2005 — 2013     R1200RT

I traded the red R1200RT for a Biarritz blue 2007 R1200RT at Iron Horse Motorcycles, an exclusive BMW dealership, Tucson. The photo above, right, is that bike. This color was introduced for the 2007 model year, and a new generation of ABS brakes without servo assist also arrived. The latter was key to my decision to acquire the newer model, which I no longer own.

For years, actually decades, BMW motorcycle saddles have been uncomfortable. The only stock BMW saddle I have ever found to be comfortable for long periods was that on the K1200LT. I had often wondered why BMW could not produce comfortable saddles for its motorcycles. A good friend once asked a BMW employee about this and was told that, surely, BMW could make comfortable saddles, but it could not sell bikes with them because of the way they look. In other words, BMW's theory is the reverse of Architect Louis Sullivan's famous dictum, “form follows function.” That is, BMW believes that when it comes to saddles, at least, form follows style. The lack of comfort of the R1200RT's stock saddle became apparent the first time I rode it from the dealer to my home. Therefore, on my full-size R1200RT I had installed a Rick Mayer leather saddle (photo below) to cure the serious comfort shortcomings of the stock saddle (Rick Mayer is no longer in business). Aftermarket saddle makers may well be happy with BMW's saddle design concept.

There are two BMW top cases available for the R1200RT. The smaller case has a capacity of 28 liters (1 ft.³ or 7.4 gallons); the larger case has a capacity of 49 liters (1.7 ft.³ or 12.9 gallons) and comes only in light gray. The small case is perfect for daily use. The large case, which will swallow two full-face helmets, is great for packing for long trips. You can definitely feel the impact of the large case on handling when you are loaded for touring. I was often asked, “Are they available color matched to the motorcycles?” The answer is no. Because it presents a large hunk of light gray lid, it surely would be nice if the large case, especially, was available from BMW color matched. For $100, I had the top lid painted, by Tucson's own Ed Carlson, to match the bike, as can be seen below.

 

BMW has produced a really cool 1:10 R1200RT scale model (photo above, right), BMW part number 80 43 0 393 420.

I added an RCU Shelf to the R1200RT to hold a variety of electronic gadgets. I had to cut the trailing edge of the RCU shelf back 1½ inches (3.8 cm), however, so I could see the highest indicator lights.

On this shelf I installed a digital clock/voltmeter/thermometer (below, right). While not waterproof (and needs to be wrapped in rain) it provides good information. This and similar devices can be found on Amazon.

I installed another electrical socket on the right side of the fairing (photo below, left), wired with an in-line fuse directly to the battery.

             

I had added Motolight driving lights (see lower lights in the photo below).

In 2012 I installed a set of BMR Driving Light Mounts (below) and PIAA halogen driving lights (upper lights below). I wanted to have a pair of lights higher than the Motolights for improved visibility for me and to motorists.

     

Below: Some owners have seen their windshield arms break. It happened to me on an R1150RT in Vermont. Now there is a solution for R1200RT owners, the West Tool windshield support arms, below, which I installed on the 2007 R1200RT in January 2013. The instructions state, “15 minute job.” Perhaps this is true if you do not count collecting all the needed tools and you have done it a dozen or so times before. Otherwise, allow an hour.

Below, left: Hyper-Lites' turn signals increase conspicuity when signalling turns or lane changes.

Below, right: Hyper-Lites can also provide its famous flashing LED brake lights for the single-filament brake light on the R1200RT. I installed the dual function version with 16 LEDs per side. It shows steady tail LEDs (shown below) and flashing brake LEDs.

Below, left: Rotating, adjustable blind spot mirrors are up where your views otherwise tend to be of your hands on the hand grips.

Below, center: BMW's rear fender extender (part #71607694184) slides up and down to adjust amount of projection below the stock fender.

Below, right: The door to the glove/radio box has a neat flashlight clip that holds perfectly an AA Mini Maglite® — color matched, of course.

Others recommend the these two items — Autosol or Stain-Magic. Stain-Magic seems to work quickly and very well, but it is very expensive.

The R1200RT-P Authority Motorcycle

In 2006, BMW began manufacturing the "Authority" version of the R1200RT, known as the R1200RT-P (photos below). It is the successor to the acclaimed R1150RT-P. BMW has the largest number of police motorcycles in service worldwide — over 80,000 — and its motorcycles are gaining wide acceptance in the United States because of their superior power, handling, brakes, and life-cycle costs. Below left is an R1200RT-P of the Arizona DPS Highway Patrol.

Click here to read a report (PDF file) done in 2006, “Law Enforcement Motorcycle Test and Evaluation Program,” from the Los Angeles County Sherff's Department.