BMW Luxury Touring Community - Switched from a GL1800 to a 1200RT

View Full Version : Switched from a GL1800 to a 1200RT

dkjkwood

Jul 6th, 2009, 8:40 pm

I've ridden a Honda GL1800 since fall of 2005. Put 50,000 miles on it and was ready for something new. I've been researching for about a year, test rode a ST1300, two different 1200GSs and two different 1200RTs.

Long story short, chose the RT, brought it home last weekend. Here's my take on the bike based on the first 300 miles.

Day 1: What have I done? I miss the silky smooth 1800.
Day 2: What an odd motor but boy can this thing corner.
Day 3: Oh yeah, I get it, this is exactly what I was looking for. Very light, great handling.

Biggest complaint:
My bike has the low seat option on it, apparently low seat in German roughly translates, take all the foam out. The dealer has new standard seat on order for me. Part of me cant' wait. Once I get the new seat, I'll consider bar risers.

I'm going to order a RKA tankbag tomorrow, I spoke with Richard this evening. Great guy he spent at least a 1/2 hour answering my questions. I'm going to have him build a bag with power, GPS, IPOD, a Gerbings hookup and a Phone. Once I get it and have used it for awhile, I'll submit a review.

Dave

Barry5k

Jul 7th, 2009, 1:16 am

Congrats on your new, lighter, more nimble bike. I'm sorry to say the regular seat isn't much better! I hope it suits you.

dbqfan

Jul 7th, 2009, 9:43 am

Congrats on your new bike. I had a 06 Leadwing and I put 6500 miles on it and sold it. It was just too big and heavy. I did not enjoy riding it and and I did not like the front fork wobble. I had it at 2 different Honda dealers and both said "they all do that". The RT is everything that I wanted in a touring motorcycle.

frgiii

Jul 7th, 2009, 12:55 pm

I hate to tell you but the regular seat is just as bad. You will find yourself sending the seat to an aftermarket seat manufacture to have a good saddle made. It will make all the difference in the world.You will find plenty of threads on this web site discussing seats. Welcome to a ride you will learn to like more ever time you ride it. :bmw:

dkjkwood

Jul 7th, 2009, 2:46 pm

Well that sucks (x2)

keith1

Jul 7th, 2009, 3:52 pm

I would not spend a dime on a BMW stock seat. Good money chasing a very bad product. I would cancel your seat order and look at aftermarket seats. ie. Russell, Mayer, Corbin, etc. Good luck.

dkjkwood

Jul 7th, 2009, 5:44 pm

Fortunately the dealer agreed to swap the seats when I purchased the bike. No money involved, can't hurt to try it.

dkjkwood

Jul 7th, 2009, 5:45 pm

Keith,

What seat do you use? Are you happy with it? Would you recommend it?

OU812

Jul 7th, 2009, 5:58 pm

I go the cheap seat set up with a Airhawk seat pad under my Alaska Leather sheepskin. Makes it bearable for the 8+ hour rides ;) . This would also raise your leg room with a low seat.

keith1

Jul 7th, 2009, 7:01 pm

dkjk
I have a Corbin seat for my RT. It is pretty stiff which seems to be the trademark of Corbin seats. The seat was the same on my K1100RS. I also use an Alaska butt pad on top of it which helps. I would like something a little softer like a Russell or Mayer. The reason I bought the Corbin is because I got an incredible opportunity on the seat and it was waaaay better than the stock seat.

batdriver51

Jul 7th, 2009, 7:19 pm

I'm on my second Rick Mayer seat and have loved both of them. He is a pleasure to deal with also.

frgiii

Jul 7th, 2009, 8:38 pm

I ride with a Bill Mayers saddle and could not be happier. BMW unlike Honda will not listen to their customers and continues to sell a great bike with a terrible seat.

eng943

Jul 7th, 2009, 10:55 pm

Welcome and congrats! The boxer will continue to grow on you.

PeterV

Jul 8th, 2009, 6:01 am

I Just did the same thing. The '02 wing is a grayhound bus compared to the '08 RT.

I do miss some of the wing features BUT I will not go back.

If the northeast will EVER get some more sun and hte wet leaves us I can start adding more miles to the RT.

Stixx

Jul 8th, 2009, 8:37 am

I'm an avid high mileage rider and spend as much as 12 hours in a day saddled up to the stock seat so when I read so much seat hating, I have to wonder . We can get used to anything if there is no alternative and I found that when I wear my Leather pants my seat becomes even more comfortable than with thin pants of any kind. When it is hot I wear the vented leathers but since I'm committed to ATGAT I've grown to love the security of leather and armor at all times. With proper BMW underwear the leather is no hotter than padded jeans and the wicking nature of the BMW underwear completely eliminates monkey butt from sweat or the occassional shower.

I have the low seat option on mine and I love it . I weigh about 180 and have a 29 inch inseam and can flat foot my RT most of the time even with the leathers on. Add a passenger and it is even lower.

Get some leathers , the extra performance you will experience might earn you a get off one day and that's when the leathers really payed off for me. The skid pads on the bike saved the bike and the Dianese leather pants saved my ass. We spend a fortune on seats in this demographic and I'm sure some folks butts are more tender than mine as I've always driven European hard assed car seats but I love the fact that after an all day ride I can peel off the leathers and I'm high and dry and no monkey butt to deal with.

Just an opposing view on seats mind you. FWIW, the after market seats look like friggin saddles to me. LOL If you got to buy a sheepskin and take it along for the rare occassion when your butt gives up. LOL

dbqfan

Jul 8th, 2009, 8:28 pm

I bought an Airhawk medium cushion and haven't looked back.

1LIFE2LIVE

Jul 8th, 2009, 9:48 pm

I bought an Airhawk medium cushion and haven't looked back.

+1; dial in the air pressure to your liking and you're good to go most any distance.

blongb

Jul 8th, 2009, 10:08 pm

I bought an Airhawk medium cushion and haven't looked back.

I ride as long as I can on the stock R12RT seat without the Airhawk (usually about 300 miles) then I just slap the Airhawk on the seat and I'm good for another 300 miles.

hopz

Jul 9th, 2009, 7:58 am

Stixx

Jul 9th, 2009, 8:18 am

The seat issues usually get sorted out over time.

I personally and for my pillion went full custom from a local seat builder. That was a Low seat modified to be still be low but replaced the stock foam and configuration with multi density foams and relocated the "pocket" to reduce the forward bias which the Germans seem to prefer. Coming off a GW will take a little getting used to.

Now, for the funny motor... you sound like a high mileage rider. the good news is that the funny motor just gets better and better. I strongly suggest learning how do do your own routine maintenance and you will soon learn how smooth that funny motor can be- after it gets broken in. Expect that to happen at about 18k miles.

Welcome to the asylum...

From you mouth to God's ear on the smoothing out thing. Or should I say to my techies ear. My RT has gotten more vibration with time instead of less or I've developed a sensitivity to one, not sure. But I'm coming up on my 18000 mile service soon and looking forward to getting the valves adjusted and the FI reset if needed (not sure that will be necessary as I'm getting 52 mpg on average )

But the handlebar vibes are not as smooth as after the 12k service so we'll see. She runs well though plenty of power everywhere and I load it up when traveling.

Amazingly the Clutch has improved and no longer stinks, perhaps I've just gotten better and avoiding slipping it.

Looking forward to the 18K for sure. Man that didn't take long , havent had her quite a year yet.