R1200RT Road Tests
R1200RT Links
BMW Motorcycles.com
ADV Rider
BMW Sport Touring
Internet BMW Riders
BMW Motorcycle Owners of America
The following BMW dealers sell parts and accessories mail order at discount:
cycle@blackmans.com
info@bmw-ok.com
info@bmwny.com
info@tacomabmw.com
info@wolfbmw.com
rereichel@aol.com
Stock tires
Generic information on tires is here.
All of the tires have manufacturer recommended pressures of 36 psi in front, and 42 psi in back. All of these tires have maximum loads of 536 pounds at 42 psi in front, and 783 pounds at 42 psi in back.
Comments:
- Bridgestone 020: last forever on the highway, eat away fast in the twisties. There's a growing consensus that this is the best choice for all around performance. Rear tire mileage varies from 3.5k to 16.5k. This tire is very sensitive to road heat. It wears out much faster in very hot weather, and much slower in very cold weather. Wear bars to cord is a couple thousand miles, so there's no big panic when you hit the wear bars. The rear is available in "F" and "U" versions. The BT020F is the OEM tire and has deeper tread, kevlar belts, stronger sidewalls. The BT020U wears out much faster. The front tire BT020U has been discontinued, only the BT020F should be available now.
- Dunlop 220: Growing consensus that the front tire is sub-optimal for handling. Rear is ok. Mileage seems consistent at just over 9k. When you hit the wear bars on this tire, you have very little left: this tire goes from wear bars to cord in about 500 miles. The OEM version is the D220L, but Dunlop recommends you buy the universal version, not the OEM version as a replacement.
- Metzeler ME-Z4: Excellent handling, crummy mileage on the rear. Z4 front, D220 or BT020 or ME-880 rear is a good combo.
- Metzeler ME-Z6: Excellent handling, poor mileage on the rear. Z6 front, D220 or BT020 or ME-880 rear is a good combo. This is the best choice for cornering.
- Metzeler ME-880: Very deep tread, longest possible mileage, but not as sticky as other tires in the twisties. The 170/60 size is a steel radial. The ME-880 front tire is not radial and not a good choice for the R1200. However, an ME-Z6 front paired with an ME-880 rear give good handling and superlative mileage.
- Pilot Roads: Stick well but eat away fast.
- Pirelli: Dragons are discontinued, a replacement is coming. No info at this time.
- Avons: Some people have tried the AV45 / AV46 combo, with mixed results. Some liked them, some hated them. However, even the people who liked them went back to the BT020s or to the ME-Z6 / ME-880 combo as more cost effective tires.
Good deals on tires can be found at:
- Motorcycle Accessory Warehouse
- California Sport Touring
- Discount Motorcycle Tire
- Tires n Stuff
- Tires Unlimited
- Tire Express
- Pecos Bill
- SW Mototires
Specifications
Engine and transmission | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 1170 cc (71.39 cubic inches) |
| Engine type: | Two cylinder boxer SOHC w/ counter balance shaft |
| Power: | 110 HP @ 7500 RPM |
| Torque: | 84.8 ft.lbs @ 6000 |
| Compression: | 12.0:1 |
| Bore x stroke: | 101.0 x 73.0 mm (4.0 x 2.9 inches) |
| Fuel system: | Injection |
| Valves per cylinder: | 4 |
| Cooling system: | Oil & air |
| Primary drive: | 1.882:1 |
| Gearbox: | 6-speed 2.23, 1.58, 1.26, 1.03, .91, .81 |
| Final drive: | Shaft drive 2.62:1 |
| Top speed: | 125 mph |
| Alternator: | 720 watts, 60 amps |
Physical measures | |
| Dry weight: | 506 lbs |
| Wet weight: | 570 lbs (44 lbs less than R1150RT) |
| GVWR: | 1089 lbs (519 lbs net cargo capacity) |
| Seat height: | 32.3 or 33.1 inches |
| Wheelbase: | 58.3 inches |
| Overall length: | 88 inches |
| Overall width: | 36 inches |
| Overall height: | 56.3 inches |
| Fuel capacity: | 7.1 gallons including 1.05 gallon reserve |
Chassis and dimensions | |
| Frame type: | Three-section composite frame consisting of front and rear section, load bearing engine. |
| Front suspension: | BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 41 mm, central spring strut, spring pre-load 9-way adjustable |
| Front suspension travel: | 120 mm (4.7 inches) |
| Rear suspension: | Die-cast aluminum single-sided swinging arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever; WAD strut (travel-related damping), spring pre-load hydraulically adjustable, rebound damping adjustable |
| Rear suspension travel: | 135 mm (5.3 inches) |
| Front wheel: | 3.5 x 17 cast aluminum |
| Front tire dimensions: | 120/70 ZR 17 |
| Rear wheel: | 5.0 x 17 cast aluminum |
| Rear tire dimensions: | 180/55 ZR 17 |
| Front brakes: | Double disc, 320 mm (12.65 inches) |
| Rear brakes: | Single disc, 265 mm (10.4 inches) |
| Side Cases: | 32 liters |
| Optional Top Box: | 49 liters |
Optional Equipment | |
| Heated Seat | |
| Lower Seat | |
| Cruise Control | |
| Heated Grips | |
| Electronic adjustable suspension | |