I just purchased a used 2009 R1200RT, only less then 6 months old. I went through the BMW Owners Manual and it really does not give much info on routine maintenance items that must be done to the bike. (motor, transmission, rear end,& brake fluid, ect) Where do I find this information. And is there a shop manual available that is written for the general garage mechanic and does on cost a lot. Also I have spent some time on-line looking for both BMW factory and aftermarket accessories for my bike and it seems that no one discounts anything. Any hints or suggestions of where I might go to find items for my bike. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Paul
Congrats on your new RT!!! I would invest in Jim Von Baden's CD for doing maintenance on your RT ($28). Maintenance is every 6K miles for oil/oil filter and valve adjustment. 12K miles for tranny fluid, final drive fluid and air filter along with the valves and oil. The maintenance is really quite easy. You should be able to find guys in your area to help you. I would also join www.bmwst.com. There are a ton of RT owners over there who know all things BMW. There are all kinds of farkles for your bike in the aftermarket. ie. screens, seats, gadget shelves, tankbags, etc. without being all BMW accessories that usually carries a high price tag. Enjoy your new ride.

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'05 1200 RT, Ruby, as in RED, (current garage queen)
'04 1150 RT, '99 Ducati 748 BiPosto, '93 Seca II, '93 K1100RS (Silk Blue), '83 Yamaha Maxim 750 (all gone)

BMW Motorad doesn't really want us to maintain our own bikes. That is what the dealer is for and truth is without the dealer selling clothes and tires and maintenance they can not survive very long on the profit margins of selling motorcycles.

So call me silly , I think it is in my best interest to spend two three hundred bucks twice a year or so to keep them in business so when I want a new one some day they will be there. Just one ole farts opinion. I do plan to get a lift and do my own cosmetic stuff and change the oil between service intervals. I have taken the course for adjusting valves and such and they set the computer stuff for me when I'm in so I enjoy watching them do it right with all the right tools. I have yet to see them strip a screw or nut and in my view they earn every penny of the 250 or so I pay them. I also love to have them screw up their nuckles mounting my tires and stuff. These guys are so much better at it than I ever even want to be. At 66 years old, it is great to know you can still get serious talent for under eighty bucks an hour. My mini cooper techs get 180 per hour , you think we got it bad.

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No matter where you go , there you are.

Paul,

There is the BMW factory DVD manual that covers everything for your bike. Haynes put out a manual for the R1200RT that I think covers to the 2006 model, but there are only a few changes to the bike over the years. The JVB DVD is good as well. All are good reference material.

I have all three and find I use the BMW DVD the most.

There is also the information that can be asked or learned from on internet sites. Check out bmwsporttouring.com under the hexhead section, if you have not already done so.

I use Beemer Boneyard for my tune-up kits and filters and find they are good people to deal with.

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Nick

'05 R1200RT
'84 R100RT (S wannabe)
'97 R1100RSL (sold)
'81 R100 (sold)

+1 on beemerboneyard.com

+1 on: http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

+1 on local Tech Days in your area. This is a social gathering for people to learn how to do the maintenance you ask about and to meet and form friendships with other BMW riders. It is not a place to bring your bike for service and it is not done at a dealership- although some dealerships have been sponsors for them. It is a place where you will learn how to do it yourself with a knowledgeable person there to coach you.

Over at http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php look in the Ride and Event Planning section.

These events are spontaneous ans held by riders like yourself. I sponsored one last year myself and it was tremendous fun.

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BMW 2005 R1200RT
Triumph 955i Sprint RS


The thought occurs to me that we are, at this moment, closer to here than we will ever be again.

Paul - another resource for you to check out is the BMWMOA site.

The garage section is broken out into each major bike model and the Hexhead Forum is well served.

Additionally there is an extensive Do It Yourself section which details in pictorial step by step format just about every major maintainance service that the RT needs

Heres the link BMW MOA Hexhead DIY Link

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2009 KGT 1300 Apple Red (mine)
2008 R1200RT Biarritz Blue (sold)
2005 R1200ST Piedmont Red/Light Magnesium (hers)
2003 Goldwing Black (formerly ours and sold)
1999 Valkyrie Tourer Black (sold)