Buying Used RT

[roundy]

Hey all,

 

Just signed up as I am collecting a 2006 R1200RT on Saturday with 7k miles on the clock. It's had the first service so not much in the way of service history to look out for but what things should I check over? Anything to look out for on test ride?

 

Thanks in advance!

[hitechcpa]

Check for full tank of gas, proper tire inflation, then notify wife you will see her later.

[LeftCoastMan]

Check for full tank of gas, proper tire inflation, then notify wife you will see her later.

 

What if he isn't married? Or is gay?

[NewBlue]

Check for full tank of gas, proper tire inflation, then notify SO you will see them later.

 

How's that orangemarlin?

BTW did your new battery fit or did you need the L thingys (technical term)

[LeftCoastMan]

Check for full tank of gas, proper tire inflation, then notify SO you will see them later.

 

How's that orangemarlin?

BTW did your new battery fit or did you need the L thingys (technical term)

 

 

Ordered the L-thingies. Will install this weekend with or without the L's...we'll see.

[Tim Wilson]

Look for obvious damage. Other than that, I would think that a standard pre-ride check should suffice, but I'm no expert.

 

If you end up buying it, I would highly recommend having all of the fluids changed (brakes included) as soon as possible just for peace of mind.

[roundy]

Thanks for the advice....and no, not married, but might as well be (6yrs)

 

I am comming from a K1200S as I've had to admitt that however much my heart says sport, i need a real mile munching tourer. I have a 90sih mile round commute 5 days a week and i need some luxury!

 

Anything you guys recommend getting done/added to her as a first port of call?

[skyskier]

Roundy, First welcome to the board.

 

Your first thing might be the seat. Many folks here didn't particularly like the stock seat and got rid of theirs in a hurry. You will know pretty quickly if you are one of these folks. I have an 06 R1200RT, bought it used at 6K, mine came with a Rocky Meyer saddle and Rocky rebuilt it for my bottom. I like this seat very much but there are many good choices out there. Fill in some more information in your profile. That way people can suggust vendors that might be close to you and that they trust and do business with.

[LeftCoastMan]

Thanks for the advice....and no, not married, but might as well be (6yrs)

 

I am comming from a K1200S as I've had to admitt that however much my heart says sport, i need a real mile munching tourer. I have a 90sih mile round commute 5 days a week and i need some luxury!

 

Anything you guys recommend getting done/added to her as a first port of call?

 

1. I highly recommend Bill Mayer Saddles because the stock ones just aren't comfortable. If you live in SoCal, you can drive in, which I recommend. They are serious about making great saddles for your butt. They can do it by shipping, but it's not quite perfect, and you lose your seat pan for a week or so. He does seats for all bikes, but he rides a GS and when I went in, there were at least 5 or 6 BMW riders there with me.

 

2. The OEM windscreen is not so good, but it really depends on your own needs. I went with the Ztechnik screen which is polycarbonate, which I prefer.

 

3. Make sure to get a valve head cover protector. The BMW plastic ones work well for tipovers and such, but they also make aluminum and steel ones that may be better.

 

4. Then there's everything else to farkalize your bike!

[John in VA]

Anything you guys recommend getting done/added to her as a first port of call?

 

1. Ohlins shocks (or other high-end shocks)

 

2. New saddle (I like Corbin, but get what your butt likes best)

 

3. Ohlins

 

4. Valve cover protectors (I like BMW's)

 

5. Ohlins

[LeftCoastMan]

Anything you guys recommend getting done/added to her as a first port of call?

 

1. Ohlins shocks (or other high-end shocks)

 

2. New saddle (I like Corbin, but get what your butt likes best)

 

3. Ohlins

 

4. Valve cover protectors (I like BMW's)

 

5. Ohlins

 

OK, I'll bite. Why the shocks?

[Rinkydink]

Anything you guys recommend getting done/added to her as a first port of call?

 

1. Ohlins shocks (or other high-end shocks)

 

2. New saddle (I like Corbin, but get what your butt likes best)

 

3. Ohlins

 

4. Valve cover protectors (I like BMW's)

 

5. Ohlins

 

OK, I'll bite. Why the shocks?

 

Because the stock shocks suck.

[John in VA]

Because the stock shocks suck.

 

+1

 

I installed new Ohlins on my 12RT at 1500 mi.

 

BMW's stock shocks are really lame, which is why they came up with their ESA gimmick to try to mask how bad they are by having electronic settings of "mush", "hard mush", and "extra hard mush". Rebound damping is a joke.

 

Ride a stock brand new RT, ESA or not, then ride an RT with really good shocks that are set up right and you'll be riding a different bike. The added control, comfort and fun make installing great shocks a no-brainer.

[LeftCoastMan]

Because the stock shocks suck.

 

+1

 

I installed new Ohlins on my 12RT at 1500 mi.

 

BMW's stock shocks are really lame, which is why they came up with their ESA gimmick to try to mask how bad they are by having electronic settings of "mush", "hard mush", and "extra hard mush". Rebound damping is a joke.

 

Ride a stock brand new RT, ESA or not, then ride an RT with really good shocks that are set up right and you'll be riding a different bike. The added control, comfort and fun make installing great shocks a no-brainer.

 

Could I just switch out the shocks to a better one, and not have the ESA? I hate extra gimmicks that don't provide value, and if I can just as easily change the pre-load and whatever on the new shocks (I rarely change my riding style, so I have used the ESA precisely twice, once to get it to what I thought was good, and then to change it). I know a lot of people who spend time and money to make their aftermarket shocks work with ESA, but that seems a waste.

 

I'm probably used to the stock shocks, so I'll probably be shocked!

[John in VA]

Yup, my RT has ESA and it's just a matter of pulling the plugs from the stock shocks, no problem. You could do the install yourself in an hour or two with the right tools. There's a thread here with photos showing the whole procedure.

[LeftCoastMan]

Yup, my RT has ESA and it's just a matter of pulling the plugs from the stock shocks, no problem. You could do the install yourself in an hour or two with the right tools. There's a thread here with photos showing the whole procedure.

 

So what you're saying is that you just got some good OEM shocks, and don't use the ESA?

 

I'm keeping my bike for a long time, so I don't care if the ESA is there or not. If I sell it, I won't care about it one way or another.

[Tim Wilson]

I just replaced my ESA shocks with Hyperpro's and they're a MAJOR improvement. With the ESA, I frequently found myself changing the settings in an attempt to find a "perfect" setting that just wasn't there.

 

The new shocks just work the way they should and I don't even have to think about them.

[LeftCoastMan]

And a ton cheaper than replacing the standard shocks.

[John in VA]

Yup, my RT has ESA and it's just a matter of pulling the plugs from the stock shocks, no problem. You could do the install yourself in an hour or two with the right tools. There's a thread here with photos showing the whole procedure.

 

So what you're saying is that you just got some good OEM shocks, and don't use the ESA?

 

I'm keeping my bike for a long time, so I don't care if the ESA is there or not. If I sell it, I won't care about it one way or another.

 

With good shocks there's no need for ESA. My stock ESA shocks with 1500 miles on them sit in a box in my garage, I guess in case I ever sell the bike and the buyer has a thing about ESA gimmicks.

[Tim Wilson]

And a ton cheaper than replacing the standard shocks.

 

Amen

[LeftCoastMan]

Yup, my RT has ESA and it's just a matter of pulling the plugs from the stock shocks, no problem. You could do the install yourself in an hour or two with the right tools. There's a thread here with photos showing the whole procedure.

 

So what you're saying is that you just got some good OEM shocks, and don't use the ESA?

 

I'm keeping my bike for a long time, so I don't care if the ESA is there or not. If I sell it, I won't care about it one way or another.

 

With good shocks there's no need for ESA. My stock ESA shocks with 1500 miles on them sit in a box in my garage, I guess in case I ever sell the bike and the buyer has a thing about ESA gimmicks.

 

I'd eBay the shocks, get maybe $1500 or more, and go buy yourself some new farkles. Seriously. And if you do sell your bike, a real RT aficionado will either not care, pay more because you got rid of the ESA, or will take your good shocks and have them converted to ESA.

[roundy]

Well, arrived at the dealers house (as it was his private bike) and was a bit dissapointed, it looked very tatty/dirty. But after looking closely i could see through the dirt etc and see it was a lovely bike. He'd not listed it as an SE but it must be as it has the chrome pipe, ESA and heated grips. All i did was spend 40mins with my old man cleaning her up and wow..it's a different bike, gleaming, added £500 to the bike without a doubt

 

Well chuffed with her, only 7K miles and i paid £7350, good money i thought looking round at what was on offer..

 

[RT-Mike]

Well, arrived at the dealers house (as it was his private bike) and was a bit dissapointed, it looked very tatty/dirty. But after looking closely i could see through the dirt etc and see it was a lovely bike. He'd not listed it as an SE but it must be as it has the chrome pipe, ESA and heated grips. All i did was spend 40mins with my old man cleaning her up and wow..it's a different bike, gleaming, added £500 to the bike without a doubt

 

Well chuffed with her, only 7K miles and i paid £7350, good money i thought looking round at what was on offer..

 

Most excellent Congrats on your "new" RT,she will give you mile after mile of pure enjoyment

[John in VA]

Congrats!

 

Man I love to hear and feel that quiet, pulsing non-Harley twin purrrrrr when pulling away. Something you can't get with a straight four, although the fours have their charms.