I love my 1150 RT (2004)…but if I had to have one bike it would be my 2009 BMW 1200 GS
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I wouldn’t mind comparing notes. Mine was a love hate exercise in frustration. But its time with me began at 65K miles and ended a few years later at 98K. I did love the cadence of the boxer at speed. It just felt so relaxed.
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Our timing was different…I bought mine with 1500 miles at only a year old from a poor guy whose wife told him he needed fewer motorcycles then his three small kids. The bike was in great shape and I haven’t had any major issues…at 65k now.
Most of my frustration was being bothered by relatively inconsequential engine noises that one oil head owner said is solved with ear plugs. Other than that the only significant issues I had were the final drive bearing that went out in the middle 70’s and the trans input shaft that almost spun the splines at about 90K. Fortunately I caught that before it stranded me. I happened to get my SS1000 on that bike on a Sturgis trip. One thing I have to say is that bike loved the twisties.
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For those of you who like me wanted a phone mount with wireless charging this device from Quad Lock works very well. It’s meant for motorcycle use as it’s waterproof to IP66. Very slick solution for navigation while charging and easy secure way of mounting and removing your phone. They have dedicated cases that interface with the charger and many other mounting options.
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Is that on the satnav mount on a BMW RT?
Looks more like a K1600 to me.
It is an RT1200RT-W 2015. The Quad Lock wireless charger is bolted to the “dummy” panel that covers the connector where the (very expensive) BMW nav module would go.
With the phone in place it looks very simple and clean. There’s also enough height to allow the phone to twist onto the mount without removing the charger/dummy panel from the bike.
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-W = water head?
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Went to my first BMW Demo days yesterday. I rode an R1250R, an R1250RS, and an F900XR. All fantastic bikes. They did have the M-series “murder bikes” there, but those are so far beyond my skill level I didn’t even try.
I won’t be replacing my F-bike anytime soon. As much as I loved my first boxer-powered experience, I’m not quite willing to lay down the cash at this point. An R-bike is a wholly unique experience that I wish I’d discovered sooner.
Good times though. If you’re a rider in the southwest Ohio area, they took us on a route east of Middletown that was just stellar riding. Hills, twisties, blind curves…fantastic demo route. Glad to share with the interested.
Edit: When I call them “murder bikes” that’s not meant to be a derogatory statement.
I’ve ridden exactly one sport bike in my life, a Fireblade Honda 919. It was a fun bike but had that twitchy personality of “If you make a mistake, I WILL kill you”.
Any bike that has wings that add an advertised 28 lbs of front downforce at 100 mph is that kind of bike in my book. I admire it immensely, but think that riding it at 54 on Tuesday would be a grave mistake. YMMV.
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As one who has only owned murder bikes I did not find this derogatory.
I have an S1000RR currently, with a few Ducatis. The BMW wants to kill me. The Ducatis however actively plot to do. One nearly succeeded some years back, leading to an extended hospital stay and surgery.
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It’s a near PERFECT bike. But I’m not a track guy.
My bike is my primary means of transportation. I ride to work every day, probably 9-10 months a year. An F800GT that is sweet as a kitten, gets 57 mpg on summer blend gas, and can carry a few things in luggage is pretty great.
Would I like a boxer bike more? Now that I’ve ridden one, the answer is ABSOLUTELY. Is it worth spending $15K to replace what I have? Absolutely not. If I had those dollars lying around I’d have FR-20s.
If my riding behavior changed and I rode more for fun? The answer might be…maybe.
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It would be difficult to justify the expenditure.
But fun to think about.
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‘zackly.
I was wholly shocked at the completely effortless smooth power of the Boxer. Moves I have to plan ahead and think about on my 800 were just a twist away in the R1250.
I mean, I’m at 80-plus HP, with all the torque down low, and I was utterly shocked by the Boxer. The 800 has a 360° crank that’s meant to simulate a Boxer, and the power is fabulous, but it was completely different. I feel more…connected to the road with an F-bike? But, man. That boxer was something completely different and outside my experience. In a really good way.
I had expected the R-bike to feel like it would have a low CoG. But when you add the forward lean of the motor and the under-seat fuel tank on my F-bike? I think that my bike is had a lower CoG in practice. Which was a welcome discovery.
Like my old short wheelbase Porsche 911S. It was always trying to kill me.
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Don’t taunt me with a 911. The only car that I desire more is any variation of the Ford GT.
Like I tell my wife. If I met the devil at the crossroads with either a 911 or a Ford GT, my mortal soul would be in grave peril.
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The engine is the soul of a motorcycle.
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And the boxer is a kind soul. My favorite sport touring motor.
I am getting my Ducati Multistrada back this week. I tried unsuccessfully for two years to sell it. Apparently no one has ever seen a Ducati with 43K miles on it. It is barely broken in. I was done with it, still am. My BMW K1600 GTLE doesn’t have a future with me either. Motorcycles have lost my attention. I know I have lost interest in riding. But I still appreciate the machines.
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My only sports bike is a Honda Fireblade RR3 954cc. Owned from new and 20 years old now. It is also the only bike I have ever had which I trusted completely! It never put a foot wrong and always did exactly what you told it to. Admittedly, particularly in the early days, some of the things I told it to do weren’t very smart. It had professionally modified and tuned suspension, and tyres with rubber so soft I had to change the rear every 1500 miles.
I am too old and inflexible to ride it now, and 18 months ago I gave up biking completely because I am now a full-time carer for my wife, but for sentimental reasons I will probably never sell it.
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