BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Cost of the pannier lids is about £250 each if you cannot get the paint fixed.  I have never seen one broken from a tipover, only scratched. What touches down without them on that is normally protected by them.
Exhaust end can.
Both footrests, sometimes resulting in cracked alloy hanger
Final drive.
Top box.
In my former life as a parts manager it used to make my day.

Morrisons can certainly vouch for the cost of minor cosmetic damage to a 2007 RT, (sorry wrong thread but perhaps relevant here).

My bike fell over on to one of their petrol pumps at a filling station.
The reason being, that, unbeknown to me, one of the metal forecourt drain covers had been removed & replaced by a thin piece of plywood.
One of the centre stand feet ended up down the hole.

Morrisons accepted liability, it cost them somewhere between £2,000 to £2,500 for the replacement parts.

The Bike was perfectly rideable after the incident.

RTman10,  In a `stationary'  full then,  and I appreciate there can be differing circumstances and what side takes the `hit,  ect,  at £250 a pop for a pannier and including any other cosmetic damage  -  if no pannier present to take the brunt of the initial impact,  would it be likely that the engine /frame and front end costs could possibly be greater ?.  Only ask as you were in the Trade and sold the bits.  

Ride it the way you like best - with or without panniers etc etc.


I take mine off because I find it easier to filter and I also like the less bulky look of the bike that way.


Putting panniers on in case you drop the bike is the logic that leads people to ruin the lovely lines of an RT with those HORRENDOUS Wunderlich front (and even worse) rear crash bars just in case they drop it.


90% of bikes with those bars never see the ground...


Other opinions are available (though less valid!)


:alas: :alas:


Oh and by the way, Callisto Grey is the fastest colour, not that rather nice dark blue...

stelyn wrote: RTman10,  In a `stationary'  full then,  and I appreciate there can be differing circumstances and what side takes the `hit,  ect,  at £250 a pop for a pannier and including any other cosmetic damage  -  if no pannier present to take the brunt of the initial impact,  would it be likely that the engine /frame and front end costs could possibly be greater ?.  Only ask as you were in the Trade and sold the bits.  

Any stationary or moving drop either side will result in rocker box  touchdown or the protectors on them but not much else up front. levers hardly ever get damaged but mirrors sometimes pop off, but they are designed to do that. The only damage I have ever seen to the panniers in a simple drop is to the lids that can be fitted with the BMW rubber panniers protectors for about £70.   

RTman10 wrote: Any stationary or moving drop either side will result in rocker box  touchdown or the protectors on them but not much else up front. levers hardly ever get damaged but mirrors sometimes pop off, but they are designed to do that. The only damage I have ever seen to the panniers in a simple drop is to the lids that can be fitted with the BMW rubber panniers protectors for about £70. 

Thanks RTman10,  I'll risk it for the time  being  and leave them off.  I tend to side with Richardbd except his choice of Bike Colour !!    ( not really Richard, `nearly'  bought a two tone grey  ) 

I too went for a 2010-13 model - a 2012 RT SE (all the bells and whistles) - purchased new in September of that year here in Sydney, Australia.  A brilliant piece of machinery..!!

I rode all of my bikes with panniers fitted and probably will with the RT as it gets me used to the width and not having to adjust and remember their on or off, mind you I have rear pannier protection bars. So probably I leave them on because I like the look of the bike fully dressed. Oddly enough that's why I bought it be. Some really nice clean looking bike on here feel proud we have the best looking tourer in the world.

Waratah wrote:

I too went for a 2010-13 model - a 2012 RT SE (all the bells and whistles) - purchased new in September of that year here in Sydney, Australia.  A brilliant piece of machinery..!!

I've always ridden with the side cases on and have only removed them from the bike when washing. The RT really is a great looking motorcycle with the cases off!

Firenailer wrote:
I've always ridden with the side cases on and have only removed them from the bike when washing. The RT really is a great looking motorcycle with the cases off!

Hi Firenailer,

I'll take the bike out for a day with the side cases (panniers) on or off, maybe with the top case fitted, maybe just the tank bag... or even none of the accoutrements and only a canvas shoulder bag with a few items.  It depends how far a chap may be riding, how long you're going to be out, the weather and what you may want to carry? (Now I'm being Einstein of the Blatantly Obvious..!!)  I might throw a compact camera in the tankbag, or a larger DSLR (with flash and filters) in the top case, I now even have a BMR Flatbed Luggage Rack if I want to take a solid tripod (http://www.bmrproducts.com/proddetail.php?prod=005-R1200RTFlatbed_black).  There's no doubt about it, the RT is a great looking machine with the cases off.  But my machine is currently in the garage being fitted with Wunderlich Engine Protection Bars (with bar mounted Micro Flooters and P-Markers) plus Rear Protection Bars.  When she emerges the R12RT will no longer have the sleek lines (trim waist) she once had but will be more of a "function over form" approach to my riding.

Images will be posted once she - "Frau Grau" - is rolled out of the workshop.  Waratah (aka John)

stelyn wrote: Hi Waratah, share some photos when you pick it up from the Garage, sounds interesting     

I sure will Stelyn, as soon as "She Who Must Be Obeyed" lets me get back into the garage to finish the project; at the moment she claims the yard and gardens are more urgent.  :-X

Beautiful bikes guys, keep the pics coming! I'm batting donuts trying to post photos.

Hi John I like the look and practicalities of the Flat Bed I rode about 500+ miles in October with a load that was shifting slightly and which made me feel uncomfortable to say the least. It is weird that there are no anchor points worth mentioning on the 2014 RT probably because Herr BMW wants us all to buy a top box  :nervous:

Anyone know where I can get a similar luggage "flatbed" like Waratah' in Europe as I dont fancy paying import tax on goods in from Oz or USA, etc.