06 or 07 RT?

[EricSuz]

I am looking hard at trading my 05 LT for a RT. Dealer has both 06 and 07.

I'm not sure of all the changes between 06 and 07, but the big one seems to be the brakes. The 06 has servo assisted, 07 doesn't. That seems backwards to me. My 05 LT has servo assisted and I like it.

The LT just seems too big and hard to park and handle at slow speeds. My wife seems to only ride once a year (at CCRs), so almost all of my riding is solo.
Had a good test ride on the 06 Saturday. I'll need to lower the foot pegs, but I did that on the LT also even though my inseam is only 30"
.
Anyone have a suggestion between the 06 and 07?

[amarider]

I also liked the servo brakes but the new 07 brakes are even better and no whine! No servo break to break.

I would take the better deal.

[Rocket_Cowboy]

Biggest difference is the brakes as you pointed out, but the 07 also adds the options for Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM), and traction control (ASC).

I already had TPM capabilities via my SmarTire setup, so I didn't need that, and wasn't too keen on being the first person with traction control, so I bought an '06. Love the bike.

Like John said, take the best deal you can get, that meets your needs.

[EricSuz]

Thanks for the replies. After my initial love at first ride I am now starting to think of the things I'll give up if I trade the LT.

Intercom, easy set up for GPS and XM radio. Found a deal on the Zumo 550 with XM for under $900.

Mic o Pegs, I've seen a few highway peg set ups for the RT--suggestions?
Jim said he didn't think he will have MOPs for the RT

Power center stand

But 250 pounds less weight and a lower cg----

Looks like the luggage system with the top case and tank bag would be more user friendly than the LT.
Any other suggestions?

[brianbeemer]

Intercom, easy set up for GPS and XM radio. Found a deal on the Zumo 550 with XM for under $900. Not bad. I put an autocom and Garmin on my RT for $750. The most expensive bits were the cables!

Mic o Pegs, I've seen a few highway peg set ups for the RT--suggestions?
Jim said he didn't think he will have MOPs for the RT You got me there, and the RT pegs are too close to the seat... but this site is good http://www.mv-motorrad.de/lshop,shopstart,16601,e,1174043413-16601,,,,,.htm

Power center stand Who needs it on an RT? Unless you've got serious knee problems the RT stand is real easy to use, although with the luggage maxed out it can be tough to pull OFF the stand.

But 250 pounds less weight and a lower cg---- And you can crawl it along 2-up and fully loaded in heavy traffic easily.

Looks like the luggage system with the top case and tank bag would be more user friendly than the LT. I have a Givi E52 - half the price of the BMW box - and the luggage system is indeed easy to use.

[switz]

BMW has a bonus between now and the end of October in that BMW Motorrad will send the purchaser a new Zumo GPS independent of the price one pays the dealer. They claim it is a $976 deal. You still have to install it and interface it to an audiocom system or bluetooth headset.

So if you are sitting on the fence, here is a great nudge to fall into the seat of a new bike. These are the 2007 models in the offering: K1200R, R1200RT, F800ST, R1200GS, and K1200GT. n Here are the details:

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/fastforward/ :bmw:

[MarkG]

Although I switched from a Goldwing to the RT, the change is similar in many respects.

The intercom setup is relatively easy to resolve with an aftermarket product like Autocom or Baehr. Either will also handle music. A used Roady can be bought for peanuts, and solve your XM problem, and you can use it in the house and car, too, with available adapter kits.

Your biggest adjustment will be in the luggage space. You'll have to learn to pack differently, as there's much less room. I've the large top case, but if I were starting from scratch I think I'd see if one of the u-shaped soft luggage bags was more appealing and user-friendly, although it would require purchasing a backrest for my wife's comfort. I agree with the suggestion to get a Givi (or Hepco-Becker ((I had one on another bike, very good quality, as large as the Wing's trunk))) topcase instead of the OEM case, which is smaller and much more expensive, but does have a blue and white medallion and matching key. Having said all this, we have had no problem with trips up to ten days duration with the factory luggage...microfiber clothing and smush bags are your friends.

I do miss the Wing's highway pegs on those long, straight west Texas highways, but that's really a pretty minor issue. I've done 800 mile days on the RT without them (I bought a pair of those flip-out pegs when I first got the bike but they were too far away for me to be comfortable; I just installed Suburban Machinery peg lowering blocks to help a tailbone problem, and it appears they'll also ease pressure on my aged knees).

The seat on the RT is more "motorcycle" and less "verrry nice," but you won't know if you can live with it until you've put a few thousand miles on it. I recently had an aftermarket company rebuild both seats on the RT, but that was to cure that pernicious tailbone issue (not yet, it hasn't), rather than a need for more comfort.

So, these are ways to resolve your concerns, but the decision still comes down to which bike you like best. I loved the Goldwing, (heck, I've loved every bike I ever owned!) but it was just too unwieldy at slow speeds, especially fully loaded. The RT, so far, is just right for my moderate style of touring and day rides, almost always two-up. HTH.....

[EricSuz]

Glad this thread is starting to get some response. An update, I did trade the 05 LT for the 06 RT. So far I like the ride and handling. However the wife's first words when I brought it home "you got ripped off." She doesn't like the looks and when I did get her to set on the RT, she said the back support was not as good and her legs hit the luggage side cases. She wanted more lower back support than the big BMW top case provides. To put all this in prospective, she has only rode with me 4 times. Three of those were at CCRs and I had 30,000 miles on the LT.

I don't yet have the manual for the RT. I'm sure I'm not making use of the ESA. Had a hard time getting the radio to work into my helmet--had to replace the helmet speakers and cords. RT has an autocom system installed as well as some type of inter bike walkie talkie ??????

I bought a Zumo with XM. Have the Zumo mounted, but not wired. Think I know how I'll mount the XM puck using RAM parts and screw into the handle bar mounting bolts. Still can't get the RT on the center stand.

[Effjay]

My initial post here last Spring was after doing a dealer open house demo-day (as in demonstrate, not demolish). First day I rode an LT, second day an RT. I'm a single man and rarely if ever have a pillion passenger. KLTs or Goldwings seem so overkill with that "queen perch" vacant. With my sporting bias, the choice was clear for me as a more ergo-friendly replacement for my FJR - the RT won big time!

It seems to me (other than agreeing on expense), the choice you made was correct since your SO rarely rides with you. With respect to getting it on the centerstand, I'm at a loss because I think the RT is the easiest in that regard of many I've owned - including the FJR. My right hand arthritis always paid the price after lifting the FJR, but the RT just glides up onto the stand. I think as others have said that your procedure isn't quite correct. Maybe have another person (who you trust) try doing it and see what they think?

You already have a Zumo - I want one too. I do have a Garmin 2720 unit, but strictly use in my daily drivers. The Zumo seems nearly ideal (I saw two on an FJR group ride last Saturday). BTW, Costco is selling them for $670 plus charges. Costco for Zumo (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11230413&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US&s=1)

Jeff

[Billy]

Trading my LT for an '07RT was one of the best things I ever did. My wife doesn't ride so that was not a consideration. I LOVE the RT. I'm having the Suburban peg lowering kit installed, a Rick Mayer seat, and the VStream windshield for the winter. I've owned 14 bikes and this is by far the best. The LT is a great bike but seriously flawed. It is much too top heavy and 70% (those that admit it) of the people who own it drop it. It takes the fun our of it by always having to worry when you get into a tight slow speed situation. Interestingly enough is that even without the peg lowering kit I am more comfortable on the RT than the LT.

[Bob1200rtc1]

I don't know how many people this affects but if you do your own maintainance (I do). The 07 is much easier to flush the brake fluid. Don't have to take everything off to get to the abs unit to bleed both sides of the system. Just my 2 cents. Also the 07 seems a little harder to get on and off the center stand than my 2000 RT and the weight balance is less neutral,More weight on the front wheel. Still not an issue though. :bmw: