BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Good morning everyone!  I just picket up my first BMW motorcycle, a 2018 R1200RT.  I have been riding 38 years, but only on Harleys and other makes of cruiser (Road Star, Vulcan etc...).  I am also an IBA member, so not a newb to riding.  But a total newb to sport touring motorcycles!  That first ride was interesting, confusing, and a little scary.  The frame mounted fairing gave me fits at slow speeds!  I only have about a hundred miles on the bike so far, and each time I ride it, it gets a little easier and a little better.  I anticipate that soon I will be wondering why I didn't swap over years ago!  So I just wanted to say hi, introduce myself, and share a picture or two.  Anyone in the Frederick, Maryland area feel like a long ride, hit me up!  And if anyone has a few little tips or tricks that are obvious for ya'll but oblivious to a new sport trouing rider, I would appreciate those too!


Tom Downey

Well you are in for a real treat my son , its a great bike for touring you can ride one all day , i had Harley,s but these RT,s are the rolls royce of the motorcycle world enjoy !!!!!

Welcome from the other side of the Appalachian Mountains.  I bought 2018 last spring.  Been thru 8 sets of tires and a full set of brakes.  I have 15,000 on it now, so soon, I also will get the hang of it.  Enjoy yours!

Murgie wrote: .....  Been thru 8 sets of tires and a full set of brakes.  I have 15,000 on it now,

What! less than 2000 miles per tyre? That is insane! Which tyres do you choose to use?

bandytales wrote:
What! less than 2000 miles per tyre? That is insane! Which tyres do you choose to use?

Part worn

Mostly Bridgestone S21's

I though u should get 5000 km per tyre

Oneillmartin wrote: I though u should get 5000 km per tyre

Unless you use it for trackdays or live somewhere with no speed limits and roads on which you can use all the performance the R1200RT is capable of (and use sticky tyres designed for sports bikes),  5000km will not be a problem.


I am at the other end of the spectrum - I ride in countries where there are speeds limits of up to 140kph (with short sections of German autobahn being unlimited but generally busy) and riding on the road is expected to be conducted in a safe manner, so I generally ride my 2017 RT1200RT LE in a manner which (I hope) won't land me in jail.  I also use sport touring tyres designed for bikes like the RT and I've had as much as 9000 miles out of a rear Michelin PR4GT.


2000 miles per tyre ?  I don't doubt it's possible, but that sounds like hard work to me !

I'm just onto my 3rd set of tyres at 17,000 miles.  My original Metzeler Roadtec Z8s were cut slightly short by an impending long continental trip at 8,000 miles and my second set of Michelin PR4s came to a premature end at a similar mileage with a double puncture.  Both sets would have made it to 9,000 miles otherwise and that would be with a minimum of 1 mm of tread all over the tyre. 


Like gogs I tend to ride my bike legally but as briskly as circumstances permit!  I make good progress...