'06 RT SE purchase

[Hati]

Hi gents,

 

I'm looking at pulling the trigger on a '06 RT SE with 44000/27500 miles on the clock. This would be my second BMW, I have an R1200 CLC that will go up for sale if I end up purchasing the RT. I will do all the work on the bike.

 

I have done a couple of days' worth of forum trawling and came away with some conclusion. This RT has the wizzy brakes and I am OK with that. Done the flushing on the CLC, I can live with the hassle. I know that a large part of a (US) grand will be spent if it dies on me and want to get it repaired.

 

Came across the FD failures of course. I checked the play on this particular RT, nothing noticeable.

 

I also know about the potential for the fuel sensor strip to fail (currently still working fine) and am aware of the resistor fix to get rid of the warning and use one of the trip meters to keep track of fuel usage. I can live with this too if it happens.

 

I have come across the ESA motor issues. Again, this bike is fine, at least damping wise. I found the two up/normal setting to be the most suitable for us, likely will leave it like that, so even if the motors fail won't bother me much. Tested on the worst bit of road I know of and the RT passed with flying colours.

 

I had an hour long test ride today with my pillion in a million and came away with a very good impression. I only have the CLC to compare against in BMW land, never ridden an RT of any vintage, but after reading a number of reviews of this bike, I can see why is a popular choice for touring duties. Everything works, the gearbox is nice and smooth and pretty quiet from 2nd gear up, it pulls quite nicely even two up, probably the most comfy bike I have ridden as far as the ergonomics are concerned.

 

The owner has just come back from a 6 week holiday but had the bike serviced by the local BMW dealer just before he left. There was a little bit of oil under the bike that looked like coming from around the oil filter, but wasn't much and didn't look fresh, hence thinking oil filter. I experienced that on the CLC when the filter removal splattered some oil around that I didn't notice and never wiped off, ending up with a small oil patch much like under the RT.

 

The only other visible oil weep was on the bottom front part of the swing arm Again, not much, no drops under the bike but clearly noticeable when looking under the bike.I am thinking the normal (for BMW standards) weeping gearbox seals. Is this a fair assumption?

 

I noticed that while going over rough(er) road sections, on occasion there was some kind of metallic clunk (couldn't hear it, only felt it) as if the centre stand had a weak springs and bounced up against the stoppers when the bike rode over rough patches, or as if someone was tapping a small hammer against the frame, seemingly coming from the front half of the bike. The owner ran over a brick in slow freeway traffic and bent the front rim enough that had it replaced by the dealer. Could this have caused some kind of front suspension damage that could cause what I experienced?

 

Other then these bits, it seems in excellent shape for it's age.

 

Is there anything else I should be aware of/check before committing to buy it?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[dirtrider]

1 hour ago, Hati said:

Hi gents,

 

I'm looking at pulling the trigger on a '06 RT SE with 44000/27500 miles on the clock. This would be my second BMW, I have an R1200 CLC that will go up for sale if I end up purchasing the RT. I will do all the work on the bike.

 

I have done a couple of days' worth of forum trawling and came away with some conclusion. This RT has the wizzy brakes and I am OK with that. Done the flushing on the CLC, I can live with the hassle. I know that a large part of a (US) grand will be spent if it dies on me and want to get it repaired.

 

Came across the FD failures of course. I checked the play on this particular RT, nothing noticeable.

 

I also know about the potential for the fuel sensor strip to fail (currently still working fine) and am aware of the resistor fix to get rid of the warning and use one of the trip meters to keep track of fuel usage. I can live with this too if it happens.

 

I have come across the ESA motor issues. Again, this bike is fine, at least damping wise. I found the two up/normal setting to be the most suitable for us, likely will leave it like that, so even if the motors fail won't bother me much. Tested on the worst bit of road I know of and the RT passed with flying colours.

 

I had an hour long test ride today with my pillion in a million and came away with a very good impression. I only have the CLC to compare against in BMW land, never ridden an RT of any vintage, but after reading a number of reviews of this bike, I can see why is a popular choice for touring duties. Everything works, the gearbox is nice and smooth and pretty quiet from 2nd gear up, it pulls quite nicely even two up, probably the most comfy bike I have ridden as far as the ergonomics are concerned.

 

The owner has just come back from a 6 week holiday but had the bike serviced by the local BMW dealer just before he left. There was a little bit of oil under the bike that looked like coming from around the oil filter, but wasn't much and didn't look fresh, hence thinking oil filter. I experienced that on the CLC when the filter removal splattered some oil around that I didn't notice and never wiped off, ending up with a small oil patch much like under the RT.

 

The only other visible oil weep was on the bottom front part of the swing arm Again, not much, no drops under the bike but clearly noticeable when looking under the bike.I am thinking the normal (for BMW standards) weeping gearbox seals. Is this a fair assumption?

 

I noticed that while going over rough(er) road sections, on occasion there was some kind of metallic clunk (couldn't hear it, only felt it) as if the centre stand had a weak springs and bounced up against the stoppers when the bike rode over rough patches, or as if someone was tapping a small hammer against the frame, seemingly coming from the front half of the bike. The owner ran over a brick in slow freeway traffic and bent the front rim enough that had it replaced by the dealer. Could this have caused some kind of front suspension damage that could cause what I experienced?

 

Other then these bits, it seems in excellent shape for it's age.

 

Is there anything else I should be aware of/check before committing to buy it?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

 

Morning Hati

 

I don't know what the front clunk is as we can't hear or feel it over the internet but try grabbing the front brake rotors & giving them a shake & a rotation (those can sometimes rattle pretty bad) 

 

On the ESA, it usually isn't damping part that fails it is the spring load adjuster (can you feel the rear of bike go up & down  as you change the suitcase settings?

 

Rear oil leak is something to look into--  A common leak on that vintage 1200 bike is the rear engine balancer shaft shaft/seal (The leak itself usually isn't bad enough to be a big deal but the oil leak can put oil on the clutch disk & THAT is a big deal as it will then slip). BIG job to fix a balance shaft oil leak as the trans has to be removed. 

 

On the center stand area rattle (see if the center stand up-stop rubber bumper is missing)

[Hati]

Thanks for that dirtrider.