Frikkin Butchers

[Shorty]

So , I'm doing my daily check of CL and Ebay. I always look for K 75s, and a few others.  Today there were 3 K 75s, all 3 "bobbered", and they asking more money than an unbutchered stock bike. WTF? I can see modifying a ratty Yamaha XS, or a UJM, but why hack a K bike?    May their grinders explode in their hands 

[Sasquatch Jim]

 They do that to disguise the damage they have caused the machine and not take the loss that they have done to it.
 Yes, there are people dumb enough to not see through this and some will buy the machine.

[Lumpy Idle]

i have an '87 k75s and an 850 t3 both of which i am slowly getting back on the road.  i like the looks of the k-bike as is - plastic and all. i can't imagine hacking it up.  the t3 on the other hand has a stock gas tank that i am not in love with  and there are a few after market tanks and seats that i could go with. i can see modifying the t3 and i can hear pete roper's voice in the back of my head right now - crying "heresy.'  germany's kaffemachine makes some exquisite cafe type bikes. i am not heading in that direction but i really like their take on the T type guzzis.

there really is no accounting for taste and only when my buttons are pushed do i take notice and bark. i don't even want to look at the butchered k75s's you cite. i cry HERESY ...and then i go back to looking at gixxer front suspension for my t3.  i guess that's why god made chocolate and vanilla.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Check this one out. 
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/mcy/6198025863.html

[Lumpy Idle]

let's put aside the $2.5k price for a minute: how did that wreck happen? how do you stretch out the front end of that bike like that in a wreck scenario?  is it ripped right out of the triple trees or is the frame hole wrenched upward. quite odd.

[Shorty]

let's put aside the $2.5k price for a minute: how did that wreck happen? how do you stretch out the front end of that bike like that in a wreck scenario?  is it ripped right out of the triple trees or is the frame hole wrenched upward. quite odd.

Judging from the front rim, was a front end collision that possibly snapped the frame or trees. They just leaned the carcass against the rack.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

My friend Carl is thinking about selling this one.

[Turin]

I almost bought one just like this.
love the looks, but the engine didn't do it for me.

[Travlr]

> but why hack a K bike?


People tend to cut up bikes that have little value.  Old K bikes may be fine bikes.  But the Propeller Heads like the boxers.  Hence, K bikes get cut up and airheads get restored.

Mike

[Vince in Milwaukee]

I have a 93 K75 with a bad transmission (my doing) that I would love to get rid of.  Serviced by Motoworks in Chicago about 3 years ago to include new tires being installed.  Looking to get $1200 OBO.  Anyone interested?  Will try to post pics or a link to pics.  I suck at this computer stuff. 

[Scud]

Check out the motobrick.com forum. There are some horrid k-afe bikes and some that are really quite cool. And some that go up for sale. You could post a wanted ad there too.

It seems a shame to hack a K75s, which IMO was the only good looking K75. Somebody even did a cafe-build thread staring with the ultra-rare K1. The "purists" were up in arms, but the guy did a really nice job.

I like mine, it's my commuter - but it's fun enough that I will take the long way or twisty detours whenever possible.

The K75 is a weird bike and that's part of why I like it, but it clearly doesn't have the visceral appeal of a Guzzi. Wait for a clean, low-mileage one and just replace all the rubber and fluids. Then ride it for 1/2 million miles.

BTW - I have a complete K75s fairing, so if you find a good deal on cafe'd bike that you want to put back, let me know.

[Tom]

I may need a tank.   

[redrider90]

Cycle Trade has 3 K bikes 93-95 all running and decent for $2500 to $1500. This guy thinks he is getting $2500 for that reverse chopper that obviously  needs a new frame and whole front end.
My mother's favorite expression was "it takes all kinds" (of people). This seller is one of those.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

I owned 2 K75's from 1986-2016. Very boring engine. Love my '08 1200 Sport with lots of character

[Turin]

Somebody even did a cafe-build thread staring with the ultra-rare K1. The "purists" were up in arms, but the guy did a really nice job.

There are some things that should never ever be hacked up and I'd put the K1 in that category.   

[Tom]

Someone cafe'd a K1?????   

[ken farr]

HEY, ITSA CUSTOM!!!!!!

[Scud]

There are some things that should never ever be hacked up and I'd put the K1 in that category.

I hear ya... and I have opinions too. But the way I see it, whoever thinks the bike should be preserved in its original form should buy it out from the "butcher" before they start making irreversible changes.

Here's the thread on Motobrick.com if you want to see a perfectly accetable and complete K1 turned into a cafe racer. It's good craftsmanship - but dang, he could have achieved basically the same thing with any of the more common 4-cylinder K-bikes.

http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,7930.0.html

[Turin]

That would be the one. I've yet to see a decent looking cafe'd K-brick.



I'd have understood if it were crashed or beat to hell. Looks like he sold the red and yellow bodywork. 

[Phil/TX]

The black and yellow could be OK, But it looks bent in the middle. Sub frame looks strange, level it out and may be nice. The K75S always looked nice to me, low on power for a heavy bike, i Missed one in centeral TX last year, couldn't quite take the leap. However, told the wife i was getting a project bike, came home with one of the nicest R1100S bikes on the planet. Sweet bike, kinda old school with analog gauges, and only a lo fuel warning, but that's what trip meters are for.

[Tom]

One thing about the K75 engined bikes, turn some r's with it and the nature of the bike changes.  Lower gear and rev to within 1K of redline.  It's not boring then.