Fly & Ride Vlog: BMW K75 RT

[@kristersjostrom8576]

This video have been on KZbin for five years, so I dont know if you`ll read this comment, but your knee problem - hitting the fairing: when riding without need of changing geer or brake the foot pedalbrake, flip out the passenger pegs and use them for your feet. Thas something I do when riding a long time /many miles to change my stance on the bike and cope during long rides. But you must be a big guy because I have never had that problem on my K 75 RT -90. I am 177 cm tall metric, dont know what that`ll be in foot and inches ... But you have a very good, reliable and smooth riding bike there!!! These bikes where yused during a number of years by the Swedish police force, and when they where retired (my bike is an retired police bike), many mc-officers where sad and dissapointed, because the K 75:s where so free of disturbing vibrations and so smooth to ride. Thanks for an interesting and good film, greetings from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.

[@AdamChandler86]

That's a great tip! Thank you.

[@BreezyRider66]

A few further comments - somebody's made a right meal of dismantling & reassembling the leg shields & storage boxes on that one, they're not too complicated at all compared to some more modern bikes plastics. With the panniers you should find that unless bits have broken off or something they will not fall off, most people find them really hard to get off to start with in fact. The technique is to slide them back on the mounting rail then remove, hook on at the back of the mounting rail then push forward to replace. Once you've got it it's easy...

[@CCitis]

Cool bike. I am a big fan of fly and rides or traveling long distances to get older bikes. Always an adventure. There is something about older bikes... they are lots of fun.

[@trishharrington783]

Great buy. BM advertise the tank as holding 20lt, but the pump and filter and associated plumbing in there, take up a litre of space. 38k miles is nothing for them, well looked after examples can see over 150k miles before overhaul. You are right, splines are a bit of an archilles heel for them, with the rear drive ones probably the worst. Fortunately, they are easy to do. Original wiring connectors can also go to lunch early, with that sort of age. My ‘ S ‘ version will give about 240 - 250 kms before fuel warning light comes on, with another 60kms before you push. The engine is actually a Peugeot design, adopted by BMW. From the 75 to the 100, the clutch is different, with the 75 clutch actually coming from the R80/100 of the same era. Cheers, Mike.

[@AdamChandler86]

Great knowledge, thanks!

[@davidsalk3002]

Fun to watch. I picked up a K75 94 RT with 30,000 miles last week for the same price. I found your vid as I was searching to see how to take off the lower fairing, even though at 5'7" I fit in the fairing.

[@AdamChandler86]

There are now a few new videos with more removal tips.

[@goldgeologist5320]

I have a 1990 K75RT I bought new. Gets 40mpg if you are not using at high rpm levels. The knees hitting faring is issue for me and I am 5’7” There are some know issues with the Kbike to address. But very reliable bike.

[@AdamChandler86]

I’ve enjoyed riding it all over. These older BMWs are special.

[@MuleBlanche]

Changing to a different seat or modifying the original could move your knees away from the fairing.

[@RickFurnival]

Adam, remember, you have a rest stop in Virginia any time. The welcome mat is always out.

[@AdamChandler86]

Thanks Rick!

[@bruceforster3709]

I rode a 1985 K100 Yesterday, with the thought of purchasing it. I'm 6'2 with a 31 inch inseam. The 1000 didn't fit me, either....

[@AdamChandler86]

Good to know. i ended up having the seat re-upholstered and added a lot of foam that helped a lot with my long legs.

[@GruveToob]

I have a ‘95 K75RT. It’s a great bike but throws off a lot heat. Nice in the winter, and roasts your thighs in the summer.

[@AdamChandler86]

It does put off quite a bit of heat! In New Hampshire, it's so mild up here I always find it's a nice motor to sit atop. The radiator fan came on one time and it was a hot wind tunnel over my legs.

[@GruveToob]

@@AdamChandler86 During summer I remove the rubber knee panels between fairing and engine. It seems to reduce the heat just a bit. Also wish it had a 6th gear, and an extra 100cc’s.

[@BreezyRider66]

Hi Adam, I'm a bit surprised at the (lack of) fuel economy, on my '93 K75RT (on 58k miles) I get fuel light coming on around 140/150 miles. I know what you mean about knees hitting the fairing, I'm 5'6" & my knees almost touch, though I do tend to sit forward on the seat, which is itself partly due to being not very tall. I had an ST1100 Pan European before and that was the same, both these bikes are fine for me but with both I wondered how taller riders would find them. The K is a lovely bike to ride, I think it encourages you to ride in a relaxed way because it's not a speed machine & better if you take your time a bit with gear changes to make them smooth. It is a bit top heavy, if you take off those rubberised parts you'll see how heavy they are, as are the other plastics compared to newer bikes. I've found preloading the gear lever and only pulling in the clutch lever 3/4 of the way makes gear changes much smoother & also I've added molyslip to the gearbox & final drive (not to engine as can cause clutch to slip). It will happily cruise all day at 70-80mph. Be interested to see if you manage to resolve the knee issue... All the best

[@MisterAmbassador]

you can add molyslip to the engine as they have a dry clutch like a car engine.

[@davidgolfgti1]

I also have a '93 rt and at 6'1" I can still get my knees to not touch. When stopping, they do brush the fairing.

[@MisterAmbassador]

Those fairing inserts are not fitted properly, theres 2 tangs on the top that slip in and theres probably some screws missing as well. If fitted properly might have better clearance im 6ft 1 and I ride a k100 and my knees touch the fairing. I nearly sold mine because of it, but now im used to it and its fine for me now. I don't know about the 75 but the 100 runs hot especially in the summer and the fuel tank gets hot where the fuel lines pass over the engine and heats up the fuel tank I put in a fuel cooler and now my tank is a lot cooler something to consider if this happens. Goodluck with it.

[@AdamChandler86]

Thank you for the tips! Very valuable.

[@kitzehan]

Probably you adjust the seat, so you have no problems with your knees and the leg shield.

[@AdamChandler86]

I'm gonna give that a try. Thanks!

[@wrenchingmatt8501]

Just picked up a blue K75 RT for 1500 too! Building a cafe racer with mine

[@AdamChandler86]

Sweet! Good luck to you. I just started working on mine. gotta get ready for summer riding.

[@andymcurry8660]

corbin seat will fix the leg room problem. great score for $1500 buy a lottery ticket you got lucky

[@AdamChandler86]

Thanks for the tip. I’ll look into it.

[@jomes67]

So did you put all your gear in your carry on, including your helmet? I see you're wearing your jacket. Iam thinking about an overseas tour and trying to avoid a check bag with just a duffel bag or backpack, my helmet is the issue, not sure whether to hand carry it or try and stuff it in a bag.

[@AdamChandler86]

First Fly & Ride! 40L Duffel. Here's a screenshot of my packing list - i.imgur.com/tA5BPej.jpeg I wore my boots, Klim thermal mid-layer and carried my Badlands jacket & iPad. I had to check my bag since 2 of my tools were over 7" long which is against TSA law. everything else was fine for a checked bag. I stuffed it al in there with the helmet being dead center containing my gloves and socks. I'd say don't carry a huge mobile phone battery pack or large tools and you could easily carry-on the 40L duffel. My ticketing counter person said I didn't need to check it.

[@howidoit6012]

first bike without Led!!!! unimaginable 😄

[@AdamChandler86]

I ended up adding LEDs :)

[@jjl46507]

Love that perfect squeeze!

[@AdamChandler86]

I have 3 now! Love them.

[@stephennesbitt4397]

Any abs issues?

[@AdamChandler86]

None. I had it serviced once at MaxBMW. It was great.

[@pedroclaro7822]

Update on the bike? How long did it last you? Did you sell it?

[@AdamChandler86]

I had it for 4-5 years. Very reliable, trustworthy and didn’t do anything but annual oil changes. I sold it for what I paid to a friend before moving. If i had space, I would have kept it.

[@pedroclaro7822]

@ shame that you sold it, but having had the pleasure to enjoy it for a good couple of years sounds great!

[@AdamChandler86]

I'm on the look out for another at some point. They're a great value bike for what they cost today.

[@pedroclaro7822]

@@AdamChandler86 I have to agree. They expensive in Portugal right now but elsewhere you can get nice ones with higher mileage and I’d bet they double it

[@clivebishop8757]

Fun project Adam, remove or keep the fairing?

[@AdamChandler86]

I want to keep the bike completely stock for resale value and preservation. If I do that, I’ll never be able to ride it because I can’t bring my knees against the tank without sitting on the passenger seat. If I’m going to keep it and ride it, I need to chop the fairing off which is unfortunate. Maybe I’ll keep an eye out for S-Fairing which looks really cool. The GS is still occupying my time so I’m just going to research for a few months. I have time to work on this in a few months.

[@clivebishop8757]

You. Keep it Stock!!! Never will I believe that!

[@kenvaughn6379]

How’s the vibration at 70 ?

[@AdamChandler86]

Smooth now but I also replaced the front & rear suspension which helped a lot.

[@SD-co5sv]

Had I known you were passing through NJ I would've offered you room & board for free.

[@AdamChandler86]

I appreciate that. Sort of the problem with my kind of channel. I don't really share things in real-time. This was last week. No instagram account or social media to share things in advance but that's very kind of you! Probably wouldn't have worked out anyway since I had to stop in MD due to rain. I wanted to get a little further than Elkton.

[@salrussano1]

What happened to the bike

[@AdamChandler86]

I still own it! Amazing bike & motor.

[@derwood]

Hope Santa brings you a garage for Christmas.

[@AdamChandler86]

Good point. I have off-site storage. already have a bike and car there. Same for my beer & wine being stored off-site as well.