2009 or 2010 model year - opinions?

[JKW]

Right - despite not having the best test ride ever, I still can't shift this RT itch! So I've ordered some bar risers to improve the back ache issue (hopefully) and will be trying out the RT SE again shortly. The question is whether it's worth stumping up for the 2010-on version?

As I understand it the main differences (aside from slight re-modelling) are:-

DOHC engine - press reviews generally rave about this but in 'real world' use does it really make that much difference?
ESA II - I liked this on the 2011 demonstrator I rode last month but don't know how much of an improvement it is over the original version. I don't carry a pillion and mainly liked the facility to soften things up when on crappy roads and firm things up for smooth twisties. Again the journos say its a big improvement but was there anything much wrong with ESA I?
Jap-style indicator switch - definitely a downside, but I guess I can re-educate myself if I have to.

So do these things matter? And are there any factors I've missed and should be thinking about?

Let the abuse begin!

 

[Nutty]

I've not ridden an RT, but the twin cam engine on the GS is great. If the budget will stretch to it, go for the TC.

 

[sven]

The Twin Cam engine is much nicer, making good power from about 4000rpm, as opposed to 5000rpm on the older engine, so it tends to pull higher gears more easily.

The comfort setting is really useful on bumpy back roads - it feels too stiff on normal setting, but that may be because I've just changed from a GS.

I'd say the RT comfort and normal settings are similar to the GS's normal and sport settings respectively, although with shorter travel suspension.

 

[SMcGirr]

i'd disagree slightly with the previous comment about it being too firm. A wee 200 mile plus jaunt around the Lake district last weekend showed that with the suspension set to sport, the RT could hustle along just nicely. backing off to normal on the M6 on the way back was about right with comfort being too wallowy for me. Having had a Hex head GS and now a TC RT, the TC is the way to go.

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

the twin cam engine on the GS is great

Its good, but then so are the older engines. Its has more power but its stacked higher up the rev range. My 1150 feels more eager at low revs than the 1200DOHC despite having less power and being slower when ridden back to back.

 

[Our Gee]

I test rode a Twin Cam RT then got back on my Hex Head RT which has an Accelerator Module fitted. Any performance difference between the two was so slight it was not really noticable although the Twin Cam exhaust did sound nicer.

 

[Istanbulian]

Just considered this dilemma myself. Being a shallow person I just liked the overall updated feel of the twin-cam model; nicer front fork set-up, ESA II. sharper-looking instrumentation. Only downside is I don't like the new switchgear.

Performance difference over the hexhead is neglgible.

These RT's are awesome bikes in the real world.

 

[GFJ]

I have not ridden the tc one, but have the old one.
I would guess in on the road terms they will do much the same if ridden right. Above 5.5k rpm it loses its pleasantries and gets a little aggressive.
Stick some good rubber on and enjoy the ride. You'll enjoy either!
Gareth

 

[Jazbee]

Right - despite not having the best test ride ever, I still can't shift this RT itch! So I've ordered some bar risers to improve the back ache issue (hopefully) and will be trying out the RT SE again shortly. The question is whether it's worth stumping up for the 2010-on version?

As I understand it the main differences (aside from slight re-modelling) are:-

DOHC engine - press reviews generally rave about this but in 'real world' use does it really make that much difference?
ESA II - I liked this on the 2011 demonstrator I rode last month but don't know how much of an improvement it is over the original version. I don't carry a pillion and mainly liked the facility to soften things up when on crappy roads and firm things up for smooth twisties. Again the journos say its a big improvement but was there anything much wrong with ESA I?
Jap-style indicator switch - definitely a downside, but I guess I can re-educate myself if I have to.

So do these things matter? And are there any factors I've missed and should be thinking about?

Let the abuse begin!

For me:
TC engine... Probably not, but just feels better to have 110hp
ESA... yes it really works, a nice toy
Indicators.... I prefer the trad BMW ones but you do get used to them + the average cage doesn't see them anyway so why bother indicating?

Great bike so just get one
Had mine for just over a year now, was up NW Scotland last 2 weekends and once you get used to it its a suberb bike.

 

[JKW]

Gone and been and done it!

Deposit paid today on 4-week old '12 reg' R1200RT SE with 283 miles on the clock in Midnight Blue!
Just waiting for my peg-lowering kit to come from NN's and my bar risers from the States which the dealer is going to fit - so hopefully be out and about by next weekend!

 

[sethmopp]

You'll enjoy it, it's a good bike. I've now got my 12 12GSA

This means there will be a few bits of my RT to be advertised when I get round to it.

eg TT front and rear seat, peg lowering kit, vario risers, XL ztechnik screen....

 

[Cobweb]

4-week old '12 reg' R1200RT SE with 283 miles on the clock in Midnight Blue!

Good choice that. I like the blue but went with the Fluid Grey instead cos' the blue was on back order and I didn't want to wait.
You will get used to the jap style indicator switch, you won't like it but you will learn to live with it and as far as I remember ESA 1 only worked on the rear suspension and ESA 2 does front and rear.

 

[JKW]

4-week old '12 reg' R1200RT SE with 283 miles on the clock in Midnight Blue!

Good choice that. I like the blue but went with the Fluid Grey instead cos' the blue was on back order and I didn't want to wait.
You will get used to the jap style indicator switch, you won't like it but you will learn to live with it and as far as I remember ESA 1 only worked on the rear suspension and ESA 2 does front and rear.

To be honest, I didn't have any choice on colour - but wouldn't have minded Fluid Grey either - not at all convinced by the beige/silver/brown combo though.

The bike is dealer return/swap done mainly for goodwill on the basis of a very slight manufacturing fault which is being redone/replaced this week. I'm not complaining as it's saved me not far off £2k on a new one!

 

[JKW]

It's here!

Picked up the 'new' (first registered 20/04/12) bike yesterday.

OK so I've only done about 20 miles so far but...

• Very comfortable with bar risers and pegs lowered.
• Looks the complete 'mutt's nuts'!
• Gearbox is light years better than the demonstrator I road a couple of months back.
• Twin cam noticeably smoother especially at lower revs (my last ride out was on a 2004 bike just to check out comfort with bar risers)
• Only sounded the horn 3 times so far trying to indicate left!

And - it turns out the bike has a BMW alarm fitted and Datatag - neither of which I've had to pay for!!!

i'm quite a happy bunny actually!!

 

[sven]

[*]Only sounded the horn 3 times so far trying to indicate left!
[/LIST]

That's about three times more than I managed to sound my horn on older BMW's when trying to sound the horn - I usually ended up indicating left

 

[Our Gee]

4-week old '12 reg' R1200RT SE with 283 miles on the clock in Midnight Blue!

Good choice that. I like the blue but went with the Fluid Grey instead cos' the blue was on back order and I didn't want to wait.
You will get used to the jap style indicator switch, you won't like it but you will learn to live with it and as far as I remember ESA 1 only worked on the rear suspension and ESA 2 does front and rear.

My 2008 RT presumably has the first generation ESA which controls the Damping both Front and Rear and Rear Pre-Load.