Author Topic: R1100RT - pulled the trigger  (Read 2946 times)

Offline Vince in Milwaukee

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R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« on: July 14, 2016, 09:05:49 AM »
Well folks, I went ahead and bought a 96 R1100RT locally from a guy on Craigslist.  Turns out, it's a really nice, well cared for machine.  Seeing as how there are a lot of BMW owners on here, and I seem to get better responses/ tips than even the BMW sites, I'm just looking for some feed back.  First off, the Corbin seat that came on it isn't going to work as it digs in and causes my right leg to go to sleep.  The stock seat is actually better.  I also put an Odyssey battery in it, as the one it came with was on its last legs.  I now need to find an AGM charger with a BMW plug.  Any ideas / help appreciated.   
1984 Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans III, 1986 California II
Gone but not forgotten:
1969 Moto Guzzi Ambo, 1994 BMW K75RTw/ABS, 1996 BMW R1100RT, and 1993 BMW K75

oldbike54

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2016, 09:18:30 AM »
 Congratulations Vince , a well cared for early oilhead is a joy . Just keep an eye on the lower shock mount on the front end , and don't worry about the much discussed bevel box failures . Other than the seat , is it a stock bike ?

 Dusty

Offline Vince in Milwaukee

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2016, 09:26:01 AM »
Yes, bone stock as far as I can tell.  I knew I found the right seller / bike when he took me to his shop in back - he had an early GSX-R in beautiful shape, and an early 80s Porshe.  Also had numerous wood working tools, and some metal working stuff. 
1984 Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans III, 1986 California II
Gone but not forgotten:
1969 Moto Guzzi Ambo, 1994 BMW K75RTw/ABS, 1996 BMW R1100RT, and 1993 BMW K75

Offline NC Steve

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2016, 09:41:20 AM »
Hope you like the RT, I've just recently moved from a series of Airheads to my first Oilhead as well, a '99 R1100R, and so far I'm loving it. As far as batteries go, I've always run Odysseys in my bikes, no matter the make, and have also used a standard Battery Tender Junior charger on each. Leaving the lead attached to the battery and discreetly zip tied to the frame in a convenient place makes everything easy to get to, and you can actually use 1 Tender for multiple bikes if you buy separate leads for each. No BMW-specific accessories that way, and the Battery Tenders are much less expensive than the BMW chargers, do just as good a job, and have a long track record for durability and reliability. Enjoy your new RT!
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4 Airheads, '88 K75,'99 BMW R1100R
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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2016, 09:41:20 AM »

Offline RayB

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2016, 09:49:25 AM »
You haven't run into the surge problem that some of the 1100s have yet have you?
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Offline drlapo

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2016, 09:52:37 AM »
Send the seat to Corbin.
They can rebuild it to your specs.
They built one for my R80 with reduced riders height and narrow nose.
It's good for many hundreds of miles at atime

Offline Vince in Milwaukee

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #6 on: July 14, 2016, 10:11:14 AM »
You haven't run into the surge problem that some of the 1100s have yet have you?

No surging that I can tell as of yet.  The previous owner put 48k on it and didn't have a problem.  I have noticed some vibration through the handlebars at lower revs / gears, but nothing too bothersome.  What really throws me off is the side to side motion of the engine.  I knew to expect it (rode a friend's), but it's nothing like my LM3.  Apples to oranges comparison, perhaps? 
1984 Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans III, 1986 California II
Gone but not forgotten:
1969 Moto Guzzi Ambo, 1994 BMW K75RTw/ABS, 1996 BMW R1100RT, and 1993 BMW K75

oldbike54

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2016, 10:25:30 AM »
 Vince , I'm sure you already know this , but oilheads like to rev . Yes , the do torque sideways a bit more than a Guzzi motor , or the early ones do , which is odd because most testers never mentioned that , and almost always do so when testing a Guzzi . Do keep a close eye on the oil level , these engines are very sensitive to that .

 Dusty

Offline fotoguzzi

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2016, 10:33:31 AM »
If you have a new battery why do you need to tend it? I have never had to charge a good battery.
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Offline ILM Rosso

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2016, 01:03:43 PM »
You should be able to buy the plug you need from BMW. Cut off or adapt the battery end connectors off your current charger, and connect the 2 leads to the BMW plug.  You're good to go!

Regards,
Mark
2001 V11 Sport Rosso Mandello
1998 Buell S3T
1976 Suzuki RE5 Rotary
1967 FLH Electra Glide
1967 Suzuki T200

Offline Kiwi_Roy

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2016, 03:12:28 PM »
Congratulations on the new bike

Of course we need  :gotpics: or it didn't happen.
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Offline Adk.IBO

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2016, 03:30:52 PM »
Aerostitch.com has adapters that switch from SAE to BMW to cig lighter and back. Pretty much any way.
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Offline Vince in Milwaukee

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #12 on: July 14, 2016, 04:11:39 PM »
If you have a new battery why do you need to tend it? I have never had to charge a good battery.

Just planning ahead for our long, cold winters as you already know. 
1984 Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans III, 1986 California II
Gone but not forgotten:
1969 Moto Guzzi Ambo, 1994 BMW K75RTw/ABS, 1996 BMW R1100RT, and 1993 BMW K75

Offline Nic in Western NYS

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #13 on: July 14, 2016, 04:13:41 PM »
Enjoyed my '97 RT, was always surprised at how flickable it was.  Congratulations and Enjoy!!
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Offline Vince in Milwaukee

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #14 on: July 14, 2016, 04:15:59 PM »
You should be able to buy the plug you need from BMW. Cut off or adapt the battery end connectors off your current charger, and connect the 2 leads to the BMW plug.  You're good to go!

Regards,
Mark

This is kind of what I was planning to do.  I already have an AGM battery charger and an old BMW one from when I bought my first K bike back in 94.  I may just do it myself, but would rather find someone to do a nice, neat, professional job for not a lot of $ (Guzzi & BMW content!   :grin:).
« Last Edit: July 14, 2016, 04:32:13 PM by Vince in Milwaukee »
1984 Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans III, 1986 California II
Gone but not forgotten:
1969 Moto Guzzi Ambo, 1994 BMW K75RTw/ABS, 1996 BMW R1100RT, and 1993 BMW K75

Offline cookiemech

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #15 on: July 14, 2016, 04:16:42 PM »
I still have the 2000 R1100RT that I bought new. You'll like the bike a lot, I think. Supposedly the only failure mode at high miles/high years (certainly we're at the high year mark) is the Hall effect sensor that is the ignition pickup. Apparently the wiring is not up to the heat cycles to which it may be exposed. In some cases (usually at higher mileages) the insulation deteriorates, the wires short, and the bike dies.

Hasn't happened to me in 42K miles, but I recently bought a new HES from Euro Motoelectrics http://www.euromotoelectrics.com/ for appreciably less than BMW charges. I may install it or I may just carry it if I take a trip. Probably it won't fail at all . . .

Hope you enjoy yours.

Offline Vince in Milwaukee

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #16 on: July 14, 2016, 04:17:29 PM »
Congratulations on the new bike

Of course we need  :gotpics: or it didn't happen.

Thank you.  Let me work on this.  I'm rather inept when it comes to all this technology stuff.
1984 Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans III, 1986 California II
Gone but not forgotten:
1969 Moto Guzzi Ambo, 1994 BMW K75RTw/ABS, 1996 BMW R1100RT, and 1993 BMW K75

Offline Tom

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #17 on: July 14, 2016, 04:44:26 PM »
Check the condition of the battery.  Load test it.  IF good.  Then possibly a magnet or magnets are coming loose in the starter.  Easy to fix with buying a starter body from John at Euromotoelectrics.  Don't know if your year has the softer wheels.  IIRC.  Avoid potholes.  Big time.  Otherwise a fine machine to extend your riding into late Fall and early Spring. :thumb:
From the Deep Deep South out in left field.  There are no stupid questions.  There are however stupid people asking questions.  🤣, this includes me.  😉

Online sdcr

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #18 on: July 14, 2016, 05:17:38 PM »
I have a 2000 R 1100 RS with just about 80,000 miles since 2001. It's almost the same as the RT, but with a trimmer fairing and a few nuance differences.

I can add that they are well designed, and engineered machines that can carry a good size load, but still handle backroads very well. My only trouble was two clutch replacements, 29,900 and 60,000 miles. Keep an eye on the handlebar lever free play, as it is critical to keeping the clutch from premature wear. I also find that pre loading the shift lever slightly, makes for smoother, quieter shifts.

BMW has an upgraded part For the left side cam chain tensioner. Apparently the revised part decreases wear on the internal plastic parts.





Well folks, I went ahead and bought a 96 R1100RT locally from a guy on Craigslist.  Turns out, it's a really nice, well cared for machine.  Seeing as how there are a lot of BMW owners on here, and I seem to get better responses/ tips than even the BMW sites, I'm just looking for some feed back.  First off, the Corbin seat that came on it isn't going to work as it digs in and causes my right leg to go to sleep.  The stock seat is actually better.  I also put an Odyssey battery in it, as the one it came with was on its last legs.  I now need to find an AGM charger with a BMW plug.  Any ideas / help appreciated.   

« Last Edit: July 14, 2016, 09:07:12 PM by sdcr »
John
2000 BMW R1100 RS
1983 BMW R100
2009 Jaguar XK

twowings

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #19 on: July 14, 2016, 06:37:36 PM »
Have fun with it!

Offline Bravo Sierra

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Re: R1100RT - pulled the trigger
« Reply #20 on: July 14, 2016, 11:02:03 PM »
Congratulations, nice bike I have had my 96 RT for about 8 years and 30k . I put a Sargent seat on mine that I found used on the MOA site for a song, could not be happier. The surging problem was associated with the earlier RS and, as far as I know, is not with the RT. All of the R1100 series called for the Bosch 2 electrode (or 3 in the first RSs) plugs, ditch those and run a regular autolite 1 electrode plug, don't have the number with me now I'm on the road. Enjoy the bike I remember my first impression blasting down the slab was “why didn't I buy one sooner”!  :thumb:

www.ibmwr.org is a great resource

Only place I could find the premade bmw plug to battery tender connector right now. I know I ran across them some where but can't remember where!
 
http://www.sierrabmwonline.com/product_info.php/battery-tender-connector-wbmw-plug-bmw-r1150gs-72601470290-p-763?osCsid=2n16v09718n70fuf1ckgfg4l71

Bob

 

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