Bmw C reviews

I bought my K75T/C in April, 1986 and still own it. I have had five other motorcycles over the same time period and still keep the BMW. Performance: Fast enough but not in the Japanese race bike league. Comfort: Bars are 1" - 2" too low for me - I'm tall. To replace the bars require all new longer electric cables, clutch cable and brake lines - too expensive. The windshield causes helmet buffeting (reason for 4 stars). Complaints: If you park on the side stand expect 20 - 30 seconds of smoke on initial start up. (Fixed on newer models). The roll center (center of gravity) is too high making the bike feel tippy at low speeds. I am on my 3rd dash cluster (that is why I do not know my mileage) - moisture kills them. Kudos: Absolutely dead smooth at any speed. Very comfortable. Eats sweepers for breakfast and flies down highways (75 - 80 mph. is its "Happy Speed". 500-mile days are no problem. I'm always over 50 mpg. Footnote: The K series of bikes were modular construction so once you learn the assembly techniques, they are fairly easy to work on - until you need a special factory tool!!! Show less

I bought this bike with 4k miles on it. I changed all the fluids, filters and readjusted everything to fit me and loved the bike more than the original test ride. Having ridden a few 750 Japanese cruisers, this BMW is leaps above anything Japan could have to offer. For average cruising of any distance, this bike is more than enough. The acceleration is somehow topped in performance in braking power at any speeds. Shifting is quick and reliable. Twisties are cheerfully greeted with the chrome of my floor boards from time to time :). I rode Deals Gap within a month of owning this bike and loved the Dragons Tail; I rode it three more times that week. Aside from it being a BMW, it has all the quality forethought of any premium machine; I appreciate the complete took/repair kit. I have no second thoughts of taking this bike on a week long solo trip. Exciting, reliable, sexy and easy to ride both around town and long distances. THANKS BMW, I look forward to a new K1200GT some day. Show less

I purchased this bike about 2 years ago. No problem. I lied, the only problems I have had are people taking their eyes off the road to look at it. It is a head turning bike. Very comfortable to the rider, and with the comfort seat upgrade, my wife feels safe and comfortable as well. ABS brakes, need I say more? Engineered to last 100K or more, this is a great bike for a bargainer with performance and looks for a collector. Show less

Bought used 3 months ago. I am very pleased to say it's a great bike. Sportbike guys say it needs more power while the purist cruiser crowds don't know what to make of it. What I can tell you is that it handles extremely well and feels very light weight. The bike has the typical BMW personality and feel when working through the gears. It has a huge amount of BLING (chrome) to take care of. Having a R1200C and the DL1000 to choose from makes for great riding in every condition. Show less

I purchased a 99 K1200LT used with 61k. I have had a great experience with the bike. Moving up from a 97 Honda Magna, I can't believe how smooth, comfortable and fast this big bike is. If you want to get into touring, this is a great ride. It corners with finesse and handles the superslab with ease. Watch those foot pegs, it will fly through the twisties at amazing lean angles. The frame is rigid and doesn't flex like other big bikes do. You can ride this big machine all day long. Love the adjustable windshield. My wife, not a big fan of riding, has turned the corner now that I have this machine and now travels with me frequently. Her high vantage point actually allows her to see the scenery. Wind buffering for the passenger can be strong unless you have the windshield set up high.... My ICON model offers all the comforts necessary for long trips, CD changer, intercom system, cruise, etc.... It just eats up the miles. I looked at used Gold Wings and during these model years, (99 to 01) the LT has it all over the GL1500's in regards to price and value. Only complaints, upfront storage is lacking, pickup a good small tank bag for items you need close by, (toll money, a water bottle, gloves, etc). This thing is heavy, not a beginners bike, low speed handling takes concentration, and dealerships are rare and maintenance is on the expensive side. I can highly recommend the K1200LT to anyone looking for a great long distance bike. Show less

I bought my 2003 K1200LTC used with 1800 miles on it and have about 6800 on it now. This includes a trip from Austin to Arizona and back. This bike is so smooth and comfortable on a long trip and handled the winding highways in OK and AR with amazing dexterity, especially considering we were riding 2 up and loaded with clothing for a 5 day trip. Plenty of power and cross winds are no big deal. The bike does feel top heavy at speeds under 10 mph. Above that speed, the weight disappears and the bike becomes extraodinarily nimble, especially for a bike this size and weight. While the seating position is generally quite comfortable, I need to stretch my legs after about 100 miles in the saddle. Overall, a very well-built, well-engineered machine that delivers a wonderful riding experience. Show less

This review may help you if you are looking to buy a K75. The K75 was made from 1985 through 1995 and hardly changed at all through that time. The motor, frame and many components remained unchanged but there were some upgrades throughout its life. I have the Standard model but a previous owner added the "C-Model" fairing with the mid-rise bar. There was also a low-rise handlebar on the K75S (sporty version) and a high-bar on the K75LT (touring version).
I recently bought a 1986 that had about 72,000 miles on it and I've put on another thousand or so. Career, kids, etc. I don't get to ride nearly as much as I'd like. But, here are my initial impressions:
RIDE & COMFORT: Very good! My brother pointed out that this bike feels similar to the 85-87 Honda Nighthawk 700s. And he's right; although I'd say there is just a bit more "sporting lean" to the riding position. After 20 years the seat foam was pretty shot, so I ordered a Corbin and life is great. Absolutely no pressure points that I've felt so far. Although my longest ride to date has only been about 200 miles in a day. There is a little wind buffeting from the fairing, but unless you're on a Gold Wing or other such touring barge there is no away around a little wind noise. The mid-bar asks for a little bit of a forward lean, but not enough to put any real pressure on your wrists. The suspension does the job and while you won't set any records on a twisty road, it is stable at speed and predictable through the turns. It's not awe-inspiring but it is confidence instilling.
ENGINE: Smoooooth! This is by far the nicest engine I've ever met. It's almost electric. You know its running but it is never invasive. Quite pleasant. It is down on power, though. It's got plenty to move my large self around but a Japanese in-line four it's not. It builds its power quite slowly and doesn't really "come-on" (if you can call it that) until the mid-range and then it is satisfying, if not adrenaline rushing. I'm sure that twenty years and 73,000 miles has taken its toll, but the engine has held up well and I'm pleased with the way it runs.
RUNNING GEAR: (Tranny, drive-shaft, brakes, etc.)This is an area I've come to find out requires a bit of regular maintenance to keep it from blowing up; specifically, the clutch and drive shaft. They must be lubricated at regular intervals or they can catastrophically fail. And I understand it's quite expensive when they do. The tranny seems pretty bullet proof. Like the engine, keep it full of fresh fluid and it'll last forever. The brakes on mine seem to be the original (except the pads, of course) and are in pretty good shape. They are soft by today's standards, but I think fresh fluid and pads would fix it right up. One common problem is with the gauge cluster. Apparently it isn't all that well made and you can count on one or more of the instruments failing. Replacement is nearly $700 with no guarantee it will not fail, too. Better to just live without a neutral light...
ACCESSORIES & AFTERMARKET: BMW still makes all the parts you'll need to make repairs or restorations. But, the aftermarket is almost nonexistent.
FINAL THOUGHTS: I have come to really like this bike over the past couple of months. The fact that it's twenty years old adds to its charm. By today's standards it's not fast, won't stop on a dime, and won't carve like a scalpel. But, it is fun to ride, can be bought cheap and with proper care will run for decades without any major overhauls. I sold my Harley to pay for my wife to go back to school. And I bought the K75 just as a cheap interim bike until next year when my wife is done and I'll get something new. But honestly, I'm keeping my eyes open for a clean, low-mileage '94 or '95 K75 that I'd like to keep for the next few years. I've ridden and owned a lot bikes and I can't think of anything that "for the moneyI'd rather have (right now).
BOTTOM LINE: Should you buy one? If you want a GSXR but can't afford one, NO! If you like chaps and do-rags, NO. But, if you think the Bandit or FZ1 is right up your alley, but don't really want a high-strung inline four, YES. If the SV650 Standard is cool, but physically too small, YES. Looking for something a little different? The K75 is for you. Happy Motoring! Show less

I've had my '86 K75T for 2 seasons now, and on the whole, I'd have to say it's a real appliance of a bike. Not to downplay how fun it is - it's just that when you start it up and listen to it purr, and when your on twisties going 60, it's just a magnificently reassuring feeling. I never imagine breaking down. It's just too well put together. With the mileage getting up there, I'm thinking the alternator brushes need replacing because the battery doesn't hold a charge as well as it should. But knowing I can easily get another 300K on this bike with nothing but regular maintenance (including the somewhat pricey spline lube every 20K or so - about $350), makes me pretty comfortable that I made a great investment. I've thought about other bikes. The Ducati ST4, the newer BMW K1200RS, even a Harley Road King, but it always comes down to this: I paid $2400 for a bike that will run forever and keeps a smile on my face every mile I put on it. Oh yeah, except for recently I've noticed the the Corbin seat has lost a lot of cushion, and that needs replacing. Overall...an absolutely amazing bike. Show less

I have had my Montauk for a little over one year and love it. BMW quality & reliability is a major reason why I purchased this bike, along with what I believe is a unique and beautiful design. This is the first bike I've owned since selling my first bike several years ago, which was a little Yamaha 600 (Seka II). To me, the Montauk has more than enough power to get up the steep mountains and twisty canyon roads and goes fast enough and quick enough for me in the flats. Breaking is fantastic in dry and wet conditions. The low center of gravity from the engine allows me to look like a champ in slow situtations or when I'm making tight turns- the handling is exceptional! I have the gel seats, which are extremely comfortable, but I plan on getting a heated comfort leather seat because I like the look of leather more than gel. It really is an impressive ride when combining the seat and suspension. I recently added bags, so I am going to put more miles on this year. This is the only reason I don't have more miles on her already. It certainly isn't becuase of comfort! It's an awesome ride. I don't think one can argue with the quality of BMW. The bike quailty goes without question and the service and sales departments have been wonderful. The only suggestion I'd make if you are planning on getting one of these, is to have the dealer put on the standard 1200C seat set up before you buy. It doesn't make sense that BMW didn't keep the same backrest and passneger seat set up, but they didn't. It's pretty pricey to add the standard set up, which is practical. The gel pad that comes standard on the Montauk isn't that great for a passenger and doesn't really do much for the bike. I am sorry they are not going to make this bike anymore. It is a lot of bike for the money, especially when comparing to other cruisers in the same price range (or higher). Get one fast, while you can! Show less

After riding Harleys and Hondas for thirty years, I bought this bike for dependability and comfort for both myself and the wife. I have been on two long trips, one to Sturgis and one to Colorado in the last two years. I cruised at 90 mph without breathing hard, and passing Harleys all the way. The bike is very smooth and dependable. The local sevice is excellent. The only complaints are the lack of someplace to put your feet other than straight down on long trips. Highway pegs would be nice. Show less