K 75 RT Redo

[gag1025]

I just purchased my first BMW bike. I have had a lot of other bikes but decided to fullfill my life long dream of owning a BMW. I also have a 1979 Triumph Bonneville. My question is what all is involved in making this bike into a K 75? I know that I will have to take the fairings off as well as purchase two front turn signals, side mirrors and a different headlight case. My BMW friends tell me I am nuts but this is what I want to do. They tell me I should have bought a K 75 instead of the RT, and my answer was easier said than done. Especially a 1992 model. I looked and looked searching the internet over and there are none to be found. If you have ever done this or you know exactly what is involved please help me out. Thanks in advance for any and all information.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Here's one a day's ride from you. 

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/mcy/5521815652.html

Want an excuse to make a nice cross country ride?

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/5540308728.html

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/5514227697.html

http://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/5537510226.html

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I think it would be a lot faster and cheaper to find a complete bike vs. trying to find the parts for a nekid K.  Things like the radiator fairing are harder to find than unicorn farts.

[gag1025]

Thanks for the in formation. Those are some nice bikes. But, since I already have the RT that I bought from a guy who took excellent care (garage kept, serviced it frequently and washed it constantly) I know the bike I bought is like new (only 41,000 miles on it) and would really like to make it into a K 75 instead of selling it and buying another one that I know absolutely nothing about. Had I known about these I may have gone a different route. Again thanks for the information.

[stuman]

I brought an RT with a similar idea to you.  I wan't a naked K75 and I purchased a really nice RT here in the UK.  Go and take a look at my thread in the project section!

In short all the plastic stuff is dead easy to get off with a simple socket set and some screw drivers.  I took mine off carefully in a few hours and I have now sold most of it on eBay.

I didn't document the progress with lot's of pictures but my thread may help you a little.

stu

[gag1025]

The Mighty Gryphon, I looked at a parts book and it looks like the radiator fairings on the 1992 K 75 RT and the 1992 K 75 are the same.

[gag1025]

Thanks Stuman. I will definitely take a look. I will keep you updated on my progress. My bike is black and while I have the parts off I am thinking about painting it the color of my '53 Chevy Hot Rod Truck which is a dark royal blue. My friend who painted it (base coat / clear coat) still has enough paint left over to do the job.

[gag1025]

Stuman, I copied and pasted you information and photos to MS Word to use as a reference. One question. I am going to add front signal lights. Do I have to add a bracket for them to attach to? I have not looked at the parts catalog for the K 75 to see so I am taking the easy way out by asking you. I thought about selling the parts I take off but may keep them in case I sell the bike at some point years from now and make them a part of the selling package.

[stuman]

Well it depends what your doing to your front end.  If you add a round headlight like mine you'll need brackets for that.  I got cheap ones for now and then attached a couple or brackets for the indicators.  You can't really see them in my pic's. So I've attached what I got!  Generally speaking yes you'll need to add a way of mounting your indicators as once you remove the fairing there is nothing.

Stu

[Laitch]

My question is what all is involved in making this bike into a K 75?

Maybe you should take a look at this thread, gag.

[gag1025]

Thanks Laith, I did and it also had some great information and photos.

[gag1025]

Stuman, where did you get these?

[F14CRAZY]

Well thank goodness you're not removing the fairing, replacing the seat with an uncomfortable one, and calling it a cafe racer

[stuman]

Stuman, where did you get these?

eBay my friend:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Indicator-Turn-Signals-Shock-Brackets-For-Motorcycle-Custom-Bobber-Cafe-Racer-XL-/262150633026?hash=item3d09653642:g:3QYAAOSwLzdWTYtO

Took a couple of weeks to get to me from Hong Kong but they are good quality.  I'm sure many re-sellers are selling them so you may find them closer to you.
stu

[Laitch]

but they are good quality.  I'm sure many re-sellers are selling them so you may find them closer to you.
stu

The product description on the link—even though it is titled "1 pair turn signal indicator shock brackets"—instead seems to describe a part made for a fork tube or something else, Stuman—"adjustable 49–51 mm diameter." It may be useful for some of us if you give the general dimensions of the part you received and its hole diameters/measurements. Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee yet to find them on the link, or comprehend them if they are there.

[stuman]

Yeah I can do that no problem.  I'll measure them and post but I can confirm the round hole is 10mm.  Perfect for most indicator bolts!
Stu

[stuman]

Found this picture from the supplier.  Same as mine!

[gag1025]

Thanks Stu. I have been able to find everything I need for the conversion. The K75 Cockpit Trim Panel. K75 Radiator Shroud, Headlight Assembly, OEM Turn Signals. etc. All for much less than I thought it was going to set me back. eBay  and a few other sources really came through for me. I think I ended up spending $400 on all these parts. I can not decide whether or not to try to sell the parts I take off or keep them for the person I sell this bike to when the time comes for me to sell it.

[stuman]

Sell them!  They won't add a huge amount of value in my oppinion and right now you don't know when you're going to sell it, who you're going to sell to and what they want it to look like.

The price of these things is pretty much as low as it'll go but as they age they will be used less and less for the sort of mileage and speed that requires full fairing.  That type of rider will, and quite wisely, go for newer more reliable bikes!

Anyway that'll be the next owners problem, part of the fun (and frustration) is sourcing parts and making it your own.  I don't like clutter but if you have a huge garage then fair enough!

[bocutter Ed]

That type of rider will, and quite wisely, go for newer more reliable bikes!

I know a guy with 500,000 km R75. He bought a new F800. When there's trouble with the F800 he calls for service and rides the R75 to work. He can fix anything on the old bike his self ...