Hi,

I've been working on my K75 customization project for almost a year now.  It's that cosmetic alteration of a 1987 K75T into a naked bike with design clues that hark back to a vintage BMW R52/2.  The inspiration for this customization was "Beauty" by Larry Romestant ( http://www.specialks.net/ ).  In fact, this customization is nearly a clone of that design.

I've started a blog online ( My BMW K75 Retro-Customization ) and am documenting my progress in that forum.  This blog is also a work in progress.  I'm continually adding new posts and updating the existing posts with more text and pictures.


At the moment, I have most of the painting completed, the engine is back together.  there's about 4 months of work left in the project (based on my available time) so this should be finished for the Spring 2014.

doing really well there rob .

keep it going mate

im watching

Thanks Charile.  I was reticent to begin a forum post here back when I started because the progress would be slow, agonizingly slow.  Things have picked up recently so I felt it was OK to start.

Here is the engine completed, most reassembly done this long Labour Day weekend.

wow !

Certainly eyecatching Rob should look great.

I'll be keeping an eye on your project!

Can't wait to see more photos.

Loving the shiny engine!

Is it actually chrome plated or just very well polished?

troubleshooter wrote:Loving the shiny engine!

Is it actually chrome plated or just very well polished?

Chrome painted. This is all new territory so we'll see how the finish endures over time.

Wow. Great job.

Outstanding work Rob!

Off topic, but nice to see you back OG.   

Paul.

Thanks Paul. Great to see all the new folks/info being posted on the board. Bought tires and gas this week and hope to be out n about next month... Back to your thread Rob!

OG

Agree with Paul.  Glad to see you back on the forums and posting OG.

I'm working on the electronics of the bike at the moment.

Are you keeping the MotoMeter Rob or going with something different?

OG

Keeping the Motometer.  It looks like this at the moment:



I'm adapting a Suzuki motorcycle computer initiative (called Stromputer) to the K-bike use.  I'm calling it Brickuino.  It will emulate much of the functionality that goes missing when the instrument cluster is removed.  That's the stage I'm at now.

Whoah, I just checked out the blog Rob...you certainly aren't messing around with this one!  
I luv that oem color choice and can't wait to see this all come together...

OG

UPDATED INFORMATION ADDED
I've been playing with the Brickuino this week.  It's alive and complete. Below is a shot of the display enclosure while being bench tested.


The top row, left to right, is Realtime clock, percent fuel remaining in the tank (0% because no fuel sender attached) and a static "Temp" string.  The second row is battery voltage, current gear and ambient temperature. The LED will light red when the programmable reserve level in the tank is reached, and blink red when the reserve level approaches critical.

The full story is in my K75 blog (link in the first post in this thread).

looks good rob

the guys at work are suggesting to play with an arduino as well
first I want to sample all the analogue (semi digital) stuff on a working machine

isn't there some code already written for the clock ?

Thanks, Charlie.  It's a good idea to play with the analogue stuff first, then move into unknown digital territory.

There's lots of Arduino code for adjusting and displaying time from a DS1307 RTC.  But, the Stromputer card has a layout problem that affects the hardware I2C bus, which is used to talk to both the display and the RTC.  The workaround is to use software I2C.  This complicates the clock code because I am forced to find code that compatible with the SoftI2C library.Most of what I've found uses the Wire library.  I'm on it now and have had moderate success today.

yeah in hoping to map afm, revs, and advance against pulse width of the injectors for all the rev range
I guess I just need a logger really
I see what you mean about the i2c buss ....its a challenge

Looking good Rob, I have Larry's cream 75 as a screen backdrop, I like his executive grey 75 as well

That's a nice little Arctic Vortex time burner, Rob. I can't wait to see the finished result. Great, detailed blog, as well.

I can't wait to see this bike finished...If I had half the electrical skill of Robert I would be a happy guy.

Have you had a talk to Max Witt he built some fuel computers using the same technology maxW351 on the Motobrick site.
I bought one from him and had to re-tune it to the K1100 but its a good bit of gear.
Charlie that is the gizmo I have on the dash.

Max used the Ecomodder MPGuino as a base for his computer.  It's a neat design.  There's also the Scooter-puter.  That thing is stuffed to the gills with technology.

Rob - I'm bowled over by the work so far. I've long been an admirer of Larry's special K's and picked up my k75c, which is black with a view to painting it in a retro cream or white keeping the original headlamp etc but maybe accenting the rad cowl in a different colour.

I won't be after the same standard of detail or precision but your creativity is inspiring.

Keep it up I cant wait for the next installment.

Will

Reassembly of my K75 is proceeding along and I expect to be finished soon.  I'm mostly documenting the progress on my blog (see the first post in this thread) but thought I'd pose a question.

I am going to use 3/16" rigid brake lines from the splitter on the fork brace to each front calliper instead of SS braided lines.  I've choosen this to solve a long standing brake line routing problem. The final 15cm (6 inches) between the rigid line and 4-pot K1100 style calliper will be flexible braided brake line.  I'm figuring that I'll need this to be able to remove/replace the calipers when I need to replace brake pads.

Are there any flaws with my thinking here?  Should I go flexible line the whole way instead?

I have SS lines all the way and no problems.  Using the tube then flexible will you have enough flexible line to remove the calipers and you will need to support it at the union of the tube and flexible or the tube will crack from vibration.

Rick,  I can use a clip on the inside of the fender to support the rigid-flexi connection.

Do you use a straight male connector at the splitter-end of your brake line?  My old lines used 45 degree banjos at each end and I just couldn't get them to route properly.

I use the 45° Banjos but had to trim a bit from the mudguard to get them to sit right.
I have the K75 style of guard not the ugly K1100 rear section.

It's put together and it started!  I have some more work to do with throttle bodies and a couple of other nits, but I'm happy there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Now I can go out and ride.

Before:


After:

That is awesome Rob.

Hope you upgraded to 'period' riding gear.
Waxed cotton and a leather cap.

Thanks.  Only half-way retro Rossko -- WW II RAF fighter pilot's jacket and gloves.

lot's of time and $$ went into that gem.
looks amazing.
you must be proud.

robmack wrote:Thanks.  Only half-way retro Rossko -- WW II RAF fighter pilot's jacket and gloves.

Should be a Luftwaff pilots jacket Rob

great job there rob .......like wow !

very different in a personalized way

congrats

Wow Man! I just found this thread. Looks amazing. Damned nice bike. Really well done. Congrats man. awesome stuff.

Thank you all for the very nice comments and encouragement.  

I've learned quite a lot by participating in the discussions on this forum, enough to allow me to tackle this job.  I'm proud that I've been able to tear down and rebuild the motorcycle to this degree.  I would never have attempted something like this a few years ago.

Cheers.

robmack wrote:Thank you all for the very nice comments and encouragement.  

I've learned quite a lot by participating in the discussions on this forum, enough to allow me to tackle this job.  I'm proud that I've been able to tear down and rebuild the motorcycle to this degree.  I would never have attempted something like this a few years ago.

Cheers.

Hmm . .  I know how you feel man.

I began to get the "willies" half way through mine, when it came time to take out the wiring loom etc and strip back to the frame, but I figured I had the engine out and down so why not go the whole hog. I had the owners manual and this forum otherwise I probably never would have had the guts to do it.

My first K series beema and, the surprising thing it I found this K100 the easiest of all the bikes I have ever done, and I've done quite a few.

I learned early on, with this K, and within a couple of weeks of owning it, before I joined here, a mantra . .be maaa. . .de . . . bee made  . . . BE MADE! . And . . I made it! . . Hence my Forum name :-))

By the way . . I LOVE that seat! How do I get my hands on one of THOSE!

It's a Corbin Dual Touring seat that I had recovered.  The story is in the blog (http://k75retro.blogspot.ca/2013/12/seat-is-complete.html)

Hey Rob

NICE JOB! 

Where did you get the headlight and the "clamps(?)" that hold it to the forks?

Seriously nice! If anyone knows where can get this type of headlamp/clamp (or similar) in the UK or Europe that would be appreciated.

These links are from my Chrome bookmarks:
http://specialks.net/index.php?p=1_17_Romestant-Custom-motorcycle-headlights-and-gauges
http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-lighting-parts-aluminum-headlight-brackets-66-35830.html
http://www.burtonbikebits.net/headlamps.htm
http://benjiescaferacer.com/convkit-htriumph.php
http://www.bmwhucky.com/006963.html
http://www.benchmarkworks.com/onlinestore/partno.htm
http://www.flatracer.com/#/headlights/4537680189

Hucky, Benchmarkworks and Specialks offer BMW style headlight nacelles and ears.  However, the others are oriented towards British bikes for the cafe racer builders.

Honestly, I think it takes a lot of luck to snatch up one of these for a fair price.  Like I said in the blog, there are many Ebay offerings for huge dollars and many awful junk for the same money.  It takes perseverance, more than anything.

Thanks Rob, nice that some are based in London. Very comprehensive list. Helps a great deal.

Kind regards

Bryan

outstanding work.

Beauty, eh!!!!!!

Bravo, proper nice job, comfy too!!

Thanks Bryan, K-wopper and Bob for the kudos.

Indeed, the motorcycle is really comfy.  Not just the seat.  The Paralever drive, RAM shock and smooth K75 engine is a beautiful combination.  It soaks up the bumps in the road, unlike my V7R.  I was afraid that the 32/11 FD from the K11LT would ruin the acceleration of the bike but it doesn't seem to have any effect.  I think that higher ratio is offset by the slightly larger K11 TBs and high fuel flow K11 injectors.  The machine accelerates smoothly and strongly even in 4th or 5th from the engine midrange up to readline.  Shifting of the K11 transmission is much less agricultural than the original.  I don't know whether that is a function of K11 transmissions in general or my specific one.

People really are attracted to the design.  I've had quite a number of people walk over and strike up a conversation; I've had people wave me down while riding in town and others pull up in the car, roll down the window just to tell me how attracted to the bike they are.  This machine gets way more attention than my V7R.  

Signed ... Still a happy camper.

Looks fantastic.

I really like that headlight with the gauge in it. Where did you find it? Are the gauges easy to see from the riding position?

And are you using an actual arduino in the bike? I would be interested to hear the reliability of it in everyday riding.

Would love a headlight like that, but probably a bit too expensive I would wager. Classic bike.