Reality Hurts, But..............................

[LarryR]

........I have finally had to admit that I am getting old and am not as strong as I used to be. I currently own an '03 LTE and realized on my last triip to the mountains that the bike is becoming increasingly difficult for me to handle.

I test rode an R1200RT a few days ago and was much impressed with the ease of handling and the handling in general. I read most all of the posts on this site about the RT and just about have made up my mind to trade. It seems that everyone really likes their RT.

Question: I prefer a bit more upright sitting position. Can barbacks (spelling) be added to the RT to acquire a more upright riding position? How hard is it to change the oil and filter?

I will miss attending the LT tech sessions. I always enjoyed "shooting the breeze" with the guys but I suppose everything changes with time.

Getting old is such hard work!!

Also, from what I read on this forum, I am assuming that long distance touring is possible with the RT.

Any comments and/or suggestions or thoughts will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Larry Bryant
Donalsonville, GA

[bman28]

Larry,
Check out this site for long distance info. This gentleman has recently done a trip from AL to PEI on 1200RT. Previous to that he has been doing long distance trips on his Honda ST. He also has a comparison on the differences based on his experiences. Check it out: http://www.bamarider.com/

Good Luck
-Bob

[amarider]

Larry,

One up I prefer the RT (1150) over the LT for day to day riding and LD touring. 2 up of course the LT is my love but I don't do much two up riding and more, wife has bad knees.

Check out www.bmwsporttouring.com (http://www.bmwsporttouring.com) this group has all the info you will ever need about the RT. It is yes on the bar backs and I would add a Rick Mayer seat. I have done many 1000 + days on the RT with no problems. If you add a Cee Bailey + shield then the Rain protection is as good as the LT.

BTW - There is no need to miss the LT tech sessions, I bring my RT (work on the RT is easier than the LT) and help out with the LT's. Many LT owners have R bikes also. :D

Best of luck with the search of an RT.

[dyvking]

Question: I prefer a bit more upright sitting position. Can barbacks (spelling) be added to the RT to acquire a more upright riding position? How hard is it to change the oil and filter?

I will miss attending the LT tech sessions. I always enjoyed "shooting the breeze" with the guys but I suppose everything changes with time.

Getting old is such hard work!!

Also, from what I read on this forum, I am assuming that long distance touring is possible with the RT.

Larry.. I made exactly that same move. The RT is a lot lighter, for sure.
Re: your questions..
1.) Barbacks..yep, did that. easy install too. I used the ones by MotoTechniques that I got from
Sierra BMW (http://www.sierrabmw.bigstep.com/item.jhtml;$sessionid$Z2MAWDAAABEPZTZENUEUTIWPERWRJPX0?UCIDs=820323%7C1312290&PRID=650893). They bring the bars up and back about an inch each. The riding position is already nearly upright on the bike, unless you are short like me. This helped a lot.

2.) I haven't changed my oil myself yet, but the filter is accessible without removing any tupperware, as long as you have the 'special' oil filter wrench. BMW makes one for about $70, but there are cheaper aftermarket knock-offs. And adding oil is easy as well. The boxer jug sticks out and the filler hole is accessible on the left jug. The new RT will use a little oil at first (I'm told.. I only have about 3k on mine, used .5 qt so far).

3.) I've done 2 short 1000-mile tours so far, and have found the bike everybit as good a tourer as the LT, with the exception of having somewhat less weather protection. But, this was a worthwhile trade off for the loss of over 250 lbs. In fact, my RT was my prize to myself for losing 80 lbs. : )

In some ways I miss the big rolling-couch, but enjoy the RT as much, if not more since I find myself encouraged to get out and ride more often.

Hey, if you want it, do it.

[LarryR]

Thanks Guys,

Your information is very helpful and pretty much cements my decision to get the RT. I think I will wait and get an '06. I don't know when they will be in the dealer showrooms but it should be worth the wait.

The test drive made me aware that I will be a Rick Mayer customer once again. Other than that, the bike just seemed perfect for me.

Thanks again for the input. It really does help.

[amarider]

Oh, forgot about the Oil change - easy, same as the LT but the oil filter is on the outside and uses the same filter and wrench as the LT.

The 06's are already in the showroom and it's reported that they are not burning as much oil as the 05's.

Just a note on the R1200RT - while it has more power and is a little lighter than the 1150. I found that the weight change made the RT feel less stable out on the freeway. I stayed with my 04 1150, just added the Rhinewest chip. You can find really good deals on dual spark 04's, you may want to test ride both. Also there are a lot of used R1200RT's that come up for sale, check out the RT site classifieds.

[dyvking]

I think I will wait and get an '06. I don't know when they will be in the dealer showrooms but it should be worth the wait.

'06's are out. Mine's an '06 :D

[dshealey]

We have a member in the San Diego BMW owners club, Charlie Parker, who has done two "Four Corners" rides, one at age 83 on a K1200RS, the second one in the opposite direction at age 85 on a K1200GT. He has been in a lot of newspaper and magazine articles. Those could also be candidates for a somewhat lighter more nimble bike.

[Undecided]

I traded my LT for the same reason, and replaced it with an RT. I saw a post regarding bar risers and such. I have had no need to change the position but will have Rick Mayer do my saddle.

The new Aeroflow windshield seems to solve the sensitivity some are concerned with when at freeway speeds - not my experience but reported and discussed on BMW Sporttouring.com

[jeffdean]

I have had two K1200LTs and numerous RTs over the years. My last LT was traded for an R1150RT. I liked the cruise control and weather radio on the LT. The R1200RT now has cruise control, and I am glad for that.

For me, the LT was just too heavy. I have not regretted jettisoning my last LT and have no desire to acquire another one. I also like the boxer engine concept that Max Friz came up with in 1923 and still see its advantages today.

Do not get me wrong, however. The LT is a great motorcycle. My wife liked it better than any RT I have owned for passenger comfort, but she is happy with the RTs as well. She also likes the fact that I am more confident and comfortable with the RT than I ever was with the LT.

Whenever I was stopping or riding slowly on the LT I was always a little on edge, and she could tell that. Once I dropped an LT at a gas station, and a second time in my own garage! When the LT was rolling, it was a dream. Stopping or slow riding unnerved me because of the weight, which seemed top heavy to me. Some people handle the LT very well and do not find the weight to be unsettling. More power to them! They can enjoy this great motorcycle. I was just not one of them.

[MOSLEYDS]

I have had two K1200LTs and numerous RTs over the years. My last LT was traded for an R1150RT. I liked the cruise control and weather radio on the LT. The R1200RT now has cruise control, and I am glad for that.

For me, the LT was just too heavy. I have not regretted jettisoning my last LT and have no desire to acquire another one. I also like the boxer engine concept that Max Friz came up with in 1923 and still see its advantages today.

Do not get me wrong, however. The LT is a great motorcycle. My wife liked it better than any RT I have owned for passenger comfort, but she is happy with the RTs as well. She also likes the fact that I am more confident and comfortable with the RT than I ever was with the LT.

Whenever I was stopping or riding slowly on the LT I was always a little on edge, and she could tell that. Once I dropped an LT at a gas station, and a second time in my own garage! When the LT was rolling, it was a dream. Stopping or slow riding unnerved me because of the weight, which seemed top heavy to me. Some people handle the LT very well and do not find the weight to be unsettling. More power to them! They can enjoy this great motorcycle. I was just not one of them.

Your story sounds the same as mine. In my case some health issues
contrubuted to my deceiding to give up the LT. It got to where it just seemed like too much trouble to back the LT out of the garage and down the driveway. Replacing it with an RT is the plan, but for now it's a MX-5 Miata for open air touring.

[black1200lt]

Gang,

I gotta say, while the LT is awkward at slow speeds, you really need to take an '05 or the '06 for a spin. They made some very serious changes that have really helped the low speed handling of our favorite bike.

I had a RT, and I was more than happy to sell it for the LT.

Bottom line is that you just need to trying them all and see which one makes you smile.

[Dick]

Hey, Larry - git your hands on the Dec. '05 issue of BMW ON. In the letters column, there is a pretty good write-up of Dolph and Beverly McCranie's switcheroo from an LT to an RT. They just finished a two-up, 6,000 mile trip, after trading the LT for the RT. I haven't talked personally with them yet, butt hope to do so pretty soon, as their dealer in Austin is also my dealer and we occasionally cross paths during visits.

[dmlaherty01]

I find the LT to be one incredible bike. With my wife on the back there's no question that's the choice. But when I'm by myself, regardless of the length of journey, the 1150RT is the choice. It feels like I would expect the 650 to feel and yet it's got the good power. I'm 56 years old and the LT is feeling heavier especially in town. But the 1150...it's fantastic.

[lovetomotor]

My two favorite bikes ever the RT and the LT. I sold my RT and moved to the LT and can truely still say I love them both. My brother still has his 1150 and we just finished the 3 Flags Classic ride this past August. Both bikes were flawless. The LT is heavy at parking lot speeds, but that's about the only negative I've experienced.

I do remember why I sold the RT and went for the LT. Several reasons;

I just got tired of the engine noise from the RT. I know some boxers are noiser than others, and mine was just annoying to me. It was also very finickey about the throttle body synchronization, seems like I was adjusting that every few thousand miles with my TwinMax. The tranny on the 1150 was crude compared to the LT, I don't miss that 'thawack' shifting from 5th to 6th and I also love water cooled engines. Water cooled engines can be set up to closer tolerances, they run cooler and the engines behave exactly the same under different temperatures and circumstances.

I'm sure some of these reasons I like the LT are not important to others and that's why it's great that BMW makes these two motorcycles to satisfy different tastes.

Now, if they would just make a water cooled RT, I'm back to the boxer.