is the R1200RT a bit too stiff and sporty?

Dad is shopping for a new bike. He has a 1200CLC and has grown to detest the girth of the front end - mom talked him into it for the plush factor, but he really misses his old RT's handling.

Obviously, he's taken a liking to the new RT. So have I, we both took it for a short test ride last year. I was floored by how fast and sporty it was. At the time we rode it, it was summer, all the winter potholes were fixed, and actually, the test route was pretty smooth. The one thing that has popped into my head this spring, is I tend to forget how bad the roads in New England can be with frost heaves and holes - that's because I steamroll over everything with the GSadv. And when I thought of that, I remembered that although I loved the speed and handling of Duc ST4s, it was often much too stiff for our bumpy roads. Not only uncomfortable-stiff, but in fact dangerous-stiff, to the point that I'm quite sure I can ride the big GSadv faster on many of our beat up (but favorite) roads.

Thinking back to that RT test ride, I immediately noticed the tires were definitely on the sporty side, lower profile than the previous RT, right? And it definitely felt firm - in fact, I commented on how it almost felt like my old Duc in terms of sportiness!

I'm looking for comments from RT owners. I realize that although it's firm, its a BMW and the ride is well sorted. But keep that really beat-up bumpy New England twisty road in your head when you comment...


*my secret motive here is to talk Dad into more plush GS so I can take him on some more of my off-the-beaten-path rides.

GSs are way cooler than RTs. But, the RT is a couch.

If he can handle the weight - try the LT.
More comfort than the RT and CLC - lots of toys and can be fun in the twisties - in a slow motion sort of way.
And no problem with bad roads all that weight just ploughs on.

I have no experience with an RT (I do have an 1150R - actually a very sporty bike). But speaking from a totally emotional side (and here is were I'm gonna start sounding like a girl): talk your dad into the gs and spend as much time as you can with him.
Life is short.


Hold on - maybe I should have said it more like this:

Fu*k that pus*y RT sh*t - tell your dad to get a mans bike!

(Yeah, that sounded a whole lot better)

Really? see, I spent a lot of time on dad's old 1150RT, and my impression of the 1200RT was that it was much less couch-like. Hmmm.

That's the major reason for getting rid of the CLC - dad's even smaller than me (me: 5'11" 165 lbs) and has been fighting back problems at an ever-increasing rate. Steering that heavy pig takes its toll on him.

Plus, mom is less and less interested in riding these days.

I like (both) your thoughts.

In fact, mom has given me full endorsement to push him into a GS so that he can come out on more rides with us (she's lurked here before).

Erik, I've owned three different Oilhead RTs over the years and have enjoyed a bit of seat time on the Hexhead RT, including over bumpy city streets. Dunno how the suspension was adjusted on the latter, and we aren't talking about back-to-back rides on both versions, but it didn't feel to me as though much (if any) any comfort was sacrificed with the 12. Everyone's different, of course, so YMMV.

Another point: Leaning just a bit forward will minimize how much of the road is transferred right up through his spine, so his back will probably appreciate being done with that CLC's bolt-upright seating position.

Good point, and I agree

I have a pretty healthy back and I couldn't ride that beast for more than a couple hours before I started shifting and wincing with back discomfort.

I've got both a GS and an RT. The RT is controlled. It's sort of like a 540i; you're not insulated from the road, but you're not beat up by it either. The GS is a little squishier, but it's not nearly as comfortable on a long haul as the RT.

Almost 6K on my RT. Unbelieveably comfy motorcycle. Whlie it wont soak up bump festooned roads as well as a GS due to the reduced amount of suspension travel it does do quite well.

For me the susoension is actually too soft and waaaay underdampened so I have a set of Wilburs on order for it.

Dad will love it. If not, he can always move south

I would say the new R12RT is quicker due to its lightness versus the 1100 and 1150Rt to the point its a better sport touring machine than it was... I would definitely not characterize the RT as being too stiff from my extended test rides... My 62 year old father has an 1100RT and has ridden 700+ mile days through all types of Colorado paved canyon roads and never complained...

that's pretty much the verdict I was expecting. Good comparison, dad knows his 540i's very well having sold 4 wheeled BMW's for years.

Don't forget, there is enormous adjustability in the RT's suspension - with or without the ESA (ESA just makes it far easier). Perhaps the RT you test rode was set up to be kinda firm? Methinks you can make that puppy as soft or as firm as you want. Kinda like my wife with my johns ... oh never mind.

Good point. I have the manual suspension and the mid point is perfect for just me out sporting around chasing sportbikes.

With MrsK and luggage, I wind up setting it pretty close to max and it's still pretty decent, though I wish it had more rebound damping. This seems to be some kind of genetic BMW problem.

kbasa, have you ridden an RT with ESA? thoughts on that versus the non ESA bike you have?

Just out of curiosity's sake, I'm interested in this as well. Shouldn't be any different though, right? Same hardware, just easier to adjust?



BTW, I've passed on some of the comments and the RT is in the lead. But we've lined up a test ride back to back for tomorrow at my local shop, so I get to pick the loop.

Wilburs

Mo-Fo's like a squishy pogo stick with my fat ass on it and I start to wick it up. I can't dial more preload because there isn't enough rebound already.

The bike I test rode before I bought mine had ESA. I found it to have better damping characteristics and obviously easier to adjust. I went without it on the one I bought figuring all shocks wear out when the ESA's go south and I need to replace them with a set of rebuild-able shocks, I'd be $700 further ahead if I didn't get them. I used the money I saved to get new shocks.

Have not. I looked at that stuff and thought it was nice, but knew that the price of a replacement shock would probably be ridiculous. I went for the manual adjust and figured for about the upcharge of the ESA I could get Ohlins.

Or Wilbers.