“These are a brilliant bike. Comfortable and economical. Sometimes it would be nice to have a wee bit more power but the other 99.9% of the time, she is just lovely.”
“The r1100rt is a very nice byke. It's surprisingly quick and very forgiving when You make a mistake as I sometimes do!!
Doesn't like the cold at all and needs a thrash every now and then to blast cobwebs away. It's getting a bit heavy as I get older but I'll stay with it. Parts are expensive but I guess They would be being a beama!! Would I part with It? Yeah for another bmw 1200rt!!”
“The R1100RT is a very capable bike. I'm riding it as a winter hack on a daily 66 mile commute. My only beef with that trip is the excruciatingly slow, sometimes glacial M56 at peak times. Weatherproofing is very good, comfort is better since I inserted a piece of memory foam in the area that matters, and handling is very nimble for a bike that weighs over a quarter of a tonne!
Downside is the cost of spares eg, the black plastic quadrant side panel below the seat commands silly money - £59.00 or so. Also, the thumb controls are ludicrously cumbersome - an upward motion of the inner edge of the right thumb to cancel both left and right indicators, and a hit-and-miss similar motion of the left thumb to beep the horn...the offending vehicle is long gone by the time you can find the button!
Minor gripes aside, it is a 17 year old bike and I love it. I don't think much has changed other than styling on the more modern 1200s. Coincidentally, I had a rear puncture today and attempted to seal it with a tyre weld type of compressed goo...went flat again after a mile or so. The tyre was ruined anyway so I limped home at 20 squirming miles an hour and the tyre did not leave the rim as I was convinced it would.
Verdict - still a top bike, equally capable of commuting, touring and scratching...will never pull a wheelie though!”
