the newbie questions

[jan arne]

hi all. i just bought a bmw r1200rt 2007 mod. i`ve had a chopper bike(yamaha dragstar 1100 custom) for 10 years now, and found out it was time for me to try something different entirely. My choice landed in the end on the bmw r1200rt. got a few newbie questions for you all.
-What is the maximum milage on a full tank?
- As a new rider to this type of bike. is there anything i should look out for that could lead to an unwanted experience? i heard that it could pull to the right when accelerating hard.
thx for your respons

[David.]

What is the maximum milage on a full tank?

Typically I get an average of around 45 MPG on my 2012 Camhead, say 250 miles before hitting the low fuel warning.

Riding style & loading can clearly effect MPG, I've covered over 300 miles on a tank full, returning around the 55 MPG mark, when cruising on a motorway.
(This was with the fuel warning light on & very little left when filled up).

[David.]

I heard that it could pull to the right when accelerating hard.

The bike will only deviate from a straight line if the bars are pulled or pushed in either direction whilst twisting the throttle.

[jan arne]

Thx for the info. But are you refering to metric miles og english miles?

[beemerboy9]

HI Jan Arne,


Can you please explain what a metric mile is? Is it a similar concept to European metres vs. English metres?


All all MPG figures would be expressed here in miles per imperial gallon. If you want to know miles per US gallon, you can surely find a converter on the WWW.

[David.]

Are you refering to metric miles or english miles?

For my education, a metric mile is, a distance of 1,500 metres, or a race over this distance.
A (statute) mile is, a unit of linear measure equal to 1,760 yards (approximately 1.609 kilometres).

I'd therefore like to confirm that distances quoted in miles are statute miles as used in the UK.

The MPG figures are quoted as miles per imperial gallon (4.546 litres),  US gallons are 3.785 litres.

Every day is a school day!

[MikeS]

I don't know if the 2007 model still had the fuel strip but if it does it might be setting the trip meter when you fill up.
They were known to be problematic, my 2005 failed and left me stranded as I hadn't cottoned on that I had been riding on a quarter tank for a while.
Looked into getting it replaced but it seems  they were prone to failure even after being fixed, so I didn't bother. After that I just set the trip and refueled at 220 miles.

[ds99]

the fuel strip on my 2007 RT has failed 2-3 times.


now i just reset the trip to zero when i fill up, and that always gives me at least 280 miles

[simbo]

I thought BMW stuck with the fuel strip till early to mid 2010 before switching to a more reliable fuel float system.

[jan arne]

Thx for all the answers. I guess ill just be learning by doing, or pulling out my calculator, since im not used to using anything other then the metric system.

[PeteM]

You should get 400 Km per tank full but if you don't trust the fuel gauge err on the side of caution

[David.]

I'm not used to using anything other then the metric system.

Since 1960, the metric system has been replaced by the SI system.

"The International System of Units, universally abbreviated SI (from the French Le Système International d'Unités),  is the modern metric system of measurement. The SI was established in 1960 by the 11th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM, Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures)."

[MEM62]

According to the readout on my camhead, which has never been reset, I am getting mid 50's to the gallon - UK.  (Was low 50's but now that my other half has passed her test and I do much less two-up riding this has increased)  That's a theoretical range of 300-ish miles but I usually fill up at around 250 miles.