BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Use graphite oil on key and work in.

Pardon my ignorance, but is graphite oil different from graphite powder/

Not in effect. It's more fluid/liquid than powder.

OK, thanks - that clears that up.

I will try dipping the key in it, as you suggest, before shelling out for another make/bottle.

BoB21 wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 8:33 am Not in effect. It's more fluid/liquid than powder.

Fluid has a tiny amount of oil mixed into the Graphite. The oils used are a fine sewing machine type

owl wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 9:18 am OK, thanks - that clears that up.

I will try dipping the key in it, as you suggest, before shelling out for another make/bottle.

that should work just as well.

RT had a Givi topcase but I wanted an OEM BMW case and found one already in -24 along with a Corbin seat.

I'm known for smooth and swift actions so already today it was keyed for my RT's key.

Well apart from plugging the RT into the battery tender once a week it hasn’t turned a wheel since before my kidney op in November…. Just had my pre op for a hernia so once that’s done it’ll be another 4 to 8 weeks of no physical stuff. I really need a dry couple days so I can run the thing around the block

A dry couple of days?

What's that like?

Panman40 wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 8:07 am Well apart from plugging the RT into the battery tender once a week it hasn’t turned a wheel since before my kidney op in November…. Just had my pre op for a hernia so once that’s done it’ll be another 4 to 8 weeks of no physical stuff. I really need a dry couple days so I can run the thing around the block

Without knowing your location,next week looks fairly good for some in places

owl wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 8:40 am A dry couple of days?

What's that like?

Like one dry day possibly followed by another dry day ?!. It’s been a long time but who knows March is is due soon…

burridge01 wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 10:13 am Without knowing your location,next week looks fairly good for some in places

Down southwest, it does look that way especially for Wednesday, trouble is I live in the lanes and there’s plenty of mud washed out from the fields. Washing the RT is a huge chore for me, washing the ST1300 was easy in comparison

New battery time, so bought a Motobatt MHTX16 Hybrid Lithium AGM which are reputed to be good, together with a NO.CO Genius 1 amp charger, NO.CO Boost and X-connector.

If I’ve done the research right I can charge it and jumpstart it (if necessary) using the same pigtail and avoid messing around removing panels to get to the battery.

And it looks sunny and dry Monday through Thursday this week over here Martin, and I agree re the RT and the Pan.

Steve,what din plug are you using.For the life of me i can't remember what i put on the RT. It never occurred to me to use the din as a port to jumpstart the bike.I've seen this Optimate din,which should run a compressor (15amp fuse)but wondering if it (the fuse)will cope with a jump start

This is what I bought and had fitted to the bike -

One of these: Motobatt MHTX16 Hybrid Lithium Battery YTX14-BS PC545 YTX14L-BS from https://www.motorcycleproducts.co.uk/

1) And these three from Amazon - NOCO Boost GB20: 500A UltraSafe Jump Starter Power pack.

2) NOCO GBC007 47-Centimeter Boost X-Connect Adapter cable for the GB20 UltraSafe Jump Starter and the charger to the battery.

3) NOCO GENIUS1: 1A 6V/12V Smart Battery Charger. Automatic Maintainer/Trickle Charger, which is also a direct connect to #2 above.

So there’s now a heavy duty NOCO pigtail directly connected to the battery to which I can connect the charger, or in case of need, the jump starter. This saves me carrying around the crocodile clips (which take up a surprising amount of valuable room), and makes it far easier to jump start the bike, but hoping I’ll never need to.

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Burridge, I don’t know if it’s possible to jump start the bike via the OEM din plug I’m afraid.