Ernesto wrote:I havent found anything on the Keihin flat slides.  Just an idle adjustment knob.

What is the function of the rod with a knob on its end?

What is the function of the rod with a knob on its end wrote:

I'm not sure.. I have the bike at a remote location, but will look more closely next time I am there and report back.

Laitch: I'm probably totally wrong but I think it's to shut off the accelerator pump.

You're close, Dai. 

I just received a response from a Left Coast distributor of these carbs. It is identified as three of a four carb FCR racing system. The rod seems to be how the passage to the fourth accelerator pump was capped by the engine's builder.

In the response I received, cold starting was described as "whacking the throttle once or twice to prime the cylinders using the accelerator pump before starting. I wonder if Ernesto has tried that method. My experience is that some cold engines are sensitive to excess priming and throttle-wringing, let alone hand-wringing ; however, just enough priming will kick them right into action if all other components are tuned. Warm weather is likely to help, as Ernesto mentioned.

I just received a response from a Left Coast distributor of these carbs. It is identified as three of a four carb FCR racing system. The rod seems to be how the passage to the fourth accelerator pump was capped by the engine's builder. In the response I received, cold starting was described as "whacking the throttle once or twice to prime the cylinders using the accelerator pump before starting. I wonder if Ernesto has tried that method. My experience is that some cold engines are sensitive to excess priming and throttle-wringing, let alone hand-wringing Smile; however, just enough priming will kick them right into action if all other components are tuned. Warm weather is likely to help, as Ernesto mentioned. wrote:

Thank you for digging into it!!
So far the best starting response seems to be to start it with none or a tiny amount of throttle. Anything more seems to overwhelm the system until it has been running/idling for 5 minutes or so.. then everything is great.
I got the bike running in October/November and I havent been able to do any warm weather starting yet, so we'll see. I've only got a couple hundred miles on it so far, but looking forward to getting some real miles on it in not too long.

Laitch wrote:In the response I received, cold starting was described as "whacking the throttle once or twice to prime the cylinders using the accelerator pump before starting. I wonder if Ernesto has tried that method.

Yes. The Moto Guzzi method (not the parallel twins or the singles or the two-strokes - just the V-twins). Even those Moto Guzzis that don't have a visible accelerator pump on them have a small internal pump that sprays neat fuel into the venturi for starting. That should indeed work to get the engine started anyway.

have always used the accelerator pumps on my R90S for cold (and not so cold) starts

[quote defaultattr=""]im sure they are all rebuilding the bikes into the early frame and not just useing the reg Suzi QI'm sure too  [/quote]
Did you use a compressor to inflate the top rail on Madass?

Suzi Q wrote:I'm sure too 

PO wrote:

im sure they are all rebuilding the bikes into the early frame and not just useing the reg…

Chris, Did you use a compressor to inflate the top rail on Madass?

What is the function of the rod with a knob on its end? wrote:

Yes, it looks like just a cap on the accelerator pump rod.


Snuck out for a short ride on Tuesday afternoon and swapped my R60/6 to bring the K75 back to my garage for a couple weeks.
Starting was so much easier in 70 degree temps compared to low 30's, but it did still take several minutes of careful throttle babying till it would hold a steady idle or run above 3k rpms.. Then all was great
Temps are supposed to rebound to nice in Chicagoland this weekend so looking forward to putting a few more miles on the K75

Poorly crafted dig to avoid any suggestion you may have used all the vehicle registration avenues that the system affords

Another great day for a ride in Chicagoland..

Just another pic.. waiting for warmer weather

Just another day of riding..

Mostly short trips to make sure everything is good.. waiting for warmer weather before going farther.

Weather is getting warmer but still not warm.

I've put about 300 miles on the bike since I got it running.

Have you computed the mileage you're getting with your Brick, Ernesto, or are you waiting for a tropical weather front to move in up there before you do that?

Have you computed the mileage you're getting with your Brick wrote:

No.. I havent calculated mileage yet.. the ~300 miles I have put on so far is mostly local riding.. probably only 60 or so miles at highway speeds, and 5 minute plus warmups. Most of the riding temps has been in the 30s and low-mid 40s.

I am sure mileage isnt great.. probably mid-upper 30s

Did a 150 mile morning ride on the bike yesterday.
Started on the first push of the button and ran well thru the day.
The bike got a fair amount of attention at a Cars & Coffee in the Milwaukee area.

I have about 800 miles on the K75 now..
Putting it back into storage for a few weeks so I can get some riding done on my R60/6

Have you considered fitting a 75S Belly Pan?  Although you would have to source the brackets as well.  

Assuming that you still intend to sell it, we will miss our regular dose of 75 porn.

Have you considered fitting a 75S Belly Pan? Although you would have to source the brackets as well.

Assuming that you still intend to sell it, we will miss our regular dose of 75 porn.

The belly pan and hardware were there, but I believe they have since been sold.
I prefer the look of the bike without it, plus the easier maintenance to get to stuff.

I would like to get at least 1000 "break-in" miles before I look to sell it, and I have a friend who has asked for first right of refusal who hasnt yet seen it in person.
My offsite extra garage storage space is only available till June.
I can keep it in my garage, but with 2 bikes and 2 cars, a bike needs to roll out and back in every time I take a car out, which is very inconvenient.



I have lots more pics and can share a link to the entire set if you are interested (about 180 or so)..

I have been restraining myself from overposting ;-)

Fair enough.  

I guess we shall just have to have you posting those pics for as long as it takes show them all.  It does bring a smile to the face of those of us who enjoy seeing a 75 in pristine condition.  

As a slight thread drift, Brutus shown here at the BMW Centenary in Brisbane last year, found a new home a couple of months back.  To listen to a thirty odd year old moto idling away like a brand new bike is a rare event indeed.  

Brutus shown here at the BMW Centenary in Brisbane last year, found a new home a couple of months back.

Looking good!!

Just some interesting trivia on my K75..

The bike currently has about 108,000 miles

There's a surpising number of us who have passed that figure and an elite corner (which I'm not in!  ) who have doubled it.

There's a surpising number of us who have passed that figure and an elite corner (which I'm not in!  Modified K75s cleanup - ) who have doubled it.

Yea.. I have many high mileage riding friends (including my parents before they stopped riding),
but I am only a 2-5K mile a year guy myself..

Although we calibrate in the metric system here I have reached that number with five zeros on two of my BMW's, the 75S and R65.  

Although the local BMW moto club, which I was forced to rejoin last year, issues a badge for that achievement, I have not bothered to ask for one as so many of my contemporaries have well and truly surpassed that.  Sort of the reason for purchasing a BMW moto in the first place.

Well the reason for the R65 was I wanted a moto that was reliable, maintainable and able to ride long distances which it did.  It also did a fair chunk of that mileage on dirt roads.  At the time I couldn't afford a R80G/S or a R100.  Whereas the 75S has been spoilt with very few miles on dirt.  

The final Off Centre Rally is being held later in the year and I am being voluntold to go and will take the F650GSD for that one.

900K+ (miles) have passed beneath my wheels, as tallied a few years ago, on my various motos, riding since 1976. I have not added up accurately the several longer rides I've done, plus commuting, since the pandemic era. That'd likely be another 50K or more.

Guys - I was refering to the 100K+ on the K. Very many of us have achieved stoopid miles through a lifetime of riding (I started in 1974); I think I'm about 100K miles behind TWB but am no longer really in the market for that seven-figure number which, pre-Covid, I looked almost certain to hit before retirement. Before some slimy arsehole stole and torched my V1000G5 at 210K, I was on target to hit 500K on that one alone, running up around 20K a year on it. Then again, it was a lifetime on bikes because I couldn't be bothered with a car test, but I did eventually do that about ten years ago.

In North America, that award from BMWNA, like the BMWMOA mileage award, are given out not for the machine having passed 100,000 miles, but for the rider, on BMW motorbikes. For the annual mileage award, as an example, any dealership personnel can verify a starting mileage, a finishing mileage, and with the form filled out and signed, off it goes to either 'NA or 'MOA for certification. Once the magic digits - on any number of BMW bikes - are realised, one can apply for the BMWNA 100,000 award.

Let the mileage boasting continue.

I'm a rider not a recording secretary.

It's good a man knows himself. I'm still wondering what I'm going to do when I grow up.


When I worked as parts manager, etc., at various Beemer shops over the years, it was expected that the long(er) distance riders would roll in waving their mileage forms, looking for a signature. Some guys (or gals) would just sign the form and move on to something more important, like browsing You Tube or the classifieds. Not me. I'd go outside to look at their bike(s), and record the odometre readings at the start, and again at year end. Many older riders had 150,000 miles on a machine, and 500,000 on their body. One pal of mine from Seattle, a retired Boeing jet engine designer, recently received his 1.1 million mile award from BMWMOA. He's only 64. I signed his forms for years from 2004 thru 2006, and again from 2013 thru '23. He doesn't hang the award on the garage wall, where he happens to brew some mighty fine grog in his spare time.

In the end it's about the riding. Der weg ist das ziel.

I've been able to store one vehicle in an offsite garage, but I lose my extra space next week.

Stuff will get crowded in a 2 car garage with 2 cars and 2 bikes.

The K75s has been starting on the first button push now that temps are warmer and I have some miles on the bike, but still takes a bit to warm up and be able to ride without stalling.

Evening cruise..

Today was a 150+ mile trip to Milwaukee and back for a Cars & Coffee featuring older European cars..

The K75 has been starting and settling down to a proper idle consistently now that the weather is warm and I have more miles on it.

The bike gathered quite a bit of attention and interest during the event despite plenty of other really cool cars

Attended a local monthly meetup for older European motorcycles.

Heavy rain came in just after I arrived, but the weather cleared up afterwards and a dozen or so bikes braved the wet weather.

The K75 started and ran flawlessly as it is now approaching 1000 miles since I got it running.




Here is a link to a couple more pictures.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestovumbles/albums/72177720318094797

100+ miles last weekend and again this morning..

everything is running as it should.

Checked fuel mileage for the first time and got just above 42MPG in mostly highway riding.. better than I was expecting.

Today's ride was a bit of an adventure..

Went out for about 75 miles of local backroads with a few stops for breakfast and visiting friends.

On the way home the bike started to feel sluggish, and I could feel the back wheel dragging as I came to a stoplight.

I was able to safely pull over to a parking lot and my back wheel would not spin.  Everything freed up after about a 1/2 hour cool down and I was able to continue my ride.

Same thing happened a few more times after 6 or 7 miles of riding (and not using the rear brake)

Other odd thing is the rear drive was hot as well as the caliper.  not sure if that is a cause or effect (never checked the temp on it before)

I'll do another brake bleed and change the rear drive oil before the next ride to hopefully correct the issue.

Check the rear master cylinder to brake pedal linkage for misadjustment. There needs to be enough freeplay at the threaded portion with the locknut. Riding and heat takes up the slack, often causing binding.

Check the rear master cylinder to brake pedal linkage for misadjustment.

Thanks!! linkage seems to be fine.. I believe an appropriate amount of lever freeplay and all has been working fine till my ride home.
I'll give it another careful look for anything that seems off.

A mates  Brick was suffering from occasional rear brake locking up. The pedal had to be manually pulled up. On investigation it was found that the pivot bolt was suffering from corrosion. Once cleaned and lubed all is now fine.
Regards Martin.

Thanks for the tips everyone!!

I was out of town and unable to look at anything till now.

The rear brake lever action seems to be fine but I lubed up all I could anyways.  I dont feel any drag when spinning the rear wheel by hand (when all is cold).

I re-bled the rear brake..  didnt see any bubbles, but did push some more fluid thru.  I had flushed front and rear brakes last November when I got the bike, so all looked clear and clean.  
There was some sand/dirt inside the rubber boot that covers the rear pushrod.. Cleaned that all out and gave it a quick spray of wd-40 but the rear lever action did not change from before.

I additionally drained/filled the rear drive oil.

Took it out for a local drive this evening and everything seems fine.  I'll take it on a longer drive tomorrow.

just getting more rides on the K75..

my time is split between that, my 74 R60/6, 63 Sunbeam, and driving other older cars for friends so my miles and available weekends are limited..

Idling in the parking garage..

Sunday morning ride..