Hey everyone! I'm Joshua from California, and I'm new here. My mechanic buddy is helping me decide if a 1990 BMW K100 is the right fit. Excited to join this community and learn more about these classic bikes.

hey Joshua

Hi Josh,

Your post reminded me of the first time I rode a BMW, pushing about ten years ago. It was a K100 for sale. The owner said let's go for a test ride, he rode ahead on a K75C. We got half way and he said "let's swap rides, I'll ride ahead and you will see that the K100 doesn't blow smoke" I thought that's a good idea, the only problem was, when we got back, I wanted to buy the K75, but it wasn't for sale.

Consider a K75, it's just a thought.

daveyson wrote:Hi Josh,

Your post reminded me of the first time I rode a BMW, pushing about ten years ago. It was a K100 for sale. The owner said let's go for a test ride, he rode ahead on a K75C. We got half way and he said "let's swap rides, I'll ride ahead and you will see that the K100 doesn't blow smoke" I thought that's a good idea, the only problem was, when we got back, I wanted to buy the K75, but it wasn't for sale.

Consider a K75, it's just a thought.

Hi, @daveyson! Thanks for the welcome and sharing that story. I gotta admit, I hadn't even considered a K75 before, but now that you mention it, some say it's the better bike because it is lighter and probably cheaper. By the way, did you end up getting a K75 later? Or did you stick with the K100?

bad boy wrote:hey Joshua

Appreciate the welcome, David!

Dai wrote:

Thanks so much, @Dai!

K75 has a lot smoother running engine too. Some people think that makes it boring, some people like that.

duck wrote:K75 has a lot smoother running engine too.

duck,
100% agreed.
an engine running smoothly and with a great torque curve.
IMHO the only thing that beats a three cylinder is an inline six.
and if you ask me how I know - BTDT with British Speed Triple 955i and Daytona 955i

"By the way, did you end up getting a K75 later?"

About two years before the BMW ride, I started riding again after years of driving, so it took a while to get familiar and confident again with riding. After only five minutes on the K75C I felt familiar and confident on it. The weight distribution, balance, ergonomics and stuff, it just felt like a perfect fit for me. K75's were harder to find and much more expensive at the time, but I was on a quest.

Then I found a K100RT which was a good buy, so I bought it.
Then I found another K100RT which was a good buy, so I bought it.
Then I found another K100RT which was a good buy, so I bought it.
Then I found another K100RT which was a good buy, so I bought it.

Then I said to myself daveson what ARE you doing, how ARE you going to get a K75 if you keep going like this?

So I said to meyself daveson, I said, I'm going to put an offer in on every K75 for sale in Victoria until I gotts me a K75, which turned out to be the very next add. It was a very minimalist newspaper add, without photos, that simply said: BMW motorbike for sale 750cc. After a phone call I found out that it was water cooled, it hadn't been started for years, and it would be a five hour drive to get there. I got it. It was a K75S. It's not as comfortable a fit for me, but I've only taken short rides on it. The quest for a K75C continues.

Just find some C bars to put on the S.

I much prefer the S bars but I understand that we all have different ergos and preferences. Putting C bars on an S will give you the C ergos because the frame and everything else is identical aside from the C headlight cowl/S fairing.

I wish I thought of that before I decided which brick I'd put on the road. That's probably why I put the blue brick on the road.

I wish I knew what bars are on the black brick, feels way better than the RT. I think the previous owner used a lot of parts from an R100.

daveyson wrote:"By the way, did you end up getting a K75 later?"

About two years before the BMW ride, I started riding again after years of driving, so it took a while to get familiar and confident again with riding. After only five minutes on the K75C I felt familiar and confident on it. The weight distribution, balance, ergonomics and stuff, it just felt like a perfect fit for me. K75's were harder to find and much more expensive at the time, but I was on a quest.

Then I found a K100RT which was a good buy, so I bought it.
Then I found another K100RT which was a good buy, so I bought it.
Then I found another K100RT which was a good buy, so I bought it.
Then I found another K100RT which was a good buy, so I bought it.

Then I said to myself daveson what ARE you doing, how ARE you going to get a K75 if you keep going like this?

So I said to meyself daveson, I said, I'm going to put an offer in on every K75 for sale in Victoria until I gotts me a K75, which turned out to be the very next add. It was a very minimalist newspaper add, without photos, that simply said: BMW motorbike for sale 750cc. After a phone call I found out that it was water cooled, it hadn't been started for years, and it would be a five hour drive to get there. I got it. It was a K75S. It's not as comfortable a fit for me, but I've only taken short rides on it. The quest for a K75C continues.

What a journey! Sounds like you’ve had quite the adventure with those K100RTs. Keep us posted on the quest to get that perfect K75C. Who knows, maybe the next newspaper ad will be the jackpot!

duck wrote:K75 has a lot smoother running engine too. Some people think that makes it boring, some people like that.

That's an interesting perspective on the K75's engine. I can see how some riders might find the smoothness to be a bit on the boring side, but for others, that refined power delivery could be a real selling point. Personally, I tend to gravitate towards the K75's smooth nature for long drives.