Throttle response R1200RT.

[FLLawman]

I was riding with a friend the other day and we got behind some traffic on a two lane road. My friend decided he didn't want to follow the slow moving traffic so he accelerated to pass. I figured I'd folow him so I jumped on it pretty hard as there was oncoming traffic. Well my RT wound up fairly smoothly up to around 5500 rpms and then LAUNCHED! I was surprised at the seemingly sudden surge in power. Is this normal or is there an adjustment I can make to smooth out the power band? The bike accellerates hard 0-4000 rpms and then kinda flattens out. The bike has a little over 3000 miiles on it. Thanks for any advice. Randy

[Eureka]

I've noticed the same thing. Above 5K RPM the RT seems to really jump into its torque curve and accelrates very rapidly. Once you get used to it, you'll find yourself downshifting and running about 4500 RPM before you pull out to pass, so that when you crank it on, it really moves out.

This technique is especially handy (and safer) when riding two-up since getting into the torque curve faster means a quicker pass with less exposure. Dropping down a gear or two and picking up the RPM before the pass also alerts your passenger to hang on, that things are going to happen!

[PacWestGS]

Welcome to Boxer Land Randy. You probably left a carbon cloud in your wake too.

I cruise my 1150 around between 3700 to 4500 too, but to have fun and instant response run it over 5000 to just shy of redline.

WATCH the down shifts from up there the rear tire can easily lock-up on a to low throttle position.

Have fun in power band up where those ponyies really live...

[TomfromMD]

Well my RT wound up fairly smoothly up to around 5500 rpms and then LAUNCHED! I was surprised at the seemingly sudden surge in power. Is this normal? Randy

Both BMW's published torque curve and Motorcycle Consumer New's dyno test show a slight decrease in torque from about 4,000 to 5,000 and a major increase from 5,500 to the peak at 6,000. As you've noticed, this translates into the 5,500 rpm rush.

[Belquar]

Welcome to the power band. Learn to use it well and have fun in the twisties. These engines were designed for higher rpms. I believe max torque on the 1100s (my GS) is 5250rpm. For the R1200RT max is at 6000 rpm.

Most of us never ride our machines up that high. But when passing vehicles and carving through the twisties you should keep your rpms up. Better throttle response that way and as you now know the true power of the machine lies in there. Don't be overly concerned about redlining your bike. BMW has put a redline governer in there for your protection.

Jim Ford does a riding clinic in Maryland. My Dad took it on his 97 RT and was amazed to discover what he had been missing out on. Apparently quite a good clinic and they never left 4th gear in over 400 miles. Jim states in the clinic that your bike will probably run better after his clinic is over because he teaches how to work the engine the way it was designed.

I plan to take the clinic first opportunity I get.

Brian

[kbasa]

I seem to recall that the torque peak for the R12RT is right about 5500 rpms and the hp peak is at about 7K.

For sporting riding, shift at 7K and you wind up right at the torque peak. :evil

Boxer motors love to be wound and make their best power at higher revs.

[Belquar]

Specs/details on the R 1200 RT:
OverviewStandard EquipmentAvailable EquipmentAccessoriesSpecificationsEngineDrivetrain Frame & SuspensionBrakesWheels & TiresDimensions

Type

Air cooled / oil-cooled Boxer twin-cylinder

Displacement

1170 cc

Bore X Stroke

101.0 mm x 73.0 mm

Horsepower

110 bhp @ 7500 rpm

Torque

85 lb/ft @ 6000 rpm

Valve Gear

HC, chain-driven

No of cylinders

2

Compression Ratio

12.0:1

Engine Management

BMW Engine Controller - BMS K

Valves per Cylinder

Four

Valves

2 x 36.0 mm intake / 2 x 31.0 mm exhaust

[kbasa]

Horsepower

110 bhp @ 7500 rpm

Torque

85 lb/ft @ 6000 rpm



Well, then. There's your road map to the party zone, now.

[Belquar]

Well, then. There's your road map to the party zone, now.


And what a party zone it is. I am new to the power band as well. It wasn't until my pops took the clinic from Jim Ford that I learned about the power band and what it meant. Now that I know and have discovered it for myself it has really changed my riding.

[PacWestGS]

And, now you guys can see why there was such a "FLAP" about Yamaha claiming to have reached 17,500 RPM out of a little 600cc four-cylinder engine when the competitors had all reached 17,000 together.

I remember the huge difference in my (old) 1985 GPz900 (104bHp) when riding it like Concourse at or below 7,000 RPM or riding it like Ninja between 8,000 and 10,500 (Redline) RPM. World's of difference...

R-RT's, K-GT's, what ever? The GS's spank when ridden hard over 5,000 RPM upto redline.

Bikes' don't need to be tortured, but they sure like to be reve'd up in the ponies to be responsive...

I said this somewhere else today but, I know a lot of people who have bought an after-market pipe to increase their horsepower and don't (or can't) ride their current bike in the power band. Most stock bikes over 1000cc's are scary fast.

I had an R1150R for a loaner bike a week ago, it's exactly the same as my R1150GS but different and lighter, it felt like it had 20 more Hp I'm happy to say I brought it back un-scathed and un-scratched... But I had fun...

Doc