BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

There is a guy on the UKGSer forum looking to get a 1250RT.
One question he has asked, does the early shiftcam RT's have the same problem as the GS.
I did not know there was a problem, but i hear to learn.

Be interesting to know what the problem on the GS is

Its the same engine so the answer would be that it could have

More to the point get off other forums you traitor

Speaking as a short term gs owner and frequenting the forum, one of the problems on ukgser was the engine not starting after being shut off, whether it was after a bimble to the shops or a ride to the coast.

I experienced it after a couple of stalls, being new to a twin after years of 3 and 4 cylinders. In my case, the bike needed a full shut down and reboot before it would start.

I don't know if anything was ever sorted but I do know a few batteries were replaced under warranty as the symptoms suggested a low battery.

There's probably more issues, there's a lot of moaning over there

I've just traded a 2019 1250gs for my RT. My GS failed to start on 3 occasions, immediately after fuelling up. All 3 were in cold weather. I had been using heated kit. 2 of the times were after riding 20 miles before fill up, once less than 5 miles. Each time the starter would engage, start to turn over then lack the power to overcome the engine's compression and die.

The first time it happened I called BMW assist. By the time they arrived, the battery had recovered and it started up. I rode to my dealer. They diagnosed the battery and replaced it. The second and third times were on the new battery! The second failure was lucky. There was a group of riders at the garage. One had a 1250. He leant me his NOCO booster pack and it fired right up and was fine for the rest of the day. I bought a NOCO booster. The third time I used my NOCO and again, it was fine thereafter.

I always leave my bikes on a battery tender in my garage. So the batteries would have been full.

My view, the move to 1254cc increased the required cranking amps for the starter. In the cold, after the first start at home and after using accessories (grips, heated jacket), despite 20 miles of riding, the battery was not fully recovered. It was not man enough to cope with the engine's compression. They need beefier batteries. Maybe they get them on later models? I'll find out with my 2024 RT. I still carry my NOCO .