Why I am sticking to my RT versus a GS

[Troppo]

My post from another thread:

I have owned many large bikes, including a Blackbird, a FJR, a Busa, a ZX14 and a B-King, and the mighty RT outhandles and outbrakes them all.

I have never, in my 40 years on two wheels, ridden a touring bike that handles so well in the twisties, and yet is stable as a rock on the highway.




I also own a new GS, and it is interesting to compare the two:

The engines feel very different - yes, the RT is still tight, but the heavier flywheel is very noticeable - the RT is very smooth, and the GS is more raw and urgent.

The extra weight of the RT is obviously noticeable, particularly at a stop and in the garage.

Wind protection is (obviously) in a different league. The RT puts you in a calm bubble. Mind you, the GS is pretty good, but nowhere near the RT.

The RT is pulling about 3300 RPM at 100 km/hr, and the GS donk is revving about 800 RPM higher for the same speed.

The GS will happily pull 4th around town, but the higher gearing of the RT means that it tends to be happier in 3rd...mind you, I am avoiding lugging the RT engine.

The GPS integration on the GS is MUCH BETTER than the RT. The GS beautifully integrates the bike's ECU with the GPS, so you can display all the bike's parameters on a customisable GPS screen. The RT does not offer any of that....on a bike costing much more...

AND, Herr BMW, why can't I lock the GPS on the RT mount like I can on the GS?!



The RT quickshifter works really well, particularly 4-5-6, as the ratios are closer together. The auto-blip-on-downshift is a neat feature, and a lot of fun...although I still like to go down the box manually.

The menus are simple to use, and I like the radio.

It was surreal descending the Gillies Range (280 corners in 19 km, 3000 feet elevation change) with Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb blasting away as the horizon rolled left and right...

The engine modes are noticeably different, as with the GS. Dynamic mode makes the bike quite spirited.

It is easy to see why the journos rave about the 14 RTWC. Wonderful.

 

[Timolgra]

I'm sticking with my 16 yr old RT due to the amount of GS's I passed toodling along in the slow lane yesterday (their light sets did look good in the mirror mind...)

Shouldn't you be in the BMW Club forum?

 

[kennyc]

Shouldn't you be in the BMW Club forum?

nah, better class of whingers in here

 

[Timolgra]

nah, better class of whingers in here

They're all migrants

 

[Martyn]

RTvGS

Personally, it sounds to me like a few on here would be best off in a car.......are you sure motorbikes are for you?

Andes

As well as my RT I have a Harley based Cafe Racer. Chalk & cheese really. We all like different aspects to biking.

 

[Fanum]

Why I am sticking to my RT versus a GS ?

Because you're an ageing homosexual?

 

[Gargy]

The wind effects a GS more than a RT ??

Not sure how that one works out............. I've had a FJR, then a K1300, then a K1600.............. All of which were more prone to side winds.

More plastic, and larger flat areas of fairing give the wind more to push against compared to just blowing through the unfaired GS.

I find the GS much better in windy weather.

 

[Troppo]

Yes, the RT moves around in a headwind.

 

[mrtee43]

I'm sticking with my 16 yr old RT due to the amount of GS's I passed toodling along in the slow lane yesterday (their light sets did look good in the mirror mind...)

Slow lane ? Fast lane ?
What's the one in the middle called ? and what is the speed limit in each ?

 

[kennyc]

Slow lane ? Fast lane ?
What's the one in the middle called ? and what is the speed limit in each ?

that will be the middle of the road lane, and apparently lane one has a speed limit of 65mph if that days ride was anything to go by, the other two lanes seemed to be hovering around 70 M'lud

 

[neils]

New RT WC

Thinking of buying a new model WC RT--is anyone thinking of selling.

Thanks

Neil.
07974 811718

 

[TonyBBMW]

Thinking of buying a new model WC RT--is anyone thinking of selling.

Thanks

Neil.
07974 811718

Chester Motorrad have my old one with 3600 miles on it, you could probably do a deal before they offer it to the BMW 'pool'. It's an LE with the Dynamic pack in ebony black.

 

[autobump]

Could also try Alan Jefferies, I've just bought one, they did have two others and so did Astle

 

[airhead_eire]

I have had both. I think you will find the 11rt is the better bike. At the price of 11RTs these days why not keep the GS and pair it with an 11RT?

Phil

Each to their own but I found the R1150GS to be the better bike after I sold my R1100RT. For me at least. The R1100RT was a lovely bike but I could not get on with those handlbars (and they look pants in my opinion) and the bike had an annoying habit of grounding its centre stand in tighter corners, especially riding 2 up. Talking to another RT owner, he had the same problem when carrying a pillion. I found the GS to feel far more agile in comparison. Both fine bikes as I say but the GS worked better for me.

 

[Puggy]

Got my new WC RT LE

Collected my new bike - 6 months old with 2100 miles on it - returned by an owner, paid £14,700. What a cracking bike. It is so much better than my 2013 RT it is amazing. It goes, stops and handles superbly (although swapping the OE Bridgestones for Michelins helps a lot with this - anyone want to buy a set of almost unused Bridgestones? ).

Initial comparisons and thoughts between the RT WC and 2013 air-cooled RT other than the obvious feature upgrades:

1. The airflow is much smoother. BMW have spent more time int he wind tunnel and greatly reduced the buffeting and back pressure and have made the bike much less tiring to ride (and the old one wasn't that tiring). You can now ride up to 80mph without earplugs if you choose, and listening to the radio up to motorway speeds is perfectly possible.

2. They have swapped sides for everything! The old bike had the exhaust on the left and shaft drive on the right - new bike is swapped over! I assume to make sure that no parts are interchangeable!

3. Why haven't they fitted the tank bag mounting frame to the new bike? The new tank bag has some amateur-hour strap on arrangement and now ebay is flooded with older tank bags - mine included...

4. The gear shift pro assist or whatever it is called - is fantastic once you get used to it and remember to use it. Just open the throttle, hold it open and bang up the gears - superb! Works going down the box as well.

5. Central locking. How did I live without this? I thought it would be a gimmick but it is great to be able to get off the bike, click the remote and know that all the panniers, top box and storage compartments are locked. And they have even made some clever connector that means you just lift the pannier off just as before.

6. The BMW Nav 5 is superb. I was very sceptical about it as I like the TomTom Rider. However, the new (very expensive) Nav 5 works really well. I was very impressed by the fact that the traffic alerts and auto re-routing actually works... It has a speed camera database and has lots of custom options. Recommended if very expensive.

7. There is no space at all under the seat, and the rear section doesn't even lift off. So no space for a tyre repair kit or a few cable ties... I can't tell if the seat is more comfortable than the old bike, but I detect that I am not thrown forwards against the tank like I was on the old bike, and this makes for a more comfortable riding position. Might still go for a Sargent or Corbin in due course.

8. I have the very expensive option LED lights and these only come on when you switch from auto lights with the DRL, to manual lights and the dipped headlight. It would be great to be able to have the LEDs on independently of the Auto lights and I am sure someone will work out how to rewire to achieve this.

8. I treated myself to a new helmet and bought the BMW flip front helmet. I had a Shoei Neotec but found it very noisy. The new BMW helmet, as well as being cheaper (not often you say that about a BMW product...) is lighter and quieter It will be interesting to see who I get on with it long term.

Happy riding!

Puggy

 

[stever1]

Could also try Alan Jefferies, I've just bought one, they did have two others and so did Astle

Its no longer Astles, its Marshall BMW

 

[FD2]

If one of those RTs in Jeffries is blue then it's mine - or was until I had to cancel because of my accident. So hands off! I'm hoping it will still be there when my physio says I can ride again sometime (hopefully) mid October.

 

[desertyellow]

Both blue!

 

[FD2]

Nooo! mine!

 

[TonyBBMW]

Collected my new bike - 6 months old with 2100 miles on it - returned by an owner, paid £14,700....

Not fully sure what your bike spec is, but even if you include fancy lights and Navigator I wouldn't expect to pay that much?