BMW RT riders here. GS also

[Mellow]

Well, I have been riding beemers for years and have had very good luck with them mechanically. Rock solid and almost trouble free has been my experience. I have tried, at times, to stay away, …….but like drawn to a magnet, I continue to gravitate back to a boxer. It’s happened again……

This is my latest, I bought about a week ago. 2016 R1200GS, triple black with 13k miles. A couple of days ago, I spent a long day in the garage giving it a full service. Oil and filter change, final drive fluid change and lubed the splines, new spark plugs, valve check (all in spec) new air filter, installed speed bleeders and flushed brake fluid front and back. Whew…..

This won’t be a low mile bike for long……lol!

I was wondering what you were up to after selling the Moto Guzzi... looks like a good stable.

 

[DavidR8]

Well, I have been riding beemers for years and have had very good luck with them mechanically. Rock solid and almost trouble free has been my experience. I have tried, at times, to stay away, …….but like drawn to a magnet, I continue to gravitate back to a boxer. It’s happened again……

This is my latest, I bought about a week ago. 2016 R1200GS, triple black with 13k miles. A couple of days ago, I spent a long day in the garage giving it a full service. Oil and filter change, final drive fluid change and lubed the splines, new spark plugs, valve check (all in spec) new air filter, installed speed bleeders and flushed brake fluid front and back. Whew…..

This won’t be a low mile bike for long……lol!

That's a beauty.
I also have my eye on a 2010 GS...

 

[Bulitt]

I was wondering what you were up to after selling the Moto Guzzi... looks like a good stable.

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the Guzzi. It was a sweet bike and a lot of fun…..but the GS’s and the RT’s (basically the same bike) are “kings of the jungle” as far as twins go.

 

[TotaledTL]

Well, I have been riding beemers for years and have had very good luck with them mechanically. Rock solid and almost trouble free has been my experience. I have tried, at times, to stay away, …….but like drawn to a magnet, I continue to gravitate back to a boxer. It’s happened again……

This is my latest, I bought about a week ago. 2016 R1200GS, triple black with 13k miles. A couple of days ago, I spent a long day in the garage giving it a full service. Oil and filter change, final drive fluid change and lubed the splines, new spark plugs, valve check (all in spec) new air filter, installed speed bleeders and flushed brake fluid front and back. Whew…..

This won’t be a low mile bike for long……lol!

Are those tubeless tires on spoked rims?

 

[Mellow]

Are those tubeless tires on spoked rims?

Yup, several bikes hv similar wheels.

 

[Bulitt]

Are those tubeless tires on spoked rims?

Tubeless

By the way to the OP. The Guzzi V85TT’s from 2021 on also had tubeless wheels.

 

[CDNolddude]

Tubeless

By the way to the OP. The Guzzi V85TT’s from 2021 on also had tubeless wheels.

Didn’t know that. Salesman never mentioned it.

 

[TotaledTL]

Yup, several bikes hv similar wheels.

I just learned that last weekend at Suzuki demo day. Some of their bikes also have spoked tubeless wheels.

 

[Mellow]

I just learned that last weekend at Suzuki demo day. Some of their bikes also have spoked tubeless wheels.

There are 2 types also, the BMW one have spoked attached to the outer edge of the rim, also some motto guzzis use the same. Then there are the yamaha versions that attach via spines on the rims. I don't know of other oem versions.

 

[the Ferret]

I wouldn't mess with an oiler, chains have come a long way over the years. I would just spray and wipe to clean once every day of a ride.

Wow really wipe and clean every day?

After my 2006 ST, I bought a 2018 FJR of course both shaft drive, so got used to the cleanliness and durability of shafts. In 2014 I also bought a CB 1100 chain drive, and in 2021 traded the FJR in on an NC 750X DCT, also chain drive, because the FJR was getting heavy for me (I'm in my 70's and not real big..actually I'm a munchkin). My bikes get ridden daily year-round. Unless there is snow/ice ON the road, I'm riding. Chain maintenance means lubing them when I look at them and they look dry, after riding in the rain, or at least once a month and adjustments are when the rear tires get changed about every 8,000 miles. They don't need it between tire changes. The oem chain on my CB, a 530 oring chain, went 36,909 miles before it got into the red zone with no kinks or issues. I now have 34,000 miles on it's oe replacement chain, and I'm getting ready to take it on a trip to Va in a couple of weeks. The NC with a lighter 520 O ring chain went 23,000 with no kinks or issues before getting into the red, and replaced with an X ring chain which I hope will go a little longer. I have 9,000 miles on it's replacement.

Modern chains are actually quite good compared to the wimpy chains we had in the 60s/70s and will go a long time with very minimal care. Not shaft drive long (unless it's a BMW shaft bwahahahah J/K Beemer riders), but for the average rider who rides 3,000 miles a year, the owner will likely trade the bike off before needing a replacement chain (which is why I think mfgs have gotten away from shaft drives for the most part, especially on smaller cc bikes). Even if you ride 10,000 miles a year they will go 2-3 years, with minimal maintenance. They really don't need a lot, as they are internally lubed and the lube you supply on the outside is mainly to keep the chain side plates from rusting. I know a lot of guys who just rub 90 wt gear oil on their chains with a rag as far as lubing them goes. I still spray a wax chain lube on mine out of 57 years of habit. I don't even carry chain lube on trips. It's lubed and adjustment checked before I leave, and I've come to trust it will be ok for the duration of the trip. The CB has been on out of state trips to PA, ARK, KY, VA, W VA, TN, NC, GA, IN, IL, SD, ND, MD, DE, NJ, CT, RI, WI, MN, Neb, IA, MO, Colo, KS and never once did it have to be adjusted or lubed on the trips. The guy I rode to California with in 2014 rode a 1000 V Strom (I was on my ST) and never once did his V Strom's chain need adjustment, He did lube it every couple of days. We rode 5,500 miles in 11 days. That trip changed my opinion about chains.

I must say chains are not shafts, but these days they are not so bad.

For me the bad part is the cost of a chain and a set of sprockets and rubber cushions for the rear hub every, let's say, 35,000 miles, and the constantly dirty rear wheel (which I ignore for the most part)

BTW there are loads of lighter sport touring bikes out there, or bikes suitable for being used for that purpose from the Suzuki V Strom 650 or Kawasaki Versys 650, Honda NC 750X, BMW 900, Yamaha 900 Tracer, Kawasaki Versys 1000, Suzuki 1000GT, the new soon to be released Suzuki 800 and Honda 750 Hornet ...all chain drive BTW..and the V7, V85TT, and Mandello from Guzzi all shaft driven

 

[CDNolddude]

Wow really wipe and clean every day?

After my 2006 ST, I bought a 2018 FJR of course both shaft drive, so got used to the cleanliness and durability of shafts. In 2014 I also bought a CB 1100 chain drive, and in 2021 traded the FJR in on an NC 750X DCT, also chain drive, because the FJR was getting heavy for me (I'm in my 70's and not real big..actually I'm a munchkin). My bikes get ridden daily year-round. Unless there is snow/ice ON the road, I'm riding. Chain maintenance means lubing them when I look at them and they look dry, after riding in the rain, or at least once a month and adjustments are when the rear tires get changed about every 8,000 miles. They don't need it between tire changes. The oem chain on my CB, a 530 oring chain, went 36,909 miles before it got into the red zone with no kinks or issues. I now have 34,000 miles on it's oe replacement chain, and I'm getting ready to take it on a trip to Va in a couple of weeks. The NC with a lighter 520 O ring chain went 23,000 with no kinks or issues before getting into the red, and replaced with an X ring chain which I hope will go a little longer. I have 9,000 miles on it's replacement.

Modern chains are actually quite good compared to the wimpy chains we had in the 60s/70s and will go a long time with very minimal care. Not shaft drive long (unless it's a BMW shaft bwahahahah J/K Beemer riders), but for the average rider who rides 3,000 miles a year, the owner will likely trade the bike off before needing a replacement chain (which is why I think mfgs have gotten away from shaft drives for the most part, especially on smaller cc bikes). Even if you ride 10,000 miles a year they will go 2-3 years, with minimal maintenance. They really don't need a lot, as they are internally lubed and the lube you supply on the outside is mainly to keep the chain side plates from rusting. I know a lot of guys who just rub 90 wt gear oil on their chains with a rag as far as lubing them goes. I still spray a wax chain lube on mine out of 57 years of habit. I don't even carry chain lube on trips. It's lubed and adjustment checked before I leave, and I've come to trust it will be ok for the duration of the trip. The CB has been on out of state trips to PA, ARK, KY, VA, W VA, TN, NC, GA, IN, IL, SD, ND, MD, DE, NJ, CT, RI, WI, MN, Neb, IA, MO, Colo, KS and never once did it have to be adjusted or lubed on the trips. The guy I rode to California with in 2014 rode a 1000 V Strom (I was on my ST) and never once did his V Strom's chain need adjustment, He did lube it every couple of days. We rode 5,500 miles in 11 days. That trip changed my opinion about chains.

I must say chains are not shafts, but these days they are not so bad.

For me the bad part is the cost of a chain and a set of sprockets and rubber cushions for the rear hub every, let's say, 35,000 miles, and the constantly dirty rear wheel (which I ignore for the most part)

BTW there are loads of lighter sport touring bikes out there, or bikes suitable for being used for that purpose from the Suzuki V Strom 650 or Kawasaki Versys 650, Honda NC 750X, BMW 900, Yamaha 900 Tracer, Kawasaki Versys 1000, Suzuki 1000GT, the new soon to be released Suzuki 800 and Honda 750 Hornet ...all chain drive BTW..and the V7, V85TT, and Mandello from Guzzi all shaft driven

Sounds better about the chains. You can’t even see an Nc750x up here as dealers only get one in a year and they are spoken for the year before. Seriously looking at vstroms.

 

[CDNolddude]

Anybody know if heavier bar end weights are still available for 2017+
R1200rt? Looked on HVMP.com but can’t tell from the website. Sent email but no reply yet. They look like old manic salamander ones?

 

[Mellow]

Anybody know if heavier bar end weights are still available for 2017+
R1200rt? Looked on HVMP.com but can’t tell from the website. Sent email but no reply yet. They look like old manic salamander ones?

Looks like you can select from this page.

BMW Bar Ends

BMW bar ends by HVMP provide greater comfort and less fatigue for long rides. The bar ends will reduce the vibration felt at the grip by damping the

www.hvmp.com

 

[CDNolddude]

Looks like you can select from this page.

BMW Bar Ends

BMW bar ends by HVMP provide greater comfort and less fatigue for long rides. The bar ends will reduce the vibration felt at the grip by damping the

www.hvmp.com

Geez. Worked this time.
Thanks