In 1983, the smaller 750cc three-cylinder K 75 C model, developed largely in parallel with the four-cylinder K 100 and K 100 RS, was also planned for release but the maker decided to wait and see if the four-cylinder motorcycles were going to be accepted.
The patient paid off, and with the knowledge gained from the bigger cc class K motorcycles, BMW released the K 75 C and K 75 S models in 1985. The 75 C model had the cockpit fairing fixed to the handlebars, and the 75 S version had a sporty half-shell fixed to the frame.
The three-cylinder engine fitted on the 75 C model had an independent development with an additional balancer shaft that reduced the vibrations and raised the running smoothness of the engine to the level of the four-cylinder unit that powered the K 100 models.
The 1985 BMW K 75 C model, powered by the 740cc three-cylinder engine with a power output of 75 hp at 8,500 rpm and 68 Nm (50 lb-ft) of torque available at 6,750 rpm, gave the bike a top speed of 200 kph (125 mph).
The middle-class naked machine came with standard features such as cast-aluminum wheels, nose-fairing with a windscreen, a dual seat, passenger grab rails, a rear luggage rack, mid-mounted foot controls, an analog instrument cluster, and a center stand.