how comfy is 2 up riding

[albertarider]

i have never owned a BMW before (i now have a 1500 kawi drifter) and am looking to upgrade...i do 80% of my riding single, but when my wife comes along she wants to be very comfortable... she is leaning toward a k1200lt, but i would prefer a R1200RT ( i think)..anyone do a lot of 2 up riding? i am approx 6'2" 190 lbs and my wife is 5'10" 135 lbs
thanks ron

[Rock1098]

I'm sure you gonna hear it here. If your wife sits on the LT, it's a done deal. I enjoy commuting on my LT everyday and when the wife is aboard the LT, there is no doubt we have the right model BMW for two up touring. The LT is heavy and expensive to maintain, and other models are much better if you ride 1 up more often. Good luck in your search and best of luck in whatever you purchase.

[SmokinJoe]

i have never owned a BMW before (i now have a 1500 kawi drifter) and am looking to upgrade...i do 80% of my riding single, but when my wife comes along she wants to be very comfortable... she is leaning toward a k1200lt, but i would prefer a R1200RT ( i think)..anyone do a lot of 2 up riding? i am approx 6'2" 190 lbs and my wife is 5'10" 135 lbs
thanks ronmy wife loves the LT. We ride 2 up 95% of the time. For long rides, nothin' better IMO.

[mljmd7]

Wife = LT. Period.

[motorhead]

RT forum ....

Well as others have said, LT for 2 up.

But that said doing the RT 2 up, you can get a neck rub on request, can get your love handles grabbed onto as you strafe the corners too fast, and have your passenger clean the bugs from your teeth due to that shit eating grin you will be sporting :bike:

[Harleyujoe]

Well the Drifter 1500 is a nice cruiser and very roomy for you
and your wife..
I also coming from cruiser style H-D Springer and having new wife who wanted to ride every time and had to purchase a bike for both of us to ride..
It was 2000 Yamaha venture and way to heavy fully loaded and dropped it.
Time to get rid of that bike..
So we started looking and I sat on left over 2006 LT with electric center stand..You know why it has it..Yeap very heavy bike ...
So tried RT and I am 6' tall with 34" inseam and sitting on bike it felt really nice and it was much lighter by few hundred pounds and you could really feel that .
And so took approx 10 mile ride and felt a Wow and this is a BMW never owning one and never thought I ever would.
But traded the Yamaha in on it and now have a bike that I have had 5 seats
on it to try and fit me and make the wife comfortable.
I love this bike in every other way except for comfort of seating..LOL
I rent a Harley Ultra's every year on fly and rides and put thousands of miles on these bikes with stock seats and never felt uncomfortable ever.
So I found that RT is cramped and shorter and I needed to move back and NO one will make a seat and do that..
So I have made a Harley seat and did just that moved me back 1 3/4" and wow what a difference and also raised handlebars 1" and wife and I are real close to comfort but it has taken over 1 year to figure it out.
This year we will not do fly and ride and hopefully the RT will take us in comfort on the long ride to Smokey Mountains from NJ..
You will also note if you get on RT from running other bikes that it takes some time to get use to 1st gear and being so tall and how you let the clutch out and in time you will adjust to it..
And with you being tall you may want another windshield for RT.
So before you buy make sure you really ride any bike you plan on purchasing and make sure wife is with you for both of your comforts..
If the bike fits you and wife you will know it..
If you read my threads you will also see I have had problems with RT and hopefully these issues are at rest..
But only putting miles on will prove this and so I have 2 years left on warranty.

Good luck in what you select..Joe in NJ

[Palerider]

Probably about 85 % of the riding I do is with the pillion...........She was pretty new to m/c touring and was skeptical, a year ago, but took right to it.....Cyndy is about 5'10" and has problems with her back so I was concerned about her comfort..................We've done a couple of 400 plus mile days and she's been quite willing to leave the bike at the motel and walk down town for dinner or just window shopping..............She seems quite comfortable and is always ready to get back on and go some more.............The side trunks are shaped to accommodate the shorter legs with no pinch spots on the LT where on the HD you have a pretty sharp angle that seems to bother the ladies legs.........?

Comfort rating+100; fun rating+120 :) ; And you can still strafe through the twisties.................The LT is my first and last choice......................... :cool:

[mljmd7]

Comfort rating+100; fun rating+120 :) ; And you can still strafe through the twisties.................The LT is my first and last choice......................... :cool:


Yes.

[hopz]

I am a little bit smaller than you, and my pillion is a little bit larger than yours.

We tour extensively on the RT and love it. I did have the seats modified and now we have two happy bottoms.

Details available if needed.

[jkersh1]

We normally ride 2-up on our LT, and you can't beat it for pillion comfort. But we rode an RT for 5km on a tour in France and it's certainly comfortable. A more dynamic position for the pillion so she will not have the sofa experience of the LT, but will feel more like a participant in the ride.

A top case/back rest is a must, although our rental had a Givi which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

[rtdavew]

Have 2006 RT with CeeBailey seats and large top box. The SO has been known to nod off while riding. We have looked at getting an LT a few times for the extra storage but I find the riding position on the LT hurts my hips. Would suggest you go for at least an hour long ride on each. I would suggest a seat upgrade no matter which one you opt for.

[motorman587]

I have both bikes, and we use the LT for two up. When she ride she rides the RT and me the LT.

My vote, LT for 2 up.

[STARFIGHTER]

Karen and I use to travel a lot on our '83 RT
Lots of leg squeezes, neck/back rubs.........
When I bought the LT, she didn't like being so far away from me.
BUT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
After a very short while, she loves the LT so much, she often times suggests we "take the Starfighter."
Rode it from Oregon to Maine, to Georgia, back home to Oregon ..with no discomfort and lots of laughs................
So what's my answer?
If you get along traveling, any bike will do....
BUT>>>>>>>>>>>>>
for pure comfort, 99% of all S.O.'s prefer the LT
( I also have a R1150RTP solo for when "I need to be a boy.")

[mjordans2000]

I have both the LT and RT. Hands down she prefers the LT. After an expensive new seat for the RT she complains less but still wants the LT. For me, either is great.

[Bob1200rtc1]

My wife and I both hate the seating on the RT. Neither of us can go more than 1 1/2 hours before our rear ends are killing us. We use the RT mainly as a bar bike. Its a shame really because it does so many thinks great. Comfort just wasn't designed in from the factory.

[albertarider]

thanks for all the info
i know she would prefer the LT, but she only rides about 1600 km (1000 miles) per year and never more than 400 kms (250 miles) in a day
i think we will take a RT for a test drive and see if she likes it at all
once again thanks to all those who chimed in
hope to become a regular here once we choose a bike (probably not till may)
still 2-3 feet of snow on the ground here
ron

[Stixx]

I ride two up on my 08 RT all the time. Here in the North Georgia mountains it has pleanty to handle both of us and the luggage. Starting on Hills is my only gripe, as it seems to abuse the clutch. My next bike must have a CVT so the clutch problems will go away. Other than that I love the sport part of the RT and two up in flat country is just fine.

If I were to move up from the RT , I'd go all the way and get a Wing to be honest. Why put up with the high maintenance if you are going to just cruise two up. Get the one designed for that.

But sport touring you would love the RT.

[mjordans2000]

My wife and I both hate the seating on the RT. Neither of us can go more than 1 1/2 hours before our rear ends are killing us. We use the RT mainly as a bar bike. Its a shame really because it does so many thinks great. Comfort just wasn't designed in from the factory.

I couldn't agree more. One of the worst stock seats I've ever encountered. Spend the money on a good aftermarket seat. Stock was good for about a 100 miles of misery and I was ready to stop for the day. My Bill Mayer Saddle gets me the 600-1000 mile day I expect out of my BMW's. Not as comfy as my LT but a pretty darn good ride.

[CDNBKR]

For what its worth, I purchased my 08RT late last year and only got about 3,000 km on it before having to store it for winter. Previously I had a cruiser as well. My wife and I both love the feel of the BMW and to be honest, we don't find the stock seat to be a problem Perhaps that will change but right now I am quite happy with it and find it a great bike for 2 up.

[Stixx]

For what its worth, I purchased my 08RT late last year and only got about 3,000 km on it before having to store it for winter. Previously I had a cruiser as well. My wife and I both love the feel of the BMW and to be honest, we don't find the stock seat to be a problem Perhaps that will change but right now I am quite happy with it and find it a great bike for 2 up.


We havent changed the seat either and spent over 12 of 24 hours on it once.

[gpolakow]

i have never owned a BMW before (i now have a 1500 kawi drifter) and am looking to upgrade...i do 80% of my riding single, but when my wife comes along she wants to be very comfortable... she is leaning toward a k1200lt, but i would prefer a R1200RT ( i think)..anyone do a lot of 2 up riding? i am approx 6'2" 190 lbs and my wife is 5'10" 135 lbs
thanks ron


LT

[BMWWANDRR]

I came from a Kawi 1500 Classic and did several 3-4000 mile trip with the wife. She was OK till we got the LT. We love the ride, she will sleep on long days (800 mile+). I am 5'10'', 190 pounds and she is 5'8", 140 pounds. Even with all the cases on the LT you will find storage a problem on anything over 4-5 days on the road. As for handleing on the LT, you have to pay attention at slow speeds, 2 up, and loaded, very topheavy. But in the twisties, we have no problem chasing done cruisers and scraping bike parts in the curves. The SO is very comfortable as the bike sits stock, but I use an Airhawk with anyride that is over 2 days. By the third day you will know where the pressure points are on the seat. You will have a happy SO with the LT, and that is a great point after a long day on the road. :D

[blueknightga6]

i have never owned a BMW before (i now have a 1500 kawi drifter) and am looking to upgrade...i do 80% of my riding single, but when my wife comes along she wants to be very comfortable... she is leaning toward a k1200lt, but i would prefer a R1200RT ( i think)..anyone do a lot of 2 up riding? i am approx 6'2" 190 lbs and my wife is 5'10" 135 lbs
thanks ron

I was recently in the same situation. We were looking for a touring bike. The LT and RT were at the top of MY list. We do a lot of 2 up riding and all our touring is 2 up. I was leaning towards the RT. We test rode both. The dealer even put a 49 liter top case on the RT because we were going to get one if we bought an RT. I still would've gone with the RT for the "fun factor" but the LT is not far behind. But she was much more comfortable on the LT so our decision was made and got the LT. She said she felt like she was sliding forward on the RT.

On our trip to Florida, she wanted to stop for breaks less than I did! :bmw:

[Bails]

Well I think the issue is how you like to ride. For me I could never never never own a cruiser as my only ride ! Why , well I like to ride not sit around in a lounge chair, it's that simple. So for me the decision would be what bike is a real bike, and next what real bike is comfy. The LT and RT are two different kettle of fish, whilst one might be more comfy in one aspect it will be very uncomfortable in the other, it just depends on whether riding is about the bed at the end of the trip or the ride I suppose.