Old Newbie from the Fens - R1250RT

[TheWeeDonkey]

Hello all. Greeting you from the misty Fens. 51 years since getting my bike licence and, my, haven't bikes moved on somewhat?

Started out on a Honda SS50 through many different machines until getting a 2019 1250RT last May.

OH also a biker and content(ish) with her 1 year old CB125. Actually, for what it is it's a cracking little thing especially scooting around town. Her favourite was a BMW F650ST and, to be fair, there'd be one in the garage now if they still made them.

Previous BMs include a R800ST in the mid-80s and an R1150 RT which I had from 2001 to 2004 when we lived in Germany. 80,000 km in 3 years and it never missed a beat. It did have that trailing throttle jerkiness that they fixed on later models by (if I remember correctly) adding another valve to each cylinder. At 160 kph on the Autibahn it was solid as a rock.

So the 1250 came as something of a revelation after the best part of 20 years bikelessness. What a machine! It feels bigger and heavier than the 1150 but I'm now 67, not 47, so that might be an influence. Also being 5'7" in my nightie doesn't help. Looked at the GS (yes, I know) but without an inboard stepladder it wasn't going to work. OH is 2" taller than me and she declared it literally out of my reach and insisted we get the RT (which pleased me enormously but don't tell her that).

Only 2k miles covered in past year. Bought as a BMW approved used bike from a BMW dealer in Peterborough with the warranty and breakdown cover, MoT and new front and rear rubber with 11.5k miles, one owner, £12k. Overpriced, I know, but the headers needed replaced in November under warranty which makes me both sad and happy at the same time. Took the 3 year service plan too. They must have seen me coming but we'll be dead a long time so I don't really care!

Had a quick scan of the forum and there surely seems to be a great wealth of knowledge and experience. Looking forward to reading through all the sub-forums.

Now then, when is the 1300RT demo bike going to be hitting the streets, I wonder?