Talk me down: K13GT ——> R100RT

[tom65]

Help me out here.

I have an ‘09 K13GT that I use to commute to work almost daily (short ride - 12 miles r/t) and take on long rides on the weekends. I love the bike’s capabilities, power etc., but it feels kind of…soulless.

I love the relative simplicity of the Airheads, the ease of repair and maintenance (again, relative), and the overall character. I find myself thinking about an R100 or R80 RT.

Yes, I know they have less than half the power of the K and the brakes are comparatively primitive. Has anyone else made this kind of leap? And before anyone asks: yes, it’s either/or - no room for more than one bike.

 

[PGlaves]

I recommend a nice K75. "S" or standard.

 

[GTRider]

The K1300GT is one of the best bikes BMW ever built; its soul starts singing around 5500rpm. Power, handling, brakes, comfortable ergos, luggage capacity- the K13GT has it all. Having owned airheads, brick-k bikes, and more the K13 would be one of the hardest bikes for me to step away from.

Having said that, your either/or choice depends upon the factors that you personally value most and the type of riding you do most. Both the K13 and the airhead RT can be very comfortable for short or long rides, both have brakes well matched to their capabilities, tho the airhead won’t have ABS. The bikes diverge markedly in terms of power, handling, and amenities (heated seats, cruise control for example). You’ll have to determine how important to you those things are on your commute and weekend rides.

If you put high value on simplicity and owner-performed maintenance the boxer RT is clearly in front. But you may want to consider something in-between, like the R1150RT. “Oilheads are the new airheads”; they benefit from improvements in power, handling, brakes (ABS) and fuel injection yet are still highly owner-serviceable. Personally, if I were stepping away from the GT and looking for lighter weight and continued owner serviceability, but not wanting a big step down in power, handling, or brakes, I’d be looking for a good used R1150RT—there are a lot of them out there.
Just MHO,

Best
DeVern

 

[ksdcr]

Help me out here.

I have an ‘09 K13GT that I use to commute to work almost daily (short ride - 12 miles r/t) and take on long rides on the weekends. I love the bike’s capabilities, power etc., but it feels kind of…soulless.

I love the relative simplicity of the Airheads, the ease of repair and maintenance (again, relative), and the overall character. I find myself thinking about an R100 or R80 RT.

Yes, I know they have less than half the power of the K and the brakes are comparatively primitive. Has anyone else made this kind of leap? And before anyone asks: yes, it’s either/or - no room for more than one bike.

So, a few years ago, a black 1983 R100 came my way through a friend. It needed a little freshening, carb rebuild, replacing rubber bits and fluids. My regular ride, is a 2000R1100 RS, which I have been riding since the turn of the century. The R100 gets lots of riding time now, even taking multi state trips. I would say go for it, what’s to lose. Airheads probably will hold their value, or appreciate.

 

[kickstandsup]

The only way to determine the true character of a bike, and whether it suits your personal preferences/desires is with a test ride. Find one to ride. You'll know immediately if it is for you...trust your own reaction.

Good luck!

 

[mneblett]

I believe the alternatives about are your best bet, but if you want an airhead, I suggest it be in addition to your K-bike. I’ve been riding airheads since 1980, and have restored/ridden an R100RT. Back in the day, I believe folks’ expectations were lower, I.e., while reliable bikes in comparison to others, they still had their quirks, like the occasional stuck float valve allowing the bowl to overflow onto your boot.

An airhead provides a wonderful riding experience (my wife still has the 1973 R75/5 short frame she bought 45 years ago), but today’s bikes provide a more refined and “press the button and go” experience. My day-to-day experience from back in the day when we only had airheads (at one point, four at a time) is that they require more upkeep to keep running like a top. Oh, and the RT’s fairing/windshield were not at all what I expected - great to look at, but terrible turbulence and not as much weather protection as my contemporariously-owned R1150 and R1200 RTs.

That said, do NOT let the above dissuade you from enjoying the riding experience an airhead offers. My primary point is just don’t plan on it being your primary ride if you do more than the occasional fair weather Sunday jaunt.

 

[83014]

The best bike that I’ve ever owned is my current ride, a 2013 R1200R. My favorite bike that I’ve owned was a 1981 R100RT. There’s no wrong answer.

Doug

 

[chasmrider]

I rode my 92 R 100 RT to our last barley therapy, left 07:30 home 23:00 491 miles, the bike ran perfect.

 

[pauls1150]

Everybody's "best/favorite bike" is different, but since you asked...
I've had an '81 R100S, which was a whole lot of fun overall, but it had the infamous valve recession issue. After the first head (left) was fixed under warranty, I just didn't want to deal with the second head.
After that was an '87 K75S, which was also a whole lot of fun (especially after I gave it the "Comfort" seat and the "standard" handlebars), but it didn't have the bottom-end torque I wanted for 2-up and touring. (Apologies to Paul G and Lee.) For a single rider, though, coast to coast was fine.
So I got a '91 K100LT. Also lots of fun, big power (the dyno said it actually put 61 HP to the rear wheel; not too shabby for a 61" motor), and comfortable after I ditched the factory-stock Corbin seat (P.O.S.) and gave it a Russell, but it was just too high and too heavy for me. It also ate two driveshafts.
Next was an '89 R100RT. Good power, good sound (after I bored thru the front muffler), comfortable, but yeah, that windshield was actually fairly poor (a windcatcher with little actual "weather" protection), and I wasn't happy with the stock sidecases (flimsy hinges and locks).
So, I next got, in order (and 1 at a time), a '97 R1100RT, an '04 R1150RS, and an '04 1150RT.
The 1100 had several issues that the warranty covered (thank you, BMW and Marty's), and I just could Not get the 1150RS to fit me (although the 1100RSs I've ridden were fine for me).
The 1150RT does everything I want or need, and aside from eating the tranny's input shaft, it's been a pleasure to own.

 

[AntonLargiader]

For an only bike, the performance hit you would take moving to an R100RT would be massive. Not just engine performance, but everything... chassis stiffness, suspension, brakes, features. Vintage stuff is fun - I have some pretty old bikes - but I wouldn't want them to be my only option.

A few weeks ago I long-term lent a friend my only really viable bike (R100PD) so I needed another daily rider. Often my daily rider is whatever customer bike needs some miles on it any any particular day, and the most recent was an R65LS. It had been sitting for years and the owner wants to ride it back to NYC so it needed miles and got them. But I also dragged my wife's old R11GS out of the corner and brought that back to life, and let me say.... WOW. The difference between the 40 year old R65 and the 30 year old Oilhead is just staggering. Actual power. Actual suspension. Actual brakes. Yeah, I ride all kinds of BMWs all the time so on one level none of that is a surprise. But back to back as daily bikes, the R65 is closer to my R75/5 than it is to the Oilhead.

My point is, stepping back to the pre-Paralever era will bring a quaint kind of charm, but as an only bike commitment I would definitely not do it. The Paralever bikes are the only Airheads I would consider, in your shoes.

FWIW another customer bike I was putting some miles on last spring was an '07 K1200GT. I know what you mean about being a little soul-less, but the performance.... OMG. I was just heading down the interstate to catch a tennis match at the high school and next thing I know I'm seeing if I can hit 120 between the clusters of cars.

If you want the boxer character in an older bike but not THAT old, the R1100 series is really good. Look for a '98 or later. The R1100RT feels small compared to modern RTs... super nimble, really good ergonomics. And you can commute and go coast to coast on it.

 

[RPGR90s]

Having owned a new '93 R100RT for ten years, I only had two real complaints. The fairing was waaaay too hot and the motor would run out of power around 5500 rpm. When I switched to a 2002 R1150RT, I test rode one on a very hot day and concluded that BMW had solved my "legs baking" issue.

 

[skibum69]

Buy a new house so you can fit more bikes.

 

[stevenrankin]

I love my 84 R80RT, and have never ridden anything newer than a 85 K RS. With that said, I also loved my 79 Chevy Camaro, fast forward to now and I have a 2011 BMW 335i convertible. Would I go back and buy another 79 Camaro, NO, the modern bike gives me performance and a ride light years ahead of the 79 car.

So what I am saying is that I think you will be disappointed in going back in time for a bike, as long as it is your only bike. Not unless you are planning to drop drastically back on yearly mileage. In that case a R100 bike might suit you at this period of life but, they are old tech and the new bikes are vastly better in braking and performance. The only reason I don't have a newer bike is cheapness and a great love for airheads. I may be buying a new bike soon however.

Ramble, but I think you get the point I hope, good luck what ever you do. St.

 

[pauls1150]

Drop back in mileage? Not as long as one understands the limits of the particular machine and doesn't try to greatly exceed them.
Most of my earlier BMWs, including both /5s (and both Ks), went coast-to-coast and back with minimal, if any, issues. Certainly "technology" has improved in many areas, such as power, handling, and comfort, but the biggest problem may actually be finding somebody to work on it if it breaks! (Which is why I carry more tools than I will likely need...)
I've had a '69 GTO and a '78 Camaro that were a lot of fun, but didn't fit my realistic needs.

 

[oldcamper]

While the K13 is probably a “better” bike in power, braking, handling, and efficiency, it is 15 years old and they didn’t make all that many of them. Maintenance and parts availability might be a serious consideration in the years ahead.

 

[stevenrankin]

Let me clarify my rambling a bit. A lot of us are getting long in tooth and are not setting out on the long rides we used to enjoy. So, in this case why not go back to a lesser performance bike? If it isn't going to be ridden for a weekend 1000 mile trip, the airhead is just as good as a K.

Now I am not saying a RT is not capable of going the same distance as the K. I have 300K miles on three of them, and have never wanted anything else to ride. The have been in my mind the perfect bike for me. It is just that now, I am really tempted by the newer RnineT version of bikes and as yet to have ridden one.
Like I wrote earlier, there is a vast difference in performance and handling I can see between that 79 Camaro and the 2011 BMW 335. In that case no way would I spend the money on the Camaro, unless I hit the lottery and wanted to relive my youth. St.

 

[pauls1150]

That R9T-based "RS" by Hans Muth is a good-lookin' machine!

 

[stevenrankin]

Oh, if that prototype ever made it into production, I would give up a lifetime of airhead riding and buy one. I never understand why BMW tries to build baggers and R18 Cruiser bikes in efforts to compete with Harley. I think a lot more BMW guys would like to see efforts made towards BMW style bikes and the more common BMW riding modes. St.

 

[kbasa]

While I appreciate the attempt to make a new RS, the lines on it really don't work. The fairing and the tank really don't jive at all and it looks nose heavy.

That said, if they build the R20, some things are going to be departing my garage to buy one.

BMW makes baggers because more of those bikes are sold than just about anything beyond a GS. You don't grow a business by selling to your existing customers only. You grow a business by selling to people that don't currently consumer your goods or services.