New changes

[Motodan]

OK, been three years since BMW as main power source, I went to the dark side for a while. Looking at 2008 R12RT, previous BMW was 2004 R1150RT. Tell me if these items are correct as stated: 1] Only one metal key and one plastic key per $18,000 purchase? 2] BMW no longer has store brochures for each model, everything is now Online? 3] Battery charger for the "now" electrical system is $140.00 [anything else will burn the machine to the ground]? And rear drives still melt down way too early? Thank you for any and all responses.

[SilverRT]

MotoDan,

1] Only one metal key and one plastic key per $18,000 purchase? 2] BMW no longer has store brochures for each model, everything is now Online? 3] Battery charger for the "now" electrical system is $140.00 [anything else will burn the machine to the ground]? And rear drives still melt down way too early?

I went from an '04 RT to an '07 the first of the year.

1. Yes, the plastic key worked fine after I temporarily misplaced my main key. The plastic one is easy to carry.

2. Not sure about the brochure, I just go to the dealer and see and ride the real thing.

3. Most of us with the RT's that have the CAN-bus system just wire around it direct to the battery. I ride year around and have never had the need for a charger.

4. Check the forums, I've not heard of any rear drive issues with the newer RT's.

Good luck and welcome back.:thumb

[TomfromMD]

1 - 2nd metal key cost me $55.
3 - The $140 charger is plug & play as it speaks to the Can-Bus system, but you can use any "Battery Tender" if you don't mind hooking it directly to the battery (or wiring an accessory socket directly to the battery).
Personally, I find the seat to be a more pressing issue than the FD.
Tom

[Greenwald]

Keys? Yup - one good one, one plastic one. Extras at a premium price.

Brochures? Yup - could not find individual ones at my dealer either - sucks.

Battery Charging? Got a Battery Tender Plus from a motorcycle supply site (Cyclegadgets) for about $60- specifically for the gel-style BMW battery now in R1200RT's. Works great.

Final Drive Failures? Jury still out - no one but BMW Corporate has the actual numbers as to failures per thousand units, and they're not talking, even if there is a legitimate 'flaw.' Mine is fine (as of 22,000+ miles), but I will have it inspected, and fluid changed out, at the 24,000 mile checkup this spring.

My advice - BUY IT! Awesome motorcycle!!!!!!

[GregoryT]

OK, been three years since BMW as main power source, I went to the dark side for a while. Looking at 2008 R12RT, previous BMW was 2004 R1150RT. Tell me if these items are correct as stated: 1] Only one metal key and one plastic key per $18,000 purchase? 2] BMW no longer has store brochures for each model, everything is now Online? 3] Battery charger for the "now" electrical system is $140.00 [anything else will burn the machine to the ground]? And rear drives still melt down way too early? Thank you for any and all responses.

Dear, Motodan
Everything you wrote is true and the lack of the BMW brochure, plastic key, and new bus electronic systems sucks.
But, the motorcycle as a whole, is better than ever. And one, most important change, unfortunately for us, the humangous dive of U.S. dollar vs. Euro!
We should still consider ourselves lucky that they sell these european machines for relatively low price.

P.S.
When you do buy new BMW motorcycle you recieve a quite decent gif package.

Best regards,

[ggfossen]

So, what's wrong with a light weight second key?

Brochures on line? Everybody here is "on line."

Battery charger? If you don't ride for long periods, disconnect, and charge with any appropriate charger. I find it will easily go for two or three weeks with no aux charge. Longer than that, and I simply crank it, and let it run until warm. That seems to work. Probably good for the rest of it, too.

I won't worry about the final. Odds favor all of us.

As to the seat, I put an after market on my '83, and did my on rebuild on the '07. All the many seat makers seem to stay in business, and have for a lot of years.

Bottom line, if you like the bike, buy it. If you don't, keep shopping.

[AZ-J]

Battery charger can be $59.95 Battery Tender if yoke is connected to the battery, not plugged into CANbus outlet plug.

[gulfcoastbeemer]

Looking at 2008 R12RT, previous BMW was 2004 R1150RT. Tell me if these items are correct as stated: 1] Only one metal key and one plastic key per $18,000 purchase?

The plastic key, which is flat, fits in my wallet. I wouldn't mind if both keys were plastic.

2] BMW no longer has store brochures for each model, everything is now Online?

I have a brochure for my '07. Not sure about the '08 models.

3] Battery charger for the "now" electrical system is $140.00 [anything else will burn the machine to the ground]?

The CanBus system isn't new. It's been around in the automobile industry for some time. There is nothing to prevent you from hooking up a charger or a fuse box directly to the battery.

And rear drives still melt down way too early? Thank you for any and all responses.

I have approximately 20,000 miles on my '07 R1200RT, and my wife has about the same on her '05 R1200RT. I've done my own final drive maintenance on both bikes and don't foresee a problem with either final drive.

[kbasa]

The CanBus system is a non issue. I installed a Blue Sea fuse panel under the rear seat, wired directly the battery. If I ever got off my lazy butt, I'll put a relay in it and it'll be switched power.

Keys? Yeah, that's true.

Brochures? I had a paper one around somewhere.

Two hexheads with 20+K miles on them and no failures in my garage. The jury's still out on whether it's a true epidemic or internet hysteria.

I've got an RT and was never really an RT kind of guy until I rode this bike. It'll do Amazing Things, even with two folks on board.

[R80RTJohnny]

Up north (Canada) BMW Canada dropped it's prices yet again. 2007 and 2008 RT's now start at 19000 compared to 21500 and 23750 for 2006 models

Time to start haggling prices with the new dealer in Ottawa. Good Time Centre was just awarded the franchise last week.

[lawman]

my R12RT came with two metal and one plastic keys. Do I need to send one back?

[FredRydr]

Tell me if these items are correct as stated: 1] Only one metal key and one plastic key per $18,000 purchase? 2] BMW no longer has store brochures for each model, everything is now Online? 3] Battery charger for the "now" electrical system is $140.00 [anything else will burn the machine to the ground]? And rear drives still melt down way too early?

Law:

1. Some claim to have gotten 2 steel keys, but I received one steel and one plastic. I broke the plastic due to stupidity, not in the lock thank goodness. I would never decide against paying a premium manufacturer's "enhanced" price because I'm short a key.

2. I've seen both separate and combined brochures over the last two years.

3. I use either of my two standard Batter Tender Plus chargers in my 2007 R1200R accessory socket through CANbus and it works great, and the lights on the tender do what they always did.

4. Rear drive questions require you to search for and read the two longer rear drive threads on this hexhead forum, and maybe get Paul's article in the BMWON mag, and make your own choice regarding cowering against limited risk versus getting out there and having fun.

Fred
'07 R1200R

[AZ-J]

Law:

3. I use either of my two standard Batter Tender Plus chargers in my 2007 R1200R accessory socket through CANbus and it works great, and the lights on the tender do what they always did.

Fred
'07 R1200R

Fred,

How do you you do this? If I try it, 1. I have to turn the bike on first. and 2. if and when I switch off the bike, the Battery Tender lights blink in bad ways. The Battery Tender works fine off its yoke connected to the battery, but yields interrupts if I connect it the CANbus accesory socket. If I use w/o switching on the bike first, nothing happens.

Yes, I have the SAE to Powerlet plug for connecting the Battery Tender to the CANbus accesory socket. I used it once, it failed (repeat 10X) and still no luck.

Any tips would be appreciated.

[FredRydr]

Any tips would be appreciated.Damn, Tweety, I just don't know. I haven't done anything special. One Battery Tender Plus was bought when the "Plus" first came out, while the other one is about a year or two old. I bought the R1200R last summer, and one day when it was parked overnight, I just plugged in a Battery Tender Plus which indicated it was working, via the accessory socket. The second Battery Tender Plus works as well. The red light will be steady, and eventually the green light comes on.

Perhaps it might be all too obvious: the R1200R CANbus is programmed differently than the F800S.

Fred

[aaaaaa]

Thanks for the tips. I've been leaning toward a road king. ...But how do you live without a center stand ?
robert

[PMonk]

Beautiful Motorcycle.
Leg Roaster!!!!!!!!!!

No way I would buy a HD until they oil or water cool the engine,

That is not far away as we heard at the Houston Motorcycle Show.

[markgoodrich]

Thanks for the tips. I've been leaning toward a road king. ...But how do you live without a center stand ?
robert

It leans back at you.

[Ksrob]

I understand that on the '08's the dealer can order a metal key as a warrantee claim.

I read it on the 'net, so it's got to be true.

[kr70657]

I received two metal and one plastic key with my 08. I was told by my salesperson that it was new for 08 to get two metal ones.

When shopping for an 07 in the summer I did get a brochure.

The literature available for the bike, in paper and on the web is dismal. I find the BMW website to be horrible. Good news is I don't surf the web while riding!

I ride year round so charger shouldn't be an issue, but have a battery tender I'll connect to the battery directly if I need too.

[AllanCook]

Two metal and one plastic for my 07 R1200R.

[Screamineagle]

MotoDan
I had a 2004RT I liked it pretty well. I Traded it for an 07 R12RT. That was tne months ago. I like it better than the 04 (much much better). I have 31,000 miles on it and have no issues. At 24,000 service I had the fluid changed in the final drive. If the 08s are as good as the 07 that I have, I'd say go for it. You'll like it.
Oh yeah, I put 50,000 on the 04 and liked every mile, but this one is better.

[Screamineagle]

Law:

1. Some claim to have gotten 2 steel keys, but I received one steel and one plastic. I broke the plastic due to stupidity, not in the lock thank goodness. I would never decide against paying a premium manufacturer's "enhanced" price because I'm short a key.

2. I've seen both separate and combined brochures over the last two years.

3. I use either of my two standard Batter Tender Plus chargers in my 2007 R1200R accessory socket through CANbus and it works great, and the lights on the tender do what they always did.

4. Rear drive questions require you to search for and read the two longer rear drive threads on this hexhead forum, and maybe get Paul's article in the BMWON mag, and make your own choice regarding cowering against limited risk versus getting out there and having fun.

Fred
'07 R1200R

Fred,
I don't think your charger is actually working. As I understand it, the canbus shuts down the accessry socket about 10 minutes after you shut down the bike.
You may have a light glowing but thats just telling you the charger is working, I think. We can discuss it at the meeting tomorrow morning.

Bill

[Greenwald]

EXCELLENT article in the latest issue of Motorcycle Consumer News about the CANbus system, specifically BMW"s (Ducati uses it too).

It addresses battery charging, mentioning that when you turn off the bike, CANbus shuts off all systems except the alarm, if so equiped. Plugging into the accessory socket for charging requires the BMW-specific charger in order to get CANbus to 'cooperate.'

There may be ways around this, but the article was very informative. If my computer skills were better, I would have tried to post the article itself. Oh well.

[WestHautianPlen]

MotoDan, I have a 07 R1200RT with about 7k on it. I have always liked riding on two wheels, Dirt bikes, Trials Bikes, Rode Bikes Etc. but this R12RT has stirred up such a passion to ride. What a ride. You might have to get an after market seat, the one that came on it just made my back side scream after about an hour. I went with a Rich Mayer Leather (NICE!) Added a few other Techy items, and an aftermarket windshield.

Just sold My 03 Fatboy a month ago because after the RT Came, I only rode the HD 14 miles in in a year.

I am new in the BMW world, But I would buy this bike again!!!!

I also like this forum for Questions just like this one.

Plen Smith

[njnear]

Moto:

Can't believe any of those 3 issues would sway any decision to purchase. You must be stirring the pot to see what floats to the top.

[FredRydr]

Fred,
I don't think your charger is actually working. As I understand it, the canbus shuts down the accessry socket about 10 minutes after you shut down the bike.
You may have a light glowing but thats just telling you the charger is working, I think. We can discuss it at the meeting tomorrow morning.

BillHiya Bill!

Well, the Battery Tender Plus is reacting to something, because the red light stays steady, and eventually the green light comes on. If the CANbus was preventing a completed circuit, the light on the tender would flash red forever. I suspect my R1200R is either not doing something it should, or it was set up differently from other bikes. It goes in for 12,000 mile service in 800 miles, and I will raise the issue, but not sure if I want it "fixed."

CANbus shuts things down after about a minute. I wired my GPS to the stock plug designed for the GPS, and the unit will be disconnected from power about a minute after the ignition is turned off.

Fred
Merry Christmas