At last my own new bike thread!
Discussion
It's a 2010 BMW R1200RT with every option except audio.
Did a few miles tonight, I was happy, mrs was happy, got a couple of compliments (on the bike, not the mrs) so all good.
Here's some pics if you're interested.
What can I say about it? It's very different from an R1 (obviously).
Lots of vibration, lots of engine braking, lots of s
t to look at on the dash, buttons everywhere, 9 different suspension settings, screen is like wearing bi-focals, gearbox is surprisingly agricultural, traction control cuts in if you mash the throttle in first, likes to be caressed along the road, will play up if you try and take it by the scruff, very very good brakes for feel, power and attitude under braking, can feel the top box messing with the aero at speed, it's odd to be astride something that starts to wheeze at 120, very comfy seat and seating position, surprisingly rev happy engine for a boxer twin, st loads of storage, very high quality to feel to all but some of the fastenings and as long as the missus stays interested, I'll be quite happy with it. If she doesn't, I *might* wish I'd got the GS or K1300S. Or GTR1400.
But so far, so happy. And in the time since I picked it up at 4pm, I've had two compliments along the lines of "Lovely bike mate". What's not to love?
Did a few miles tonight, I was happy, mrs was happy, got a couple of compliments (on the bike, not the mrs) so all good.
Here's some pics if you're interested.
What can I say about it? It's very different from an R1 (obviously).
Lots of vibration, lots of engine braking, lots of s
t to look at on the dash, buttons everywhere, 9 different suspension settings, screen is like wearing bi-focals, gearbox is surprisingly agricultural, traction control cuts in if you mash the throttle in first, likes to be caressed along the road, will play up if you try and take it by the scruff, very very good brakes for feel, power and attitude under braking, can feel the top box messing with the aero at speed, it's odd to be astride something that starts to wheeze at 120, very comfy seat and seating position, surprisingly rev happy engine for a boxer twin, st loads of storage, very high quality to feel to all but some of the fastenings and as long as the missus stays interested, I'll be quite happy with it. If she doesn't, I *might* wish I'd got the GS or K1300S. Or GTR1400. But so far, so happy. And in the time since I picked it up at 4pm, I've had two compliments along the lines of "Lovely bike mate". What's not to love?
Congrats! Riding a Telelever Boxer requires a change in riding style if you've come straight off an IL4 sportsbike. The RT can be made to hustle - the rozzers have been using them for years and their training school in Hendon shows a little of how nimble they can be. RTs are great for spending all day in the saddle and when big mileage beckons. The SE model had all the modcons (plus Nav wheel on the left hand handlebar). Did you try the LC boxer for comparison?
It most certainly is not sky blue! It's "Polar Metallic" 
BMW have a car colour called Silverstone Blue, which this is very close to. It's always been a favourite of mine.
I didn't try a K of any sort, or a LC or even this bike. I just loved the look and spec of this one and had been hoping for something comfy to commute to the city on that would also force a different riding behaviour from my old "It won't happen to me" and "They'll have to catch me first" attitudes.
Although it's a 2010, it's the MU model. So twin cam but still air cooled and no Nav wheel on the left grip. I've seen the rozzers and royal security detail doing amazing things on them in the city, so I expect to pick the pace up a bit as I get used to how many drinks I have to buy her before she gives up her wares.
BMW have a car colour called Silverstone Blue, which this is very close to. It's always been a favourite of mine. I didn't try a K of any sort, or a LC or even this bike. I just loved the look and spec of this one and had been hoping for something comfy to commute to the city on that would also force a different riding behaviour from my old "It won't happen to me" and "They'll have to catch me first" attitudes.
Although it's a 2010, it's the MU model. So twin cam but still air cooled and no Nav wheel on the left grip. I've seen the rozzers and royal security detail doing amazing things on them in the city, so I expect to pick the pace up a bit as I get used to how many drinks I have to buy her before she gives up her wares.
Kickstart said:
Enjoy your new bike and if it's anything like mine its great on the worn out and potholes surfaces that pass for roads these days
Thanks. The road conditions these days was also a major consideration. Around weybridge the roads are comedically bad and the roads around my work in central London are no better. So another nail in the sports bike coffin. Plus, heated seats. 
A few observations after 3 tanks of fuel:
At the fuel station, there is no where to put my helmet cause it wont hang on the bars due to the fairing. Surprisingly annoying.
The gearbox really is s
te, but you get used to it. The engine seemed very unwilling to rev at first, like it was still tight. With only 8800 miles on it, maybe it is? However if you give it a fair old twist and ignore the fact it sounds like its trying too hard, you get a pretty good shove. Maybe its a twin cylinder thing.
The fuelling is just ok. Its possible to occasionally twist the grip and catch the engine just wrong, so that when you twist the grip, it coughs at the very moment the clutch takes up and stalls. Only happens very occasionally but annoying nonetheless. That same issue also prevents a good blip on the down shift. The extra engine brake of the twin makes it squirrely if you bash down through the gears too quick (no slipper clutch of course) so a blip is in order, except the engine tends not to be able to keep up. Takes a really big twist to overcome and some practice.
It does feel great when you lean it, maybe because it so tall and you sit upright, its accentuated. For the commute I've set the seat height low for extra slow-speed ease of foot-dabbing. The lower half of me almost feels sporty, balls of feet on the pegs etc. If I lay it in to a corner a bit quick, I still instinctively move like I'm on the R1 and going to lean it more. Then I remember I'm 3 feet back from the top yoke, I haven't got a clue what the front tyre is doing and I brick it a bit. On the occasions I haven't, nothing happens. In fact the further you lean it, the more it wants to. But it takes some getting used to because I feel like I don't have any weight over the front and therefore no feel.
The screen is an inch too short to protect me completely.
The brakes are still awesome although I think the ABS is a touch over-zealous.
And I had nice traffic light GP on the A3 the other day with a guy on a GS, followed by a nod and a wave. Its amazing how unsympathetic you get for that "still tight" engine when the red mist comes down.
Kickstart said:
Having got the same engine in a 2010 GS I have been tempted to get it remapped as I am told it can release a fair bit more power.
Enjoy your new bike and if it's anything like mine its great on the worn out and potholes surfaces that pass for roads these days
Dont know where you live, but Geof at Hilltop in Leicestershire is the man when it comes to remapping BMW bikes. He did my GS and the bhp went from 85 to 100, massive improvement at the low range of each gear, with some fun added at the higher end. Also overcomes the lean fueing issue imposed by BMW that can cause valve failure.Enjoy your new bike and if it's anything like mine its great on the worn out and potholes surfaces that pass for roads these days
I tested an RT before I bought my K1300GT in 2010. I really didn't get on with it - compared to the VFRs I was used to the engine felt very agricultural, and the expanse of front fairing obscuring everything up front was unnerving irrespective of the reduced front end feel.
The K I was immediately more comfortable with, and the front fairing is much less of a barn door.
Oddly the K also has an occasional low speed stalling issue (which is terrific at junctions when it is so bloody heavy - nearly dropped mine a few times), although I don't ride it enough around town/slow speeds to work out if it is significant or just my ham-fisted riding The stalling has not happened recently, so it might have been fixed/improved by the electronic updates at servicing.
Given how much people rave about the RT, like the GS, I should have perhaps persisted with a longer test ride to "get it" but I CBA at the time.
The K I was immediately more comfortable with, and the front fairing is much less of a barn door.
Oddly the K also has an occasional low speed stalling issue (which is terrific at junctions when it is so bloody heavy - nearly dropped mine a few times), although I don't ride it enough around town/slow speeds to work out if it is significant or just my ham-fisted riding
The stalling has not happened recently, so it might have been fixed/improved by the electronic updates at servicing.Given how much people rave about the RT, like the GS, I should have perhaps persisted with a longer test ride to "get it" but I CBA at the time.
s2kjock said:
I tested an RT before I bought my K1300GT in 2010. I really didn't get on with it - compared to the VFRs I was used to the engine felt very agricultural, and the expanse of front fairing obscuring everything up front was unnerving irrespective of the reduced front end feel.
The K I was immediately more comfortable with, and the front fairing is much less of a barn door.
Oddly the K also has an occasional low speed stalling issue (which is terrific at junctions when it is so bloody heavy - nearly dropped mine a few times), although I don't ride it enough around town/slow speeds to work out if it is significant or just my ham-fisted riding The stalling has not happened recently, so it might have been fixed/improved by the electronic updates at servicing.
Given how much people rave about the RT, like the GS, I should have perhaps persisted with a longer test ride to "get it" but I CBA at the time.
Aye and if I put the screen all the way up, its two barn doors. Screen up, top box on and with a decent cross wind and lane choice becomes a game of chance The K I was immediately more comfortable with, and the front fairing is much less of a barn door.
Oddly the K also has an occasional low speed stalling issue (which is terrific at junctions when it is so bloody heavy - nearly dropped mine a few times), although I don't ride it enough around town/slow speeds to work out if it is significant or just my ham-fisted riding
The stalling has not happened recently, so it might have been fixed/improved by the electronic updates at servicing.Given how much people rave about the RT, like the GS, I should have perhaps persisted with a longer test ride to "get it" but I CBA at the time.
ok its not that bad, I'm still getting used to a big tourer
I don't find the K too bad for wind (better than the VFR - weight to "sail area" ratio must be higher on the Beemer), although I rarely use the panniers and don't have a topbox.
The screen I still struggle with - town and twisties I lower it right down so I can see better, but faster twisties I sometimes need to compromise.
Motorway/cruising, I still get irritating helmet wind noise with it fully up and can't find a sweet spot, despite being only 5'10 with an aftermarket extended screen.
240 miles per tank and silly straight line oomph for such a big bike compensates however.
The screen I still struggle with - town and twisties I lower it right down so I can see better, but faster twisties I sometimes need to compromise.
Motorway/cruising, I still get irritating helmet wind noise with it fully up and can't find a sweet spot, despite being only 5'10 with an aftermarket extended screen.
240 miles per tank and silly straight line oomph for such a big bike compensates however.
LeadFarmer said:
Dont know where you live, but Geof at Hilltop in Leicestershire is the man when it comes to remapping BMW bikes. He did my GS and the bhp went from 85 to 100, massive improvement at the low range of each gear, with some fun added at the higher end. Also overcomes the lean fueing issue imposed by BMW that can cause valve failure.
Does Geoff do an actual remap, or simply load of one a range of pre defined maps that is likely to be closest to your bike? I've heard he does the latter, but effectively charges for the former?!Ok that looks like a lovely bike and lots to polish.
Like the write up and to be honest I found the some issues with front wheel, gearbox and lazy engine revving on the GS LE I tested last year. Although the only plus side is you could loft the front wheel on the GS for kicks.
I am surprised you went for something like this coming off and R1 rather then a GTR or K1300S. However saying that if your doing a lot of shared miles with a pillion then to be honest you probably made the best choice. When on tour the bike will probably come into its own.
Does it feel as top heavy as it looks?
Like the write up and to be honest I found the some issues with front wheel, gearbox and lazy engine revving on the GS LE I tested last year. Although the only plus side is you could loft the front wheel on the GS for kicks.
I am surprised you went for something like this coming off and R1 rather then a GTR or K1300S. However saying that if your doing a lot of shared miles with a pillion then to be honest you probably made the best choice. When on tour the bike will probably come into its own.
Does it feel as top heavy as it looks?
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