harm more than a good cleaning will make a big improvement...

[dougrs]

Thanks for the info. I have been reading a lot about things to look for. The fact that it has been outside is a little worrisome but I can check for obvious damage and corrosion. I have read to check for oil on the back left of the engine that could be from a leaking clutch nut o-ring.  The guy seemed knowledgeable but I don't get that he had no idea how old the tires were and he was still riding the bike....
I will probably try to look at the bike tomorrow.

[Bokobob]

Tires>  On one side of every tire are the letters DOT.....then there are other numbers and maybe letters following that...the last four numbers stand for the week of the year and the year of manufacture of said tire..
So, for example, the four digits 1409 mean the 14th week of 2009....

[dougrs]

I'll check the date code but he has had the bike for seven years and never put tires on it.

[Bokobob]

Well, for me, that would mandate new tires pronto. 

[dougrs]

Agreed.

[dougrs]

I bought it. It is not perfect but I am pretty happy with it. Rides a little different than the FJ1200. After doing a bunch of reading I am pretty sure it needs the clutch cable adjusted and/or replaced. More info to come.

[Bokobob]

The bike is very handsome.....I hope it serves you well.....

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Welcome.  Nice looking bike.  I'm probably biased, but nekkid K's are really pretty hot looking scoots. 

[dougrs]

Yes, I really like the look of the bike.

It was converted from a low seat and the PO did not bother getting the side panels. I think I would like to get side panels painted to match at some point. But I'm sure the side panels demand a fair amount for decent ones. I have found that side panels for almost any older bike in good condition are worth a good amount...

[Bokobob]

I did not notice that your new bike has no side panels...I think it looks nice...I had to go out to the garage and look at mine to refresh my memories....+1 on finding good used ones would likely be expensive.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Keep an eye on eBay.  Search K75(or K100) battery covers/side panels.  Filter the search for newly listed and you will see the original post date of the item.  If you save the search, Ebay will keep you posted by email when new items that match your search are posted.  When you find something 6 months old, make an offer with a price that makes sense to you.  Chances are good you will get it if your offer is reasonable.   

There are enough of them come up that I would even hold out for a proper color match if I didn't need them right away.  People are breaking up these bikes and stripping them for cafe conversions faster than the rest of us can consume their parts.

[dougrs]

I had a bit of time to poke around the bike yesterday. I am pretty sure the clutch cable needs replacement and the new one is ordered. The little barrel on the end is rotating though. Also, the clutch activated sidestand retract does not work. When the sidestand is down, and I pull the clutch lever, the lever moves a little but then is impossible to move and the sidestand doesn't move at all. I'm sure it needs adjustment, but by the looks of it, it needs to be removed and thoroughly cleaned and lubed. Hopefully this will allow the clutch lever to move more freely, it is overly stiff right now.

The brake light is not lighting up, the bulb looks good. The tail light does work, and the all the signals work. The warning light was on when bike started but then did go out after using the brakes.  I checked for power at the socket when either brake is applied and I am not getting power at the socket. That is all the testing that I had time for. I did some reading and it seems I need to look into the brake switches themselves and the BMU. Hope to get this done in the next couple days.

And it needs tires bad, so I will get that done after I sort out the above issues.