Lookin' at an RT Tomorrow

[Xdot]

'04 R1150RT with 28K popped up in the local classifieds. $7,900 seems a bit steep - even for one with ABS and all the cases.

Don't even know if I like them. Never ridden one. Wind noise is a problem for me so I figured I'd take the opportunity to find out if it is any quieter.

[Kartooo]

KBB here is $7605, i see them asking for $8k sometimes but that doesn't mean they are getting it. it's a buyer's market right now,the toys are the 1st to go. bring cash make a lowball offer. i paid a lot lees for mine from a honda dealer that took it in on trade. they deal with hondas and don't want to deal with unknowns. the noisy cam chain tesioner scared em. they made their $$ on the new bike it was traded in on. did the same with my fjr1300,bought it from a harley dealer...

[bimmerguy]

I got 01 Rt1100 2 months ago.
I came from sportbikes, been riding since '72 and am ready to just ride all day without numb hands and knees.
I always thought the RT was a gorgeous bike.
It's not fast but I can ride all day, don't want to go home. I have always had full fairing bikes because I ride when it's 30 degrees as well as 100 degrees.
This big bike handles great, over 5mph, I don't notice the weight or size and I love the the perks: heated grips, adjustable windscreen, heat from oil cooler thru dash.
Like today it will be 104 in TX and the heat is directed past my knees and when it's cold outside, knees will be behind fairing.
I love the RT bike.
Yes , this is roadster forum, but it is the best BMW forum online for tips, tricks and mods.

[Xdot]

The guy got here on time. Beautiful, Biaritz Blue machine looking perfect. Super hot outside. Like 92degrees. High humidity. And... his bike wouldn't restart. F _ _ K! I'm taking it as a sign. Invariably when this happens the owner will seek to recoup the cost of repairs in the price

Made my nice, yellow R look very, very sweet.

[Xdot]

Finally got to ride the RT. Truly beautiful machine. BMW knows how to put a bike together.

Mixed thoughts though. Yeah, it was really quiet. I mean - virtually noiseless. And oh, so smooth. Handling was okay. Not nearly as quick and confident as the R but not bad either. I think once I got used to the narrower handlebars and the slightly different CG from the R, I'd be every bit as fluid on the RT as on the R. The quiet is a big thing to me. And the obvious weather protection would be nice. I could ride this bike. I could really ride this bike over distance.

But... I'm not sure I could ride it, in traffic, everyday. There are the big things - like the reduced visibility. The full fairing really cuts down on your vision. And the little things - like the placement of the footpegs was far more suited to long distance touring than feet-up/feet-down commuting. And the fact that I sort of felt like I was riding a barco-lounger. And the riding position. I'm not entirely sure it is as comfortable as on my R with the Wunderlich Touring Wellness handlebars. And it was HOT. Granted, it was over 90 the day I rode it. Over 90 at 7:00PM. There was simply no wind behind that big fairing. Even my hands were sweating. This is not a bike for summer in the Southeast unless you dispense with protective gear.

I'm going to put my Parabellum SuperTour on this weekend and take it for a spin. I don't think it is as quiet as the RT but it might be close. Either way, I might be just as well off with a $200 pair of custom earplugs. Lot cheaper than $7,900 for the RT.

Oh, and while an attractive bike it doesn't have the R's looks. The following analogy says it all:

BMW R1150RT


BMW R1150R