Saw new RT LC yesterday

[robvanelst]

Overall I like the new 1200 a lot, although I found the plastics look and feel rather cheap and flimsy compared to the old RT. Mind, the colour option I saw (at BWM Cotswold in Gloucester) was a rather depressing dung-like dark grey-green which didn't help. I hope there will be more cheerful colour options coming to the UK, rather than the grey, greyish-black and blackish-grey that usually make it over here.
I don't mind the price so much - running costs are the real thing to look out for and to be honest, having spent half a million miles on boxers I have to say that I hope that the new one will suffer fewer and less extremely expensive repairs than the post '93 oil-heads (gearboxes, clutches, drives, electrics), is more corrosion-resilient and cheaper on servicing as well.

It is good to see BMW being dedicated to the boxer - I admit there are plenty affordable and possibly "more perfect" bikes around but there is something about that boxer engine that keeps me cling on to them - even though I have 2 other bikes in the garage as mobility back-up, ironically one being a (surprisingly reliable) Buell

 

[RTosser]

Drat

So despite my note about weight - got to be true - I ventured to Tonbridge yesterday and saw it in the flesh next to my model.
Going to have to try that I'm afraid, looks really nice...

Here's the pic I was trying to upload, better with electrics than sites

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

The way I'm thinking is out of sight, out of mind.

You are right. I just think that after years of bolting it to the bike and not worrying about it, I'm now going to forget to keep removing it, and there's the dilemma of whether to take it off for all those times you leave the bike for 2 minutes to pay for fuel / buy a sandwich etc.

I'm not a born worrier so I'll probably leave it on the bike but I'll feel a bit of a tit if it gets nicked.

 

[Rong]

I know what you mean. On my previous RT I just left it in the cradle when paying for fuel as I felt the garage forecourt cameras would cover any thief nicking it!

 

[busy builder]

Just trying to renew my insurance. I'm with Carol Nash at the moment and despite having asked by phone and e-mail numerous times over the past year i still haven't had a copy of my policy. i emailed them last night stating that because of the above I would not be renewing with them.
I got an email today thanking me for my email, but still no policy.

I called them again tonight, asked where my policy was, they'll email me again.....same old same old....asked for my NCB and renewal...4 years and £271. E-Bike quote me £151, just waiting for IAM Surety but I'm not holding my breath as they queried my estimated value of £13,000 for a bike I bought last may for £14,400, fair value I thought anyway.

Best quote is Swinton, £400 XS and £97 full comp....sounds too good to me.

 

[theop]

Obviously there are lots on here who think nothing of the cost of the bike, but when you see other manufacturers making similar bikes for less, then it seems BMW are looking at their car prices and bringing bike prices in line iyswim.

Obviously its down to the individual as to whether they see the product as worth it, which is what I did with my current bike, but don't see that with the new pricing on the new model.

Which other manufacturers make similar bikes for how much less exactly?

Paneuropean? 14500 buys you a proven 12yo design. With the industry's ugliest behind. Honda PCP at 10% apr....
FJR? 15300 gets the latest one, notable for the lack of improvements on what was admittedly always a decent bike... In 2001!
Triumph Trophy? 14500 ish... So much effort, such a decent result and they made it look identical to an 2004 designed RT..... It deserves to fail because it looks like a failure, I m sorry.

So my SE priced minus bmw stuff that breaks like tyre pressure monitors, plus satnav and radio comes in at 16300. That's 1k over the yam and less than 2k over the others. With more toys, the latest looks and from what early tests say the best dynamics in the history of touring bikes yet. On a PCP equivalent deal that eats off another 500 quid off nPV over three years. It is actually a bargain. And I am this close to forget my reliability demons of old and buy one.... Unless Honda sell me a current new Pan for 10k which should be its fair value given dinosaur status, or a new one for the current price, which they are overdue designing by exactly 5 years...

Vent over.. Rant even....

 

[busy builder]

Oh dear, got out of bed on the wrong side did we? All of the above bikes you mention can be had at lower price if you haggle, I've not seen a BMW dealer haggle over price yet. The Trophy is the nearest to the RT but as you say £2000 less.

Now anyone on a budget will go for that surely ??

If Mr H comes up with a replacement Pan within the next two years he'll get my money, owning a BMW is ok but I can't help wondering when it'll break down, or rust away under me.

The current RT (not LC) is a fantastic bike to ride, don't get me wrong I love it and would buy another if Mr H doesn't pull his finger out, but with BMW you MUST have a warranty with Honda not so important.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

You are right. I just think that after years of bolting it to the bike and not worrying about it, I'm now going to forget to keep removing it, and there's the dilemma of whether to take it off for all those times you leave the bike for 2 minutes to pay for fuel / buy a sandwich etc.

I'm not a born worrier so I'll probably leave it on the bike but I'll feel a bit of a tit if it gets nicked.

You're right. I've recently changed from RT's where I could leave the Nav screwed to the bike to a GSA with Nav V where I can't.
I can't tell you the no. of times I've had to scurry back & hope that the Nav V is on there when I've been have a casual wander round bike/clothing/bicycle shops.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

So despite my note about weight

The difference is not as bad as you fear. I think you will find you are comparing dry w/o panniers to wet weight (not sure whether w or w/o panniers).

 

[bowser]

In my dealers, LE version, cost / he says £16,000 +

pricing ordinary motorcyclists off the road.

Thats just crap, its no more expensive than its ever been. But were BMW every aiming at the ordinary motorcyclist? I dont think so, they have always tried to aim for the expensive end of the market, and had a price point above the competition.
When I left basic training in 1979, the cost of a new bmw or harley was more than my yearly wage, its well below the yearly wage of the average recruit comming out of training now.
If you take the average wage, in 1979 it was just over £5,000 a year, the current average is now £31,000 as a percentage of the average wage bikes/cars/etc have never been cheaper.
I dont say that £16,000 is not a lot of money but pricing out off the road? sorry thats rubbish. I now choose to spend less of my annual income on bike or the purchase of bikes than I used to, but I remember having to get a bank loan in 79/80 for £1500 to buy a second hand Harris Z1, couldnt afford a new Katana it was over 2.5 grand ;-0 and harleys/bmw were over 3 well out of my price range I think I was on or about £2,000 a year at the time. 1500 was nearly 3/4 of my annual sallary then, If you ignore my pention and just take my wages 16,000 isnt close to 3/4 or my current salery.

 

[busy builder]

We are obviously at different ends of the country, Harrow boys vs us Highlanders.

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

If we're going to debate value for money you also need to consider that the European bikes pitch themselves as being premium products. I know that as BMW riders we often knock BMW quality but now and again you have to ride something else to appreciate that the Europeans are generally top quality products - and that costs money.

For anyone thinking "yeah right", my Triumph is in for repair right now and the Japanese loan bike is bloody atrocious. Utter crap. The only redeeming feature is that its a pretty colour.

Mark

 

[theop]

Oh dear, got out of bed on the wrong side did we? All of the above bikes you mention can be had at lower price if you haggle, I've not seen a BMW dealer haggle over price yet. The Trophy is the nearest to the RT but as you say £2000 less.

Now anyone on a budget will go for that surely ??

If Mr H comes up with a replacement Pan within the next two years he'll get my money, owning a BMW is ok but I can't help wondering when it'll break down, or rust away under me.

The current RT (not LC) is a fantastic bike to ride, don't get me wrong I love it and would buy another if Mr H doesn't pull his finger out, but with BMW you MUST have a warranty with Honda not so important.

Wrong side indeed, apologies. Was just self justifying the fact that blowing 16 big ones on a bike is totally rational...

I m with you on Mr H. The BM reliability or the wait for things to fall off as I call it is also a worry. Been bitten before unfortunately so nothing the naysayers can say won't erase the bad taste (in reliability/cost of repairs only)of Gs1200 5year experience- v early 2005 model admittedly. Just tired waiting for Pan's replacement. I even had time to buy a vfr1200, run it for 3 years, lose a ton of money selling it while waiting!

 

[busy builder]

I looked at the VFR1200, will full luggage, but being 6'4" tall I found it a wee bit cramped, although saying that I've had 3 VFR800's since 1998, I love them. The pre Vtec are one of Hondas best ever bikes and that come from their chief designer.

I've also had one new BMW an R1100S Sport in black/yellow. I absolutely loved that bike, it fitted me to a T and handled so well, even my club racer mates liked it. Except for a few minor niggles, like breaking down (all electrical) 7 times in the first 16 months of ownership, so glad I had 24 months warranty. paint flaking off the forks, wishbone, engine, it was a brilliant bike. I was soooo tempted by the R1200S when that came out but by then I was into ST1300's.

Being a bit cheesed off with Honda and the Pan, how can anyone buy a new one after owning a 2002, then 2006 models when they haven't changed a bit ? it wouldn't seem like owning a new bike would it/ so I thought a change thats why I now have the RT1200....but I also think it's a brilliant bike.

 

[theop]

Funny, i am also 6'4 and have a VFR thing. I still own on Sorn my Yreg FYi which i bought new at the old Carnells. The 1200 was an awesome bike. Sold as i was about to be relocated abroad by my firm, event that did not materialise after all. It was very vfr ish, but faster everywhere and i loved the looks and the shaft drive that was peerless. It was a tad small for me like all sporty bikes esp cumbersome in traffic more so than my 800 for some reason, tank range was marginal but ok and a bit cramped in pannier terms two up for a week. All of which i knew and expected at the point of purchase. But pinning it from low down on 3rd gear was epic, surely one of the motorcycle experiences to have.

 

[Cortina]

Test drove new one yesterday - did about 150 miles.
Very impressive engine - lots of low down grunt
Handled much better than my own 09 RT - some of that will be down to new dampers and tyres - could be semi active suspension ? .. but it worked
Economy - seemed good at 58.5 for the first 100 miles
Yes - want one .... I then saw this morning their kind offer for my 09 SE R1200RT albeit with 68,000 miles (above ave condition)

Anyone want to guess what they thought it was worth ??

he wanted to "hear my thoughts" ... I told him he didn't !!!

 

[ebbo]

their kind offer for my 09 SE R1200RT albeit with 68,000 miles (above ave condition)

Anyone want to guess what they thought it was worth ??

Well I'm curious as I'm likely trading mine in for a car.

I'd describe mine as exceptional condition for year (06), never seen a salty road

 

[Capt Over-reaction]

Test drove new one yesterday - did about 150 miles.
Very impressive engine - lots of low down grunt
Handled much better than my own 09 RT - some of that will be down to new dampers and tyres - could be semi active suspension ? .. but it worked
Economy - seemed good at 58.5 for the first 100 miles
Yes - want one .... I then saw this morning their kind offer for my 09 SE R1200RT albeit with 68,000 miles (above ave condition)

Anyone want to guess what they thought it was worth ??

he wanted to "hear my thoughts" ... I told him he didn't !!!

Around £5k - £6K

 

[Rocstar54]

Test rode the new RT today (top spec model). You would need a course just to figure out the electronics !! It was pricey enough given that it has no top box (€1200 extra- bringing the total to just under €23500). One hell of a bike to ride though, so will give it some thought over the next few days.

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

Anyone want to guess what they thought it was worth ??

£4,500?