Norge vs. 2011 R1200RT

[Gliderjohn]

Maybe ignorance is bliss in the motorcycle world. I have been riding regularly since 1979 and have only owned three bikes. My first was a 77 Suzuki GS400. Next was a 75 T-3 LAPD that I bought in 89. Wow! What a step up. Next and current bike (still have the T-3) is a Norge 8V. Wow! What a step up. I don't have much to compare to so that may be why I so like my Norge. Works for me so far anyway.
GliderJohn

[canuguzzi]

Any bike is a good bike. From the owner of a yesteryear 2 stroke that still burns to the bike sold yesterday out of the showroom, it ain't about what you're riding, it is that you are riding.

[Jim Rich]

Ride em both and see what you like.  I have a 4V and 8V Norge in the garage, a buddy rides an R1200RT and we swap out occasionally.  They are all great bikes, I just like Guzzis better.  The 4V Norge has great low rpm characteristics (thumping torque), the 8V has greater HP and will run like a scalded dog.  I really like the BMW telelever suspension.  You can't go wrong going either way.  Great touring bikes all.

[jackson]

I had decided to buy a new 2014 Norge GT but before I pulled the trigger, I found a 2009 BMW R1200RT that looks like it just came out of the crate (only 8000 miles).  I've owned and performed my own maintenance on several Beemer Oilheads so I can also service this one.  The price was right (at a Suzuki dealer due to being traded on a big ATV vehicle) so we agreed on a price, late Saturday afternoon.  The dealership is closed today so unless I uncover some compelling reason not to buy this bike, I'll go to the bank and get a cashiers check tomorrow morning and pick it up.  I really wanted a Norge but after perusing threads where people have bought new Norges, only to have the bikes shut down and leave them stranded, I decided that I didn't want to to get involved with hauling a bike back and forth on my trailer to Riders Hill (2.5 hours each way) on a regular basis (been there; done that). 
I'm keeping my V7 Classic (love the little V7) but I also wanted a bigger displacement, full fairing bike so I could ride more in colder weather.  As others have said, both are great bikes.  The bottom line for me was that my nearest dealer is further away than I'm comfortable with to fix what Guzzi isn't addressing correctly at the factory level with too many stories that I've read. If something changes my mind re. buying the Beemer before tomorrow, I'll be looking for a well sorted, 8 valve Norge that has all the kinks worked out.

[blackcat]

And owners of a 2011 Norge can buy rollers too or pay to have them put in at around 3 times that. 

Its a service indicator, not too hard to find someone with the tool for the RT. Still, a service indicator is hardly a reason to choose one bike over another. Just how many people have cars for which the service indicator in one because they change their own oil?

All I'm saying is that I prefer to work on my own bikes and the new BMW's do no seem to be owner service friendly. Having to go back to the dealer for service is not a plus for me and there is one within a mile from my house which is also a Guzzi dealer.   Plus, there is the cost. Yeah the new BMW's can contact Mars from the handle bar toggle switch but do I really need to contact Mars from my bike?

And a Google search of "problems with 2011 R1200RT" reveals issues that are similar to niggling Guzzi problems such as starter switches going bad and stranding someone on the BRP, windshield's going down and not going back up, overheating, non-starting at high elevations, final drives leaking. Sounds familiar......and expensive if you always have to bring the bike to the dealer.

And changing the rollers, when you add up the need to do dealer maintenance on a bike those rollers costs seem small. And I'd do it myself so that makes it even less of a burden and I don't need to find someone to turn off the warning lights.