Why are 1150RT's so expensive?

[XboxSteve]

I'm thinking of getting an 1150RT (currently have 1150gs).

I don't have the skill or inclination to ride off-road so I've never really pushed my gs to its full potential. As my trips are always on the black stuff I thought I'd look at RT's.

I can't really afford a 1200RT at the minute and I don't really like the look of the 1100RT's so 1150RT it is.

Looking around (bike trader, ebay, etc) I have come across a few bikes of similar age to my (w plate 2000) gs but am sad to see they are coming in at around the £5k mark.

Is there any reason you folks know of, why the RT is more expensive than the gs?

Excuse me if I'm being a numpty head

 

[Flipfly]

Picked my y plate up for £3k with just under 30k miles and a full service history. It had brand new calipers, battery, cat and exhaust and a clutch slave cylinder.

There are bargains out there but you have to accept a bit of corrossion etc.

When I bought mine it had been left outside and not garaged. The forks were rotten, the screws were corroded into the yokes and it needed TLC.

I have now got it finished for around 50 hours work and £3600 including the bike a bit of paintwork, helicoiling, Givi screen, Migsel mount and lots of stainless screws

Be aware that the early 1150RT's have linked servo brakes that are linked back to front as well as front to back An experience the first time you tickle the rear brakes
You do get used to it though.

First pic is a before and the second 2 are after the work. Nice bike for the money. Just keep hunting, they are out there

 

[Navy Boy]

XBSteve

Looking at it from the other side of the fence I'm rather glad of their residuals having just traded mine for a new 1200RT!

To answer your question though I think it's down to a number of reasons such as:

1. The "1150GS is better than the 1200" aura has rubbed off them a little too - Particularly the later 2-spark models.

2. Many have realised that the RT is actually far better suited to what they actually use their bikes for. As you've said many of us don't venture off-road.

3. The early 1200RT models (By which I mean the 2005/2006 models) had a few minor issues which caused some people to hanker after the more sorted 1150 models.

4. The high values of the 1200RT have now rubbed off a little onto other models wearing the RT badge.

All these are purely my personal ramblings of course but appear to be backed up by what I've seen/heard over the past couple of years.

I also think that the 1150RT was something of an underated machine and is now starting to be appreciated for how good it really was/is.

As I say, just my 2p's worth. I can say I enjoyed mine a lot and would heartily recommend one to anybody after such a bike.

 

[bakerlonglegs]

Blimey! They must have gone up in value a fair bit then

My '04 twin spark 1150RT was £5,300 private earlier this year. Similar age bikes from BMW dealers were around £6.5k. I'm very surprised 2000 bikes are going for £5k.

There's more info on the various things to look for on oilhead RT's on the BMW sport touring forum here.

As Flip said, keep looking - they are out there.

 

[Flipfly]

Call me a genorous barstard, but ya can have mine for £4500

It's got BM panniers and top box too. Mileage is less than 32,000 miles

 

[steveh]

isn't it all in the looks

The new RT is a great bike but personally I think its not the best looking bike BM produce. The RT's your looking at always looked right and as such are holding their value very well.

 

[MarkN]

CW Motorcycles in Dorchester have a few good 1150RT's in at the moment across a large price range.

http://www.cwmotorcycles.co.uk/home/home_main.html

 

[Navy Boy]

CW Motorcycles in Dorchester have a few good 1150RT's in at the moment across a large price range.

http://www.cwmotorcycles.co.uk/home/home_main.html

I know!

Mine's one of them!

See the red one at 6.5k. Nice isn''t it?

Dave et al should have you on commission Mark!

 

[Flipfly]

Makes my 2001 with low miles look positively cheap at £4500

 

[Boxed-in]

I had the 1150RT and never got on with the linked brakes at the back.

My advice is always try before you buy, it's either suits your style of riding or it does not!!

I used the rear brake gently (and still got the front dipping into corners etc.) You do get used to it, but it still caught me out ocassionally.

Got the 1200RT now, it's Sooooooooooo much better.

 

[Steptoe]

I had the 1150RT and never got on with the linked brakes at the back.

I used the rear brake gently (and still got the front dipping into corners etc.) .

Simple. get one without servo brakes

 

[Flipfly]

Simple. get one without servo brakes

All the 1150's had servo brakes. In 03 they stopped linking the back to the front but kept the front to back link.

If you lose the servo you lose the ABS.

The 1100 had non servo brakes and personally I think the brakes were better for feel.

You do get used to the servo and if you gently drag the front first the rear seems a less fierce connection with the front.

I rarely use the brakes other than for stopping on the RT and the servo is only an issue when you want to hold the brakes for a hill start due to the whine. I use plugs alot with the RT