Any Alternatives to the weight of the RT ?

I have a 2011 R1200RT. I love the bike, and all of the touring goodies included (heated seats, grips, ESA, adjustable windscreen, adjustable seat).

I just think I would like a lighter ride. I see the 2013 F800GT, but that bike seems to be missing the touring extras.

Any thoughts on a lighter alternative to the RT ? While I love BMW and would like to stay in the brand, I am not married to them.

How about an R1200R?

When my GS is too much for me to handle I'll have a R1200R or it's replacement.

Jason

My wife had a 2011 RT and didn't like the size/weight either. She swapped it for a 2012 1200R and LOVES it. Lighter, handles better, etc. We equipped with a Cee Bailey windscreen, Touratech hand guards, Rizoma cylinder head protectors, ZUMO 665, etc. She's got the RT bags and small topcase on it and it makes an awesome sport tourer for her. Highly recommended...

The new F800 GT might be a good choice, too.

The comparable sport-touring bikes from other manufacturers (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Triumph) all weigh considerably more. One reason I moved from an ST1300 Honda (720 pounds!) to my 2011 RT was the huge weight difference. The new BMW 800GT looks like a winner to me, but I'll have to ride one to see if it's roomy enough for my antique body. Like the orange color, too!

pete

What touring extras are missing from the F800GT? In the BMW line the two mentioned, R1200R and F800GT, would be what I'd look at too.

Bradkap said:

I have a 2011 R1200RT. I love the bike, and all of the touring goodies included (heated seats, grips, ESA, adjustable windscreen, adjustable seat).

I just think I would like a lighter ride. I see the 2013 F800GT, but that bike seems to be missing the touring extras.

Any thoughts on a lighter alternative to the RT ? While I love BMW and would like to stay in the brand, I am not married to them.

Click to expand...

The F800GT weighs in at 470lbs, that's 100 lbs. lighter than the R1200RT, which is known as a light touring bike. I'm not sure you can get a bike that is much lighter than the F800GT that still qualifies as a tourer. Surprisingly, the R1200R weighs in at 492, thatÔÇÖs 22 lbs. more than the GT without the fairing and windshield.

You might want to go after market for some of those touring extras. But keep in mind, those touring extras are going to add more weight.

E.

The R1200RT is the absolutely lightest fully featured touring bike available. The ST1300, FJR1300 or others are significantly heavier and still don't have all the RT's features.

I was put off by the idea of the "heavy" RT and for several years tried to get by with a lighter substitute.

There was an R1150R with all the touring farkles:
<a href="http://s444.beta.photobucket.com/user/bikebits/media/BMW/Tourmode1_zpsa14ee8ba.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq163/bikebits/BMW/Tourmode1_zpsa14ee8ba.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Tourmode1_zpsa14ee8ba.jpg"/></a>

and an F800ST done up as a tourer:
<a href="http://s444.beta.photobucket.com/user/bikebits/media/BMW/DSCN1060855x642.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq163/bikebits/BMW/DSCN1060855x642.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSCN1060855x642.jpg"/></a>

But neither could hold a candle to the comfort, weather protection and features of the RT. I wish I had skipped the other two and gotten one to begin with.
<a href="http://s444.beta.photobucket.com/user/bikebits/media/BMW/DSC_01471626x1077.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq163/bikebits/BMW/DSC_01471626x1077.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC_01471626x1077.jpg"/></a>

The R1200r is a great bike and mounts all the luggage that the RT carries. It is a very good alternative if the height or weight of the RT is an issue. It does not have the weather protection of the RT, and most of us RR owners figured out very quickly that we spent the cost of the RT by trying to upgrade the RR to the RT "Lite".

This was my 2007 RR with the luggage mounted:






Here is the replacement RT that seduced me:



I have a blog posted here about the change. Scroll down and I wrote a comparison of the RR vs. RT at post #127.

http://www.dualsportridersoflouisia...378-BMW-R1200R-report/page13&highlight=R1200r

Bradkap said:

I have a 2011 R1200RT. I love the bike, and all of the touring goodies included (heated seats, grips, ESA, adjustable windscreen, adjustable seat).

I just think I would like a lighter ride. I see the 2013 F800GT, but that bike seems to be missing the touring extras.

.

Click to expand...

I would think the F800GT would be a great choice.
You can buy an aftermarket heated seat.
Heated grips are an OEM option.
ESA is a OEM option.
The F800GT has the choice of 4 seats.
I guess the only option it's missing is cruise. I had cruise on my last bike and my current bike does not have it. While cruise was nice I get along fine without it.

Visian said:

The new F800 GT might be a good choice, too.

Click to expand...

I like the picture, I like the weight. The price see a bit high. But, the lack of drive shaft is what kills it for me..........But, that is my problem.

36654 said:

...But, the lack of drive shaft is what kills it for me..........But, that is my problem.

Click to expand...

I've not owned a belt drive BMW but I have a couple Harley's and the belt drive is one of the best things about them.

36654 said:

But, the lack of drive shaft is what kills it for me..........But, that is my problem.

Click to expand...

I see it as one of it's strongest points.

One good thing about belt drives is that you do not really have to do anything with them for maintenance. Their only real enemy is a stone going through one of the sprocket wheels. That will cause a quick failure as it badly damages the toothed belt. A nice thing about a belt failure is that it will usually eject behind the bike and not wrap up on something and beat the bike to death like a chain sometimes will.

Bradkap said:

....While I love BMW and would like to stay in the brand, I am not married to them.

Click to expand...

Maybe Honda's new, larger parallel twin series? http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/honda-nc700s-bigger-brothers-planned/21444.html

I first saw the F800GT at the motorcycle show last month, and was looking at another one this weekend. These are intriguing machines.

I've been looking for a smaller, lighter touring bike for several years. I'm 67 and not a very big guy. It seemed like I could extend my touring life with a smaller, lighter bike. The honest truth is that there is no alternative to the RT. That includes the F800GT. If you have gotten used to the protection and upright seating of the RT, you are not going to like the wind blast and forward reach of the GT. I'm keeping my RT until I can no longer hold it up.

Why not?

As I have become a senior citizen, I have been looking for something lighter and easier to ride in my declining years. Since I am old, short, fat and weak, it was hard to find something suitable. Fortunately, I don't care what other people think so I ended up with a Maxi-Scooter. I wanted a BMW scooter but for some reason, BMW made the seat is very high with a lot of weight and it was unsuitable for me. I rode a friend's Burgman 650 but found it heavy with a tall seat (but not as tall as the BMW). I bought a Burgman 400 that I have been very happy with. My 08 is the same as the new ones except the new ones are available with ABS, heated grips and heated seat. A purchase price of $3,200 for a very nice ride I found on Craigs list also helped.

I know several people who went the scooter route for the same reasons. Nothing wrong with that. Another alternative that some have chosen is the CanAm Spyder. A tad pricier than a scooter but a little more suitable for longer touring trips.

oink!

Looking at these responses confirms to me that modern bikes have largely become too porky! (Following population physical trends perhaps?) Easy to see why people hang on to their Airheads, with the very heaviest one being the R100RT 1981-84 at a mere 525# soaking wet! A bike is supposed to be fun, not work. The work factor seems to increase with the weight, especially in urban or very tight twisty environments.
On top of that, if you ride alone, can you pick your bke up by yourself if you dump it? This may seem "old school" to some, but I just don't consider it prudent to be riding something you cannot pick up and push by yourself. Unless, of course, you are strictly a "pack rider".