Stability on the Highway above 75MPH

[bobdc]

New RT owner. Got my bike 3 weeks ago and love it. Have been riding for years, Harleys and Hondas. Sport bikes and cruisers. Very happy with the bike, but with about 1100 miles on the bike, I find I am being tossed about on the highway at high speed. Further, the front end feels very light at speed, as though the front wheel was wondering between the fork legs. Although I wouldn't call it severe, it can be somewhat disconcerting at times. Anyone have any thoughts? Has anyone experienced the same thing? Did it go away over time?

The dealer is telling me that maybe the tires need more scrubbing in, and that this may take a couple/few thousand miles to get better. They also reminded how light the bike is, and that this would also contribute to some of the consequences of wind and turbulence from trucks on the highway.

[quaintance]

The dealer is telling me that maybe the tires need more scrubbing in, and that this may take a couple/few thousand miles to get better. They also reminded how light the bike is, and that this would also contribute to some of the consequences of wind and turbulence from trucks on the highway.

I'm not sure what the dealer is referring to with tire scrubbing in but it sounds a little bit like rubbish.. I mean you've got over 1k miles on those tires....

My RT R12RT was the first BMW I'd owned and sometimes felt it was a little squirrely at high speed too.. with cross winds etc but nothing that has ever had me actually concerned, just wrote it off as a bike having a larger profile than i'm used to with different airflow dynamics.. I also feel better/get less buffetting with my new Vstream windshield.. maybe you should look into that.

Have you checked your tires pressure? of course I wouldnt think that would only impact you at high speed....

[johnbeaven]

I regularly cruise at 120km/hr and I have found no stability problems at all. Trucks passing from the opposite direction cause some buffeting and the bike is affected by side winds. But I find the R1200RT better than the R1100RT under both these conditions.

[bobdc]

Thanks for the input. I do think there is some truth to the difference for me in riding a bike with the larger profile and different airflow dynamics. Probably some getting used to required for me. The dealer did suggest reducing the rear tire pressure to 39 from 42 (front is 36 and no suggestion to change this). Another point I didn't mention was windshield position. Any thoughts on up or down, which is better on the highway as far as impacting the stability question?

[tmgs]

New RT owner. Got my bike 3 weeks ago and love it. Have been riding for years, Harleys and Hondas. Sport bikes and cruisers. Very happy with the bike, but with about 1100 miles on the bike, I find I am being tossed about on the highway at high speed. Further, the front end feels very light at speed, as though the front wheel was wondering between the fork legs. Although I wouldn't call it severe, it can be somewhat disconcerting at times. Anyone have any thoughts? Has anyone experienced the same thing? Did it go away over time?

The dealer is telling me that maybe the tires need more scrubbing in, and that this may take a couple/few thousand miles to get better. They also reminded how light the bike is, and that this would also contribute to some of the consequences of wind and turbulence from trucks on the highway.


well that sounds like bs to me, the tires need scrubbed in, but hey we ain;t there to ride your bike,

THe RT is a light steering bike compared to the others you mention IMHO, ride a ST then a RT once you will see what I mean, it could be you are just not used to a very easy to steer MC like the RT, combined with a taller profile of most other bikes you have previously rode.

If you have had the bike checked out for any loose componetnts and still feel the bike is unstable take it to someone else and have it looked at again.

[bobdc]

I think some of it may be me and getting used to it. I did do an experiment though and rode at length yesterday with the windshield all the way down and it did feel much better. Having the windshield up is obviously going to catch a lot more wind.

Thanks all for the input. I know/knew it is/was probably me more than anything, but wanted the input from some experienced RT riders.

[DanForker]

Has anyone noticed a difference in stability at speed depending on the windshield in place? I have a CeeBailey and an Aeroflow. The CeeBailey gives better protection from turbulance but I think the bike is more unstable at speed with the CeeBaily than with the Aeroflow. Any observations from the rest of you?

Dan Forker

[messenger13]

Has anyone noticed a difference in stability at speed depending on the windshield in place? I have a CeeBailey and an Aeroflow. The CeeBailey gives better protection from turbulance but I think the bike is more unstable at speed with the CeeBaily than with the Aeroflow. Any observations from the rest of you?

Dan ForkerIMO, aftermarket shields will almost always display some type of instability issue over the OEM shield. The question is, does the benefits out-weigh the instability issue. My new GT's OEM windshield was just about unbearable to me, at any speed. Not because of instability, but the air was just so dang "dirty" . . . or noisy. My new Cee Bailey's shield has cleaned the air up entirely! But at high speeds, I can tell that the shield has a small effect on the ride. The effect is small enough though, so it's not a big deal. And how often do I ride above 130mph anyways?... ;)

[Tom_K]

Going from OEM to a Z-Technik shield, the bike seems to be a bit more stable at higher speeds - in addition to much less rider wind buffeting.

Having ridden GoldWings for 25 years, I'm really surprised that the R1200RT is just as stable over 75 mph -especially considering the 300 lbs. less weight and 8" shorter wheelbase.

[meese]

I never noticed any issues with my Cee Bailey at speed. Just cleaner air all around.

[paulcbrowne]

I find a serious problem with my new RT on the highway -- it wants to cruise at 85+ mph, but the VA State Police disagree!! My LT was the same way. BMW designs their bikes for FAST cruising.

Check your tire pressures and make sure that they are set at what's recommended for the load. It's different for different passenger/luggage loads. Also, make sure that the shock is set correctly -- easy if you have ESA, just a bit more difficult if you don't. Preload is the adjustment for the weight you're carrying and is set by a knob under the seat. You must also adjust the shock damping with the screw at the base of the rear shock. The owners manual describes the manual adjustment well.

As for an aftermarket w/s, I have never met one that worked as advertized. If anything, the RT would benefit from a shorter w/s. I ride my GS with a relatively low w/s. You'd be surprised how getting your head into clean air works very well for both noise and ventilation. Not having that w/s as a sail also helps.

[messenger13]

I find a serious problem with my new RT on the highway -- it wants to cruise at 85+ mph, but the VA State Police disagree!! My LT was the same way. BMW designs their bikes for FAST cruising.Meese could contribute more than I can here...but I believe there may be more to your statements than you know. The autoban has to be considered when designing a bike to be sold in Germany, no? Meese, your thoughts...

[fas]

I find a serious problem with my new RT on the highway -- it wants to cruise at 85+ mph, but the VA State Police disagree!! My LT was the same way. BMW designs their bikes for FAST cruising.

Check your tire pressures....

Paul, you are very correct. I opened an office in Munich and recruited top BMW folks to help me. They design for the autobahn and for the Alps [left/right]. That is one reason why, even on their bikes, they have the 37 degree FREEZE warning. Having ridden on the autobahn since 1972, those high bridges FREEZE fast with wind chill. I've seen some amazing pile ups as folks are too dumb to slow down when it drops below 37. Yes, tire pressure is crucial. My service manager says almost every BMW that comes in his door is dangerously low in air pressure. Low pressure leads to high temps and fast wear. I rode the LT for four years. Now almost 2,500 miles on the GT. It cuts thru air really easily, far better than the higher CD LT. SO prefers the GT, "Less buffetting." I like the feel of the GT at speed. I also have the big top case, becaues I stow our helmets/whatever there. I love how easy it is to take the bags off and in to the hotel. Too bad about the VA attitude toward radar detection devices.

[garyj]

I never noticed any issues with my Cee Bailey at speed. Just cleaner air all around.

On an '06 RT that's my experinece.

[George_S]

I had an 1150RT earlier this summer and I was very satisfied with its cross-wind performance at highway speeds, so I don't know what you could be experiencing. I had the Aeroflow windshield. There even was one time when I was next to two 18 wheelers, they were one behind the other to my right, and when I entered the open space between them, I felt the wind slam into my upper body, but the RT just tracked straight ahead like there was no wind at all. (I now have an LT and that is just rock solid on the open road.)