BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

How many different BMW models have you owned?. My first was an R45. This bike was totally different from the jap bikes id owned before but there was something about the character. The way it rocked side to side when revving, how the suspension would lift when accelerating. Then came an R80RT ex-police bike. I used this for dispatch riding. Again loved it. Even in the rain hardly a bit of water touched me on the motorways. I still say this bike had the perfect fairing ever made. After regretting selling this bike i took a leave from riding for bout 10 years. I had a bad relation break up so i had an idea. I bought a Cossack combo, OK it's not a BMW but was based on one. Along with a mate, we traveled all of Europe for 6 months ending up in Red Square in Russia. This bike had a max speed of 50 mph. So motorways were off the route. We just followed the Route Nationals (N road with no tolls). After 6 years with this bike, i bought a K75. The bike was nice but for me, it was too Japanese to me. Sold that a bought a new R800 the R850. Preferred this as it was BMWness. Sold this with over 10000 miles on the clock. Again traveled Europe with this one. Wanting more weather protection i purchased a Goldwing, sold this 6 months later, and got an R1100RT. When that hit 150000 miles i sold it for an R1200RT in 2007. That was stoled in 2017 with only 45000 on the clock. In 2019 i bought a Royal Enfield Himalayan. A great little bike that's been 100% reliable. December the calling was too hard so bought another 2007 R1200RT SE. This is sitting in my garage whilst i sort out the corrosion on the peg hangers and sort out the ABS. The best bike I've owned was the R80RT and the worse, well that is a toss-up between the Goldwing and a Z1300. Both were too heavy for the job. I must say at times I've owned 2 bikes at the same time but these were mostly lightweight Jap bikes for normal winter bikes.

Doctor T wrote:How many different BMW models have you owned.

Not necessarily different models but my first was a new 2007 R1200RT (Hexhead). This was changed in 2010 for a new R1200RT (Camhead). In 2014, bought a used 2012 R1200RT (Camhead) which I still own.

On the subject of other bikes, I also own a 1980 Yamaha XJ650 which I've had from new.

I,ve owned two BMW RTLE models , before that a long tale , 15 years a Francis Barnett , then kids came along bye bye bike , then kids say bye bye , harley davidson chopper comes along , it goes then a suzuki slabside 1100 oh boy what a machine , next a bike i always wanted a Triton 750cc , dreams over !!!! only problem i worked on it more than i rode it !!!! then i,m getting on a bit so a light Yamaha MT07 , next a Yamaha MT 07 tracer , then i require a bit more wind protection and comfort so the BMW boys come along if only i kept a couple would,nt of needed a pension!!!! never mind dreams are a great thing !!!!! probably go back to a lighter machine next who knows !!!!

All together I have owned 7 BMW bikes. Started off with used 1999 Model Year K1200LT (Private swop for my 1999 Fireblade to enable us to embark on some serious touring). After the LT came a new R1150RT which didn't last long (Hated the linked servo brakes). Next BMW was the R1200GS for which I blame Ewan and Charly. Trouble was, my wife had been spoilt by the supreme comfort of our first LT so the GS was traded in against a really nice 2nd generation K1200LT (the one with revised steering geometry, electric centre stand and other improvements). A few years passed and the LT just seemed to be getting heavier, or was it me getting older and weaker ?. So after a test ride on a 2008 Hexhead RT a deal was done and we now owned our first R1200RT. Then BMW introduced the 1200 Twincam Engine and after a long test Ride we traded the Hex Head in for a mint condition very low miles 2013 Twincam. Then after a few years I decided to call it a day with Bikes and parted company with the Twincam. Big mistake, (Don't do it !!) Later an impulse buy of a Triumph Sprint GT got me back into Motorcycling with it's fantastic Engine and Gearbox. But, the ergonomics, which seemed fine in the showroom just didn't agree with my own ageing framework so she had to go. Then the search was on for another Twincam RT. After trawling around the North of England and viewing about half a dozen bikes I finally located a really mint 2011 very low miles bike near Manchester with a full BMW history. So this is the bike we have owned for 16 months now. At present she is laid up for the winter. So roll on Spring.

K75RT
K100RT
K1100LT x 2
R1100RT
R1150RT x 2
K1200GT
K1300GT
K1600GTL
R1250RTLE

This is my second one


Although the first was a project that I never got on the road and sold it on

1993 K75S
2017 R1200GS
2019 R1250GSA
2021 R1250RT (current)

1992. R8ORT
1995. K75RT
2002. R1100RS
2005. R1150RT
2008. R1200RT
2015. R1200GS
2019. R1250RT (current bike)

K75 x 2
R850R
K1200RS
R1100S
R1200RT x 2
F800ST x 2
F800GT
R1200R
C650GT


Favorite was my K1200RS but I aged out of it.

Owned -
R450
R650
R1200RTLC

But ridden many more Jobwise…

I'm on my third Beemer.  First was a 10 y.o. '83 R800RT full dress with 35k miles which I bought for $1,000 (he dude's wife told him to sell it at their garage sale since they now had two kids).  Sold it a year later for $2800.  Second was a 2005 RT which was for my 10k mile tour (performed like a champ).  Its left cylinder saved my lower leg in a head-on in S. Lake Tahoe, then it started right up while they called for a tow for the car.  Thank you, boxer engine!  Then it was stolen two weeks later (no theft insurance or collision) and I bought my current 2009 six days later.  I figured it was good that I'd had the accident since I'd get some money for it (took two years),then a parking ticket for the old bike showed up two months later and I retrieved the old bike.  So now I have two!  Love 'em to death, and can't believe how well these big bikes handle the twisties.  Plan on buying another in France to leave with my friend for summer vacays going forward, pandemic permitting. 

I've had a R100RS monolever inherited from my father. I didn't get on with it, so it was either give up biking or buy a ......


2000 BMW R1100RT - second-hand from SPC (now Bahnstormer) in one of the best BMW colours ever - Neon Blue.
followed by a new 2005 R1200RT (deposit paid before I had even seen a picture of it), a used 2014 R1200RT LC and a new 2019 R1250RT.

First BMW was a 1979 R100T (with "90S" cockpit fairing, clock & voltmeter). That replaced my Honda 750 F2.  Next BMW was a 1989 R100RT.  All these were used for commuting to work.


Retirement arrived and so did a 2018 K1600GTLE (a present from my wife!).  After two years and 14000 miles, I traded that in for the current BMW R1250RTLE, as it is quite a bit lighter. 


Not sure what will come next!  I still have my old Panthers for pottering about, when the roads are mucky (Panthers don't mind a bit of wet).


Old Foxy

My English uncle owned a 1936 600cc single Panther with the two-person sidecar.  It was the family "car" in the 1950's.  He'd unhook it and win a blue ribbon at a motorbike show!  That low-end power was perfect for the sidecar, and it's what bit me with the motorbike bug.

First one, 2012 RT.  Not sure if it's my last. Quirky antiquated engineering is not my thing.  But it is fairly comfortable and lightweight for two up touring.
Only road bike I've owned that burns oil like a city bus and left me stranded on a trip.