New wheels

suprdav

R.I.P - 2015/05/23
Joined
Oct 28, 2008
Messages
133
Location
Mobile, Al.
Bike
2013 BMW R1200GS
STOC #
8028
Scott,
Nice bike!! Last April I bought a 13 GSW cause I wanted a dual sport with cruise control. I found one used and saved some $$ on it. I've only had it off road a few times and for me it is a handful in the dirt. I am wanting to go back to a sport touring bike, lighter than the ST, but a new RT is not in the budget. I am looking at the FJR pretty hard and if anyone would like a nice 1200 GSW check out the bikes for sale here. Did you get the low version?
Enjoy and Ride Well
Suprdav
 
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Bones

Bones

Your Humble Scribe
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
4,904
Age
60
Location
western Mass
Bike
2014 BMW R1200RT
STOC #
5575
No more lowered version it's available. The whole bike is an inch or so lower than previous RT and there is a hi/low adjustment that works with either a high, standard and low seat. Standard seat set on low works for me.
 
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Messages
2,560
Location
Muskoka, Canada
Bike
FJR & Super Tenere
STOC #
4759
Here is a breakdown of maintenance so far:

600 mile break in: just under $200.00

6,000 mile valve check and oil change: approximately $200.00

12,000 mile Service 2: $357.00 (New plugs, oil and filter, final drive, Valve check, new brake fluid, and new Air filter)
Valve check every 6000 miles?
 
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Bones

Bones

Your Humble Scribe
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
4,904
Age
60
Location
western Mass
Bike
2014 BMW R1200RT
STOC #
5575
Congrats Bones! Can you touch flat footed?
With the low seat, yes, completely flat footed, but I went with the standard seat. In the low position, the standard seat has me comfortably on the balls of my feet, about where I am on the ST with a Spencer seat lowering mod and on my Versys with the suspension lowering link.

I had two issues with the low seat which I used on the demo ride. (1) With my butt closer to the ground but no change in the location of the pegs, there was too much bend in my knees. (2) The way BMW gets the low seat low is by removing padding. The seat pan is the same. I found it hard and not particularly supportive.
 
Joined
Dec 8, 2004
Messages
236
Age
56
Location
Greenville, SC
STOC #
5200
Yeah, I forgot with the new wet heads that they bumped it up to 12K. On the old Oilhead, Hexhead and Camhead, it was every 6,000. BTW, one other thing that is consistent with every water-cooled boxer that I have seen, NOT a drop of oil is consumed, in comparison to the old boxers. I have not had to add oil between services. That is definitely a plus. All my riding buddies with R1200GS bikes report the same.
 

dduelin

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Site Supporter
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Messages
9,657
Location
Jacksonville
Bike
GL1800 R1200RT NC700
2024 Miles
010688
STOC #
6651
With the low seat, yes, completely flat footed, but I went with the standard seat. In the low position, the standard seat has me comfortably on the balls of my feet, about where I am on the ST with a Spencer seat lowering mod and on my Versys with the suspension lowering link.

I had two issues with the low seat which I used on the demo ride. (1) With my butt closer to the ground but no change in the location of the pegs, there was too much bend in my knees. (2) The way BMW gets the low seat low is by removing padding. The seat pan is the same. I found it hard and not particularly supportive.
From one short rider to another, I find flat footing is highly overrated. If flat footing was required of me I'd never get to ride the bikes that interest me.
 

Highrider

Part time mechanic
Joined
Jun 30, 2005
Messages
870
Age
68
Location
Barlett, Illinois
Bike
2005 ST1300
STOC #
5560
Very nice bike - Congrats on the purchase.
I had the opportunity to exchange bikes on a ride through Idaho with a buddy. Took his RT in the twisties for about 2 hours. The lesser weight was amazing, you just have to think about where you want to be in the turns and the bike is there with no effort and felt very planted.
 

Gizmo

Dean
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
1,302
Location
Waterloo Region (Canada)
Bike
2014 Yamaha FJR
I'm a little late to the party, but it seems you have chosen wisely and have an excellent mount for years of spirited riding going forward. Safe travels!
 
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Bones

Bones

Your Humble Scribe
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
4,904
Age
60
Location
western Mass
Bike
2014 BMW R1200RT
STOC #
5575
BTW, one other thing that is consistent with every water-cooled boxer that I have seen, NOT a drop of oil is consumed, in comparison to the old boxers.
That's nice to see. I never had to add oil to my ST in 86,000 miles.
 
Joined
Dec 8, 2004
Messages
236
Age
56
Location
Greenville, SC
STOC #
5200
Yeah Scott, you'd think that this would not be a big deal, oil consumption, but two things I think contributed to that in the OLD boxers (1994-2013). First, nikisil coated cylinder walls... pretty tough to break in. You would ride for about 18,000 or so miles before they settled in and didn't allow for oil consumption. And secondly, with the oil and air cooling method, you had a wider range of temperature ups and downs where I could see greater tolerance for expansion and contracting of engine parts. Now with water cooling, you have a degree more consistency of temperature ranges.

But I could be wrong. I am not a mechanic, I am an artist, what do I know. :)
 
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Bones

Bones

Your Humble Scribe
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
4,904
Age
60
Location
western Mass
Bike
2014 BMW R1200RT
STOC #
5575
Artist knowledge is right up there with writer knowledge...
 
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
202
Location
Bend, OR
Bike
2007 ST 1300
STOC #
7357
That's nice to see. I never had to add oil to my ST in 86,000 miles.
I've loved my ST's complete lack of oil consumption. It sounds like BMW has made great strides with its wet clutch and other upgrades.

Does it PTTR like the old 1150s did? If it now tracks as true as the ST, that could be tempting
 
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Bones

Bones

Your Humble Scribe
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
4,904
Age
60
Location
western Mass
Bike
2014 BMW R1200RT
STOC #
5575
Does it PTTR like the old 1150s did?
Not that I have detected. I am riding on Sunday and will likely encounter some slowpokes on winding roads on the weekend, so I'll have opportunities for quick passes that will show whether that characteristic remains.

In general, the bike tracks true as can be. The other day on MA 67, a gently curving 2-lane along the Quabaog River, I set the cruise, took my hands off the bars and rode several miles steering the bike with my knees. I could have tied a necktie and eaten a sandwich.
 
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