Vintage year for RT?

[John Roberts]

I want an RT but don't know which year to go for, new or newish means expensive but with warranty, while older means cheaper but minus the latest goodies. Mileage shouldn't be too much of an issue for me as I only do 5k or so a year.

So is there a particular year when a must-have feature was introduced or a significant improvement was made? Was there a vintage year? I'm not ruling out the 1100 or 1150, so all suggestions welcome.

 

[Martyn H]

I want an RT but don't know which year to go for, new or newish means expensive but with warranty, while older means cheaper but minus the latest goodies. Mileage shouldn't be too much of an issue for me as I only do 5k or so a year.

So is there a particular year when a must-have feature was introduced or a significant improvement was made? Was there a vintage year? I'm not ruling out the 1100 or 1150, so all suggestions welcome.

I loved my 1150RT, but the 1200 is an all round improvement IMHO.
I suppose the general rule is "the later the better", but i would advise you to avoid a servo equipped RT. What you haven't got can't go wrong.

 

[Myke Rocks]

1200rt

You asked what to go for.
I bought a 2005Rt (servoed). Really brilliant, but the thing I wish I had waited for more than anything else is cruise control. Makes such a difference.

The mainstand location on them up to I think last year is shite. (Comapred to R1100RT or R1150RT)

The gearbox ratios are set for standing quarter miles, not long distance cruising or round town with a passenger, but overall the bikes are excellent, high mileage bikes.

Myke

 

[Kritou]

+1 get a non servo model (much easier low speed handling)

As discussed on another thread look for one without ESA (shocks are very expensive to service or replace and IMHO opinion are unecessary) and beware of flaking footpeg hangers which cost about £90 each secondhand to replace

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Depends on your budget, for 5/6k I would go for the earliest 05 model with computer, cruise, heated seats,, dont worry about the servo stories, they dont go wrong, at least it's rare considering the number of servos out there, and there are solutions that needent cost the earth if needed,

 

[Keyframe]

97 model 1100RT

 

[Myke Rocks]

Sorry, but:

+1 get a non servo model (much easier low speed handling)

As discussed on another thread look for one without ESA (shocks are very expensive to service or replace and IMHO opinion are unecessary) and beware of flaking footpeg hangers which cost about £90 each secondhand to replace

Bollocks.
Having driven servo model all over Europe & spent a lot of time in town traffic, I cannot understand why non servo model should have better low speed handling. Maybe you mean brakes are not as snatchy, but, unless you are ham fisted, they are not snatchy anyway. Like driving servo/non servo car, one acclimatises within a few minutes.

Regarding ESA, if it has it, fair enough, but if I was asked to give lots of money for it, it is not worth a lot to me. I have it, and seldom adjust. Regarding failures, on a personal basis, I have had none, and the standard units swap straight without messing up the bike's fault messages & alarms.

Flaking footpeg hangars. They may or may not. I have never looked at mine, or the oft complained abut front engine cover corrosion. I bought my bike to ride, not polish. I get somebody else to hot powerwash it twice a year, and that's it.

Myke

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

97 onwards R1100RT, now yer talking..........

 

[bsogri]

RT

I had a 1999 RT 1100 with five speed gearbox cruise all day at 110mph and down to 30mph in top.
I did 117,000 miles in five years took it to America twicew and it conquered the Rockies then crossed Deserts and came back for more and being a good lad when it broke it was only half a mile from my house [hall sensor failed at 87000] fixed it and got on with riding it.
Over this time I replaced two speedo i wish I had kept it as it was a fantastic allrounder, handles good kept you warm and dry and everybody ignored you for being a boring twat.

 

[Keyframe]

1100RT

The key to happy RT ownership is finding a qualified mechanic who knows how to set up and maintain the fuel injection.

Test ride it properly. If on a constant throttle opening it feels like it's "hunting" and/or it backfires on a dead throttle when you're scrubbing off speed using engine braking, then it will be in need of a little fettling.

They go on forever provided they've had an annual and or service. Don't be happy with a stamped book ask to see the bumf and MOT's. Clutches need replacing at about 40,000. Remember, add freeplay at the clutch lever. If the clutch slips, immediately knock £800 off the price. Don't be put off by aftermarket shock absorbers either, the rear is usually ready for replacement by 50,000 miles

Radio prep kit and stereo were very expensive options when new but shouldn't add anything to the price. Nice to have and can be spliced into an autocom.

Personally, I love the 1150 RT but just don't have the finesse in my finger tips or toes to ride it smoothly, not pleasant for a pillion. The sensation of someone reaching over and having an extra tug plus a squeeze on the front brake when all you want is a dab on the rear just doesn't do it for me. For some reason BMW make bikes without servo brakes these days...

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

I have a current 1200RT and its brilliant.

Cruise control , heated seat & grips, 300 mile tank range....

Don't be frightened by ESA - it works really well and several UK suppliers can service your esa shocks just the same as any non esa shock. Mine will be going to MCT in a few months time as they have a very good reputation.

Only made a couple changes - Cee Baileys +3" screen with stainless steel support arms make for almost silent cruising. Also engine bars as a precaution and a mount for some additional lights (if I ever get round to fitting them) - the standard headlights are good but not brilliant.

Apart from that its fantastic.

 

[ebbo]

Currently ride an 1200RT, it’s a great bike (wish it had cruse control), but if I had to I’d go back to a 1100RT. no problem at all, great machine and if you can find a nice one probabaly very good value for money.

Not that keen on the looks of the 1150RT...

 

[John Roberts]

Thank you all for your replies, it seems that everybody is happy with their RT whatever its version. As it happens I did have an R100RT myself thirty years ago, and was very happy with it but then I got my R100RS which I still have. So, time for a change, obviously.

I had a test ride on a 1200 a couple of weeks ago but it was so different in every way I found it difficult to form a coherent opinion on it. The starting point, of course, is that it is undoubtedly a cracking bike; but I found that getting used to it was something else.

So, a couple(-ish) of questions. I was disappointed with the screen, which I found to be as noisy as the one on my '82 RS, and that is really bad. Everything I'd read previously said that the screen was particularly good on the RT but it was rubbish for me even at the top of its travel. Perhaps it was my Caberg flip front, but I don't know if that's particularly noisy. I'm over six foot, but hardly a freak, so, ducatiparts.110mb, are you particularly tall yourself? And may I ask how much did the Cee Baileys +3" cost you?

A few of you are keen on Cruise Control, why so? Isn't it just a matter of keeping the throttle steady or is there more to it?

Heated seats seem popular too, a lot of the MCN ads I've seen mention heated seats, are they standard?

Speaking of MCN ads, out of 70 adverts on the site only ONE was from a private seller. Why is that, I wonder, I rather fancy buying privately. Perhaps I'm not looking in the right place.

Keyframe, interesting what you said about the fuel injection. I've never had fuel injection on anything, are you saying that it's better to have a specialist rather than a mere garage to touch it? My nearest BMW agent is over 90 miles away anyway.

ESA: once again, this is something I know nothing about. It seems rather a luxury to be able to adjust the suspension remotely like this (or have I got this completely wrong?) and it certainly sounds expensive to repair. Can I just get another standard suspension unit as a replacement when the time comes?

Exhaust system; how long, how much?

Extended warranty? Worth it?

And finally, Easyrider5258, that's gorgeous, did you take that?

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Hi John,

Thanks for the compliment for the pic, It’s my current bike and I took the photo last September above Castellane.
I had a R1200RT from 03/05 – 06/10 from new, sold it because of redundancy and needed to upgrade car, had a 1100RT previously and decided to go back to one, found this one in Northern Ireland, flew out & rode it back, anyway to answer your questions based on my experience;

I’m 5’8 and the standard screen suited me, maybe a taller one would be better for you.

I had cruise, it’s great, will maintain set speed up or down hill, I know some people think it’s a gimmick but I liked it, (It’s really the only thing I miss on my current R1100rt.

Heated seats are not Standard but handy if you have them.

Ebay for private sales, it’s quiet at this time of year but will soon pick up.

Fuel injection does not give any problems really, independent mechanics are best but not sure of your nearest to your location, could ask for recommends on here, I do all my own servicing, The 1200RT is not difficult to maintain.

ESA, Don’t see why you couldn’t replace with a Standard unit if necessary, I think I read somewhere they could be repairable

Exhaust System, do you mean how long will it last? Many years I would think

Extended warranty, never used it myself, but handy if you don’t maintain your own machine

Hope that helps

Mark

 

[The Reverend]

I want an RT but don't know which year to go for, new or newish means expensive but with warranty, while older means cheaper but minus the latest goodies. Mileage shouldn't be too much of an issue for me as I only do 5k or so a year.

So is there a particular year when a must-have feature was introduced or a significant improvement was made? Was there a vintage year? I'm not ruling out the 1100 or 1150, so all suggestions welcome.

After all this, just choose a colour at the right deal. They're motorbikes not a life changing operation when all said & done, and there's loads out there.

Make a decision man & get riding!

 

[John Roberts]

After all this, just choose a colour at the right deal. They're motorbikes not a life changing operation when all said & done, and there's loads out there.

Make a decision man & get riding!

A fair comment! As I said though, I kept my last one, the RS, for 30 years, so I want to get it right.

 

[Myke Rocks]

Everything easyrider said

Everything easyrider said is correct. (From my point of view.) I bought mine privately on autotrader. At the time £1500 under dealer prices.

Std Shocks pop staight in With no fault messages.

I am Italian shaped. I.E. Short legs, long body. I like silence when riding, so I fitted a Ztechnic Vscreen. The best screen I have ever had. Pretty, it is not, but no turbulence whatsoever, at any speed, and silence you can only dream of. There are 2 sizes - normal and gigantic. Unless you are the same size as Robert Pershing Wadlow was, buy the smaller one. (look him up)

Myke

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

I'm 5'10", and I find on full extension the Cee Baileys screen is too tall for me to look over, and fully down there is quite a bit of buffetting, but there is a sweet spot in between where its perfect, and almost silent. I think I paid about £225 from Woodys Importaruim in South Wales. Call Mike, he's a top bloke and knows his BMW accessories.

Cruise control works just as you say - you can hold the throttle yourself but its just so easy and adds to the effortless way you can cover miles on the bike. I also find myself using it at 40mph through long villages so that my speed doesn't drift up.

As far as ESA is concerned I don't regard it as a needless extravagance or as un-neccessary complexity. It just works so well and I regularly find myself adjusting it depending on how I'm feeling and what the road surface is like. I have a selection of roads I can take to & from work and on one particular route I'm on Normal, then Sport, and finally Comfort for 10 miles each as my route takes me out across fairly slow easy roads, onto a fast sweeping stretch and then onto rutted farm tracks.

I'm sure if you didn't have ESA you'd be quite happy but I wouldn't buy a BM without it now after trying it.

Mark

 

[GWJ]

I ride a 2010, am 6'1" and agree, the standard screen is noisy for taller riders. I'm thrilled with the Cee Bailey; tall enough to totally hide behind, or drop it a bit so you can see over the top and still sit in total tranquillity. But you can't have everything. Even when totally down position, you don't get a full-on breeze; some breeze but its no naked. Which might matter in 80c summers. Remember them?

Another 'win' for taller riders is the footrest lowering kit; reduces the angle of leg bend and, in my experience, no issues with grounding.

 

[Mightytharg]

My preference would be to avoid servo brakes and catalytic converters and go for a nice 1100.

The 1100 is the real design classic, the 1150 was a nice update around the front lights but also switched wheel sizes and adopted the narrower front mudguard - I prefer the quirkiness of the original.

I could never get on with the earlier servo brakes - too crude, too intrusive and put me off "upgrading" from an 1100RT to the 1150. I daresay they improved them over time but I also disliked the rear pedal being linked to the front brake - although I understand the last 1150 special edition (in black) and the RTPs may have had a normal back brake.

I've never quite got to grips with the 1200's styling (I'm getting there slowly maybe) - sometimes looks more like a super-scooter and from test rides I never got the impression that the fairing was any more effective than the 1100 or 1150 and the panniers now stick out further than on the 1100/1150.

So I reckon if it were me I'd go for a late 1100 or jump straight to a 2007 onward 1200 thereby missing out the servo brake models.