I’ve been a sport rider for 30+ years. After about a five year break from riding, I decided it was time for a bike with comfort and luggage. I love my R1100rt except for one major concern. It’s too big and heavy for me. My inseam is 29” and even with an aftermarket lower seat and riding boots with chunky soles, I still struggle. The seat is very wide and that adds to the problem. It’s by far the heaviest bike I’ve ever ridden. Out on the road, it’s comfortable and responsive. At low speeds, it’s a handful. Sometimes downright scary. I may have to trade for a smaller bike.

You have to weigh it up I weigh 160 pounds the Beamer is more like 600! The fact that I've taken it 2000 k around Ireland in three days is a testament to its balance and handling. It's an agricultural beast with the manners of a finishing school graduate. I keep thinking this is too big, too heavy, hard to park and why don't I go back to my Fireblade? Then, having racked up another 200 miles - and a coffee later find I'm ready to go again I realize that's what this bike is all about...a big package with the poise and balance of a heavyweight fighter..It's just a case of weighing things up....and on balance I find I'm going to keep this one....(but I'll keep the fireblade too....everybody should have a hobby)

I have a 1996 r 1100 rt. I have to say its been a great bike. Yes I have owned a lot of bikes. And no the beemer is far from the fastest. As the title says 185,000 miles and never did a top end. Did a lot of tires brakes and assorted items that simply are normal wear items but have not pulled the heads or cracked the cases. It is just now starting to get some top end chatter even after a valve adjustment. So maybe a Top end after this summer will be in order or better yet a complete rebuilt. As far as the handling??? top tier. I love the lean angles you can get on this bike. It simply instills confidence in me. I have heard some riders say the bike feels heavy, but I remember the very first comment I made when I bought the bike was how light it felt. I guess that comes from years of riding a Harley. So I don't have a lot of anything to say negative about my RT. I only hope all of you get the great service I got out of mine. I doubt I will ever get rid of the bike. A lot of memories and heck I can but complete engines on line for about 400 or 500 bucks. Go figure......

Just bought a 98 1100RT from a farmer in western NSW. Beautifully looked after. 70,00okm on the clock over 16 years. Rode it bak to Sydney - 5 hours. Midrange pull beautiful. Cornering precise and fun. Miles per gallon - astounding. Got her to 150 ks - still pulling freely and wanting to go faster. Steady as a rock. Beautifully balanced. Engineering excellence. I am wrapped. We will grow old together. We have found each other. Buy one. And the looks you get - cause its a big beamer.....

Having been through the usual procedure, Blackbird, Hayabusa etc. Got an R1100RT to try to grow old gracefully. An absolutely stunning machine. I recently parted with my MV Agusta, but will not be parting with this too soon.

Having read all the reviews on the BMW R1100RT I took the plunge and decided to buy a used one as opposed to the ST1100..mistake. Perhaps I am used to japanese technology and refinement but to be hones the transmission on this bike wouldnt go amiss on a tractor. from what I can gather these bikes are quite "agricultural" and they certainly are. The gearbox clunkimg is possibly one of the worst I have ever experienced and the engine definately lets you know its a twin cylinder. On a plus side two up it pulls extremely well once underway and handles beautifully for a big heavy bike. The riding position is adjustable and the screen is superb. Instrumentation is easy to read and the gear indicator is very helpful, Not sure if the good outweighs the bad, would I buy another ?? NO

Had the bike now for 1 year,over the last 5 years ive owned a cbr 600f/zzr1100/cbr fireblade.ive road alot of other bikes including the hyabusa, The bmw rt 1100 is the best bike ive ever riden it handles realy well and its so comfy.If your thinking of bying one buy it you won't recret it, dont worry about whot your mates think your be the one smiling after a long run comfort wins over speed.This bike is not slow 135mph top end and quick getting there, 200 miles to a tank its all you need and more.

I have been on the road for 40 years, and as I was in the motor trade, I have ridden and owned a hell of a lot of machines. I have never owned ANY vehicle for more than 2 years, as I get bored with them and move them on for something new. (if only I could do that with the wife!!) But that was before I bought an R1100RT. This bike has been mine now for over 6 years!! I have not ridden a better bike yet, and until I do she will stay here. Mine now has 113,000 miles on the clock, but looks as if its done 20,000. It is fast, handles superbly and is the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden. I have ridden on the continent and all over the UK. Try one, you'll love it. Better than the 1150, in my opinion, haven't tried the R1200RT yet, so??? maybe eh!

Of the 20,000km I've put on my R1100RT 16,000 have been with an aftermarket (Corbin) seat. A good quality seat absolutely makes the bike the best I've ever had. For the price you would think BMW would toss their torture saddle in favour of a REAL seat, but anyway onto the bike... Enough power to get yourself into and out of trouble. Handles more like a sport bike than a tourer. Great mileage. One of the best looking machines, in my opinion, ever made. Garbage transmission/final drive. Very easy bike to travel long distances on. I agree with others that the maintenance is expensive. Despite it's shortfalls - I'm a BMW fan forever due to this machine.

I have ridden a Honda for about 4 years and found that I developed wrist ache after about 2 hours of riding. I had been looking to change the bike and searched around for a BMW RT for about 4 - 5 months before finding a low mileage bike in excellent condition. The bike has may extras such as intercom and uprated xenon headlamp. Every time I get on the bike I smile because its just what I want from a machine. All day comfort, smooth engine and good all round performance. The electric screen is fantastic as when set to the full height you and your pillion become coccooned in a wind free zone that make riding a sheer pleasure. The variable height seat makes finding the most comfaorable riding position easy. Love the shaft drive as no chain lubricant to clean off the back wheel every time you park the bike up. My bike is fully geared up for touring and the only problem my wife has is getting on and off. The top box is probably a bit too big for our needs but you can get 2 full face helments in it which is a gret help. All round, this is the best bike I have idden and owned. Will I part with it? only for the 1200 version, but then I would have to give it some consideration.

I Have ridden bikes for 13 years mostly hayabusa 02 kawa zx 10r 06 gsxr1100 92, bought my R 1100 RT for one year ago and it is my best bike i ever have had ofcourse its not the fastest bike but it has so many qalities ,its better build,comfort,the headlight could be better so try one if you are looking for a touring bike.

The R1100RT Heavy but well balanced when stationary: but the best thing with any bike is to get it moving; and this one does move. Not a sports bike but quick enough. Build quality may not be quite as good as the R100RT which it replaced but it is a very marked improvement on the R100RT (which I also ride). I find it easy to ride and nearly all journeys can be made without the use of brakes as the engine/gearbox combination make fluid riding easier than on some other bikes.
I would not contemplate having a bike like this well into my old age as it would be too heavy to wheel in and out of the garage, but at teh memnet it is fine.

Yes, this is it. If your thinking of taking the plunge and buying one of these BMW R1100RT, do just do. I bought mine with 46k on the clock and it is nicely run in and properly smooth. Properly comfortable aswell! It has broken down once but this is because of the previous owner having the tank off at some point and kinking the fuel tank breather pipe which caused a loss of power and the RID from not working correctly half way home from about 200 miles away! Still i have marked the reliability as a five because this was not BMW's mistake or a lack of quality in the bike in any way. Performance is good, sure it's not a rocket ship but that's not what it is designed to be. What this bike is designed to do though is transport you and your passenger in comfort over long distances at speed, and this it does without equal. This is my first bike after passing my DAS course and yes it is big for your first bike and i probably would have been better off getting something lighter to start with but i have gotten used to the weight and the size in no time at all. I have also learnt that to get the best from this bike you must learn to be smooth before you try to be fast. Don't worry about the weight either, this dissapears after you reach walking pace and the protection from the fairing and screen are superb. Everything just does what it was designed to do and does it without being overly complicated or causing you a headache in the process. It feels like it's sculpted from a single peice of granite the build quality is so good and the gear change is fine once you get the hang of it and it just looks so gorgeous in all it's glacier green glory (the best color in my opinion). So would i recommend one, yes i would, in a heart beat. And it always makes me grin when you rev one of these things at the lights and the whole thing pulls to one side! Haha, it's like an old american muscle car! Only more refined and better to look at!