BMW R1100RT vs R1200RT
Discussion
Hi folks,
Having never owned a BMW bike before, I was offered an R1100RT. I instantly took to it, and it served me well on an annual European bike trip that I partake in.
It's done a few miles, but generally is in good condition; however I need to spend a few pounds on it to keep it in fine fettle. What I would like to know is if there is if the first gen R1200RT is a much better bike, for me to consider changing? Yes it certainly looks better, but I know t has a few more electronics, that are expensive when they go wrong.
Has anyone ridden both? Is the R1200RT a much better handling bike than the R1100RT?
Having never owned a BMW bike before, I was offered an R1100RT. I instantly took to it, and it served me well on an annual European bike trip that I partake in.
It's done a few miles, but generally is in good condition; however I need to spend a few pounds on it to keep it in fine fettle. What I would like to know is if there is if the first gen R1200RT is a much better bike, for me to consider changing? Yes it certainly looks better, but I know t has a few more electronics, that are expensive when they go wrong.
Has anyone ridden both? Is the R1200RT a much better handling bike than the R1100RT?
EarlOfHazard said:
Hi folks,
Having never owned a BMW bike before, I was offered an R1100RT. I instantly took to it, and it served me well on an annual European bike trip that I partake in.
It's done a few miles, but generally is in good condition; however I need to spend a few pounds on it to keep it in fine fettle. What I would like to know is if there is if the first gen R1200RT is a much better bike, for me to consider changing? Yes it certainly looks better, but I know t has a few more electronics, that are expensive when they go wrong.
Has anyone ridden both? Is the R1200RT a much better handling bike than the R1100RT?
I cannot contribute to this thread (not that it ever stops anyone in BB) becuase I haven't ridden the 1100RT. But I can say I do miss my 1200RT a lot. Having never owned a BMW bike before, I was offered an R1100RT. I instantly took to it, and it served me well on an annual European bike trip that I partake in.
It's done a few miles, but generally is in good condition; however I need to spend a few pounds on it to keep it in fine fettle. What I would like to know is if there is if the first gen R1200RT is a much better bike, for me to consider changing? Yes it certainly looks better, but I know t has a few more electronics, that are expensive when they go wrong.
Has anyone ridden both? Is the R1200RT a much better handling bike than the R1100RT?
I may just be your saviour 
I have owned both.
Quite honestly, ride-wise there's not a massive amount in it. Which is probably why I bought the 1200, I instantly felt at home on it.
I can't remember whether my 1100 had ABS or not? The 11 doesn't have servo assist, although the brakes (at least on mine) were still very good.
There are a lot more toys on the 12, eg EAS, TC, etc. I don't (or hardly ever, and only to exercise the motors) use the EAS, I have it where it suits me and don't carry pillions. TC and ABS for me were a must-have for winter commuting. The 12 also has cruise control which I use all the time, every day. Oh and the 12 has heated seats
(which are lovely!)
Both bikes handle extraordinarily well for what they are. Possible that the 12 is a little better but that's not to knock the 11. It may just be that it's newer and therefore fresher than the 11.
Summary: the 12 has more toys (and therefore more to go wrong) and is a lovely bike. If you're going from a "known" 11 to an early 12 though (mine is a late one, one of the last of the oilheads), you could be stacking up similar issues on a bike which is dearer to maintain for no appreciable gain in the ride itself.
I have owned both.Quite honestly, ride-wise there's not a massive amount in it. Which is probably why I bought the 1200, I instantly felt at home on it.
I can't remember whether my 1100 had ABS or not? The 11 doesn't have servo assist, although the brakes (at least on mine) were still very good.
There are a lot more toys on the 12, eg EAS, TC, etc. I don't (or hardly ever, and only to exercise the motors) use the EAS, I have it where it suits me and don't carry pillions. TC and ABS for me were a must-have for winter commuting. The 12 also has cruise control which I use all the time, every day. Oh and the 12 has heated seats
(which are lovely!)Both bikes handle extraordinarily well for what they are. Possible that the 12 is a little better but that's not to knock the 11. It may just be that it's newer and therefore fresher than the 11.
Summary: the 12 has more toys (and therefore more to go wrong) and is a lovely bike. If you're going from a "known" 11 to an early 12 though (mine is a late one, one of the last of the oilheads), you could be stacking up similar issues on a bike which is dearer to maintain for no appreciable gain in the ride itself.
CAPP0 said:
I may just be your saviour I have owned both.
Quite honestly, ride-wise there's not a massive amount in it. Which is probably why I bought the 1200, I instantly felt at home on it.
I can't remember whether my 1100 had ABS or not? The 11 doesn't have servo assist, although the brakes (at least on mine) were still very good.
There are a lot more toys on the 12, eg EAS, TC, etc. I don't (or hardly ever, and only to exercise the motors) use the EAS, I have it where it suits me and don't carry pillions. TC and ABS for me were a must-have for winter commuting. The 12 also has cruise control which I use all the time, every day. Oh and the 12 has heated seats (which are lovely!)
Both bikes handle extraordinarily well for what they are. Possible that the 12 is a little better but that's not to knock the 11. It may just be that it's newer and therefore fresher than the 11.
Summary: the 12 has more toys (and therefore more to go wrong) and is a lovely bike. If you're going from a "known" 11 to an early 12 though (mine is a late one, one of the last of the oilheads), you could be stacking up similar issues on a bike which is dearer to maintain for no appreciable gain in the ride itself.
Hi Cappo, yes the 1100 has ABS, although many remove it as it costs a lot to replace when it goes wrong. And like you say, the brakes are very good; I guess due in part to the calipers being Brembos. I have owned both.Quite honestly, ride-wise there's not a massive amount in it. Which is probably why I bought the 1200, I instantly felt at home on it.
I can't remember whether my 1100 had ABS or not? The 11 doesn't have servo assist, although the brakes (at least on mine) were still very good.
There are a lot more toys on the 12, eg EAS, TC, etc. I don't (or hardly ever, and only to exercise the motors) use the EAS, I have it where it suits me and don't carry pillions. TC and ABS for me were a must-have for winter commuting. The 12 also has cruise control which I use all the time, every day. Oh and the 12 has heated seats
(which are lovely!)Both bikes handle extraordinarily well for what they are. Possible that the 12 is a little better but that's not to knock the 11. It may just be that it's newer and therefore fresher than the 11.
Summary: the 12 has more toys (and therefore more to go wrong) and is a lovely bike. If you're going from a "known" 11 to an early 12 though (mine is a late one, one of the last of the oilheads), you could be stacking up similar issues on a bike which is dearer to maintain for no appreciable gain in the ride itself.
If the ride and handling aren't worlds apart, then I don't think it'll be worth the change. I really like the 1100 (even the looks
); and it's relatively simple as well meaning maintenance is easy enough. Thanks for your response!I've just moved to an RT courtesy of a prang in France which wrote off my previous bike, a 1200ST I'd had for 6/7 years. If you're thinking of an early 1200RT, '05/'06 models, be warned that they nearly all have the infamous 'whizzy' servo-ABS brakes (not all ABS models are servo-ABS btw) - very powerful when the servo's working OK.....a bit scary when it fails as all you have available is 'residual' braking, akin to what your car brakes feel like when the engine's off! Its a truly awful bit of design that wasn't needed in the first place, as the brakes are quite powerful enough without a servo anyway. It costs a fortune to fix (unlike later BMW ABS systems, which can be sorted relatively economically) and most folk have it removed instead, costing anywhere from £200-£400 by an indy, or DiY is feasible if you're handy with spanners.
I love mine - I loved the ST too - I purposely went for one without ESA, which is another weak spot at anything from 30k miles up. Its comfy, its good on fuel, it handles, its cheap and easy to service (once the ABS has been binned, brake fluid changes are quite a bit more involved on ABS models, and are a must to (try to) keep the system working properly).....all of which, of course, apply to the 1100 too! The 1200 engine is possibly a bit smoother than the 1100, but then again I've ridden some 1200s that are much worse than others anyway, usually down to throttle-body balancing being out.
If you like the looks of the 1100, I'd say you won't necessarily gain that much by buying a 1200 - perhaps try to get a ride on one and see what you think yourself?
Pete
I love mine - I loved the ST too - I purposely went for one without ESA, which is another weak spot at anything from 30k miles up. Its comfy, its good on fuel, it handles, its cheap and easy to service (once the ABS has been binned, brake fluid changes are quite a bit more involved on ABS models, and are a must to (try to) keep the system working properly).....all of which, of course, apply to the 1100 too! The 1200 engine is possibly a bit smoother than the 1100, but then again I've ridden some 1200s that are much worse than others anyway, usually down to throttle-body balancing being out.
If you like the looks of the 1100, I'd say you won't necessarily gain that much by buying a 1200 - perhaps try to get a ride on one and see what you think yourself?
Pete
I can’t help on the comparison, but I have had an 05 an a 14 plate R1200RT.
There wasn’t much between them in the riding experience or comfort (I’m a 60/70 mph potter about duffer though) but they both seemed to handle really well to me.
The 14 was utterly lovely to look at, I though, although both had a few cosmetic corrosion issues.
The 14 LE also had the stupidly expensive optional audio system,and whilst lots of people find it useless, I loved it and wouldn’t buy one without it. Used it every ride almost.
Nothing broke on either of them in my time of ownership.
I miss them both.
There wasn’t much between them in the riding experience or comfort (I’m a 60/70 mph potter about duffer though) but they both seemed to handle really well to me.
The 14 was utterly lovely to look at, I though, although both had a few cosmetic corrosion issues.
The 14 LE also had the stupidly expensive optional audio system,and whilst lots of people find it useless, I loved it and wouldn’t buy one without it. Used it every ride almost.
Nothing broke on either of them in my time of ownership.
I miss them both.
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