Comparisons

[single650]

I decided to take K out today as she was feeling neglected. I've been riding the Rock siince I bought it to get used to it.

Most noticeable is the riding position, the K75s is soooo narrow it feels like you are slicing trough the traffic.

Next is the engine feel; the triple is turbine smooth. The K75s delivers a similar BHP to the rock (obout 8 lower I think) but does it in a completely different way. I noticed that I was going about 10 mph slower that I have been on the rock for a given bit of road.

The rocks grunt is phenominal, roll on acceleration is nowhere nears as good on K.

The handling, sadly K is disadvantaged, you can't get modern tyres to fit a K no-one makes radials in that size. Skinny little crossplies just aren't up to it for the twisties.

Strangly the K gear change is smoother - K has a nice big gear lever - but that might be because K is 12 years old and has done 85k whereas Rock has just done 5K

Both nice bikes, which is best, modern technology shows but the triple is so smooth (why did BMW stop triples ?). I'll just have to keep both and ride to suit my mood.

As to my R80/7 perhaps I'll get that running again soon and compare that

Nigel

[riceburner]

Can you get BT45s for the K75??

try em.

[single650]

Last time my friendly dealer went through every catalogue but could find nothing.

He did suggest a different profile but didn't reccomend it...sigh! At least cross plies are cheap(ish)

[dragonmojo]

I once owned a K75S (for 12 years!). Enjoyed the bike, and the triple is very smooth; I believe the existence of "comparable" twins killed it. I can't offer a personal comparison, since there's been a 5 year gap between owing the K and my current Rock. I sat on a K75S last Saturday, and noticed how narrow the bars were, but I just can't remember (even after all those years together).

[jon pierce]

I figure the only similarity between the two bikes is the badge on the tank, you really can't make any sort of comparison. I also had a K75 and yes the motor was turbine smooth but without soul. As for the handling of yout 75 - it's not the tyres to blame.............none of the pre paralever K bikes handled very well. In fact even my K1 (with radial tyres and paralver) could not touch the Rockster - in my opinion the older K bikes felt as though they had a hinge in the middle of the frame - or is it just me !!

I rode my rockster to the Americade today (my first American bike rally) with a couple of local friends on their Harleys and Honda Harleys..........nice guys but boy was I frustrated with the riding!! They slow right down for the corners! Had a good day though - and of the thousands of bikes there I reckon I had the only Rockster! Don't they all realise that they are clones of one another?

On the way home we stopped for a 'breather' and met an Austrian who was real pleased to see the Rockster and pointed out that he has a green one and that his sister rides a Harley - I almost dropped my ice cream!

[DKSTR]

jon, thanks for your many excellent posts.

I traded in an '88 K75s for my Rock when I moved to Tucson a few years ago because the heat from the radiator was too dam much in 100* plus temps. (OK, it was love at first sight.)

I would cautiously define the K as a competent well-bred horse and any big R as a well-adjusted Rhino.