Anyone do a 12RT Power Upgrade?

[Nodakgus]

I have an 2006 12RT and the bike is all smiles. However, I do lust after more power but I am not crazy about losing $$$ to trade up to a GT. Has anyone performed any upgrades, such as a new exhaust system (header + silencer)like Remus, and has it made any noticable difference?

 

Thanks,

Gus

[Ken H.]

 

Are you looking for performance improvements shown to be effective by documented before and after dyno runs?

 

Or seat of the pants, 'My bike is mega faster after I spent a gazzion dollars on a _________", testimonials?

 

If the later, you'll get a whole list of 'sure thing' suggestions.

 

If the former, there are scant few.

 

Bottom line, if there was an easy way to get scads more horsepower out of this motor, don't you think BMW would have done it?

 

My suggestion, if you want to go faster, use your money to learn to ride faster!

[JayW]

Well said, Ken. My take on other's attempts at wringing more power from the RT has convinced me that BMW did their homework and that the engine is already well-tuned and "tweaked" right from the factory.

 

You may like the sound of an aftermarket exhaust better than stock, but you could easily end up with less power.

 

Jay

[Mike]

This thread has some great information on the impact of switching the stock exhaust system on an R1200ST (same mechanically as your RT) with a Remus system. The bottom line was no difference from the slip-on, but about a 6% increase in horsepower and torque with a full system, core out.

 

The OP in that thread, grasslander, was talking about trying out some fuel map mods to further optimize performance.

 

Apart from this, I'm not aware of any relatively easy way to add horsepower. As already pointed out, the engine's already fairly optimized for power and torque.

[GregB]

I am quite sure that most aftermarket exhaust claims are exaggerated and some are a complete fabrication. I would think that there are SOME gains to be had but some may come with negatives to go with the positives.

 

I bought a very slightly used 2005 Boxer Cup that had a Remus Exhaust and different PROMs for the Engine Management unit. As I rode the bike it turned out to be faster than I expected since the specs say 98hp. I guessed that the modifications might have resulted in a 5% increase. I assumed the rest was the amount of weight difference between that and the RT. Recently I rode a stock Boxer Cup and realized that my bike really is stronger. We traded bikes back and forth and are quite certain that mine is "happier" in general. I don't know what a dyno would show and it is very possible that there is little difference in peak torque and horsepower BUT the torque curve is flatter, it pulls stronger at lower RPM. There is a flat spot at 4000-4500rpm and a surge in power felt at 4500-500 rpm on the stock R1100S and my R1200RT that seems to be gone on my modified Boxer Cup. I would love to get that same improvement in the performance on my R1200RT.

But there are drawbacks. The noise is louder, alot louder than stock but not what most people would call loud. I would accept a bit more noise on the RT but not much. The gas mileage is less, seems 10% less than stock. I don't know if I would accept much loss on the RT.

I am skeptical about any big gains with a Remus or similar exhaust but if it "feels" stronger then that may mean something as long as the owner isn't trying to justify his big expense to himself.

[Firefight911]

I echo Ken's comment. I learned a long time ago from my race mentor that if you want to go faster/quicker, change the rider.

 

Best performance gain can/will be realized from a quality aftermarket suspension that has been installed and set up correctly.

[outpost22]

The response I gave to people when they asked me in my off road racing days "How can I make my bike faster" was:

Learn to ride faster (as others have said) and Sort out your suspension and spend your money on tires.

[Fabbrisd]

I would say most BMW owners, especially who buy new, are wrapped a bit too tight when it comes to "factory spec" worship... not a experimental bunch really..

 

For performance enhancement - yes, non-factory - go out and get the Wunderlich Performance Controller (which is OE from Techlusion) for injection remapping...

 

The Wunderlich can be programmed for whatever "drive style" you are doing...for me I eliminated the fuel injection "blogging" from 1500-3700 rpm common to the RT.

 

If you added a full performance exhaust, and a K&N or a Wunderlich Blue... you would have a substantial performance enhancement.

 

The nay-sayer's say stuff like "it's only a 6% upgrade for the full exhaust" - which is a decent hp boost, but more improvement in torque and smoother power curve.

 

"Show me the Dyno" - is also a nay-sayer issue, like anyone can tell from a dyno the riding characteristics If you saw the dyno curve for any track bike you would run away since for track bikes the hp and torque are intentionally programmed for extreme upper end only..

 

If nothing else you can use the Wunderlich to maximize your gas mileage based on your local fuel..

 

With a W Controller for under $400 with a 30 day money-back guarentee - and a large top-box at just under $500 - how do you want to increase your enjoyment..

 

On "performance" ridabilty due to shocks - have you ever heard a Ohlin's user rag about that investment ?

[ScottT]

I've had my RT up to 140mph (GPS indicated) on level road with the bags on and I can lift the front wheel off the ground in the first four gears... Most riders on crotch rockets cannot keep up with me on roads like Deal's Gap... Mmm, RT is fast enough I think.

[Don_Eilenberger]

"Show me the Dyno" - is also a nay-sayer issue, like anyone can tell from a dyno the riding characteristics If you saw the dyno curve for any track bike you would run away since for track bikes the hp and torque are intentionally programmed for extreme upper end only..

I don't understand what you're saying here..

 

You're saying that since track bikes are tuned for HP at the higher RPMs that dyno curves are worthless in predicting rideability?

 

I have to beg to differ (and I've done a LOT of dyno work).. looking at the torque curve before/after modifications will give you a good idea if the modification has improved performance or simply moved power from one point in the RPM range to another (which is the usual thing I've seen..)

 

Adding a few HP at the top end may give you 6% "more power" - but if it's at the expense of HP and a big torque dip at 3,500-4,500 RPM - it's really worthless for the street rider. (Think the "go fast" setup on K75's.. Staintune, modified FPR, K&N filter = 3% HP gain at 7,500 and -30% HP loss at 4,500)

 

Doing before/after runs is how real tuners tune an engine - not relying on seat-of-the-pants.

 

Can you get more out of the hexhead motor? Sure can - Nate Kern's bike at Daytona was pushing around 140HP. Is it streetable? Nope. Is it reliable? Well - it did blow up in a race shortly after Daytona.

 

Yeah - the BMW riders tend to be a conservative bunch - we actually like modifications that work and don't change long-term reliability. Personally I don't believe in magic, so I'm probably a real hard sell for go-fast stuff. I also have access to a dyno - and if I don't see it there - I don't believe it... it's just smoke, mirrors and noise.

[Albert]

Well this proves it, I have been totally assimilated into the collective BMW "gadget borg". I read the subject to this post and immediately started thinking about fuse panels and relays.

[CoarsegoldKid]

I'm not in total agreement here. My 12RT is fast enough. I don't need more top speed. I've come to realize that there are some circumstances where more HP and torque wouldn't harm anyone. And gearing on this bike is too tall IMHO. With a little more torque output one needs less gear box stirring and getting off the line with passenger and full luggage would be less a chore when pointed uphill. So a little attention to both areas would make for a better all around sport/touring bike.

Now I see there's a R1200 version that does have another 10 or so HP more than the RT. Not that I would spend and modify for more but how did BMW get it?

[pbbeck]

Well this proves it, I have been totally assimilated into the collective BMW "gadget borg". I read the subject to this post and immediately started thinking about fuse panels and relays.

 

Ha! Me too!

[ChuckS]

My tale…

 

It all started with a vision… go fast… take chances… pass everyone…..

First there was exhaust, then bigger pistons, and more engine work, different gears, bigger engine again, different pipes, finally a new aftermarket engine. See for me, when ever I broke it down, either on the side of the road or in the shop I would always look for more… More horsepower, more torque, more chrome, just basically I was greedy when it came to the bike. I rode for thousands of miles with friends who could not keep up.. I spent hours on the side of the road waiting for them, chatting with local law enforcement and spent at least $15,000 doing this, fixing that and installing the newest latest greatest…

 

What it got me, was on to my 1200RT. I rode the old beast 3 times after I got the BMW. Then it was gone….

 

When I look back I can see the greed, the obsessions that drove me… and I am sad that I wasted my time and money on useless stuff. There will always be a faster bike, a better rider, and stuff I could buy to change things. But in the end I have to look at my motivations. For me it was about be better, not about enjoying the ride. I was wrapped up into the hysteria that said if my bike was the fastest I was cool. Yet, I enjoyed the experience and my time

 

Yes today I still ride fast, and sometimes visit with law enforcement (6-19-07, 79 in a 65, Idaho) but for me today, the RT is wonderful. I too have had the GPS tell me I am just over 140… I can live with out 150… or letting another beat me to the next stop…. I do spend money on tires, and some riders courses.

 

Maybe I am just getting old… But I am happy!