Newbie Questions

[gabentx]

All,

Sorry in advance if this isn't the right forum. I just purchased my 1st BMW, a 2005 R1200RT w/7k miles. Prior to this one I've always had cruisers like the Vulcans, Shadow's, etc. The bike appears to be in good shape overall and the local BMW dealer thought it looked fairly clean when they did the state inspection. Needless to say I'm pretty happy with it the 1st couple of rides this week.

Anyway, what I'm looking for in this post is just advice from all y'all out there who've owned lots of BMW's. What kinds of things do I need to do to keep it running smooth and with as little issues as possible. It did have the 6k service done (stamped by the dealer). I was reading the forums and other articles and it appears that there is a need to keep this bike on a trickle charger if I"m not riding for a few weeks (weather, etc.). Do I have the correct read on that and what other hidden stuff do I need to look out for or be aware of?

Thanks in advance to everyone out there and safe riding....

Gabe

[DarrylRi]

Did the 6k service get done? Just follow the recommended maintenance -- service every 6k miles. Watch that the oil doesn't get low.

A trickle charger wouldn't be bad if you don't ride it for a while, but these bikes are happiest when they get used regularly. You've got all that lovely hill country out there to explore! So many pit BBQs to check out! (I had a great meal at Coopers in Llano last month...)

[dancogan]

I've got the same bike and outside of the periodic maintenance there isn't much to worry about. If you're still on the original tires take a close look at them. I think I got just over 6,000 miles on my first set. Changed to Z6 and got about 10,000 on them. Ride it! Enjoy it! It's super comfortable one-up or two-up!

[PAULBACH]

With regular oil changes that bike may outlive the rider. The only area I where a critical eye should be cast is rear end visibility. Be sure to add reflectors on the rear or hyper lites.

Honda does an outstanding job of letting motorists know there is a bike in FRONT of them. Take a look at their Gold Wings.

There are reflector kits at your dealer and on eBay.

[bikerfish1100]

nevermind. just a mild case of brain flatulence.

[DarrylRi]

it's also important to remember that your bike is an OILhead, not a HEXhead.

I'm pretty sure that the 2005 model is the first year of the Hexhead motor. (Although really, there's no difference in the advice for it.)

[Easy]

All,

Sorry in advance if this isn't the right forum. I just purchased my 1st BMW, a 2005 R1200RT w/7k miles. Prior to this one I've always had cruisers like the Vulcans, Shadow's, etc. The bike appears to be in good shape overall and the local BMW dealer thought it looked fairly clean when they did the state inspection. Needless to say I'm pretty happy with it the 1st couple of rides this week.

Anyway, what I'm looking for in this post is just advice from all y'all out there who've owned lots of BMW's. What kinds of things do I need to do to keep it running smooth and with as little issues as possible. It did have the 6k service done (stamped by the dealer). I was reading the forums and other articles and it appears that there is a need to keep this bike on a trickle charger if I"m not riding for a few weeks (weather, etc.). Do I have the correct read on that and what other hidden stuff do I need to look out for or be aware of?

Thanks in advance to everyone out there and safe riding....

Gabe

Your bike is indeed a Hexhead.

Besides the regular service, get a good tire pressure gauge and check the tire pressure often. The tires will last much longer.

Get in the habit if going over a check list everytime before you ride. You and your bike will last longer.

You got a good bike, welcome to the club. Great bunch of people here!

Easy :german

[TomfromMD]

If your bike has the on board computer, you might check to see that the low oil sensor and software have been upgraded under warranty. The '05 and early '06 models had an annoying habit of erroneous low oil level warnings when the level was actually ok. If your bike has had the upgrade, you should get an OBC oil level reading only when stopped with the motor running, if not, the reading will also appear when moving.
Enjoy your new bike!
Tom

[Montana]

Compared to those other twin-cylinder bikes you had, the BMW will run farther in each gear, at higher rpms, and that's good for it. This will help keep the electrical system up to snuff, too

[kbasa]

Don't be afraid to wind it up. They make peak torque at 4500rpm and make peak power just below redline.

Keep the oil level on the dot in the sightglass.

Assume it will keep using oil for another 10K miles, so check the oil regularly.

Make sure the final drive fluid has been changed.

Keep the brake fluid changed as specified.

Ride the daylights out of it!

And welcome to the BMW MOA! :buds

[gabentx]

Did the 6k service get done?

Definitely got done...I did get the paperwork on it...

With regular oil changes that bike may outlive the rider. The only area I where a critical eye should be cast is rear end visibility. Be sure to add reflectors on the rear or hyper lites.

Funny...the other thing I noticed about rear visibility so far is that the mirrors don't show as much as I'm used to on other bikes so that took a little getting used to.

If your bike has the on board computer, you might check to see that the low oil sensor and software have been upgraded under warranty. The '05 and early '06 models had an annoying habit of erroneous low oil level warnings when the level was actually ok. If your bike has had the upgrade, you should get an OBC oil level reading only when stopped with the motor running, if not, the reading will also appear when moving.

It does have the OBC so I'll look for that. I noticed when I rode it, it had the reading on the right-hand side as far as temperature and then then when I was riding I went through the OBC options and got a "checkmark" when I cycled through the OBC options...does that mean that I need to get it upgraded?

Compared to those other twin-cylinder bikes you had, the BMW will run farther in each gear, at higher rpms, and that's good for it. This will help keep the electrical system up to snuff, too

Funny you mention that...the absolute first thing I noticed riding it (other than getting back used to a non heel-toe shifter...lol..funny what you forget..hehe) was that I wasn't winding it up enough....I'm slowly getting used to shifting higher in the RPM range...


Thanks again to everyone for the advice and I'm looking forward to learning more and riding lots and lots of miles here in the hill country and elsewhere....

Gabe

[markgoodrich]

There's a great mechanic in Austin, cheaper than the dealer, and friendly, and completely honest, in my experience. Send me a PM and I'll dig out his contact info.

Denise at Lone Star is THE person to talk to about accessories and/or clothing.

Accessory mirrors make all the difference in the world.

If you don't have the top box, the OEM box is very expensive and not as roomy as some of the aftermarket boxes; Givi is popular around here, I'm partial to Hepco and Becker...although I have the BMW box which came on my bike.

If you ride two up you'll want a good intercom/music setup. Autocom is the most popular; all brands appear to have strong points...and weak ones.

Ordering a custom after market seat an be a very trying experience; try to live with the OEM for a few thousand miles.

Bar risers and peg lowerererererererers help a lot for long distance comfort.

My personal preference for a tank bag is an Oxford Products Sport bag, expandable, bulletproof, magnets are heavy enough to hold it in place without straps, and they're dirt cheap on ebay. They make another one, called the Humpback, which is large, and which I've not tried. Others have their own favorites.

It's difficult to take the BMW out in the Austin area for less than a 200 mile jaunt....

[TomfromMD]

It does have the OBC so I'll look for that. I noticed when I rode it, it had the reading on the right-hand side as far as temperature and then then when I was riding I went through the OBC options and got a "checkmark" when I cycled through the OBC options...does that mean that I need to get it upgraded?
Gabe

I believe that is the case. Prior to the upgrade on mine, it would occasionally give the following warning <!> when the oil level was at the middle of the sight glass. Often I would get this warning, the check and the --- display - all within 20 minutes. If your bike isn't yet 36 months old, it should be covered under warranty.

Tom

[MEWAYBRIGHT]

Funny...the other thing I noticed about rear visibility so far is that the mirrors don't show as much as I'm used to on other bikes so that took a little getting used to.

If you run the original windshield you can get (I believe) k1200R mirror's for the thing and increase your rearward visibility. (plug) Call Chicago BMW they know the ones that fit the 12RT.

[CTYankee]

Great posters here - this board is a great resource. Welcome and best of luck to you with your bike.

[gsmetal]

I agree with you about keeping the bike on a trickle charger when not in use - I keep mine on the trickle charger after every ride and I'm on year 5 of my battery (something I'm replacing in spring - that battery owes me NOTHING!)

The other thing I would stay on top of is the drive shaft lube, maintenance, etc. That seems to be the weak link with BMW's.

Other than that, they are happy bikes and like to run all day. My GS has 48,000+ miles and the only thing I really need was a new front master cylinder.

[fastdogs2]

The check mark that appears means the oil level is OK. This symbol only appears when the oil temperature is a high enough level, usually about five to ten minutes after you start up. Otherwise you will get --- when you cycle through the bord computer to the oil measurement segment.

[gulfcoastbeemer]

When your '05 model was new, BMW indicated the final drive was lubricated for life.

Subsequently, BMW has added a gear oil change of the final drive at the first 600 mile service.

I would suggest having the final drive oil changed with the next maintenance cycle of your '05 R1200RT; and a final drive oil change about every 18,000 or 24,000 miles thereafter -- if only to assure yourself that everything is as it should be.

My wife has an '05 R1200RT and I have an '07 R1200RT, each with about 20,000 miles -- without any issues whatsoever.

Enjoy!

[gabentx]

Thanks again to everyone's advice. So far the bike has been great...with the weather down here I've been able to get out a few times so far to try to learn the way she handles, etc. Can't wait to load her up and see how she runs on a longer distance run through the hill-country.