New Owner of 2007 BMW R1200RT

[BMWAPRDUC]

Greetings......I recently acquired a 2007 BMW R1200RT with 2,500 miles on the clock. The bike is about 32 months old (so it has 4 months remaining on the factory warranty). The bike is in mint condition, was garaged and really hardly used.

 

Few questions.....

1. My research tells me that this model has had Final Drive failures. Can anyone share more info on this?

2. I also read mixed messages about 'cost of ownership'; and I am told that the service intervals are 6K & 12K (major work at $12K). What do these services cost on average?

3. Alternatively, I saw info about a DVD that educates you on how to do your own maintenance. Is this something worth doing?

4. On low revs the engine sounds a little 'clunky'. Is that normal?

5. Anyone has ideas on where to obtain cheap bike insurance?

6. Can anyone share any background on the bike? Any info at all that you learned over time, like tire pressure, seat adjustments, windshields, handling, etc.

Thank you very Much

 

[Alan D]

Welcome!

First, since you have warranty left, find out if the ignition antenna needs to be replaced. Call your BMW dealer with the vin and see if it is on the list, get it replaced free while you still can if it has not been replaced.

Second, if you are mechanically inclined, get jim von badin"s dvd and learn how to do the basic maintenance. Oil and filter changes, valve adjust, transmission oil and final drive oil can all be done by you for big buck savings.

BMW's like to be run at 3500 rpm and up.

Watch this board for answers to your other questions.

Enjoy your ride!

 

[Green RT]

Welcome to the Board and to your new bike. You have a great experience ahead of you.

 

About your questions...

Every one of them has been and continues to be discussed at length on this board. I suggest you have a couple of options. You could spend some time with the search feature and find numerous threads on each topic. Or you can sit back and read the current posts on the board. I think you will find that over the course of a few weeks you will find current discussions on all of those topics.

 

And probably people will respond directly to your questions, because we can't resist rehashing them.

 

Again welcome.

[BMWAPRDUC]

Will and Alan: thank you very much indeed for the welcome.

I am learning alot from this site...and I am impressed not only by the content but the warm reception.

I did call the dealer, and there are two recalls, 1) update on computer and 2) ring arial. I plan to address these asap.

 

I look forward to my journey (on and off the road) as I learn about the bike.

 

I currently own other sports bikes, but will be downsizing (sigh) soon.

 

 

 

 

 

[EddyQ]

Welcome. Congrates with you RT ! I have an '07 RT and love it.

 

Relative to the FD, it should have gotten its fluid changed with 600mi service. It is important.

 

2,500 miles is very low and the engine is likely still going through changes. The most noticable changes are valves. The engine gets quite a bit smoother after a good valve adjust and throttle sync. I had my 6Kmi service done at 5Kmi because the engine was running so rough. Although, the tune done then has nicely lasted til now at 13Kmi at it still is running very smoothly.

 

I believe my dealer charged me $300-350 for my 6Kmi service. I have already done most of my 12Kmi service myself. You might consider talking with a dealer. Mine had it's ignition antenna ring replaced and a new fuel gage strip (which failed) and at least one firmware upgrade.

[boatzo]

Welcome to the group. Where are you located? I am sure you will love your RT, it is a great ride. I found that "Progressive" had a fairly good deal on m/c insurance, also check "Dairyman's".

[BMWAPRDUC]

Located in Scottsdale, AZ. Thanks Bill for the tip on insurance.

[Mike05]

Hi & Welcome!

 

+1 on Progressive Insurance; good rates & easy to deal with.

 

Jim Van Baten's excellent CD for your Bike here: http://www.jimvonbaden.com/R1200.html Cost of ownership will no longer be a concern.

 

Also note, at the top ov the Hexhead Forum is entitled: Archive for Hexheads Maintenance & Parts Data - can be very helpful in all things Hexhead.

 

Enjoy the ride, it's a great Bike.

[outpost22]

Yes, welcome.

 

You might give Foremost insurance a try. Very reasonable pricing.

 

These boxers are easy to work on at home. No need to spend big money at the dealer for routine maintenance items. You might change all the fluids and get a starting point to monitor what is going on. Has that brake fluid been flushed in the last 2 years?

 

At least there is no radiator coolant to worry about

[Pilgrim]

Welcome. Congrates with you RT ! I have an '07 RT and love it.

 

Relative to the FD, it should have gotten its fluid changed with 600mi service. It is important.

 

2,500 miles is very low and the engine is likely still going through changes.

 

Your engine is certainly still going through changes.

 

I am a firm believer in oil analyses and when I had my R1100RT I submitted a sample to Blackstone Labs with every change up through 48,000 miles (more or less) when I sold it. Nowadays, I don't do it with every change on my Harley, but every other time.

 

What I found on the BMW was that all the metallic particulates that are generated by wear-in finally stabilized somewhere between 34,000 and 40,000 miles. When someone tells you it takes a long time for a BMW to get worn in he's telling you nothing but the truth.

 

Blackstone does analyses on gear oils as well as engine oil. Since there are no known, recurrent tranny probs with a BMW I'd pass on that, but I would for sure pay to have the final drive oil checked regularly right from the beginning. Better to see a failure coming than to have it fail somewhere out in the boonies, like Whistler, B.C. (Right, Paul?)

 

Pilgrim

 

Disclaimer: I have no connection with Blackstone other than as a satisfied customer for 12 years.

 

 

[bobbybob]

Greetings......I recently acquired a 2007 BMW R1200RT with 2,500 miles on the clock. The bike is about 32 months old (so it has 4 months remaining on the factory warranty). The bike is in mint condition, was garaged and really hardly used.

 

Few questions.....

1. My research tells me that this model has had Final Drive failures. Can anyone share more info on this?

2. I also read mixed messages about 'cost of ownership'; and I am told that the service intervals are 6K & 12K (major work at $12K). What do these services cost on average?

3. Alternatively, I saw info about a DVD that educates you on how to do your own maintenance. Is this something worth doing?

4. On low revs the engine sounds a little 'clunky'. Is that normal?

5. Anyone has ideas on where to obtain cheap bike insurance?

6. Can anyone share any background on the bike? Any info at all that you learned over time, like tire pressure, seat adjustments, windshields, handling, etc.

Thank you very Much

 

1) Get the video-=learn to do common maintenance your self. You'll be glad you did. I have it. http://jimvonbaden.com/

 

2) Engine sounds "clunky"--typical--kinda rattle-ly like a diesel at idle. Don't worry about it.

 

3) Insurance--I use Geico--moved all my ins. there a year ago after being screwed by Snake Farm for 20 years. Shame on me.

 

4) Cost of maint.--since your warranty is up in 4 months, all the more reason to learn how to service it, and do it at your own pace. "Progressive maintenance" as I call it. No need to adhere "exactly to the schedules from BMW--use common sense. I change my oil between 3000 & 6000 miles, depending on when the spirit moves me. Cost of maint. will be low if you learn to do it yourself.

 

5)Don't sorry about final drive issues. If its gonna happen, it will--but the chances are small. Change the FD oil. But for the few folks it happens to, it's 100%!

 

6) Tire pressure--36Front 42Rear--typical pressures--higher than spec but tire mileage much better, plus def. need more if you ride 2-up.

 

7) Windshield: OEM not much good--buffeting/noise. Cee Bailey tall works just GREAT for me. Quiet pocket of air at 80MPH.

 

WELCOME!!

[Bullett]

These bikes are kinda buzzy/clunky sounding until they break-in. At 2500 miles your bike is not broken in. It will smooth out as you accumulate more miles

 

Basic maintenance is pretty easy. Try to attend a tech day if you don't purchase the Jim VonBaden DVD. If you are a BMWMOA member, there is technical info there as well as here. . . lots of gurus and sharing of info is a good thing!

 

Run BMW recommended PSI on the tires.

 

I am really happy with my CeeBaileys Sumdome sport shield, but YMMV.

 

The bike handles well once you get it rolling. Lots of opinions here about tires; you shouldn't need new ones for about another 3500 miles. I like Michelin Pilot Road 2's and Continental Road Attacks, but again, YMMV.

 

We have two of these with about 36K miles on them; so far, no final drive issues. We change FD fluid every 12K miles.

 

Enjoy your new bike!

 

 

 

 

[BMWAPRDUC]

Thank you all for the very informative feedback and equally important the warm welcomes.

 

I look forward to being part of this family.

 

________________

Scottsdale, AZ

 

 

[BMWAPRDUC]

Sharon,

 

Thank you so very much for the feedback. Wow - what a nice stable of bikes. And I thought I had too many. I am curious, where can you attend a Tech day? I live in Scottsdale, AZ.

Also have you done any maintenance yourself? I will purchase the DVD from Jim VonBaden. Last but not least, and sorry if it's obvious...what is YMMV?

 

Cheers and safe riding!

[Jeepster]

Last but not least, and sorry if it's obvious...what is YMMV?

Your Mileage May Vary

And welcome to the asylum. Great crowd of inmates here!