Modern replacement for the K75?

[Glacial]

OK, confession time.  My thoughts have been wandering from my K75 to other bikes. I've been looking at pictures and reading specs on the R1200rt, the F800gt and the F800gs. It all started when I went to a bike show and a guy on the BMW stand said to me 'Yes, the K75 was a good bike but the modern bikes have so much more to them'


So yesterday I drove to the nearest BMW dealer and spent nearly an hour just looking at and sitting on all the bikes they had on offer. Didn't feel comfortable on any of them except the R1200RT but that was so wide at front and rear that it would barely fit the space where I park the bike at home (also they cost £££££££). Also, in all that time in the showroom, none of the sales people approached me to try and sell me a bike!


Then I drove a mile to a newly-opened Triumph dealer. I sat in the Tiger 800 XRX and felt instantly at home. A sales person was on to me in about 1 minute and within half an hour I was off on a test ride in the spring sunshine.


The ride was very enjoyable. The bars, seat, pegs geometry was exactly the same as my Brick. The clutch and gearbox far better. More power, but not too much. Similar handling along bumpy, twisty country roads. Cruise control on the highway! - that was brilliant! I got back to the showroom seriously wanting one. If was independent, I would have signed for one there and then, especially as they had a promotion to include a tragkorb set worth £790 (!!!) in the price.


Then I got on the Brick to drive home. After a couple of miles, I was thinking 'This 27-year-old bike is actually about 95% as good as the Triumph Tiger 800, do I really want to pay out £9900 for that extra 5%?'
Maybe if I get a big win on something the answer might be yes, but for now, no.


So I plan to treat the Brick to some extra TLC and stay faithful.

[Chaos]

been there, done that.  Price vs improvement is a big stumbling block, plus all the customizing I've done on the K to make it comfy and practical.  Rather than replace it I went for something completely different with a sidecar rig to compliment the old girl.  Yamaha's FZ-09 is more tempting than any of BMW's current offerings, for me anyway.

[Elipten]

Yea save the money for your future and riding.  Few bikes are worn out, they die from neglect.


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[K1300S]

I have been riding my K1300S for a few months while the K75S was getting some work done.   Wonderful ride,  but....... got the K75S back on the road today.   Omg, love that bike!    feels like home.   Big grin on my face immediately after rollng off.  New bikes are nice,  but there just is not a replacement for the visceral experience of the K75S.

[Chaos]

way back in '93 my bud at the dealership lent me a K1 while my K75 was in the shop for a couple of days.  Loved the power and looks, feared it would ruin me for the old K.  But I actually kinda liked the K75 better after having the K1. It is just so damn practical.

[Martin]

There is no such thing as a replacement for a good K75, I hope to take mine with me when I die, don't know which direction I'm going?
Regards a happy Martin.

[Laitch]

I hope to take mine with me when I die, don't know which direction I'm going?

I think your having NGK plug wires makes that direction crystal clear, Martin.  :grimreaper:

[Martin]

I'm doomed but I don't care. I'll finally get to meet most of the US and Canadian Brickers. Or least the ones smart enough not to pay for the OEM leads.  :hehehe
Regards a still happy Martin. :riding:

[Laitch]

I'm doomed but I don't care.

That's good because all you'll be doing there is trying to figure out why your bikes don't start no matter which kind of leads you try. There also will be broken bolts and easy-outs every day.   :giggles

[Martin]

Still don't care.  :neener:

[Glacial]

I have been riding my K1300S for a few months while the K75S was getting some work done.   Wonderful ride,  but....... got the K75S back on the road today.   Omg, love that bike!    feels like home.   Big grin on my face immediately after rollng off.  New bikes are nice,  but there just is not a replacement for the visceral experience of the K75S.

Is that a garage or an operating theatre? Very envious - I have to do my spannering in the front drive.

[Laitch]

Still don't care.  :neener:

No profiteroles either.

[jaxon]

I have a F800GT as a second bike. Comparable to the K75S? No, but the F800GT is really light in comparison and confidence inspiring. Of course it has ESA, ABS and ASC. As far a modern features it's pretty good. It doesn't seem to sell as well as the RT and GS boxer but it's really an underrated bike. Some reviewers rave about everything but the power compared to other bikes in the class but the other bikes don't have the bells and whistles it has either. It gets really high mileage like 50-60 mpg. Being 52 I'm not looking for boatloads of raw power.

It's fine two up but a little extra weight in the bags will slow it down. I think it a fine distance bike solo and equally fine during weekend riding. Yes, I really regret selling the R1200RT for long distance 2 up touring but for a all-rounder this bike is really nice. The wife feels more comfortable on the F800GT than the K-Bike for some weird reason, but she' weird in general. People complain it isn't an RT which is ridiculous because it isn't supposed to compete in the same space.


I'll likely end up getting a GS at some point this year. Might let the wife use the F bike. The K75S will stick around.

[Laitch]

Comparable to the K75S? No, but the F800GT is really light in comparison . . .

You just compared it to a K75S. :giggles

The F800 seems to be a good bike all around with good miles per gallon, according to a friend who owns one. I doubt I'll ever buy a more contemporary BMW though. They're costly, their parts are costly, and the dealers tend to be—as the British might say—prats. The Yamaha FX09 seems pretty good although "street fighter" is such a stupid moniker it's hard to take it seriously. The mileage stats aren't that great either.

I were forced to get a new bike it would be an MG V7 because it has all the charm and inconvenience of living in the past but has switchable ABS and a shaft drive.

[Martin]

I settle for real eclairs. 

[Chaos]

 all the charm and inconvenience of living in the past but has switchable ABS and a shaft drive.

I'm sure product designers are pulling their hair out because of people like you

[Laitch]

I'm sure product designers are pulling their hair out because of people like you

The only product designers concerned about people like me work with "final expenses" insurance companies.

[jj4hm]

I've never ridden a K75 but I've ridden the new bikes.  This past weekend my local dealer had an open house and I was able to ride the R1200RT again, along with the K1600GTL.  The electric windscreen was nice, as were the heated grips and seat.  And the power and sound of the K16?  Oh my!    But those bikes are $20-$25K.  I can fix a lot of things on my K100 for a whole lot less than that, plus it just feels "right".  Then I think about used bikes like the K1200RS/GT, R1150RT/R1200 RT and think they'd be nice, but then I read about problems with servo brakess, fuel strips, final drive failures, etc. Maybe one day I'll make a change, but probably not too soon. 


Although that Triumph Bobber I also rode was kind of a hoot!   It wouldn't replace my K but it would be fun for quick rips around town 😎

[milq]

Then I think about used bikes like the K1200RS/GT, R1150RT/R1200 RT and think they'd be nice, but then I read about problems with servo brakess, fuel strips, final drive failures, etc.

Ive been looking at an '07 K12GT, 80,000 miles. Can't decide if it's about to need parts or if it's a good one since the owner kept it so long.