R1200Rt - Tip-top!

[Navy Boy]

Well, I'm well impressed with Herbie. Have just come back from a 2-up with all the luggage trip to Umbria with him and he performed brilliantly. Everything from 80+ Mph on a hot Autostrada to rapidly rising oil temp trying to get into Assisi, going uphill and having to slip the clutch until it was smelling nicely.

Yes, I know that this is the sort of thing he's designed for but it's always to get away on a trip like this for the first time on a new bike (I bought him new in May) and prove to yourself how things are going to go.

My only complaint - 1st is a bit too high. Mind you I've only noticed this since having to do slow up-hill riding with SWMBO on the back. All-in-all excellent and I'even got to try the heated seat in a rather chilly France. went down well with SWMBO too!

Anyone else got an RT that they'd like to share thoughts on?

 

[Kritou]

Agree with you on 1st gear

The removable radio panel on the left fairing is good spot to mount through panel switches and small instuments etc - have my Autocom chassis mount and PTT switch here

Had 63mpg through Sweden at a steady 3000rpm

Panniers are a bit precious

Regardless of type I can't get more than 5k from the back tyre

 

[GADGET]

Great Bike, my 2nd (07) , mines the better looking blue one. Would still like a GS as well though

 

[Chrisvh]

I pick up my new RT tomorrow. Currently a bit like a 7 year old on Christmas Eve!

 

[sfarson]

Congrats Chris. It's a special bike.

A friend hired a 12RT for me while I was in Brugge, Belgium on business. Toured France for four days and happened to pick a week of blustery, cold, wet weather. The RT simply overdelivered in these conditions, and when things finally dried out on day #4 while in the Ardennes, had a blast on the dry roads. Never considered myself an "RT kind of rider", but after a year of thinking about it, picked one up for those longer rides. It's a keeper.

 

[ebbo]

First gear is definitely too high, I’ve had that smell of cooking clutch a few times, finding a slightly lower ratio final drive might be a good project (R1200R?)
Fuel consumption on a trip around Spain and Portugal this year averaged 56.5 mpg
High speed running, it drops to 35 mpg.
Changing the lower plugs is a pain, have to take loads of plastic off.
I’ve had the front brake disc mod done so the brakes are now great and very likely to stay that way, but it definitely doesn’t need servos (not fitted on the latest model)
Mine's now weeping a little oil from both the front and rear, that’s this winters project.
I use the heated seat when its a bit chilly like Thursday evening riding back from Whitby over the North Yorkshire Moors, what a comfort that is!
Really wish it had cruise control…

 

[zoltan]

On my 3rd RT ,just back from a 2700mile trip around Europe .Loaded with all the extras ,it can manage even a bit of off road...

 

[Chrisvh]

The new RT

Well had the new RT for 2 days. Managed a couple of aquatic trips out and loving it. Great protection from screen and fairing even in monsoon conditions. Unfortunately the dealer fitted tax disc holder was located sub-surface and I nearly lost the disc. Have now put it in a 3M holder higher on the fairing. Otherwise all seems well so far.

 

[Navy Boy]

Chrisvh

I hope you enjoy the new steed. Thus far I've fitted a California Scientific screen to mine and a fender extenda at the front. That's about it for mods (The screen is well worthwhile).

It even doesn't use oil (Or very little at any rate). I haven't had to top it up at all in the last 4.5k miles! Brilliant!

 

[Chrisvh]

All I have added is a mudguard extender, gear lever adapter and a side stand enlarger. I also have a headlamp protector which I will fit at some stage. Otherwise the bike came with everything I could ask for. Even a free Zumo GPS! Any suggestions for additional items to augment the sparse BMW tool kit?

The front mudguard extender seems to do a great job of keeping crud off me and the bike. After ( during ) the floods there is a lot of silt and fine gravel on the roads which seems to cover everything.

I like the gear lever adapter as my size 11s struggle to find the standard size.

Side stand enlarger feels much more secure on my gravel drive.

So far I am loving the bike. Comfortable and great weather protection. The last few days have certainly been a test of that!

 

[Navy Boy]

Other mods

Forgot to metion the rear brake pedal enlarger and the oil cooler protector grill which I've fitted and find very useful (See nippynormans for the bits).

I haven't got hold of any more tools however I do have my own puncture repair kit, duct tape as well as spare cable ties. I've also fitted a small torch into the lid of the fairing pocket.

A review with pictures of the California Scientific screen is at www.ebbo.org and is well worth having a look at. I find the screen (I went for the Medium version like Ebbo did - I'm 6'00") to work very well with less buffeting than the standard item.

Any more Qs let us know.

 

[ebbo]

You guys seem to have it pretty well tied down, I still need to fit a side stand foot enlarger, don't know whether to make or buy.

Next purchase will hopefully be a GS-911 to read fault codes and monitor various engine and ABS functions, very useful for the home maintainer, a Christmas pressy maybe from Mrs ebbo

 

[Alan1963]

I would endorse pretty much all the above comments - love mine and had a wonderful tour this summer(?) in France, two up with all SWMBOs luggage (and my toothbrush).

I fitted the Wunderlich footpeg lowering kit (I found after my GS that more leg room was needed) and the Wunderlich winglets that work perfectly for me with the standard screen. Only downside to the lowering kit is an early tendency to grind out when cornering.

I also fitted a pair of PIAAs inside the fairing, wired with the dipped beam (also used the panel on the left fairing for the override switch). These work well with the already excellent lights to make sure you're seen. An allround excellent bike for long distance, commuting and a Sunday blast. I always, always, always, get 45mpg wherever I go - bizarre really. Rear tyre still good at 4.5k - should go to 6-6.5k at a guess. Great bike!

 

[Chrisvh]

Great site Ebbo and very useful. So far I have found the standard screen to e absolute 5* luxury. But then I have come from no screen at all. I will put a few thousand miles under my belt and see if I need to change it. I am a big chap and need all the comfort and protection I can get.

 

[Navy Boy]

Chrisvh

If it's any help here are my experiences with the CalSci screen thus far.

I ride with the seat in the higher position and find that I can ride at motorway speeds (80-85 Mph) with the screen roughly half to three-quarters the way up. This allows me to open my visor (I use a Calberg helmet with the internal flip-down sunvisor) when the weather warms up. Very handy in Italy in summer!

If I put the screen all the way up I find that the upper lip interferes with my line of sight. As the day goes on and one's spine compresses this is less of a problem. Alternatively just put the seat in the lower position (As I tried on the way down to Italy last month) and I can look through the screen. Quite novel at 85 Mph!

The lower cut out seems to reduce buffeting significantly and fitting (Having first read Ebbo's site) was quite straighforward. I managed to do it single handed but some help from a willing helper would be welcome.

Another bonus is that the screen doesn't seem to shake/vibrate as much as the standard item.

Cost was around 135 Pounds. Not cheap but worthwhile if you intend on keeping the bike some time and racking up the miles.

 

[Chrisvh]

Thanks for that Navy Boy. Very interesting. I will have a think about it. Had a dry ride tonight. Very enjoyable over Clee Hill to Ludlow.