Just bought a 1996 R1100RTL

[banddr2]

New poster here. I have been a 3235i owner for a few years and just bought my first bike. I found this one with 66,xxx miles on it and in immacualte condition. I have only test drove and acquired it for 4750. Everything works well except the ABS lights are finicky, but do go out after a few minutes of driving & the antenna wire must be loose so I am going to have to get into that.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on preventive maintenance, or things I should be looking at. I could see not appearant seal or oil leaks, but I did not remove any of the cowling yet. Bought from a private owner and I will be bringing it home Wednesday. The price just seemed too good to pass up and it looks like it has been babied. I am planning on using it for my 25 mile commutes to work when the weather cooperates.

[Rock1098]

Congrats on the new bike. Way to go on helping ease our dependence on oil too. That was my main reason for buying a bike, to commute. Enjoy and be safe. :wave

[JPSpen]

The ABS can be finicky.. There is a minimum and a maximum gap for the ABS sensors..
Hopefully the guage is in the toolkit...

The most prevelant abs issue with these bikes is a low battery..
Symptom. Start the bike. ABS light wig wag and don't go off...

Ride a while and then restart the bike. ABS works normally.

There is also a way to get the trouble code and reset it if it doesn't go out at all.

The lights should flash together until you drive off. Then you'll hear the ABS do it's self test. Kind of a metal on metal squeak twice.. Then the lights go out.

Just holler if you have questions... Congrats on the bike...

John

[ArthurKnowles]

I'e got a '96 RT too. I have lots of documentation, manuals, etc. available. If you are interested send me a PM.

I've also modified mine with a Xenon (HID) headlight, HID auxillary lights, replaced the radio, repalced the marker lights with LED marker lights, and added a GPS and Sebel horn. I have pictures of most of it if you are interested as well.

[JPSpen]

Hell, I'd be interested in all that.

Post er up Art

John

[banddr2]

Thanks guys, I actually am taking possession tomorrow, can't wait! This is my first big bike (over 250cc) so I am looking forward to taking it slow and getting acqainted with it this weekend. Then I have to try to get my wife to drive it. She is a little afraid of the size, but she can sit on it flat footed, so I hope with time she will be using it also.

[ArthurKnowles]

Hell, I'd be interested in all that.

The marker light to LED marker lights can be found here ...

http://www.nt-guru.com/motorcycle/FrontLEDR1100RT.htm

The brake/running/turn signal modification can be found here ...

http://www.nt-guru.com/motorcycle/R1100RT/default.htm

The rest are currently just in pictures and can be viewed here ...

http://www.nt-guru.com/motorcycle/R1100RT/Pictures

For the RT documentation I've collected off the web PM me for the URL. I have a slow upload connection and don't want to overburden it. Plus I'm not 100% sure of all the LT forums policies and don't want to cause any problems.

[DarkCloud]

Check for the build date on your bike. It's located on the frame by the VIN. If it is before 9/96 you have the big valve model. JON

[banddr2]

Well I brought it home last night and put 30 miles on it to get acquainted, incredible ride. It does have radio problems, there must be a power short somewhere as I had to enter the code to get it to work, and then it didn't have enough volume..

I snapped some quick pics this morning with my phone:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c221/banddr2/0911080711.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c221/banddr2/0911080712.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c221/banddr2/0911080712b.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c221/banddr2/0911080713.jpg

[OU812]

Nice looker! ;)

[skyking96w]

Just when we needed it, more proof that a cell phone is not a camera, LOL! Hey, just kidding, good-looking bike! Looks like you made a good buy.

Regarding the ABS -- at start-up, turn the ignition key on and wait a few seconds, allow the ABS lights to blink a couple of times before you actually hit the starter button. The ABS needs to go through a brief "pre-initialization" routine before cranking.

[banddr2]

Yeah, thanks. Cell phones have made the whole country more lazy.

I have had three commutes with it so far and love it. I am going to change all the fluids this weekend, so I am debating with myself what kind of oil to go with on a high mileage bike like this one.

[skyking96w]

" . . . on a high mileage bike like this one."

Huh? Didn't you say it only has 66K on it? That is NOT high mileage for a BMW Boxer engine. They don't get broken in good until 15-20K, and they are very under-stressed for the displacement. Just use the recommended oil. Personally, I use Castrol 20w50 year 'round, but I live in a warmer climate than you.

[banddr2]

" . . . on a high mileage bike like this one."

Huh? Didn't you say it only has 66K on it? That is NOT high mileage for a BMW Boxer engine. They don't get broken in good until 15-20K, and they are very under-stressed for the displacement. Just use the recommended oil. Personally, I use Castrol 20w50 year 'round, but I live in a warmer climate than you.

I am new to bikes, so I base my perspectives on cars. I like to use synthetic in my vehicles, but I am worried about using it in this bike since it has always used petroleum oil from the previous owners and I have heard this can cause seal leaks as the new synth oil eats away the old oil build up around the gaskets and seals. Unfounded fear, or should I play it safe and stay with "dino" oil?

[skyking96w]

Unfounded fear, I think, as long as the gaskets and seals are in good condition. Now that you mention it, I am using synthetic in the RT, and will probably switch the 1200C as well at the next oil change.

When synthetics first became popular, I heard that they had a greater tendency to leak in older engines because the molecules were smaller, but I have no idea how true that was. My old BMW 2002ti still gets dino because that's what it has always had, and it just never occurred to me to switch. It has been many years since it was driven on a regular basis, so I have to change it by the calendar rather than the mileage.

[banddr2]

Thanks for the advice, I really want to switch to synth. since it does better job lubing everything. And really when I think about it, if the viscosity is high enough, such aw 15w40 or 50, it shouldn't seep like 5W 30 might in a car engine.