Second test ride on the RT, this time after the cardan shaft check was done, bike serviced, new brake pads and software update along with other recall work. Rode much better. Cardan shaft in good condition so no worries there. Flapper valve working ok too. Definitely smoother (possibly the firmware update affecting fuelling?). Jog wheel now works with the Nav6, although on the RT you can't zoom in or out of the bike data info page, only the map but I can live with that as I only need the tyre pressures and speed readout anyway. Still annoying vibes but far less pronounced and mirrors still blurry at anything over 15mph, so there's another reason for vibes and I think the culprit may be wheel balance. Gearbox felt slicker this time but still more notchy than my 1200. Gearshift assist was not good at all. Clutch still bites very late but at least I could change gear without the annoying clunkiness experienced on the initial test ride. Bike had been laid up 6 months which may be a factor.
Front wheel has a weight on the offside of rim and the adjacent nearside section of rim shows adhesive where a weight was, as well as another more worn patch further around on the rim (a previous weight so on 2nd set of tyres possibly). Rear tyre is newer but there are no weights anywhere which is odd because I'd expect with the valve and tpms sensor, some balancing might be reasonably assumed, so I have asked for both wheels to be whipped out and checked for balance. I'd put money on that being the cause of the vibes, with everything else checked from suspension, frame damage (I've heard of RT's d dropped off side stand and the weight has been enough to cause slight misalignment of the frame supporting the suspension) and cardan shaft.
Annoyingly, whilst the work was going on, the fairing seems to have picked up a few little scratches. A few existing ones need touching up as they're too deep to polish so I've reserved that as a matter of price negotiation and made it clear I'd want something knocked off, even £50 is enough to take care of a few minor paint blemishes, and I can polish the rest out.
Thinking long and hard though. The trouble is as much as I like the RT, it has a few design foibles that are extremely annoying on a premium bike. Access to the water expansion bottle is ludicrously awkward, the front lower fairing sections partially covering cylinder heads seem very flimsy, front mudguard isn't long enough, there's only one power take off (miniDIN on the RHS cockpit fairing section) and to remove the top box is stupidly convoluted. Seats have to come off, electrical connectors have to be unclipped and liner inside needs removing to access latch to remove it. I'd probably just leave it on. Some of my N/O colleagues with RT's have had multiple header replacements due to flapper valve issues which seem more problematical on RT for some reason, and one had to have his fly by wire throttle replaced twice in twelve months, the last time breaking down on European tour. Not good.
Other observations are that hand grip and footpeg rubber quality has gone downhill, with prematurely worn grips after just 13K miles. Little things matter so comparing with the last of the 1200 twin cams, they were far better built bikes all round imho.
The main issue though is the RS itself. I put up over 100 miles yesterday and the way the RS performs, especially handling, is simply sublime. The RT is good for such a large touring machine but really can't hold a candle to the RS (and I'd say the same about the GS having owned one...the RS trumps it in the handling and stability stakes). That bike brings a grin to my face on every ride...it's just hugely capable and quick with it. Do I want to sacrifice that fun factor and potentially land myself with a more complex, less reliable machine? I have to balance that with the superb weather protection of the RT, which is way more comfortable to ride, has more carrying capacity, is a higher spec and is a little newer. Whilst I wouldn't get any value chopping my 1200 in for a newer 1250 RS, nor any real advantage, I can still see the sense in doing so for an RT, simply for the extended saddle duration time it offers in comfort and protection. I can also flat foot it easily which improves confidence in handling it. I'll have a long hard think as I also will need to spend on engine bars, auxiliary lighting (stock lights are abysmally poor when compared with newer LED lights and even my old 2016 GSA had brilliant LED lights) and a few other bits, so it could end up being an expensive swap.
Front wheel has a weight on the offside of rim and the adjacent nearside section of rim shows adhesive where a weight was, as well as another more worn patch further around on the rim (a previous weight so on 2nd set of tyres possibly). Rear tyre is newer but there are no weights anywhere which is odd because I'd expect with the valve and tpms sensor, some balancing might be reasonably assumed, so I have asked for both wheels to be whipped out and checked for balance. I'd put money on that being the cause of the vibes, with everything else checked from suspension, frame damage (I've heard of RT's d dropped off side stand and the weight has been enough to cause slight misalignment of the frame supporting the suspension) and cardan shaft.
Annoyingly, whilst the work was going on, the fairing seems to have picked up a few little scratches. A few existing ones need touching up as they're too deep to polish so I've reserved that as a matter of price negotiation and made it clear I'd want something knocked off, even £50 is enough to take care of a few minor paint blemishes, and I can polish the rest out.
Thinking long and hard though. The trouble is as much as I like the RT, it has a few design foibles that are extremely annoying on a premium bike. Access to the water expansion bottle is ludicrously awkward, the front lower fairing sections partially covering cylinder heads seem very flimsy, front mudguard isn't long enough, there's only one power take off (miniDIN on the RHS cockpit fairing section) and to remove the top box is stupidly convoluted. Seats have to come off, electrical connectors have to be unclipped and liner inside needs removing to access latch to remove it. I'd probably just leave it on. Some of my N/O colleagues with RT's have had multiple header replacements due to flapper valve issues which seem more problematical on RT for some reason, and one had to have his fly by wire throttle replaced twice in twelve months, the last time breaking down on European tour. Not good.
Other observations are that hand grip and footpeg rubber quality has gone downhill, with prematurely worn grips after just 13K miles. Little things matter so comparing with the last of the 1200 twin cams, they were far better built bikes all round imho.
The main issue though is the RS itself. I put up over 100 miles yesterday and the way the RS performs, especially handling, is simply sublime. The RT is good for such a large touring machine but really can't hold a candle to the RS (and I'd say the same about the GS having owned one...the RS trumps it in the handling and stability stakes). That bike brings a grin to my face on every ride...it's just hugely capable and quick with it. Do I want to sacrifice that fun factor and potentially land myself with a more complex, less reliable machine? I have to balance that with the superb weather protection of the RT, which is way more comfortable to ride, has more carrying capacity, is a higher spec and is a little newer. Whilst I wouldn't get any value chopping my 1200 in for a newer 1250 RS, nor any real advantage, I can still see the sense in doing so for an RT, simply for the extended saddle duration time it offers in comfort and protection. I can also flat foot it easily which improves confidence in handling it. I'll have a long hard think as I also will need to spend on engine bars, auxiliary lighting (stock lights are abysmally poor when compared with newer LED lights and even my old 2016 GSA had brilliant LED lights) and a few other bits, so it could end up being an expensive swap.
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