Thinking of buying an early 12RT...

Wrigsby1

Well-known member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Aug 27, 2009
Messages
4,852
Reaction score
687
Location
AB51
After riding 1150RT's a fair bit when selling them over 10 years ago, I always had a respect for them even as a GSer... Now I fancy a 12RT to go with my other bikes and one to use year round so it needn't be perfect or low miles...

So what do you look out for on a 60ish k mile bike and what are the bugbears...? Such as the much mentioned FD questions etc...

As it's not my only bike and I work on them largely myself, how DIY user friendly are they??

I have developed an RT itch and with the prices looking pretty good on early ones... I fancy a go...:)

PS What's the word on the ex traffic ones...?

Thanks in advance...:D
 
No doubt they are a nicer bike to ride.
I had an 05 but sadly it came with too many mechanical maladies so I moved it on and went back to what I think is a more reliable 1150.
Some folks are lucky and have no problems but the statistics would suggest you probably will.
Expect to replace switchgear, as this is the most common weak spot.
If the Fuel pump controller hasn't been updated, expect it to go without warning so google bypass wire or carry a spare.
My rear end was starting to go (the bikes' that is), I could hear a cyclic 'wow wow wow' sound at certain speeds. My front discs were warped and the fuel guage gave very creative information.
They are a sweet ride compared to the 1150, but my advice would be, save a bit more and shoot for an 09/10.
 
Or buy a late one - say 09+ with lots of miles on it ... at the right price

I have an 09 one - 76,000 on it , original everything - no issues at all , no oil used , and a genuine 61mpg average on the last 4000 mile trip ! to south Portugal and back

Bought about two yrs ago with 54K on it ... cheaper than other 09's !!
 
Servo might pack in but easy diy no cost fix, fuel strip could pack in but you don't need it, if the bike is an, electric suspension might not adjust, nice bike to ride, don't pay a lot for an early one £3,000 - £3,500 low miles clean bike
 
Early 1200RT - ABS, Brake Discs, Final Drive, Fuel Strip, (unless its a 2005 when it might have a float system), ESA, general rot if used on salty roads.

Myself, I'd buy a later model if I could, without the nasty power brakes that buzz and jerk, get it remapped, be a nice bike then.
 
2009 model (ex Police...?) with 26K miles for sale in West End of Glasgow for £5,600 - http://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw-motorbikes/bmw-r1200rt-low-miles-fsh-2009-new-model/1087816895

$_86.JPG
 
I've got a 06 rt,55,000 on the clock.only prob WS a leaking final drive seal. Runs like clockwork'.
Good weather protection & comfier perch than my gs:thumb
 
Thanks for all the advice... I have steered clear of 1200's so far and TBH 12GS's do not float my boat... I sat on an RT just after release when visiting the dealer I used to work at and the boss was sizing me up for one even though I didn't have the cash...:D It felt a spot on fit and sort of passed into the background with all the bad news stories going around...

When I sold the 1150's I thought the GS's had all the kudos but the RT's were the real mile muncher and a surprising scratcher...

I have been taken with a slightly dodgy black one out there...:D but your advice on the later ones may swing it... Whether I could take Sctum's advice and survive I don't know... I used to be an avid one bike bloke but now have 4... My latest 11GS is now a near perfect 11 with the John chip on an already great bike... My old RT (also fae Glasgae) is getting the slow mechanical resto job and will keep its fairing...:rolleyes: My T5 Guzzi will always be a bit of a mantelpiece job but I was lucky to get such a well finished bike... And my 65k ThouStrom is destined to languish a bit forgotten even though it's got everything and is a crack to ride... It will probably get flogged cheap at some point so I better start planning and "creating space"...:D

The great thing about all the RT's from Airhead, K, Oilhead and 12, is that you can just get on and ride, often with minimal gear and fuss... Easy speed and comfort...

PS I really like the Plod version narrow panniers... Does anyone know the capacity...?
 
So from what I can see at the mo is that 05/06's are between 3-5k depending on history and miles and the later ones start at 5.5-6k...

I may still plump for an 1150 as there are some serious bargains coming up out there... The 12 is obviously a fair upgrade, but it seems at a bit of a cost re reliability... Hmmmm...

PS Does anyone have any info regarding how good the 12's are in the wind...? Its windy here in Shetland and GS's are above average and my old RT with its barn door fairing is bordering on being a liability in anything above 25mph wind especially cross winds...
 
You could just buy my 2009 one .... for £5K and be done with it all ........ wind ............... err ..................... seems grand in the 20,000 miles done so far ..... will it resist a very strong side wind ? ... doubt it !!
 
Ha, ha, just made the link... PM'ed you...:)
 
cherokee said:
Or get a pan euro and just put fuel in it and ride it......:rob
Click to expand...

11 never floated my boat even though I knew people who had 100k mile ones... Sat on a 13 recently and they had sorted the riding position for tall blokes a bit better but... It's still and Honda and it's still a Pan...:D
 
Seem to have taken the plunge... 07 with (nearly) all the toys and later brakes etc... Thanks for all the advice (except buy a Pan:D)... Will get it sent up and give a short report of my ascent/descent into RT ownership... Plan is to keep the 11Gs and the old RT and everything else is fluid...

Most of the cheaper ones have reasons why they are cheap and a large majority of them are ex plod with the need to convert into 2 seaters...

All because I couldn't get an Aeroflow for less than an arm and leg for the 11GS...:D:rolleyes:
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Morpheus
Commencing a 'full' rebuild of an early ST2 944.
Replies
10
Views
1,418
Big-G
Big-G
Billd
Thinking of buying an old Ironhead Sporty
2
Replies
26
Views
2,738
Clifton
Clifton
Orinoco
Thinking of buying a new MacBook - do they click?!
Replies
10
Views
1,427
EPG_19
Newbie thinking of buying
2
Replies
26
Views
9,249
mrklunk
mrklunk
Big Den
Buying an early RT 1200
Replies
19
Views
5,326
Big Den
Big Den


Back
Top Bottom