Sold BMW R1200RT Twin cam 2012 31K Miles FSH £3150

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PIGGLET

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As per my thread in the RT section, I bought this bike specifically for a trip to the alps during which I did 3.5K on both motorways and alpine passes and it didn't miss a beat. The cruise control and leccy screen are a gamechanger for the motorways! It's only for sale as I'm getting divorced and can't keep it.
Bike details:
BMW R1200 RT MU First registered 15/12/2012. 3 owners including myself. I bought it last month with 28K on it.
The Garmin satnav with european maps is included, the Quadlock mount isn't.
It has additional mirrors which are pretty much essential for decent rear vision plus a fender extender and stainless front engine guard. There are hella Micro DE's on a switch.

The bike has pretty much full BMW history up to 27K. The service book is stamped up to 22K by Chester mottorad, the supplying dealer with independent service stamps up to present. There are however invoices for work from Chester motoraad including service work for the bike at 25K and 27K respectively. Basically it's been over serviced.

It was bought new by a retired traffic officer to tour on. It racked up the bulk of it's mileage during his ownership. He sold it to the second owner at 5 years old. The guy I bought it from is a pretty well heeled chap who bought it primarily commute to his holiday home in Ireland. He has a couple of other bikes for day to day riding but bought a Goldwing around 5 years ago so the RT had been sat pretty much unused since. Sean, the guy I bought it off didn't skimp on maintenance but isn't overly fussy on cleaning so it's not the smartest bike out there BUT it is mechanically very well cared for which is exactly what I was looking for. It's priced to reflect it's not a minter. Much of what lets it down are rusty fastners, there is some flaking on the usual areas such as the rocker covers and casings plus blistering on the final drive and peg hangers, there are a few boot scuffs on the panniers. With the exception of the panniers the rest of the white paintwork is pretty much mark free. I don't think it's that bad but don't expect a pampered garage queen. It's been used but not abused.

After collecting it I put it on the lift and gave it a thorough service. It probably didn't need it but I went right it prior to my trip changeing all fluids including brake and clutch (mineral), plugs and filters, The rear calliper slider was sticky but a strip down and clean has sorted it. The calliper pistons were cleaned at the same time and new pads fitted. The front brakes were absolutely fine with recent pads and discs. Valve clearances were within tolerance. There are pics showing the condition of the oils as I drained them which were clean. The bike has done 3.5K since I went through it and I would have no hesitation to jump on it and head off across Europe again. It's ready to go.

In summary, this is a solid, well looked after, relatively low mileage twin cam that's ready to be used and it's condition and price mean you don't have to be too precious about it. Just ride it! Alternatively with a bit of time and a few stainless fastners you could significantly improve its appearance.


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Good advert that mate. Is that the Hole of Horcum in the background ?
 
I was at the local fastener suppliers yesterday so I have replaced the grotty steel frame fixings with stainless. Going to clean the centre stand as that's the grubbiest thing on the bike then take some fresh pics and re advertise it in a more positive light.
If anyone on here wants it I'll take £3k for it. It really does look much better than the pics suggest.
 
I was at the local fastener suppliers yesterday so I have replaced the grotty steel frame fixings with stainless. Going to clean the centre stand as that's the grubbiest thing on the bike then take some fresh pics and re advertise it in a more positive light.
If anyone on here wants it I'll take £3k for it. It really does look much better than the pics suggest.
PM sent
 
PM's replied to.

I've had a couple of people ask me why did I take an RT over the GS for the jaunt to the alps? Hopefully this will explain:
I've had GS's for over 20 years, for the type of riding I do which is predominantly back roads, bimbling round the lakes, camping in Scotland etc I find them ideal.
To get to the Alps and living in the North East I needed to bash down to Folkestone on an evening and then do around 350 miles on motorways when I hit France before I hit the hills and Twisties. The RT was absolutely ideal for this, great wind protection, comfy heated seat, cruise. Tuck in, tunes on and watch the miles tick by. If it starts raining then on the RT most of the weather is funnelled around you by the screen and bodywork, even on your legs. Get to the slow speed twisty stuff, drop your screen and flip your visor open and you are back in the fresh air like on a GS and it will hustle in a surprisingly agile manner. On the way home I needed to cut a day out of my trip so I rode from Morzine up to Ypres, then the following morning set off from Ypres back to North Yorkshire in poor weather. The RT was so much more comfortable than the GS would have been.

I'm also pretty slight so despite being 5-10 to 5-11ish, pipe cleaner legs and 68Kg wet means when a loaded 1150 GS starts to topple, I'm going with it. That wasn't something I wanted to have to worry about on a balcony road, ferry or train when doing them for the first time.
The RT is WAY more manageable than a GS in every regard from this perspective. The seat height and pegs are much lower so you can flat foot it easily (my 5ft 8 mate can flat foot it with the seat in the low position, he was truly surprised how manageable it is). I'm comfy and can flat foot it with the seat in the high position.

The ergonomics make for a much more relaxed riding position than on a GS, the bars actually feel higher and being narrower and closer to you it's easier to tuck in behind the screen if it's raining. It also makes it much easier to paddle it around at standstill as you are not as stretched. Again, very noticeable fully loaded and with a pillion.
In summary it feels like a much smaller and lighter bike than a GS. You have to experience it to appreciate just how different they are in this regard as looking at them you would probably think the RT would feel bigger and bulkier. It's the opposite.

I love my GS but for covering big miles at speed and in comfort the RT is the better bike by long way. It's what it was designed for. Everything is compromise so having experienced it, in an ideal world I would keep the RT for exactly what it was designed for and enjoy the GS for slower back road and back country adventures. The two bikes together cover a LOT of bases. Unfortunately I can't do that and I'm a bit gutted as I suspect in the future I will buy another to tour on and have to go through the whole process again with an unknown bike. When you see a 1250 top box advertised at £450 (it cost £900 new!) and described as a bargain I think it makes my RT look pretty good value!
 
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That's funny you have to justify why you took a bike...😂 Today I woke up and thought "fxxk it, I'm taking the RT" would be my usual thoughts process...👍
GS or RT dilemmas are a regular for those in the know though... There ain't no UKRTer though with it's obvious street cred...😆
 
I think I know exactly what you mean. I have an 1150 Gs and an 1150 RT. The Gs is for fun but does the business, and the RT is for business but also does the fun. Had GS’s for years but this is my first RT, wish I’d had one years ago. Sadly due to arthritis I have to let them both go.
 
I think I know exactly what you mean. I have an 1150 Gs and an 1150 RT. The Gs is for fun but does the business, and the RT is for business but also does the fun. Had GS’s for years but this is my first RT, wish I’d had one years ago. Sadly due to arthritis I have to let them both go.
You've summed it up well. If you'd told me 25 years ago I would own an RT and actually wax lyrical about it I'd have laughed. Older and wiser....
I have arthritis in my right wrist as well as my lower back and I'm not sure I would have managed the big mile days on the GS without cruise. I hope it doesn't stop you riding altogether, is a big scoot on the cards?
 
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You've summed it up well. If you'd told me 25 years ago I would own an RT and actually wax lyrical about it I'd have laughed. Older and wiser....
I have arthritis in my right wrist as well as my lower back and I'm not sure I would have managed the big mile days on the GS without cruise. I hope it doesn't stop you riding altogether, is a big scoot on the cards?
Big scoot?
You know what, I've considered that, T Max Tech Max. But not sure I'm ready for it. Like the RT though.
It all went sh@itfaced when my gs was nicked. In the wilderness a bit if that makes sense.
 
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Big scoot?
You know what, I've considered that, T Max Tech Max. But not sure I'm ready for it. Like the RT though.
It all went sh@itfaced when my gs was nicked. In the wilderness a bit if that makes sense.
What does “ I’m not sure I’m ready for it “ actually mean ?
And how will you know when you are ready for it ?
 
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