2002 R1150RT The Good Bad and Ugly...

[Rico611]

Greetings All,

I purchased a 2002 R1150RT last year with 4000 miles on it. This was my first larger bike, previously had a Honda 750 Nighthawk. I was ready to move to a larger bike and do more riding. Now that I have had it and have put a few miles on, I am ready to "hit" the road and see the country.

Before I purchased the bike I did a little research and the only negative point was the "surging" issue. I must admit that my bike does not exhibit this condition (or I am oblivous).

I am curious what the other "seasoned" riders think of this particular year of the R1150RT...Let me hear your thoughts the "good", "bad", and heaven forbid "the ugly". I'd like to know if there are other concerns (recalls, defects, traits etc) that I should be aware of and should address before I make my first long trip.

Thanks for your 2 cents! :wave

[BradfordBenn]

Howdy-

I have 18,000 miles on my 02RT and love it so far. There is one recall for the RT's.

Make : BMW Model : R SERIES Year : 2002
Manufacturer : BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V028000 Recall Date : JAN 15, 2004
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 39000
Summary:
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING IN FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED AND LEAD TO A FUEL LEAK. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.
Consequence:
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS. ALSO, ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED. IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED. IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

[bikerfish1100]

as on all oil-heads, the alternator belt should be changed out somewhere after 24K, but certainly prior to 36K. i did mine at 25K as a prophylactic measure, and the belt i pulled looked fine. it's an easy repair (even on an LT with all its tupperware), but if not done, and it shreds itself, it can leave you stranded with no electricty, no battery, and possibly no alternator.
my buddy has an '02 with about 50K on it now, and it his has been plagued by electrical gremlins. ground connections can be a concern, but until/unless symptoms develop (blowing dash fuses, engine cutting out in the rain, etc), there isn't much you can do (or really need to to do, as clearly not all are subject to this condition) about it short of stripping the bike to the frame and going over each connection carefully.
check these guys out- they should have lots more info specific to your bike. http://bmwsporttouring.com/index.html
welcome, & congrats on the new scoot!

[LeRoux Strydom]

Rich,

I think the '02 and later 1150's are good bikes. Some of the used 1100's I test rode were not very enjoyable.

My 2002 is still relatively new (and new to me) @ only 10k.
The previously mentioned recalls were swiftly done at the dealer.
My bike did have a surging problem, that was banished by a Techlusion EFI box. Otherwise, I am nothing but pleased with this, my first BMW.

Long trips? Why not!
I'll be heading to Baja, Mexico next October!

[Shiner]

I flew to New Jersey and rode home a 02 RT to Cincinnati back in July.
The bike had literally been kept in a barn for the past year as the owner discovered that this wasn't the greatest bike in New City traffic. It was a basketcase cosmetically but the internals were fine. Thanks to the guys at tri-state bmw in Cincy to th the bike is now a traffic stopper. Months spent painting and sanding the tupperware, buying parts off of ebay, and bartering work have resulted in a bike that I'm very pleased with. I initially had surging problems but after learning to do valve and timing adjusting, it is 80% gone.

new tupperware, radio off a 02, hardwire garmin III gps, european switch wired into motolights, cases off of ebay, valve covers off ebay, rest off parts from tri-state bmw. shiner

[Rico611]

Thanks for all the input. I am preparing to install my Garmin 2610 and am counting the days until the first "planned" trip.

Sounds as if my R1150RT was a good choice. Can't wait to see more of this big country.

Rich :wave

[fparisi]

Rich,

Long trips? Why not!
I'll be heading to Baja, Mexico next October!

My dream ride is Nor Cal to Cabo (Baja California), but I ain’t going down there without a few other riders, grease money (Bail) and a way to secure the bikes overnight.

There's place that rents RT's in Redwood City, CA. I am gonna do it one of these days!

A few years ago while living in the Bay area, I purchased a brand new RT 1100. Unfortunately I was new to Oilheads, and my new RT turned out to be a surging nightmare, so I couldn't of made the ride without being pissed off the entire time. This bike was a real bad surger. I wish I knew what I know now; I could of fixed it myself. In an hour.

Rich, have you ever ridden in the Baja?

Any one else been down there on a bike?

[Rico611]

[QUOTE=

Rich, have you ever ridden in the Baja?

Any one else been down there on a bike?[/QUOTE]

Frankie...

I haven't been out of the "flatlands" of Illinois yet. Baja sounds great but a bit far for my first major trip.

Loaded Mapsource last night and am planning a few weekend trips this spring and longer trips this summer. Haven't decided yet where I'll go or what I'll see. I've got about 8 weeks of vacation to use in the next 18months so if I can can delegate my work at the office I'll be on the road.

Rich

[LeRoux Strydom]

Sorry to hi-jack this thread, but I'm pumped to do the Baja with my RT.

Luckily for me, I have some riding buddies who have been before.
They have offered to lead this gringo all the way to Cabo.
Right now the trip is in the planning stages, but the RT is ready to go now!

Anyone else who might be interested riding in Baja?
Perhaps we can start a thread elsewhere on this Forum...

Edit: So I did...
http://bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?p=44291#post44291

[bikerfish1100]

Rich- It sounds like you've never done much big touring. Consider a few "long weekend" trips to give yourself some break-in familiarization to the whole thing. Lurk on sites that cater to your desires and snag as much info as you can. Then, after you've gotten your shakedown rides in- go for it! Travelling to rallies can be a great beginning, as it gives you a structured destination, camaraderie & support once there, more info and conversation than you would ever be able to digest in a reasonable amount of lifetime, and new friends to visit with again.
Oh, and if you haven't done so already- join MOA.

Sorry to hi-jack this thread, but I'm pumped to do the Baja with my RT. Perhaps we can start a thread elsewhere on this Forum...
Good idea Leroux. You'll get more responses to your topic if you actually make it it's own topic! :brow

[Shiner]

Mike, as soon as I got home I stripped all of the burnt orange tupperware off and threw away the pieces that had melted due to New York city stop and go traffic. All that I can say is that the bike that emerged was unrecognizable from the one that started with a mouse nest in the air filter. Todd

[Rico611]

Bikerfish,

Your are correct I am a newbie to the touring scene and I am currently planning my "baby step" trips. I have been a member of BMWMOA for about a year now and have recently joined the forum. This is a great place for info.

Enjoy your trip!

Rich :wave

[dano]

I bought a brand-new 2003 RT. It surged (and continues to do so) from day one. Two dealers could not remedy it. So.....I've gotten used to it.....kind of.

If you haven't as of yet, use full-synth. lubes in engine, tranny and final drive. I use MOBIL 1 15w/50 in engine and MOBIL 1 75w/90 in tranny and final drive.

"Other issues" would be to keep an eye on fuel line dis-connects, tail-light assy. coming loose or falling off, and Hall Affect Sensor. Heard plenty of horror stories about HAS.

Ditto to the alt. belt needing to be changed out around the 25,000 mile mark. I assume that your RT has ABS brake system. If so, bleeding brakes and introducing new fluid is a must. I've heard that some owners can do that on their own, but it's not for me.

I could go on more, but won't at this time. Best to talk to others and learn about BMW. My '03 RT is my 1st BMW ever.....and it is indeed, a "horse of a diff. color". :dunno

Oh yeah......RT's hate stop-n-go traffic. The clutch in them is of an automotive type and is not all that substantial.

And.....don't let it idle in traffic too long on a hot day, or you may get more than you bargained for.

Sorry for raining on your parade, but sooner or later, you're gonna need an umbrella. :stick

[bikerfish1100]

IF you make the switch to synthetic motor oil (no question that teh synth is primo in the tranny), be sure to wait until the motor is fully broken in. Some say after 12K, others wait longer. I've got 27K on my S, and have switched to semi-synth. may just stay with that, may convert to full synth. I've heard enough conflicting philosophies on it that my jury is still out.

[BradfordBenn]

Bikerfish,

Your are correct I am a newbie to the touring scene and I am currently planning my "baby step" trips. I have been a member of BMWMOA for about a year now and have recently joined the forum. This is a great place for info.

Enjoy your trip!

Rich :wave

I started getting into touring by going to Rally's. It gave me a place to go to which is often the hardest thing to decide when riding... where do I want to go. :thumb

[fparisi]

Hey Man, welcome aboard.

I'll just briefly add, to keep an eye of the front fender. It gets lose and might fall off. Use "locktight" on stuff like that.

I don't want to open the thread into a Synthetic Oil versus Mineral based discussion, but I agree that they don't break until at least 18K, and that this is a good time to go with Synthetic.

Hit the red line often!

[dano]

IF you make the switch to synthetic motor oil (no question that teh synth is primo in the tranny), be sure to wait until the motor is fully broken in. Some say after 12K, others wait longer. I've got 27K on my S, and have switched to semi-synth. may just stay with that, may convert to full synth. I've heard enough conflicting philosophies on it that my jury is still out.


I switched to full-synth. at the 600 mile service, in the tranny / final drive....with the full blessing of my BMW dealer.

I went to full-synth. in the engine at 3500 miles (3rd oil change). My RT now has about 16,000 miles, and it doesn't use any appreciable amount of oil between scheduled changes.

Lots of myths floating around out there in regards to BMW motorcycles. The engine in them is no more special than any other one running down the road. Biggest BMW myth of all, is the extra long period til break-in. No substance to it.

[stoon]

Dano,
I've got a 2002 RT and thought I knew my bike. But what is the "HAS" Hall Affect Sensor? :dunno

[lou99]

Dano,
I've got a 2002 RT and thought I knew my bike. But what is the "HAS" Hall Affect Sensor? :dunno

It's the`crankshaft position sensor (Hall Effect sensor, or just Hall sensor) It fails sometimes, again a rare thing, and usually associated with high miles. When they crap out, trouble usually starts at high temperatures or in the wet: if you wait for things to cool down and/or dry off, you can usually continue riding to a shop.

[dano]

Yep......what lou99 said! :thumb

And yes....I should have said Hall Effect Sensor. :dunno

But....from what I have heard, the problems associated with it can be vague / misleading at times, making riders think a bad battery, poor electrical connections, etc.

Usually too hot or wet conditions make it (HES) act up. :cry