New 07 R1200rt owner with some ????

[akospm]

Great Forum. It has helped me understand the bike much better in a shorter period of time.

I have 200 miles on it so far. The length of the gear shift lever from the foot-peg seems like it was designed for someone with a size 6 shoe. I also have a Triumph Bonneville and have ridden many other bikes and I usually have no trouble getting my shoe under the lever to shift. I have a size 11.5 shoe and it seems like the lever should be around 1"-1.5" longer to facilitate shifting. Does anyone have trouble shifting this bike?

Since I purchased the bike over Ebay from a dealer, I didn't have a chance to look over everything. For a $18,000 bike... are they joking about the plastic spare key!!!

How do most of you handle flat tires on this bike. I thought that BMW would have a tool kit to cover this. The tool kit is also lacking compared to BMW's from the past.

I will be ordering the DVD from Jim(JVB productions). Are any of the Clymer or Haynes manuals up to date and helpful.

I live in the Northern part of New Jersey. Since I purchased the bike from a dealer in New Hampshire, I was hoping that someone can recommend a reliable dealer in this area. I've heard of Cross Country cycles in Metuchen, NJ and BMW of Manhatten. Anybody have any experience with these dealers for service?

Thanks for any help or advice,
Paul
P.S. What is the difference between the Airhead, Oilhead and Hexhead? I have a 1977 VW Bus with the original engine. It has a oil cooler and a fan, so it is air and oil cooled. I thought the BMW boxer engines are all air and oil cooled.

[chfite]

The plastic key is for real. You can get your dealer to order you another metal key for around $65.

I guess that shifting comfort depends upon how you expect to fit your small foot under the shifter. With work boots, I just snag it with the side of the toe. My motorcycle boots, Sidi size 14, slip under the shifter just fine.

The toolkit is disappointing, true. JVB disk will cover other tools, or look here: http://www.jimvonbaden.com/page006.aspx. Many use a plug kit to repair tires, and inflate with a small 12v pump.

I got the BMW manual on disk off the internet for around $35.

[scubart]

You'll be more disappointed with the stock seat than anything on the bike...!

Tourtech and AS Cycle both have "aftermarket" extensions for the gear shift - make it higher, lower or longer.

[TGA57589]

I just put on the Wunderlich brake pedal extension and crash bars. I read as much as I could about the crash bars from other riders and I finally chose Wunderlich for both items. I looked over the Touatech crash bars (engine guards) and didn't seem like they got a good review for fit and installation. I will tell you I put on the Wunderlich guards and they fit like anything German engineered and are really nice looking on the machine. Now I don't have the gearshift extension but I do think you will be impressed with their offerings for all their parts. I did buy direct from Santa Cruz BMW as they are the only US distributor.

[jaherbst]

I bought a shift lever peg and brake lever peg extension from Ilium in CA. I also bought their pricey foot boards and am very pleased with the results. The quality of their products equal or are better than "German engineering". Great people to work with. :brad

[RTRandy]

Welcome to the forum.

I was in SF on business last week so I took a side trip to the Santa Cruz BMW shop to check out the Wunderlich accessories first hand. The shop is actually about 12 miles south of Santa Cruz in Watsonville and the folks there couldn't have been nicer. I ended up with $900 worth of stuff for my new RT and had it shipped home tax free. My new RT is supposedly on a truck somewhere in the states heading for my dealer this week.

I didn't get their peg extensions since the ones on my 04RT seemed to be fine and I assume they're similar. In any case below are the ones from Wunderlich which look like a quick and easy solution.

[LongWays]

I had the same issue with the shifter (that and the rubber was coming off) and put on the Touratech adjustable lever :thumb

http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/media2/01-047-0140-01-lg.jpg

http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/bmw.lasso?SubCat=R1200RT


I've got a Stop-n-go kit stashed on all my bikes and a Bestrest pump/gauge - haven't been stranded yet.

http://www.bestrestproducts.com/celestia/models/R1100_1150RT/



Great Forum. It has helped me understand the bike much better in a shorter period of time.

I have 200 miles on it so far. The length of the gear shift lever from the foot-peg seems like it was designed for someone with a size 6 shoe. I also have a Triumph Bonneville and have ridden many other bikes and I usually have no trouble getting my shoe under the lever to shift. I have a size 11.5 shoe and it seems like the lever should be around 1"-1.5" longer to facilitate shifting. Does anyone have trouble shifting this bike?

Since I purchased the bike over Ebay from a dealer, I didn't have a chance to look over everything. For a $18,000 bike... are they joking about the plastic spare key!!!

How do most of you handle flat tires on this bike. I thought that BMW would have a tool kit to cover this. The tool kit is also lacking compared to BMW's from the past.

I will be ordering the DVD from Jim(JVB productions). Are any of the Clymer or Haynes manuals up to date and helpful.

I live in the Northern part of New Jersey. Since I purchased the bike from a dealer in New Hampshire, I was hoping that someone can recommend a reliable dealer in this area. I've heard of Cross Country cycles in Metuchen, NJ and BMW of Manhatten. Anybody have any experience with these dealers for service?

Thanks for any help or advice,
Paul
P.S. What is the difference between the Airhead, Oilhead and Hexhead? I have a 1977 VW Bus with the original engine. It has a oil cooler and a fan, so it is air and oil cooled. I thought the BMW boxer engines are all air and oil cooled.

[deilenberger]

Great Forum. It has helped me understand the bike much better in a shorter period of time.

I have 200 miles on it so far. The length of the gear shift lever from the foot-peg seems like it was designed for someone with a size 6 shoe. I also have a Triumph Bonneville and have ridden many other bikes and I usually have no trouble getting my shoe under the lever to shift. I have a size 11.5 shoe and it seems like the lever should be around 1"-1.5" longer to facilitate shifting. Does anyone have trouble shifting this bike?
No - but your foot is considerably bigger than mine (and my bike is slightly different..)

Since I purchased the bike over Ebay from a dealer, I didn't have a chance to look over everything. For a $18,000 bike... are they joking about the plastic spare key!!!
Nope. That's what you get. You can order another "real" key - about $65 or so.
How do most of you handle flat tires on this bike. I thought that BMW would have a tool kit to cover this. The tool kit is also lacking compared to BMW's from the past.
Same way as any other bike. I like "Ride-On" in my tires, and then carry a string-fix-kit and a small electric compressor.
I will be ordering the DVD from Jim(JVB productions). Are any of the Clymer or Haynes manuals up to date and helpful.
I'd wait another year on the aftermarket manuals - I don't believe they've caught up quite yet with the bikes... Jim's DVD will cover you for all the normal maintenance items.
I live in the Northern part of New Jersey. Since I purchased the bike from a dealer in New Hampshire, I was hoping that someone can recommend a reliable dealer in this area. I've heard of Cross Country cycles in Metuchen, NJ and BMW of Manhatten. Anybody have any experience with these dealers for service?
Cross-Country is good. I've heard less good things about BMW of Manhattan (who is the BMW-NA owned corporate store..)
Thanks for any help or advice,
Paul
P.S. What is the difference between the Airhead, Oilhead and Hexhead? I have a 1977 VW Bus with the original engine. It has a oil cooler and a fan, so it is air and oil cooled. I thought the BMW boxer engines are all air and oil cooled.

Airhead - original air-cooled twins.
Oilhead - the original oil cooled twins
Hexhead - the latest oil cooled twins - look at the shape of the heads. There is enough difference in the oilhead/hexheads to justify a new forum.

[kbasa]

BMW sets their shift levers up so they work if you have the ball of your foot, not the instep, on the peg.

[markgoodrich]

I'd try moving the shift lever up a couple of teeth before buying a new lever. Worked for me when I put on Suburban Machinery peg lowerererererers. Takes about two minutes to do it.

[gulfcoastbeemer]

I have a size 11.5 shoe and it seems like the lever should be around 1"-1.5" longer to facilitate shifting. Does anyone have trouble shifting this bike?

I wear an 11 1/2 D. I use the stock shifter.

I will be ordering the DVD from Jim(JVB productions). Are any of the Clymer or Haynes manuals up to date and helpful.

Here is a link to the current Haynes Manual that covers your bike and year. (http://www.themotorbookstore.com/9781844255986.html)

[akospm]

I wear an 11 1/2 D. I use the stock shifter.



Here is a link to the current Haynes Manual that covers your bike and year. (http://www.themotorbookstore.com/9781844255986.html)

Thank you for all the above posts. Will the Haynes manual cover the 07 model year. I see that they cover up to 06. Are there any significant changes between the two years?

The more I ride this bike the more I love it.

[gulfcoastbeemer]

Will the Haynes manual cover the 07 model year. I see that they cover up to 06. Are there any significant changes between the two years?

Good point. Yes, starting with the '07 model year the R1200RT has "conventional" brakes, as opposed to servo-assist brakes found on the '05 and '06 model year bikes. There may be other minor differences, like the horn, etc. I don't know if the publisher plans to update the manual for the '07 model year. I was thinking of "hexhead" verses "oilhead" when I refered to "your model year". Sorry for any confusion.

There are sections of the manual that refer you to the dealer and special equipment, but for basic stuff -- oil changes, valve adjustments, torque values, etc. -- the Haynes manual is very helpful.