Just bought a pristine '17 RT with all the goodies on board. Fantastic machine! Picking it up this weekend. Need to adjust the clutch friction point closer in to the grip but that's about it. The bike really amazed me on the test ride...just keeps on accelerating at any rpm in any gear and the sensation of speed is WAY different that I've known on my GL1800 and Electra Glide. The wing is horrible for wind control...terrible helmet slap and the Harley is just a total pig for power. They're both going up for sale asap. I'm a total BMW fan boy now.
@@rhugh02 It is AMAZING. Best motorcycle I've ever owned and I've had quite a few! Power, suspension, brakes, handling, gearing, just amazing all around. You're going to love it!
Thanks, my wife loved our GSA as well, this may just be a bit easier for her to get on and off, and the ride is a bit smoother, that may just be tires, but she does get a bit more weather protection. Both great bikes!
I test rode a '14 GSA and a '17 RT in the same day and the RT was a quantum leap ahead in performance, technology and comfort. I really wanted to like the GSA and it was my first choice but it was not in the same league. It just has a more agricultural feel to it whereas the RT is a sport bike with all the comforts of home. The "same" powerplant in two different frames make for a very difference experience. The calm behind the windshield on the RT is beyond compare. It is so laminar and I felt no helmet slap at any position or speed. It's truly a remarkable machine. That's why I'm taking the RT home this weekend. :)
Spectacular bike and spectacular technology for the year ranges especially. I am seeing 2009 variants for well under $10,000. I just learned tonight you can add Quick Shift Assist all the way back to 09 which is insane to me. This bike pretty much ticks every box. I had no intention of going to a "big bike" but once I started becoming seduced by the Honda ST1300's I researched all of them. After days of research the R1200RT seems to do the most especially for the used price market. Spoiled with adequate tech for yesterday's prices, not bad. I am also looking at F800ST as these 2 really seem to hit my needs.
Yes in the used market, these bikes are quite a good deal, and they really do everything quite well, one bike with many talents! Thanks for checking out the video I have a video on the 09, also a fantastic bike! Thanks for checking out the video
Greetings from Oakland, great RT review. Renting an RT next month, Will be a far different ride than my 2017 Africa twin and I’m looking forward to the RT wind protection.
Oakland CA? My other bike is a KTM 1090 Adventure R, definitely different rides! Do you have a planned route for your ride? I've been putting together a bunch of CA day trip riding route videos on the RT. They are posted on my channel. Have a great ride
@@TRCAdventures yes sir Oaktown CA. The Skyline, Pinehurst & Redwood Road 14-mile loop is just a few miles from my home. I normally do that loop on my eBike. Your videos are excellent, I really like how you talk through the differences between the different BMW RT generations. Are all the different motorcycles in your videos, part of a personal collection or do you resell them?
@@oldtimer3824 thanks, the bikes are a mix , from bikes I've owned and bikes from my shop, I closed my shop in October, so I've been focused on the RT videos, and have a few longer adventure videos planned throughout the year.
Hello, long time bmw owner here: 2005 1200RT 2008 1200RT( still have it, my daily workhorse, 112000km, full dealer service from new to current date) 2013 k1600GT 2017 k1600GT 2020 R2020 GS Adventure 2023 R2023 GS Adventure There are NO BMW bikes with paralever and telelever suspension ( full shock front and rear) that exhibit "chassis flex" as you mention. BMW don’t do chewing gum chassis. These bikes are designed for the precision needed in Europe with narrow roads, twisty roads, mountainous terrain and extreme weather. So your statement about "chassis flex" is inaccurate. I do 20000km/year on bikes, all roads, all weather, daily and weekends and tours. Loaded for camping, loaded for 15 day trips. There is no "chassis flex” on any BMW Motorcycle, certainly not with a paralever and telelever setup.
Chassis flex has nothing to do with suspension and all to do with the redesign of the frame, The BMW engineering department has a few tech notes out about this and was instrumental in the redesign of each generation of the RT, in 2014 this was one of BMWs largest performance claims, and it is evident in hard cornering at speed. The unique suspension design removes dive under breaking and reduces front to back articulations in the suspension movement making for a much more confidence inspiring feel to the bike. The comments in this area were prompted by a BMW tech representative visiting my shop from Germany. But I can definitely tell the difference between the model years when pushing the bikes harder and riding them back to back. With Your list of bikes I'm sure you can appreciate the upgrades BMW has been making over the years. For instance the breaks on that 2008 compared to the breaks on that 2023 night and day difference! They keep making these bikes better with each iteration and it keeps us comingback for more
And the cost of the oil cooled bikes makes it a better deal all around. Yes the new model has quite a bit more power, handles a bit better and has a few more refinements but not so much you notice on a daily basis. If money was no object the newer model is better, but with my budget the older bikes is fantastic!
@@TRCAdventures it wont handle better then the oil colled. I ride both and to be honest the only difference is one is air cooled one is water cooled. You wont even feel the power increase unless you are doing high rews and high speed. 2010-2013 models are one of the best BMW ever created, and that bike had many awards. watercooled ones just seem to lost many chracteristic and also become big and bulky. Yes perhaps its a big smoother but i still dont think handling is change at all. The boxer engine is all about torque and reliablity.
I’ve had both oil & water cooled - there’s no comparison in performance. My 05 was a very comfy bike, but lacked guts. The WC 1200 boxer is significantly more powerful, still very quiet and handling is unmatched. The ergos for me aren’t quite as good as my 05 was. Overall my 2016 RT is an ideal bike for cruising or fast sport touring. I do recommend adding better lights, like Clearwaters, as the stock headlight is inadequate. I also don’t have the top box, so my wife isn’t too comfy on it. I’d like to get a 22, but I hear the electronics don’t work all that well with the modern iPhones.
@@michaelbmw1931 I believe the 04-06 had servo brakes, they were know to have problems & were expensive to repair, if you can still even get parts. That’s one of the main reasons I sold my 05. The newer water cooled bikes are significantly more powerful to ride than the older oil cooled bikes.
I think it's a love it or hate it sorta thing, it's actually something I did not like at first but now I love them. When I bought my 2009 it had two sets of mirrors on it someone had added high mirrors to it...it was strange. With my mirrors setup I have my blind spots covered and I can see just behind me, for me the best part is that my shoulders are never in the way. They also provide an indication for my luggage if my mirrors fit my luggage fits. I still love them on the newer bike. I can understand though that for some people it's just not a natural place for the mirrors..
