Not 2 GS

[SteelD]

While still liking the idea of a BM but not liking the GSs poor headlight and minimal weather protection, my thoughts have wandered to the RT. Does anybody know of any RT forums like these excllent GS ones where I see sense the general opinion?

Thanks

David

 

[Davel]

You'll find folk on here with RTs and a few with GTs, so stick around for a while

 

[pikeydave]

Try this.

How shall I put this..Not as exciting as this site

http://www.bmrider.com/forums/index.php?s=

 

[Paul Wakefield]

This is a good site for RT stuff:

http://bmwsporttouring.com

They rate the RT pretty highly (as do I - 14k so far on mine)

Paul

 

[Gas'd Off]

but not liking the GSs poor headlight and minimal weather protection

Extra lights and bigger screen?

 

[SteelD]

Thanks for the links guys.

Paul, since you have an RT... My regular ride is 30% dual carriageway, 30% motorway, 30% smaller A and B roads with 10% in town. If I had to decide between agility in town and weather protection on the open road in the winter months, it's the former I would forego, hence the leaning towards the RT rather than the GS. I also like good headlights and the RT seems to be good in this respect with the GS quite bad. So, how do you find the RT in town?

My current ride is an FJR which does most things well but I've always fancied a BM and since it is a milestone birthday next year, I've got the perfect excuse. But which one....?

David

 

[grandtrousers]

60th birthday?................

 

[Paul Wakefield]

David,

I'm not going to be much use to you as the amount of town riding I do is minimal. On the plus side its a doddle to ride along at very slow speed and the weight is lowish (unless you have a fully loaded top box) and I suspect its lighter than the FJR. OTOH its quite wide especially if you are going to keep the panniers on. For filtering on a jammed motorway, its fine but I would think the Marylebone Road on a Monday morning might be a bit of a challenge!

For all your other uses its great and I would rate it as high as the GS so long as you have no off road requirements. Its definitely got more oomph. Weather protection is excellent and the heated grips and seats are superb. The only downside is in really hot weateher when you wish it didn't have a screen even in the fully down position.

I think BM are offering all day test rides on weekdays at the moment. Give it a go - they do take time to get used to.

Paul

 

[Dahoum]

60th birthday?................

thats a tombstone birthday - not a milestone one

 

[Flipfly]

SteelD, I'll bet you that my GS lights (with the addition of Hella MicroDE's and FF50's) will murder anything the RT can put out. You can even buy a dual Xenon kit off of ebay for £100 ish now aswell so don't worry about lights. As for weather protection, I get wet when it rains as does any biker so buy decent waterproof clobber and it's no longer an issue. It hot weather I get some cooling air (mra vario screen) and the GS will be far more fun at the town and country work (40% of what you do) and just as good at the dual carriageway stuff (totalling 70% of your riding).
The GS loses out slightly on Motorway stuff but not enough to discount it as an option. If you can afford the 1200 ADV the weather protection is excellent and would compare well to the RT.

Have fun while your young, age will soon get the better of you otherwise!!!!!

 

[Wanderer]

R1150RT owner for a few months now and very happy. Had a 12GS before that. Great bike, mine just had a couple of electrical issues.

 

[SteelD]

SteelD, I'll bet you that my GS lights (with the addition of Hella MicroDE's and FF50's) will murder anything the RT can put out.

I like my bikes to have clean lines and not for me to have to overcome design limitations/compromises by bolting on extras so that the bike looks more like an over-dressed sixties Lambretta scooter.

 

[charlie b]

The RT...

David
Use my 1100RT in town a lot, minus panniers for filtering but with top box and/or tank bag for any baggage. Worst aspect for me is the weight when pushing them around in the garage, but once rolling, no real drawbacks with the size in traffic, you can hustle these bikes along very briskly once you are confident, depends how pushy you are feeling..!!
Out of town, excellent and capable machine, I run Bridgestone 020's and it handles better on twisties than you might imagine. Friend of mine saw last month some German registered RT's being thrown around in the Alps, he was very impressed.
I have had no probs in 18k, Steptoe looks after it and it just runs, I am very pleased with it.
As already mentioned, great weather protection, with heated grips and electric vest on very cold days they are truly an all year round proposition.
I tried the 1150 with 6 speed box and later models had servo assist, not for me. 1200 is something else again but have a look at BMWsporttouring (mentioned previously), its a US site but is the best place for good postings on all the oilhead RT's, tech stuff and riding feedback. Spend some time reading there and then take a long test ride.
Good luck
Charlie