New Member – Mike

[Mark Williams]

#2398

I love my recent purchase – R1100RT.  This adds to the list to the bikes I have owned and ridden in the past.  The first BWM I rode was a R65 sometime in the seventies.  I remember for its lack of power but it was so easy to ride and it handled better than the alternative bikes of the time.  I have had a succession of Yamaha and Honda road bikes and I always seemed have managed to borrow of get loans of trail bikes.  I did try to swap an RS2000 Escort for an R90S but that fell through.  Fat chance really.I have always liked the RT bikes and did ride a R100RT for about week a few years ago but the owner returned and wanted it back, jolly unsporting.  Prior to my RT I rode a friend’s R800GS on a trip around Southland about six years ago.  I loved the trip and the bike.  I have had my ’97 RT since mid January and once I learned to manage a top heavy bike at slower speeds I felt much happier.  I ride it from Waikanae to Wellington and back each day; a ride of 120 km.  It’s a good ride early in the morning but the traffic is a pain.  While many bikes dart in and out of the traffic and ‘white line’ with more nerve than I have, I ride along thoroughly enjoying myself.  As other RT owners will know, the RT will get up and go when asked; however, you cannot hurry it around town.  Right angle corners and lots of starting and stopping is not their thing.  I have worked out the gear changes too which makes for a quieter ride; well most of the time.One thing that I have found though is handling the bike in strong winds – yes I live in Wellington – The screen can become a spinnaker with a following wind which makes for some interesting antics.  Lowering the screen brought a semblance of order thank goodness.  My only gripe is the damn indicators.  I note there are several ‘column feet’ of comment about the said indicators in the motorcycle press.  Well I have got used to them now, that in itself says something when everything else on the bike is so well placed.  Although I would love someone to tell me how to keep my right thumb in one place as I accelerate out of a corner. Enough of that.  Why have I bought another bike?  It’s the feeling I first felt when I climbed on my Vespa in 1970, yes a Vespa: the freedom from all encumbrances except your own skill, nerve, and dare I say it, my youthful bravado (your need bravado to ride a Vespa).  These days, with my hair greying, bravado has long been replaced with comfort and dare I say it class!  The RT gives me that. I note with lots of approval bikers still wave to each other as they pass.  I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.  Mike 

[Anonymous]

#9212

MikeI ride a 99 R1100R, which I love.  I agree; indicators are a pain.  I have just ordered a Signal Master from the States; it makes the indicators self-cancelling. Cost $NZ165.  Meant to be very easy to fit; just swap the indicator module.'Enjoy the ride!Pat

[Mark Williams]

#9213

Pat,Thanks for this.  I was musing yesterday to a friend, a former K owner about the indicators and wondered why whe haven't had cancelling indicators.  I thought there must be some arcane reason to deep for me to comprehend! All the best Pat and enjoy your rides

[Dave Ross]

#9214

Hi Mike,welcome to the forum. I hope you'll find it both useful and entertaining. I am sure you'll love the touring capabilities of your RT, they are a wonderful bike.Cheers,Alex

[Anonymous]

#9215

Welcome Mike:  It took me yonks to get the hang of the indicators on my K1100, but even more confusing, I find, is getting quick access to the horn button!… I tebd to end up pressing the left indicator which can be dangerous!  The fact that the button operates by pushing upwards doesn't help!  My indicators self cancel after so many seconds/distance which I like.

[Mark Williams]

#9216

Bryan,Thanks for your comments.  I tried to use the horn yesterday and instead started the left indicators.  I am noticing now though I can change lanes etc without looking for the switches.  By the way, where did you get the self cancelling equipment?  I have trawled the web with no luck.Cheers and enjoy you rides

[Anonymous]

#9217

The self-cancelling feature was on the bike when I bought it second-hand.  Here's an extract from page 15 of the Rider's Handbook (K1100RS & K1100LT):

[Anonymous]

#9218

Whoops!  sorry, stuffed that up!  Here's the extract from the Rider's Handbook:  Self cancelling indicators:  The left or right indicators are cancelled automatically after a certain time or distance:  Time: after approx 10seconds on open road above approx 50kph.  Distance: after approx 210m in urban or slow moving traffic.

[Anonymous]

#9219

Note the handbook referred to above iis for “K1100RS  and K1100LT” – Mine's a 1997 LT-Bryan

[ROBIN MOSS]

#9220

Hi Mike.I have a recent model R1200RT with self cancelling indicators and they are not all that good.What happens is the electronics module dedects when the wheel (handlebars) are pointing straight ahead and then starts the timer. So if you are sitting at the lights with a right turn indicated and happen to move the handlebars into a straight ahead position, the next thing that happens is that as you move off from the lights the indicators have cancelled. They are good for when you forget to cancel.I have been using a pair of driving gloves (Motor Racing) and these are softer have some knuckle protection (Leather Strips) and make moving the thumb etc that much easier, works a treat but could be a little cold for the Winter. I guess my advice is that you just get used to the layout, I have it mastered 80% of the time.don't think it will ever be completely mastered. My R1200RT also has ASC and as it was raining on saturday in Christchurch I decided to find the wiring loom that controls the ASC. (anti skid Control). The reason being is that the system on my bike can't be turned off (option) but it is too sensitive and at a recent track day at Ruapuna I was unable to get really bitter and twisted. So the ABS and ASC had to have a disable switch. What a bloody nightmare, on Saturday evening the garage looked like a Demolition Sight. Eventually I found the system(Circuit) and spent Sunday Installing a switch and an LED on the Dash that when the brakes are applied the Led glows, warning me that the ABS ,ASC is swithed off. So what am I saying, Well you could get an electronics guy to build you a simple timing circuit, it would then be reasonably simple to instal to the indicater loom. Food for thought. Trust you have much enjoyment form the bike and get used to the switch layout.cheersLeigh.

[Peter Hadfield]

#9221

welcome to the forum Mike, My 10cents worth re indicators, i tend to use hand signals a lot more since owning my Rt, not sure if this is safe but it works for me.

[David]

#9222

I've had my R1100RT for 3 years and 64000km, the bike has a total of 93000k on the clock and still going strong.  My problem was that, as I had a video camera mounted where it blocked the lefthand turn indicator warning lamp, I would ride along until someone zoomed up alongside and gave me the *-*-* hand signal. To sort this I bought a Kisan Signal minder.http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=SMIt's easy to fit in place of the current flasher unit and I really like it. The indicator works at a stop as long as a brake is applied, then has 8 seconds before cancelling itself.I've never had a problem with the indicator layout, it was part of the process of telling my brain what was different on this bike BEFORE getting on it for the first time. The horn is a pain though and the mechanism has been changed on the later models. The layout of the handlebar controls is quite different to the 1150 and 1200.I used to comment that the bike wasnt as nimble as my F650 was and the current Pres. used to grin and say "you still aint used to it yet!" As usual, he was right. I ride in crap traffic for Transit NZ on holiday weekends and am very pleased I ride a bike with 'presence'. I dont 'lane split with the panniers on as they are slightly wider than the mirrors, I take them off for 'work'. Practise figure 8 turns in a big carpark until you feel comfortable with full lock turns, takes awhile, is fun and very rewarding when you can turn around on the road while everyone else heads for the next intersection  😀BTW, I enjoy riding at night so I also bought: http://www.cyclegadgets.com/ (the same bracket and lights the 1150 on this page is showing, it looks like they are offering a different bracket now.) I've looked at the 1150 but dont like linked brakes. The 1200 has the can-bus electrics which are a problem if you want to do something simple like pump up your tyres with an electric pump from the accessory socket, adjust the footbrake pedal as your foot rests on it, or need to change the battery far from a BMW dealer and their flash computer.Regardless of my opinions, enjoy what you've got. Go ride yer bike!

[Mark Williams]

#9223

Dick,Thanks for your comments.  I have checked the website you included and it looks fantastic.  I do like the idea of a unit that is programmable and what's more it makes sense.  I will get one 😀Thanks

[Anonymous]

#9224

The 1200 has the can-bus electrics which are a problem if you want to do something simple like pump up your tyres with an electric pump from the accessory socket, adjust the footbrake pedal as your foot rests on it, or need to change the battery far from a BMW dealer and their flash computer.Regardless of my opinions, enjoy what you've got. Go ride yer bike!

Hi DickSome one is feeding you wrong imfo. There is no problems at all with the can-bus I'm now on my fourth 1200 and have done all of what you thought could not be done even the air pump works fine in the accessory socket. I have had no problems at all with all the electrics I have installed. I have seen some owners have problems doing things on the cheap and then cost them more money to get the bike repaired only because they would not spend $80.00 for the correct connector.

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