BMW R 1100 RL reviews

I've had my used 2003 R1150R for over a year now and ridden it all over the roads of VA, WV, and MD and also roundtrip to Fl and have enjoyed all 12,000 miles I've put on it. Handles the twisty's fabulously and with a Sargent seat and a an Alaska sheepskin butt pad burning 2hrs of highway before a break is not a problem. Been 100% reliable so far, not a single issue, just required normal maintenance. Buy it - you'll like it! Show less

Strong Bike. Massive storage. Great weather protection and amenities. Heated grips and seat are a life saver on cold days. Smooth power and tall 6th gear allow this bike to ease on down the road. Comfort and protection are unsurpassed. Bike turns on a rail and tours like a caddy. Luggage pops right off and is super convenient. Like it so much I sold my truck and ride year round! Show less

I just started riding, test rode and fell in love with the 2009 RT. Going from a Yamaha V-star to this bike was an amazing change. The RT is so comfortable, I put 527 miles on it in one weekend. I could have easily hoped back on it and done another 500. I got caught in the rain and the adjustable windshield came in real handy, it is nice to slide it out of the way when the weather cleared. At 20mph or 80mph the bike feels steady. I got blasted by some powerful crosswinds (from a semi) and the RT did not budge. Show less

I bought this in April 2008 with 18,000 on it, as a 40 mile each way commuter, and with the Corbin seat and BMW bags already on it. I love it right from the start. It has massive torque, gobs of acceleration and is fast enough for me (I haven't had it flat out, but I've had an indicated 120 mph out of it without trying hard). I found it a little too buzzy for comfort around 4500 rpm. The Manic Salamander bar end weights (18.5 ounces instead of the stock 9.5 ounces) completely cured that. I found it very windy over 70 mph; Parabellum windshield, adjusted as high as it can go cured that. My other add-ons were for personal preference, not necessity. The bike is as reliable as a stone, comfortable all day, a joy to drive and magic through the twisties. At first I felt like I wasn't getting much feedback from the front suspension, then I realized it just was not having any problems, so there was nothing for it to tell me. It just goes around bends on any surface at any speed I've asked of it without fuss. Show less

I bought the BMW R1200 GSA brand new on the 1st of March, 2008 after a lot of soul searching. I'd recently owned a Honda VFR 800 (pre-V-Tech) which is often reported to be the best bike ever made. It isn't - the R1200 GS Adventure is! It took me a few hundred miles to settle into the GSA - make no mistake - it's a very tall bike and it carries a lot of weight high up when fully loaded with luggage and a full tank. This weight soon disappears once you get moving but it can take you by surprise when you have to stop again. I initially removed all luggage, set the ESA on single rider comfort and made a point of never filling the tank above halfway (there's still more range than most other bikes on a full tank anyway) and this did the trick. Having covered a few miles I'm much more confident now. I'm delighted with the way the bike goes and handles. It's simply a pleasure to ride and although it may not be as fast as the VFR, I believe that I can travel faster on the GSA than I ever could on the VFR. I say this because the BMW just seems to handle anything I can throw at it and never seems ruffled. The high riding position gives a fantastic view of the road ahead while the screen does a great job of keeping the wind blast off. I recently rode 350 miles in one go and it was fabulously comfortable. The boxer engine is super-torquey and delivers a good punch from any revs. There is a bit of vibration at higher revs but it certainly isn't intrusive. I've even done a bit of gentle off-road riding on the dual purpose tires. My only negative is that it's a big, heavy bike to move around at very low speeds or around the garage but if you can live with that I don't think there's anything else in its league. Show less

This is an outstanding motorcycle. It is a very Zen-like experience to ride this bike. I sometimes feel like the bike and I can communicate with one another. No, really, it is a fabulous motorcycle. The seat leaves much to be desired. Show less

This bike corners, cruises and tours like all the best of everything I've owned. The only thing I could find to be critical about is the 6th gear. My 1150 had what seemed to be an overdrive 6th gear. My new 1200 seems to be geared a little lower in 6th. Still if you can afford it, I believe this to be the best bike around. Show less

I bought this bike with 4k miles on it. I changed all the fluids, filters and readjusted everything to fit me and loved the bike more than the original test ride. Having ridden a few 750 Japanese cruisers, this BMW is leaps above anything Japan could have to offer. For average cruising of any distance, this bike is more than enough. The acceleration is somehow topped in performance in braking power at any speeds. Shifting is quick and reliable. Twisties are cheerfully greeted with the chrome of my floor boards from time to time :). I rode Deals Gap within a month of owning this bike and loved the Dragons Tail; I rode it three more times that week. Aside from it being a BMW, it has all the quality forethought of any premium machine; I appreciate the complete took/repair kit. I have no second thoughts of taking this bike on a week long solo trip. Exciting, reliable, sexy and easy to ride both around town and long distances. THANKS BMW, I look forward to a new K1200GT some day. Show less

I've owned other sport touring models, but the 1200 RT is bar-none the most incredibly good riding machine I've ever owned. Intuitive in the corners, 52 mpg on the road, and extremely good for long distances. I've found that for those that complain that it won't do the distances I would reply, break it in. This bike doesn't really wind out until a few thousand miles. Number 2, get a new seat. I have the Rick Mayer and have easily done 700 to 800 miles in a day. Number 3, change windshields. There are a number of windshields that are better for wind protection. The Boxer engine is easy to work on and will save you money if you can do your own valve adjustments. I've had mine for 2 years now and not one problem with even the smallest things. It is a perfect bike that needs to be ridden. Show less

After hours of research, I decided that I wanted to seriously investigate the R 1200 GS Adventure. I have been a motorcyclist since 1974. I've had everything from a Gold Wing to a 250 KLR and many in between, but never had I walked into a showroom and was greeted by such a friendly staff and awesome display and atmosphere. I scrutinized the bikes available and had every question answered with honesty and. In addition, a couple of very knowledgeable BMW Club members were present, and they, too, took the time to point out features and functionality of the GS from their own experiences. With all this friendly expertise, I was even more impressed with the bike. The financing went extremely smoothly, and within a short amount of time, I was the owner of my very own, brand new red and black 2008 R 1200 GS Adventure! And the icing on the cake was the ride! It was unbelievable! Everything from freeway to off road. This was the most incredible machine I had ever ridden! It does it all! I even took my wife for a ride on several miles of dirt road, where with previous bikes, with her aboard, it was dicey at best. With this machine, it was like she was not even back there! Then, I took us out onto the highway, and even with crosswinds blowing at 34 mph, it was like the bike was glued to the road. BMW outdid themselves when they designed this bike. The computer system was a snap to work. I must admit that when I went into the dealership, I commented that I thought it was a little 'pricey'. Now, I've changed my mind! It's worth every penny! Show less