Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Test rode an BMW1200RT

Went with a friend who wants one so I got to ride it around Manhattan and the West Side highway (think cabs trying to run you down).

The bike has every gadget you can dream of. ABS, Power brakes (Two finger riding is good), heated grips, electric windshield, etc... It is higher than the TA so I could barely stand on both feet (Im 5'9"). The ease of slow turns are what impressed me. It felt nimble. Someone said its actually a detriment because you tend to take corners much faster. He's right. I did.

In the end, and because of high expectations, the actual riding is not any more comfortable than my TBA. Also accelaration/torque wise it seems to be at par with the TA. I didnt feel like light years difference. And the price point of $18,000 is murder.

Sitting in the rest area the other day with Tad we saw a new model something or other GS (Gerad - Strasse , dirt/street). Man, what a beautiful piece of engineering that thing is. I would love to have one of those. Sorta an off/on road style (Tiger like). Beautiful lines, looked like an extremely high tech bike. I like it! All except for the "Jiffy Pop" catalytic convertor that is. It looks like it's going 100 mph sitting still.

I test drove the RT and really loved the riding position, with the lowered seat (I'm 5'6"). As a relatively new rider (one year) I thought 1200cc would be hard to handle. It was actually easier for me to handle than my TBA. The brakes are especially impressive, straight line stopes and smooth. I think the RT is a great bike but would not trade my TBA for one. Would be nice to have both but that ain't happening.

The steering geometry of the TBA is really extreme - it's got more rake than almost anything else on the road. Even a big touring bike might feel more "nimble". Ahh, the sacrifices we make for style...

ImOk,

I have had the RT1100 for 9 years now (from new - see photo section) and wouldn't change it for anything (except perhaps for the new RT1200 which is around 30 lbs lighter). It has anything one would need for some serious travelling, without being too bulky like a Goldwing or Electra Glide or similar machines. It is so nimble, in fact, that I have done some pretty amazing things with it and thankfully it has never betrayed me (my 3rd bike is an Aprilia Mille race replica and sometimes I get confused ). You are right, you are certainly able to take bends and corners much faster.
If I were to criticise it I would say it is a little top-heavy (with a full tank) when trying to maneuver it at standsill.
Torque-wise, I think the bike you rode was probably not run in because once you hit the 4.500-5.000 mile mark, you see a massive difference and my Triumph doesn't compare (I have the 865cc SM). Comfort-wise on very long distances they are excellent too.
Also, I travelled through Italy last year after NOT having serviced the bike for over 2 years (Yes, I'm useless) and I didn't even give it a thought. They inspire a great sense of security and reliability. The payload is great too.
The extra cash you pay for these bikes is well worth it.

Bedouin,

Dont get me wrong. If I had the cash (no I will not mortgage my house) I would add this to the stable. Another bike I would like to test ride is the Yamaha FJR1300 ABS. Thats looks a lot like the RT (eh with some tiny accessories missing) but the price difference is $5,000.

I had an R75/5 and R90/S. They were OK, reasonably well made, but the engineering was very Tutonic with the typical German 'move shims from one side to the other' adjustments and such. The seating position was rather less than ideal for me, and I had to be careful not to climb on too fast or the sudden change in altitude would give me an earache.
The sidestands were worthless, and the forklocks were specially designed to break off the key if you didn't hold the fork from turning untill you removed it.

Quote:

---

They were OK, reasonably well made, but the engineering was very Tutonic

---

Ed, got to remember, they are made so that in a pinch, you can mount an MG 42 or PaK 75 recoilless rifle on the handlebars in place of the electrically adjustable windshield, and that the average fresh-out-of-Hochscule Bundeswehr Privat can change the shims in the field with his Mauser bayonet....