1100RS vs RT Debate

[Bussp]

Hello Everyone

I'm sure that this has been debated over and over but I couldn't find it in the search.

I just sold my 99 Triumph Tiger this past weekend and now I'm looking for a new bike. I've decided that it will be either an R1100RS or R1100RT. I'm not really sure which I would really prefer. Most of my riding will be commuting 70 miles per day in the Laurel Highlands of SW PA. Some weekend trips with a longer annual trip.

I liked my Tiger but with only a 30" inseam it always felt very top heavy and I was always on my toes at stops.

A main decision point for the purchase will unfortunately be price. I'm looking at staying with a 90's model in order to keep the cost below $4,000

Does anybody have any advice on which way to go RS or RT.

Thanks,
Peter B

[rinty]

Peter:

I don't think this has been debated, as the bikes are totally different.

Do you like to sit forward (bent at the waist), or straight up, and do you want more, or less, weather protection? More, or less, sporty? If the former, RS, the latter, RT.

It will come down to personal preference and your priorities. You may have to ride both before deciding.

I'm not sure about saddle heights for each at the lowest seat levels, but you can Google for the spec's on that.

Rinty

[70783]

I have a '99 RS and I also happen to have a 30" inseam. With the seat in the lowest position I can plant the balls of my feet firmly on the pavement. However, that setting is a little tougher on the knees. Wind protection is probably similar to what you had on your Tiger.

Hope this helps.

Welcome to the wonderful and sometimes wacky world of BMW motorcycles.

[Bussp]

Guys, thanks for the info. It's looking like the RT maybe more to my liking then the RS. Hopefully, I'll get an example of each to ride before I really need to decide.

Peter B

[glennhendricks]

65 miles one way. Mountains of Colorado and we get rain about once a week. Couple of times it was very heavy rain.

RT gives me great rain/backsplash protection from my head to my shins.

Below that? Not so much :p

I enjoy the ride a lot and it doesn't fatigue me the way I think a naked bike would.

[jgmallis]

I have two RS's and a 04RT now. As others have pointed out, the RS is more "sporty" and the RT more upright with better weather protection (and better passenger accommodations, if thats a consideration). I'm 5'4" tall so I've never been able to flat-foot any of my bikes, I just live with it. The Oil head feels taller since the saddle is a little wider but It's almost the same as the K100RS I've been riding for 18 yrs now. For solo riding I still prefer the crouch of the RS's since it takes a little weight off of my butt. On the RT you need the right seat for you, I have a Sargent and it works well. The K-RS has a Corbin and the R-RS has the stock seat. I can can do 8+ hour days on any one of 'em.:whistle The RT looks and feels bulky (in comparison to the RS) until you're moving, then the bulk melts away. The RS would be marginally easier to work on, less need to remove tupperware. They are also fairly rare, especially later versions.

[flars]

I have a 1998 R1100RS and a 2002 R1150RT. I have put 90,000 miles on the RS, and about 6,000 miles on the RT (both bought used with about 40000 miles on them)
The RS is quite a bit smaller feeling. Low speed handling is quite a bit different because of the width of the seat. I have more trouble transferring from moving to stopped on the RT because my legs are pushed out to the sides by the saddle. On the RS the seat does not affect my leg movement at all. And I am 5' 11" tall, so I would imagine a shorter rider would have more trouble reaching the ground than I do. The seat on the RS is MUCH lower than the RT because of the width of the seat.
The RS wind protection is very good as far as pressure on the body is concerned, but the weather protection is quite a bit less than the RT. At any speed over about 35 mph on the RS, there is no pressure on the palms, so the forward lean does not make your hands or arms tired. When riding, you don't see the fairing in front of you, and it is like you are just sailing along above the asphalt.
It is much quieter behind the barn door of the RT, and there is a LOT of wind noise in the helmet on the RS. Bunches 'o people have tried to solve the wind noise issue on the RS, but I don't think anyone has been very successful - it seems that everyone who tries different windshields has a different opinion of them afterwards. I have fitted ear plugs, and it is still noisy up there.
The positioning of the footpegs on the RS causes your knees to bend quite a bit more than on the RT. After about 9 hours (cumulative) on the RS my knees do cause a little discomfort, but not enough to stop riding. I have ridden several long distance rallies (over 1000 miles in 25 hours), and have done 1300 miles in 22 hours on the RS. Then ridden 600 to 800 miles home the next day. I have done one 24 hour rally on the RT, with a 700 mile ride home the next day and felt much fresher than I did on the RS because of the wind noise.
I find both bikes quite comfortable, with the weather protection and noise management on the RT superior. My wife doesn't like riding on the back of the RS as much because the seat is awkward and difficult to get comfortable on. It pitches her forward, and she is constantly readjusting her position.
When I go for rides on the weekend when she is working, I always pick the RS, because you are more exposed to the sensation of riding a motorcycle. When I go on my next ld rally in October, I will take the RS...of course I will be just coming back from vacation with the wife up to New England for two weeks - on the RT.

[Bussp]

Hey Flars10

Thanks for the great write up. If you had to choose just one which would it be? While I'd love to have both right now finances and the warden dictate it can only be one.

If you only had the RT would you still ride it as much. Say just running out to the store to grab one item for dinner?

Thanks,
Peter B

[GrafikFeat]

Does anybody have any advice on which way to go RS or RT.

How is this a debate? Ride both and decide.
Everyone has their own riding style/position etc.
I was loaned a F800s... Ugh. Ya couldn't give me one. :hungover
I don't like riding in a fetal position!

This is something you need to decide.
Such as the decision to choose BMW. :blah

=That Was A Good Decision= :thumb

[rvbeemer]

I have a R11RT and had a R11RS. I like the RT for 2 up when my wife goes. Better wind protection for her. I loved the RS when I was by myself. It had bar backs etc. to make it more comfy but other than that, they both have adjustable seat heights. I regret selling my RS. Either would be a good choice. You might have to make some changes on the RS to make it to your liking. My .02.


Ronnie

[flars]

I like the RS better, but I have had it longer. It is rather warm down here in FL (when it's not underwater), and riding the RT in the summer is not as comfortable as riding the RS. Two up, the RT gets the nod, though.
The only thing I DON'T like about the RT is, since it is a 2002 it has servo brakes, which isn't bad, but they are very touchy and could put you on the ground at low speeds if you stab the rear brake.
I rode an 1100 RT and I liked it since it has the cable clutch and non-servo brakes, but the price on the 1150 was a better deal.
I really think you will have to ride them both - they are both great bikes. But if I HAD to make a choice, I would take the RS.

[osbornk]

As has been said, you need to ride both and decide. The RS riding position does not fit my medical condition. The RS riding position puts more weight on the arms and impacts my carpal tunnel and the forward riding position makes my back hurt. The RT fits those of us with a fragile frame better.

[Bussp]

Well I ended the debate on Saturday with the purchase of a 94 R1100RS. It needs a bit of TLC but otherwise I'm really happy with it.

http://i509.photobucket.com/albums/s337/Bussp/BMW/DSCN1361.jpg

[bikerfish1100]

:thumb
nice bike. now be sure to take it out and play with it.

[Andy VH]

Like Bikerfish1100 said, go and play on it, regularly. The Oilheads perform best when ridden on a regular basis. Let em sit and they don't like it.

I'm 5'-6" with a 30" inseam and I have no issues with my 94 RS which also has the Corbin seat on it (middle position).

[r11rs94]

Nice looking bike. I own a 94 R-1100-RS with 78K and a 04 R1150-RT with 37K and If I had to pick one...wow what a tuff choice, the RT being newer is fun to ride and great in bad weather. With the 6 speed it gets better mileage and a much long fuel range. I've done a 1000k in 24 on both. I was out on the RT today and had a ball. Rode the RS the other day on some back roads and havd a ball. This is a tuff choice, but pound for pound I guess I would have to go with the RS.