Okay, so I finally took the plunge and started messing with this old K75 BMW motorcycle. I’ve always loved the look of these bikes, especially the cafe racer builds, so I figured, why not give it a shot?
The Starting Point
First, I got my hands on a pretty rough-looking K75. It was sitting in a friend’s garage, covered in dust, and hadn’t run in years. The fuel tank was rusty, the tires were flat, and the battery was deader than a doornail. Honestly, it was a mess, but I saw potential!
Getting it Running
The first thing I did was clean the heck out of it. I spent a whole day just scrubbing and wiping down years of grime. Then I tackled the fuel system. I removed the tank, cleaned it out as best I could, and replaced the fuel filter and lines. I also pulled the injectors and gave them a good cleaning.
Next up was the battery. I bought a new one, hooked it up, and hit the starter button. To my surprise, the engine actually turned over! It didn’t start, but it was a good sign.
After a bit more fiddling, checking the spark plugs, and making sure everything was connected properly, I tried again. And guess what? It fired up! It ran rough, but it was running!
Making it Rideable
Now that it was running, I focused on making it safe to ride. New tires were a must. I also checked the brakes, replaced the brake fluid, and made sure the lights and signals were working. This took some time, and there were a few frustrating moments, but I managed to get it all sorted.
The final thing to do was adjust and lubricated the control cables and check the fluids.
The First Ride
Finally, the moment of truth! I took the K75 out for its first ride in years. It was a bit shaky at first, but once I got used to it, it was amazing! The engine sounded great, and it handled surprisingly well.
There are still a few little things to take care of.
What’s Next
- I need to fine-tune the engine a bit more.
- I might replace the seat.
- I also plan on doing some cosmetic work, maybe a new paint job.
But for now, I’m just enjoying riding it around and feeling the satisfaction of bringing this old bike back to life. It’s been a fun and rewarding project, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next!
