Directional instability….

[KMD]

In order to scratch an itch I’ve had for a long while, I’ve taken a punt on a 2002 BMW R1150RT. Very nice condition, abs-ectomy, 22k miles, service history, full luggage and everything works. I’ve kept the Gs (1150) which, on new tyres and with Wilbers both ends handles really nicely.

The RT, by comparison is all over the place. My first impression was the tyres are flat. Steering heavy, falling into bends, 50 pencing and generally un-reassuring in anything other than a straight line. Tyres are Pirelli something or other and old, but don’t appear to be worn out or overly squared off.

I have some new Continental tyres to go on and haven’t touched the bike yet so I don’t know if there is a spacer behind the rear wheel. I don’t even know if there should be one, which is a question , should there be one ? The overall feel is like something has been put together wrong. I know it recently had a bevel main bearing replaced.

If it turns out to be tyres, it’s the worst case of bad tyres I’ve experienced.

 

[Davey B]

How old are the tyres? Has it got original suspension on...that's had nothing done in 22yrs?
I've found that often, as a bike very gradually degrades, us as the day to day rider just get used to it and only when riding a 'sorted' version do we realise that stuff needs replacing/repairing.

 

[er-minio]

After squared tyres and shock test, I might suggest to have a look at the state of the telelever's uniball.

 

[JoeBiff]

If it turns out to be tyres, it’s the worst case of bad tyres I’ve experienced.

I ran a Honda Pan Eu many years ago with Pirelli’s.
Once the front tyre shoulders displayed noticeable wear, the bike’s handled suffered hugely. The same applied to an RT I owned, but that wasn’t running Pirelli tyres.
All else being equal, that may be your first world problem.

 

[Oldrat]

Tyres or head bearings?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Conti tyres will improve it, no end
Was it John Nicholson's RT?

 

[KMD]

How old are the tyres? Has it got original suspension on...that's had nothing done in 22yrs?
I've found that often, as a bike very gradually degrades, us as the day to day rider just get used to it and only when riding a 'sorted' version do we realise that stuff needs replacing/repairing.

I will check the tyres date of manufacture, but I think they’ve been on quite a while. In the MOT history there is a period of about five years where the mileage is so low it is probably just the trips to the testing station. The owner at the time had a period of ill health before passing the bike on to his son in law, who I have bought it from.

 

[KMD]

Conti tyres will improve it, no end
Was it John Nicholson's RT?

No JB, this one came from Easingwold. I can’t imagine any bike JN sells having a problem.

 

[Morety]

Must admit, sounds like a combination of squared off tyres and possible steering head or front suspension ball joint issues. My experience of them was that they were very decent handling bikes.

 

[jetjock]

I’d check the rear shock

 

[KMD]

I’d check the rear shock

I would not be surprised if at this age, even at this low mileage, both shock absorbers were not operating at their best.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I would not be surprised if at this age, even at this low mileage, both shock absorbers were not operating at their best.

Time for some Ohlins ?
Gold is not just for Christmas

 

[theoneandonly]

my RT also has to be held up in corners ...hmmm not the tyres they're newish and BT's

 

[KMD]

my RT also has to be held up in corners ...hmmm not the tyres they're newish and BT's

That’s exactly the feeling I’m getting, it has to be held up in corners!

 

[Steptoe]

RT’s handle vastly different to a GS, in comparison it feels like they have a puncture. If you only ride an RT I doubt you’d notice it

 

[nicholsonj2252]

Conti tyres will improve it, no end
Was it John Nicholson's RT?

Definitely NOT my old RT as it’s still in my garage and if it had any issues , which it doesn’t they would have been sorted . Mine handles like a dream


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DrFarkoff]

That’s exactly the feeling I’m getting, it has to be held up in corners!

That’s exactly the feeling I’m getting, it has to be held up in corners!

One of the things that people are guilty of is looking in the Manual for tyre pressures "feels Heavy"

I think the old recommended pressures were 32F - 36R when These days a majority of manufacturers recommend 36F 42R

Check with the Tyre manufacturers websites "ONLINE"

Front Ball Joint? I doubt it! I have never changed one below 50K and even then it was a frontal hit and it was bent and so was the swingarm front end

Also you don;t really need Wilburs I fitted a front shock from Protech LINKY App £200 delivered and it made the world of a difference (Mine suffered a very annoying "Pogo" at the front end but it has 93,000 plus miles on it I would have to say Night and day and a LOT of confidence in corners etc now

I will send the rear to Lukasz @ T Tech for a rebuild once I get time to strip it out

 

[kondorpilot]

@KMD, had similar with an 1100 GS .
More experience offered in suggestion above but mine was cured by removing and re installing the fork legs which were not lying parallel to one another.
Just a thought.

 

[Pukmeister]

Start with the tyres then perhaps get the suspenders fettled by T-Tech. Shouldn't cost the earth and will undoubtedly improve what you started with by some margin. Whilst apart, have a pull/push on all linkages, joints etc and see if any play can be felt and fixed.

 

[Wrigsby1]

I sold BMs of the 1150 era and have had one myself for a fair while a there's twatree things I'd say towards your fix...
1st is it'll feel heavier on the counter steer anyway next to the GS... Shorter "tiller" and chunkier tyres.
2nd is that on anything like worn/ old tyres they are heavier and all these big tourers are very pressure critical... 36/42 whatever...
Thirdly when they came out of the factory back in the day they came with 3 or 4 tyre brands... Metz/pirelli were like steering through concrete, mich/ Dunlop's were neutral even though I found them slow and the in the day Bridgestone felt like they steered well... Brands and profiles have changed but if it's a round radius front like the old Metz/ pirelli shape it will be a big effort...
New decent profile AND correctly inflated tyres will give you a proper steering RT to start with...

Probably one last thing is 1150RTs need a bit more effort than other tourers depending on what you've ridden... I had an RT and a 13 Pan at the same time and felt like I was about to lowside the Pan in comparison as it steered much much quicker...

So there .. get it right and know what to expect and you'll learn to like and trust the old bus and have some fun cos you can ride them like you've stolen it once you get your feel for it...