BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

I’ve always been obsessed about not overloading bikes, I used to be a lot lighter than I am now at 92kg ( just with pants on) and the wife seems to stat much the same ( probably a bit more than me…).
All in with gear and helmets on I suspect we’re at the limit of the RT’s capacity which I think is 220kg ? Without any luggage. I can’t remember if that’s more or less than what the ST1300 could carry, We are off for a few nights to Cornwall tomorrow.

I have the bmw 49L top box which will have her handbag, 2 pairs lightweight trainers, my spare gloves and thin jacket liner. Side boxes will have clothes in but not many as I want to keep it light as possible, small tank bag has chargers, toiletries bags, tablet box etc.

Anyone particularly worried about over loading ?.

From memory I think the total weight of bike + luggage on the Pan must not exceed 500kg, and the bike itself weighed 328kg if that helps Martin?

On our big Europe trip on the Pan in 2012 we weighed everything and were exactly on the max, but we also came back with a load of clothing that never got used.

Our pannier inner bags for a six week trip this year total 14kg.

In your position (and at 91Kg with a no longer svelt better half, I am) the first thing I did was leave the topbox at home. The damn thing weighs about 12Kg empty, Instead we use a 40 or 60l (depending onn length of trip) waterproof holdall like this from Lomo https://www.lomo.co.uk/products/40l-dry ... ll-yellow/
We use it for clothes/footwear/toiletries etc - essentially everything we won't need till we are inside our accommodation. Anything we might need on the road is in the panniers or tankbag. That way we only need to carry one bag and the tankbag into the hotel, and it has additional benefit of making mounting/dismounting much easier for my wife.

We have a 2012 twincam model and the maual states permissable gross weight of 495Kg with a 232Kg payload, though it is unclear whether this figure includes the panniers/topbox - I suspect it does.

Acording to the German website, the max permissible gross weight is 505kg - allowing 226 kg for riders and luggage (and topbox).

MarkW wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2024 12:23 pm In your position (and at 91Kg with a no longer svelt better half, I am) the first thing I did was leave the topbox at home. The damn thing weighs about 12Kg empty, Instead we use a 40 or 60l (depending onn length of trip) waterproof holdall like this from Lomo https://www.lomo.co.uk/products/40l-dry ... ll-yellow/
We use it for clothes/footwear/toiletries etc - essentially everything we won't need till we are inside our accommodation. Anything we might need on the road is in the panniers or tankbag. That way we only need to carry one bag and the tankbag into the hotel, and it has additional benefit of making mounting/dismounting much easier for my wife.

+1. I also have a real dislike of the topbox, and use a Enduristan Tornado Medium when touring which fits on the rear rack a treat, and is perfect - big enough for shoes and other odd shapes but too small for the kitchen sink!

https://enduristan.eu/en-be/products/to ... ack-medium

MarkW wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2024 12:23 pm In your position (and at 91Kg with a no longer svelt better half, I am) the first thing I did was leave the topbox at home. The damn thing weighs about 12Kg empty, Instead we use a 40 or 60l (depending onn length of trip) waterproof holdall like this from Lomo https://www.lomo.co.uk/products/40l-dry ... ll-yellow/
We use it for clothes/footwear/toiletries etc - essentially everything we won't need till we are inside our accommodation. Anything we might need on the road is in the panniers or tankbag. That way we only need to carry one bag and the tankbag into the hotel, and it has additional benefit of making mounting/dismounting much easier for my wife.

We have a 2012 twincam model and the maual states permissable gross weight of 495Kg with a 232Kg payload, though it is unclear whether this figure includes the panniers/topbox - I suspect it does.

I see what your saying, the boxes are a ridiculous weight, trouble is the wife won’t go anywhere at all without the top box as a secure feeling, I’ve told her not to lean heavily on it but it’s just a more secure feeling for her. I did think of trying the smaller 28 or 29L box, it won’t have central locking but should be lighter.

Taken from the current BMW Technical Spec Sheet. So basically what they are saying is you're left with 226kg for the rider, pillion and all your kit, and remember that's for a bike with standard equipment. On an RT panniers are standard but a top box isn't. Neither are auxiliary lights, ESA, heated seats etc, they are all options, be it bought individually or as part of a pack / higher spec bike. Okay, some may only weigh ounces, but they add up and come off that 226kg.

Then there's you, have you ever weighed how much your boots, riding jeans, jacket, helmet and now airvest weigh, maybe x2. Take that off what's left of the 226 and honestly it ain't that much for a couple who've erm, led a good life and like to take their gadgets & creature comforts along with them.

Given the market that RT's is sold into BMW really do need to look into this, accept we carry more 'stuff' now and do something about it for the upcoming R1300RT.

I ride mine pretty much to capacity with no issues, myself and my good lady with all our gear are about 190kg, and the top box and panniers each have about 6/7kg in them, so I'm probably carrying around the 220kg mark for thousands of miles with no problem