soon to be owner 1200rt - what to expect?

[Myke Rocks]

The topbox puts the weight in the wrong place and screws up the handling if heavily loaded.

It's always best to use the tankbag first, followed by the panniers and lastly the topbox

Can't say I've noticed on trips, and I tend to travel with the kitchen sink with me, and ride quite hard.

2 years ago, however, I visited a friend around 1km from my house, and he was in the process of dumping somewhere over 75 kilos of freshly mixed concrete.
I got a polythene bag, filled it with the concrete and put it in the top box for a gentle ride home.(Lid open)
My, my, how it buggered up the handling! Even leaning full forward, the front wheel was lifting off the ground. The final hill up to my house was extremely interesting!
Tank bag wasn't big enough for the concrete!
Myke

 

[kingsol007]

Plenty of interesting comments there, looks like I have made a good choice
Needed something more robust for 2 up

not sure what tyres its running, pick it up in Jan

here's to a dry 2013

kings

 

[moly]

Plenty of interesting comments there, looks like I have made a good choice
Needed something more robust for 2 up

not sure what tyres its running, pick it up in Jan

here's to a dry 2013

kings

ride it like you stole it
conti road attacks
in the right hands a gs aint going to stay with you
superb handling bike

 

[GS TRV]

Plenty of interesting comments there, looks like I have made a good choice
Needed something more robust for 2 up

not sure what tyres its running, pick it up in Jan

here's to a dry 2013

kings

from Hursts?

 

[Rod]

I asked my dealer to swap out the delivery tyres for Z8's before I picked it up. Think he charged me £80-.
Might be worth thinking about, rather than running tyres you don't like.

 

[SMcGirr]

They are ace bikes!
My preferred loading options for solo riding (19 countries this year )

The brake lever is pre-chamfered; you have to do the pegs yourself

Hi SubStan, see you are getting about and in a new schuberth as well. Good on ye fella

 

[kingsol007]

V4 - no it was not a hurst buy, purchased from Clarks of Birmingham, can't afford a bike from Hurst hee hee
Will however pick up a new set of boots from Hurst tyres
kings

 

[GS TRV]

V4 - no it was not a hurst buy, purchased from Clarks of Birmingham, can't afford a bike from Hurst hee hee
Will however pick up a new set of boots from Hurst tyres
kings

Wise man

 

[Cortina]

Yes .... I too travelled across the pond to buy an '09 1200RT

Just passed 60,000 miles up (most not by me), and I am very very impressed ... average of just under 60mpg to date (computer reads about 1 mpg high).
Very smooth , lots of go , comfortable , and 25% more economical than my 1100gs ... just can't see anything much out of the mirrors.

Am in the process of a "winter strip down" to give it it's first clean ... looking forward to the next 60,000

 

[kingsol007]

thanks corina and V4

so where is the best place to get my RT serviced, Hurst or Hurst

has a fsh which I would like to keep up

kings

 

[Cortina]

DIY if you have the ability .......... service history will still be full , just won't be from a main dealer.
I have no issues putting an entry in the book and putting in some comments and signing it ..... some would say that if it's your bike , you are likely to do it with more "care" than someone who is making a living at it !

 

[Myke Rocks]

Who cares?

thanks corina and V4

so where is the best place to get my RT serviced, Hurst or Hurst

has a fsh which I would like to keep up

kings

The above is God's way of telling you you have too much money.

I bought my 1200RT with a full service history of 2 services a year for 2 years
The mad bastard had spent £1400 on servicing.

I bought the bike privately (2005 - 2 years old) for £7000.

The service history meant nothing to me. I would not have given 50 pence extra for it.

Service it yourself. When you go to sell, and some wanker suggests it is worth a lot less because it does not have dealer stamps to say some fairy has minced round it with a feather duster, you can remember that each dealer stamp not in place has saved you circa £300 over what it would have cost you.
After 5 years, dealer servicing will have cost you £3500, - £300 for doing it yourself. Are you going to get that much extra (£3200) for a bike when you sell it?

Myke

 

[kingsol007]

Just picked up the RT and all going well, electric screen is the business in the cold weather, managed the sleak snow and rain in scotland last weekend without any major issues.

Few thoughts:-
Left hand heated grip not as not as right
Right heated grip is bloodly hot on full settings
Rear tyre bit squared off and new set boots required, what to use? Pilot Roads 3?
Worth installing K&N air filter

Super smooth and no fuss on the m/way and a strange feedback from the rear, maybe its the shaft drive and soft rebound setting? time will tell

Bring on the big miles baby

Kings

 

[Budweiser]

Congratulations, enjoy

 

[slimpickings]

Few thoughts:-
Left hand heated grip not as not as right
Right heated grip is bloodly hot on full settings


I think that has something to do with gripping the throttle harder than the other side

Probably wrong

 

[kingsol007]

Funny I always tend to grip things tightly with my right hand

Could be the cause, but otherwise they are fine

 

[Martyn H]

Dunlop RoadSmart 2 is an excellent road tyre.

Why fit a K & N filter ? THe OE is cheap & very efficient.

 

[Street_flat_twin]

Was your RT an ex police bike?

Just wondering as I am considering an ex police RT for my next bike as I want the comfort and protection without spending £££££££.

 

[kingsol007]

My RT is a standard civil version, gearing etc feels fine

might give the road pilot 3 a go, they seem to get a good write up!

Kings

 

[1964Hall]

Had my RT for 18 months now. I do mostly 2 up riding with her indoors. Toured through Belgium and Germany last year, heading for the Austrian alps in 2013. Fantastic bike for touring and handles better than you think it would, so great in the twisties when solo. Don't take my word for it read the reviews. Great all round bike.

Austrian Alps, the perfect bike for that area IMO.

http://youtu.be/pWG9KGhcGIc?t=1m23s

I also agree with the advice mentioned on Conti Road Attacks for the bike and I've tried many and will rin a PR2 rear and Conti road attack front when I wear out my current rubber.
\v/