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No offense, but I feel like a girl

milwlandrover

milwlandrover

New member
Ok, let me preference that!! Short story - I used to ride - I got married, had kids and got divorced - Now I want to ride again. I am 6' 1 250pounds and 65 years old in the great state of Wisconsin.

I talked myself with help from you guys into a K bike and I found the perfect bike for me but at the last moment he pulled it off the market. It was a gorgeous 1987 K75S in Columbia Silver $2750.00 asking price.
I was heart-broken (for 20 minutes) then I started looking for another bike. I found a 1993 K75S Marakesh Red $3000.00 and a beautiful 2005 Blue and white K1200S $4600.00.
I really liked and sat on the K75S and talked myself into them but..... The K1200S is bigger more modern and newer, a bit more expensive not really much heavier, faster and even sexier!!!

I need a wing man to help drown myself in metaphorical beer and commiserate in my misfortunes while telling me what to do next.

This was written in jest and was not intended to be misogynistic, or sexist yet the problem is real.

cheers!
 
Tough choice! But aren't the riding positions quite different on the two bikes? The K1200S is going to be more of a lean forward on your arms whereas the K75S is more pull back, right? Seems like ergonomics will come into play in the long run.
 
reply

That is exactly what I am looking for. I didn't sit on an K1200S yet so I couldn't tell. From the reviews of the bike that I read it does sound like you are leaning forward kind of aggressively, but the K75S you lean forward a bit also.
 
milwlandrover said:
That is exactly what I am looking for. I didn't sit on an K1200S yet so I couldn't tell. From the reviews of the bike that I read it does sound like you are leaning forward kind of aggressively, but the K75S you lean forward a bit also.
Click to expand...

As a K1200S owner I "may" be biased but....I use mine for long distance touring and love it. If you buy one and find the lean forward too much for you, you could buy some Heli-Bars which are cheap, easy to install and raise you up about an inch and a half. Good luck with which ever bike you decide on (K1200S). :D
 
another reply

another good point. Does the bike "feel" heavy"? Would it be ok for an old guy like me driving the 20 minutes to work and back in sometimes heavier traffic or side streets as well as for distance riding?
 
When You get back in the saddle, BE VERY CAREFUL.
You said your 65 now, things have changed.
Maybe take a MSF course or three.
Get a couple of modern how to ride books and self educate yourself.
I have had 2 friends now in your situation that crashed badly, thats no fun.
Ease into it.
Have fun
Best regards
Nick
 
once again a reply

That is a GREAT point and I assure you that I am already set up for a course when the weather gets better (it is snowing outside right now).
And I have been reading for months (actually I have never stopped reading since I was 15years old).
I also have been watching a lot of you-tube videos on bike safety and have learned a lot from them (for you young kids - you-tube is not just for porn).

Sites like this are a great resource. People are willing to help, are very honest and you get opinions from around the world.
I live in Milwaukee so if I just ask friends around here they are all Harley Riders with a "bigger is better" attitude.

I have learned so much from sites like this you would not believe it.

thanks
 
After an absence of 33 years, I got back into riding.

David Hough's books, Proficient Motorcycling, More Proficient Motorcycling and Street Strategies were books that saved me a lot of grief. I still re-read them at the end of winter each year before getting back on my bikes.
 
Absolutly

That is why spring will bring the refresher course so that I remember things right.
I have been riding friends bikes on and off so it is not like I am new and I am not 65 and feeble, I was a Purple belt in Karate (traditional Okinawan) I was a Bull fighter in rodeos, scuba diver, bungee jumper. But that was a while ago. I know pain but I have learned to avoid it.
 
BC1100S said:
As a K1200S owner I "may" be biased but....I use mine for long distance touring and love it. D
Click to expand...

Same here, both of us had a K1300S and found it very comfortable for long trips, without any mods to the bikes.
I'm 6' and Debbie is 5'10"
Seems like the K75S was a similar riding position.
 
like Lee, i have both. completely stock. both very comfortable. IMHO, different tools for different jobs. K75S wonderful around town and on backroads. a little buzy for LD touring on highways. K1300S rides much bigger and it less fun around town. on a road trip though....it is a missile, and a comfortable and capable one. have also spent time on tracks on both bikes. K75 has a more touring than sport setup and lower cornering clearance. K13S is, well, a rocketship. heavy and long wheel base, but a whole lot of fun on track.
 
milwlandrover said:
another good point. Does the bike "feel" heavy"? Would it be ok for an old guy like me driving the 20 minutes to work and back in sometimes heavier traffic or side streets as well as for distance riding?
Click to expand...

All depends on how you feel. I'm 67 and weight 170 pounds. Bike only feels heavy if I have to lift it up off the ground - which I did earlier this year when it fell off the side stand (operator error).
 
I owned for a bit an 02 k12rs and a 98 RS`. that motor was magical.. loved the sound and how it felt.

Like others said, you need to be careful when you start. The bars require a fairly strong push to turn. Stability is awesome until you want to turn. I found the seat very lacking and tried a few different solutions. Was about to get a custom saddle but instead decided to pare down the garage because of a move. I also don’t mind pulling all that bodywork off for maintenance. And yes I realize the irony since I now have an RT.

Still one of the most beautiful machines on the planet.
 
I have had both bikes, keep in mind also that the k75s is a brick and the k12 is transverse. I always thought the older k75’s were “heavy” feeling. The ‘05 would have a slightly longer wheelbase and the angle of the engine helps the center of gravity, even though it’s a heavier bike than the 75s. And well.....the power difference is .....well....mind blowing! A 12S with a little bit of setup can be a great touring bike as well.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
All excellent points

I think it is "a horse apiece" and the decision will probably come down to the availability of the right bike. There are a bunch of great examples of both for sale in the Milwaukee area. The roads are icy today so that means a decision could be delayed a bit. I am afraid if I bought one on a nice day (which in Wisconsin can still come right up until Christmas) I would be dying a little thinking about that bike being in storage when it should be on the road. Again, I thank you all for your help.

cheers!
 
S1200S is way faster

I got to tell you, my interest in getting the fastest bike is no longer an issue. The K75S has a 134mph ability and that is more then enough for me.
 
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