I've had BMWs since 1976, and covered over 40,000 miles touring Europe on my 1995 R1100RT. The original owner had fitted Ohlins front and rear and stainless bolts everywhere. I had no problems at all in ten years, just routine maintenance. The fairing was actually better than my K1600GT! The R1150RT was another step forward, the 17" rear wheel (the 1100 had an 18") and slightly shorter wheelbase made it handle even better and gave a wider tyre choice. One weak point on the 1100RT was the single headlight which was not up to making decent progress at night (the earlier /6 and /7 with the 8" Bosch H4 halogen unit were better), this was addressed on the 1150RT with a larger 3 bulb headlight. Unlike the earlier /5/6/7 air cooled models, the 1100 engine was actually oil and air cooled, with a large oil cooler in the fairing below the headlight. The 1100/1150 "oil head" models were the last of the quality built BMW bikes. The later 1200s and my K1600GT and my current Liquid Cooled R1200R Sport are not built as well, nor in many ways as practical; less seat and brake pedal/gear lever position adjustment, (many models have no seat adjustment at all, you have to buy a different height seat!) no toolkit or room to store one, or even a puncture repair kit. Such omissions are unacceptable for a touring bike.
Had a 99, but it was underpowered. My 87 Concours was a lot faster and had a smoother gearbox, albeit not as comfy as the RT. Now they are too overpriced and have too many gizmos to go wrong. Deep pockets to ride a BMW these days. $1200 to change a clutch on a 1150 RT
I've had BMWs since 1976, and covered over 40,000 miles touring Europe on my 1995 R1100RT.
The original owner had fitted Ohlins front and rear and stainless bolts everywhere. I had no problems at all in ten years, just routine maintenance. The fairing was actually better than my K1600GT!
The R1150RT was another step forward, the 17" rear wheel (the 1100 had an 18") and slightly shorter wheelbase made it handle even better and gave a wider tyre choice. One weak point on the 1100RT was the single headlight which was not up to making decent progress at night (the earlier /6 and /7 with the 8" Bosch H4 halogen unit were better), this was addressed on the 1150RT with a larger 3 bulb headlight.
Unlike the earlier /5/6/7 air cooled models, the 1100 engine was actually oil and air cooled, with a large oil cooler in the fairing below the headlight.
The 1100/1150 "oil head" models were the last of the quality built BMW bikes. The later 1200s and my K1600GT and my current Liquid Cooled R1200R Sport are not built as well, nor in many ways as practical; less seat and brake pedal/gear lever position adjustment, (many models have no seat adjustment at all, you have to buy a different height seat!) no toolkit or room to store one, or even a puncture repair kit. Such omissions are unacceptable for a touring bike.
Great info! Thanks
Had a 99, but it was underpowered. My 87 Concours was a lot faster and had a smoother gearbox, albeit not as comfy as the RT. Now they are too overpriced and have too many gizmos to go wrong. Deep pockets to ride a BMW these days. $1200 to change a clutch on a 1150 RT
I have a 1999 old cop version.
Runs great.....but not to powerful but enough.
My first RT was exactly this 1996 model. The ABS never had problems (yes, I was lucky) and the bike was a joy to ride, alone or two-up.
The most slept on. What does that mean?
That it doesn’t get its just due…