Hi all,
Current Bonneville owner but looking to switch into an RT. For someone who is a college student, are the RTs a prudent choice? How is the maintenance if I were to only take it to local mechanics and what generations should I search for?
Looking to buy an RT
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Randyjaco
- Posts: 225
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- Bike Model and Year: R1200RT 2017
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Re: Looking to buy an RT
Welcome Tarun. RTs are great bikes, but some years are better than others. The first question would be "What is your budget?" or what are you looking at? If the bike you buy is in good condition, maintenance shouldn't be much of a problem. Lots of people maintain their own bike. There are some special tools that make it easier though.
Re: Looking to buy an RT
I'd say with selling my bike, my total budget is 11k. I am looking at an 06 and 09 with 7700 miles and 15000 miles respectively.
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Doctor T
- Posts: 1998
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- Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
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Re: Looking to buy an RT
Welcome to the site. You will get more answers in the general section
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
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jesim1
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Re: Looking to buy an RT
The older the bike the more work will be needed with maintenance etc, but as these are used by the majority of the police/ambulance services across Europe, you know they are a decent bet 
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Doctor T
- Posts: 1998
- Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
- Location: west sussex
- Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
- Has liked: 1152 times
- Been liked: 306 times
Re: Looking to buy an RT
I will have to disagree with your first comment. Ive owned a lot of older bikes. If they have been looked after before there is ususally not more that basic maintainance needed. My 07 had full BMW service before i purchaced it and all ive needed to do is a yearly service.
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
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jesim1
- Subscriber
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- Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:47 pm
- Location: Kilmaurs, Ayrshire
- Bike Model and Year: R1250RTLE 2022
- Has liked: 120 times
- Been liked: 74 times
Re: Looking to buy an RT
Everyone has an opinion - but on an old bike your looking at bearings/head races/brake pipes/brake caliper rebuilds/fork seals and even exhausts - you just don't need to bother with any of that on a newish bikeDoctor T wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 1:57 pm I will have to disagree with your first comment. Ive owned a lot of older bikes. If they have been looked after before there is ususally not more that basic maintainance needed. My 07 had full BMW service before i purchaced it and all ive needed to do is a yearly service.
Any bike is reliable given the right maintenance
