R1150 RT VS R1200RT

[drodg]

I am debating between a 2005 or 06 R12RT or an 04 R1150RT. I am wondering if the twin plug R1150RT's surge? I have always loved the design of the R1100RT's and the 1150RT's over the R12's. There is an obvious price difference but I am wondering what else besides cruise I am giving up? Thanks for the input.

[effexer1]

I can't do a comparison, but I can tell you that the twin sparks don't surge. All they do is work reallllly well.

[essman]

I have owned 1996, 2002, 2003, and 2004 RTs. I still own the 1996RT and I have a 2005 R1200RT. I did have some surging (minor) with the earlier bikes. I have run Techlusion 259's on the earlier ones and that solved the surging. I also learned to keep my revs up into the range (4000 rpm and up) where these bikes like to run and I think that did more to reduce the surging. I drove the 2004RT around the country and it was a great bike and it never surged. I think that the 2005RT is a better bike for a lot of reasons (and the surging issue is not high on that list for me). I like the looks of the older bikes better than the folded origami look of the new ones. Personally, I would find a good deal on a used 2005 or up and pay the extra thousand or two because the new bike is so much better and I do love the cruise control when I have to be on the slab. The main downside of the new generation RT, for me, is the CanBus because it limits how much of my own service I can do and how I wire things.

[Fast Eddy]

I just sold my 2002 R1150RT and bought an R1200RT. I held onto the 02 for so long because I liked the looks and had put dual plugs on it and Wilber shocks. It rode great and had more power than stock and didn't surge. I took an 09 for a test drive last year and wasn't so impressed so I still liked my bike better. Then this year I thought I'd test drive a 2010 for the heck of it and I was so impressed with the motor that I really wanted one. The salesman at Max BMW in NH offered me $5800 for my bike in trade and I paid 13400 8 years ago so I said yes.I didn't like the styling of the 09 but they made some subtle changes on the 10 and I like it much better.I got the ESA which is cool but the real draw is the motor.I got it a few weeks ago so with work and all I only had a chance to put 1000 mi on it . I'm sure it will get better as it brakes in. You might want to try one.Maybe wait till winter and get a great deal on a 2010.

Good luck

[cali_beemer]

1200RT, no comparison IMO. The motor is smoother, higher revving and more powere but the differences go far beyond the motor. A nicer tranny, dash layout, headlight, upper fairing protection, better fuel injection (no fast idle adjuster).......If I were set on buying an R1150RT then I would want a 2004 but I would take an 05 1200RT over it. However, that being said the 1150RT still looks better. If money provided, I would look for a newer 1200RT that actually has a drainplug for the final drive to make oil changes alot easier and no servo brakes. That whining gets annoying.........You dont realize how annoying it is until you go back to a bike without it.

[John Bentall]

Your signature clearly suggests that you already own a 2006-model RT. You absolutely have to ride a 2004 model to remember or realise what a previos generation model feels like.

It will feel like going from a Mazda Miata to an MGB - both very nice, but very different.

[Survived-til-now]

I am debating between a 2005 or 06 R12RT or an 04 R1150RT. I am wondering if the twin plug R1150RT's surge? I have always loved the design of the R1100RT's and the 1150RT's over the R12's. There is an obvious price difference but I am wondering what else besides cruise I am giving up? Thanks for the input.

 

Essman summed it up for me very well. The 1200RT had so many features that addressed niggles that I had with the 1150 but that I had learnt to live with. The Techlusion transformed the 1150 for me and if the headlight wasn't up to winter commutes then nowadays I'd fit a HID headlight in the dipped beam.

 

The handling on the 1200 is sharper and the seat position is better in my view but its a hard call to make. There's something quite beautiful about the design of the 1150 that was lost in the 1200.

[swilson]

I was totally content with my R1150RT until the day we got an R1200RT at work as a loaner to help up decide which enforcement bike we were going with next. The R1200RT was more refined, lighter, more powerful... I literally went home and put my R1150RT right up on Craigslist.

[Redbrick]

We have one of each...Kathy's 1150 is an '04 and my 1200 is an '05.....Best description I can give is that they are similar (like cousins are similar), both great bikes, but different..Reduced weight, cruise control , ESA (some like it, some don't), much better transmission ratios as they got rid of the jump from 5th to 6th.......On and on......

Kathy's bike has Ohlins and a Russell and is a very nice bike to ride.....We switch occassionally but she's happy riding the '04............

Both comfortable and fun bikes to ride....Depreciation, mileage, condition and how much a person wants to spend are the likely deciders...But, from what I've seen here, if it's an 1150 get an '04.......

[drodg]

Thanks for everyone's input. I had a 06 RT and it was a great bike but I sold it a few years ago. I am wanting to get back into motorcycling again and was considering a twin plug R1150RT to save some money and quite frankly I think it looks better. I think from these post I am going to go back to a R12RT. Thanks again!

[Redbrick]

.............. and quite frankly I think it looks better........ Thanks again!

 

I agree the 1150RT is a classic design.....

[Rob L]

Thanks for everyone's input. I had a 06 RT and it was a great bike but I sold it a few years ago. I am wanting to get back into motorcycling again and was considering a twin plug R1150RT to save some money and quite frankly I think it looks better. I think from these post I am going to go back to a R12RT. Thanks again!

 

Hi Dave.....the 06 is definetly not as pretty. Probably because I never wash it! My 04 was a great bike, just too many miles accumulated and I really wanted cruise control.

BTW I added a Russell seat and Hyperpro shocks to your old 06. Gets ridden everyday (almost)and I have a couple of trips planned for her later this summer. Last year covered a lot of the east coast and the MOA rally.

Rob

[ScottT]

I can't do a comparison, but I can tell you that the twin sparks don't surge. All they do is work reallllly well.

 

This is not true. A very close friend of mine had a twin spark R1150RS that DID surge and overall did not do well. It was basically a POS. He ended up getting rid of it and getting a VFR800 at the time. Now I have never owned a twin spark oilhead but I've owned the R1100 and R1150 and the R1200 Hexhead motor is nothing less than a leap ahead of the oilhead. Why? It is smoother... has noticeably more power... does not surge... ever... gets better MPG... and that is just the motor part. The hexhead RT is also lighter than the oilhead RTs... holds more fuel... has better bags... handles better... and in my opinion looks MUCH better. The R1200 based machines are much better in every way. Well I've not found one in which they are not. I owned oilheads for a long time and none of them was anywhere near as good a machine as my R1200RT is. It now has over 94 thousand miles and I have no desire to get anything else.

[MAT2CHI]

My 2004 R1150RT has run great. I have never had any surging issues. I am very happy with it.

[Haynes]

No surging here either.

 

A small advantage of the R1150RT is the simpler electrical system. The R1200RT CANBUS system is a bit restrictive for connecting your electrical farkles.

Of course the R1150RT is the most beautiful looking bike ever made.

[drodg]

Thanks everyone. Dave

[Rinkydink]

I had an 04 RT for close to six years and it never even thought about surging...

[philbytx]

What is this surging of which you speak ! LOL !

 

If you wrench your own ride, the 1150 allows you to do more work on it than the 1200. I've serviced my 03 model 02 build R1150RT myself since the 600 mile initial service and have NEVER suffered surging on the single spark motor. Then again, I am entirely anal

 

I love the look of the R1150RT...the new RT's just don't "do it" for me. And, as far as the lack of cruise goes, Throttlemeister works really well !!!