First, this is NOT a for-sale post. Just so we have that out of the way.

It is my duty to inform you all that I have traded off my beloved Zook on a new machine.

The local Suzuki dealer had a 1987 (10 years older than Zook) BMW K75 that really caught my eye. He offered me a good deal, so I traded. What I got was a Beemer with only 14,000 miles on the clock for a little north of $1,500 after sales taxes. Take the deal for what you will.

The LS650 was a great first bike, and I couldn't have asked more of it. Commuted on that machine everyday I could manage it, and even on several days I probably shouldn't have. Laid it down once, even. New tank, new paintjob, and several custom accessories later, and she was better than ever. The K&N and re-jet made a huge difference, and the old ragged Honda CB500T exhaust muffler really sounded good.

The bottom line was that the Zook was a little too, well, little for me. I have always liked motorcycles that make you sit up straight. The ergonomics are just plain better for long rides when you don't have all your weight squishing down on your tailbone. The K75 is a pretty tall bike, by comparison, and has more of a sport-touring seating position.

The Beemer is noted as being characterless, yet sound as a stone. They called the K-series "The Flying Brick" both because the cylinder head resembles the shape of a brick and because the engines are known to last well into the hundreds of thousands of miles without major work. The 3-cylinder 750cc is an inline structure, with the cylinders laying on their side. The drivetrain is much like that of a rear-wheel drive car turned 90-degrees counterclockwise, with a direct link to the transmission, which links directly to a driveshaft which powers the rear wheel. Power output is said to be around 70 horses, but it's not intimidating unless you really wrench the throttle.

I never thought I'd like a multi-cylinder bike beyond a twin, but the triple has really impressed me. It sounds and feels like a skymobile from the old cartoon The Jetsons. Vibrationless and effortless. After eyeballing the BMW F650 "Funduro," I think it'd suffice to say that I'm geniuinely impressed by this 20 year-old steed.

In all, I'm sure the Savage nobly prepared me for handling such a machine. I will be taking my time, after weather gets back to a more ride-friendly state, in getting used to the K, but I have not felt out-of-control or scared in the least during today's riding.

Thanks to all of you here who helped me along my way with the Zook and all the customization. This site has been a bevy of helpful tips and tricks that I wouldn't have found elsewhere. I'll probabaly keep lurking about now and then, as I have been in my few spare moments at university. Hopefully you lot won't disown me for going to a multi and not holding out longer for the 650 single in the form of the Funduro!  

And if you're in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee anytime soon, I know a dealer who will probably cut you a deal on a customized 1997 Savage...

Regards,
Banger
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Reelthing wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


I'm not sure of the version. I need to punch up the VIN number somewhere and make sure of that.

And I've always heard that about the stands. It'll take some learning and some getting used to with the center stand, but I've always thought centerstands were best anyway. On top of it all, they make working on your machine much easier.

It's smoking a little bluish smoke right now. I have it on the word of the previous owner that he didn't get to ride but a couple good trips a year (apparently so, given 14,000 miles on a 20 year-old bike) and the smoke is probably the result of poor gas and slightly dirty injectors. He says it normally clears up if you run the bike regularly for a day or so. Regardless, I'm getting myself a tank full of 93 and some fuel injector cleaning additive on the way home.

Regards,
Banger
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Banger,

Best of luck with the new BMW.  Should be a great ride.

Enjoy friend. BTW, Can you resist the call of the thumper??

SAY IT AIN'T SO ??? You got rid of the savage Oh well WE wish you luck anyhow with the Beemer :'( May you two have many happy miles together and plz keep this one on the rubber.
               RIDE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT

That beemer is a triple. So theoretically he could part it out and have a thumper and a twin.

Boy, I just totally missed it on that one!

Trippah wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:



Thanks, Trippah. I had a feeling about the K75. I did a lot of reading about it before I made any decision, and that was the general sentiment I seemed to get. While the bike might lack the character of the old R-bikes or any number of more Americanized cruisers from a variety of manufacturers, the K seems to have a good reputation for reliability. And since I've always been a guy who puts function over form any day of the week, I was really drawn to the good deal.

Thanks everyone for the well-wishes. Interestingly enough, for those of you who might one day find yourself in a similar situation, when I put my insurance on the Beemer today, the premium only went up $6. I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least.

The blue smoke is reminiscent of the old '70s Japanese two-strokers. Both Suzuki and Kawasaki had a few triples in the line-up. The difference is, once the BMW is up to operating temperature, the smoke stops. Roll on the throttle on a GT750 Water Buffalo or the equivalent Kwak triple, and the blue smoke would kill every mosquito within 250 feet.  

Regards,
Banger
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