Greetings from Chicago.
I just bought a 1987 K75T. I really want a GS, but my budget now was $3500, and I'd rather ride for 2-3 years and save 5-10K for a nice GS than have no bike for a year or two. I figure a K is a great bike, and I could make short (day or two) trips on it, just nothing too adventurous. Plus, it'll probably be a better around-town bike since it's lower and lighter, and less attention-getting while parked on the street.
Prior to this I rode a 1982 Yamaha Maxim 650 to learn. Fun bike, but not very reliable. I sold it last year when I moved to Chicago rather than transport/register/winter a $1000 bike. And with carbs it was definitely a nice-weather-only bike, I'm hoping the K will be okay in the 30's and 40's.
I don't think the bike needs anything right now, but I'm going to need to keep an eye on the fork. The left one leaked on the trip home in a pickup truck, but I'm guessing it's just from being partially compressed for a long period of time. Dunno if I blew it / damaged it, or it just weeped a bit under pressure and will last a while more. I figure I'll clean it up and change the oil and watch it. There was no leaking or indication thereof before loading it. Hopefully I can ride it as is and maybe rebuild and put in progressives over the winter.
Anyway, that's that. Looking forward to hitting the road.
I just bought a 1987 K75T. I really want a GS, but my budget now was $3500, and I'd rather ride for 2-3 years and save 5-10K for a nice GS than have no bike for a year or two. I figure a K is a great bike, and I could make short (day or two) trips on it, just nothing too adventurous. Plus, it'll probably be a better around-town bike since it's lower and lighter, and less attention-getting while parked on the street.
Prior to this I rode a 1982 Yamaha Maxim 650 to learn. Fun bike, but not very reliable. I sold it last year when I moved to Chicago rather than transport/register/winter a $1000 bike. And with carbs it was definitely a nice-weather-only bike, I'm hoping the K will be okay in the 30's and 40's.
I don't think the bike needs anything right now, but I'm going to need to keep an eye on the fork. The left one leaked on the trip home in a pickup truck, but I'm guessing it's just from being partially compressed for a long period of time. Dunno if I blew it / damaged it, or it just weeped a bit under pressure and will last a while more. I figure I'll clean it up and change the oil and watch it. There was no leaking or indication thereof before loading it. Hopefully I can ride it as is and maybe rebuild and put in progressives over the winter.
Anyway, that's that. Looking forward to hitting the road.