2003 BMW R-Series

Excellent ride city or highway, well balanced, 3 position seat height adjustment. Full list of standard OEM options except there is no radio in the mounting bracket. Fresh Champion Platinum plugs, oil change and filter. Ready for your next Iron Butt tour, ll it needs it a new owner rider. The IRS denied my New Home Owners tax credit so I am forced to sell the bike to pay the man. I am bummer because I finally found that perfect all around ride I have been looking for. For you single guys, I have had several instances of an attractive woman admiring it when I would be coming out of a store or restaurant, turn and smile as I walked up and she would smile and say "nice Beemer". Kelly Blue Book puts the re sale value at $7,500 not including aftermarket upgrades and the lower than average mileage. Has had a couple of upgrades, Carbon instrument panel accents and a ZTecknic Eurosport slip on muffler ($800) which gave the top end power a nice boost, a Cee Bailey windshield and headlight protector cover. Tires should be good for a few thousand more miles, see photos.. Boxes are clean and tight, no major scuffs ignition key operates all. 2 minor flaws, the main seat covering seems to be separating and the right side head has some lite scuff marks , again noted in photos.. Low starting auction price, NO reserve. Buyer is responsible for shipping or picking up the bike. Can deliver within a 200 mile radius for a 50 cent a mile fee. No implied warranty, AS IS. 2003 BMW R1150RT Unmistakable BMW DNA BMW DNA To those familiar with BMW motorcycles, the heritage and breeding of the marque can be felt as soon as a leg is hoisted over the seat. BMW motorcycles have been bred over generations of performance, economic, political, and social influences. BMW branded motorcycles are known the world over for balanced performance, perfectly developed products for the world economy, Teutonic tenacity for quality, and a subliminal message that you not only pay for what you get but you get what you pay for! In the 2003 BMW R1150RT those DNA marks are unmistakable. The BMW rondel “spinning propeller” trademark harkens back to the days when their engines graced the aircraft flown by the Red Barron during WWI. Blue sky can still be seen through that stylized propeller! RT A poor translation of the RT is “Road Touring.” Since their creation in the late 1970’s, RT’s have been designed for the long distance rider who is looking for a mount that fulfills all the requirements of motorcycle riding. Equally at home during daily stop light to stop light commuting and exploration of those blue back roads on a road map, the RT is the master of the Autobahn or Interstate highway. Smooth reliable power, comfort for two, storage capacity for the necessities of international travel, inclement weather protection, precise handling, and state of the art braking have historically been hallmarks of the BMW RT. Little brother of the marque’s over 800 pound BMW K1200LT (LT know throughout the BMW motorcycle riding culture as translating to either Luxury Touring or Light Truck, depending on their inclination), the RT was designed with the sporty rather than sport or luxury touring motorcyclist in mind. True sport riders should look at the RS versions of the BMW boxer. That said, the 2003 BMW R1150RT ushers in the third millennium with a motorcycle for the ages. BMW Styling David Robb, BMW motorcycle chief stylist, has blended circa 2000 BMW automobile styling with the aerodynamics necessary for effortless riding through any potential climate or across any pathway. The trademark twin kidney shaped grills for the intake of fresh air and optimum operation of the oil cooler compliments the slippery rounded shape of all exterior surfaces. Proof of this is that the RT’s ability to deal with high velocity crosswinds is second to none. As motorcycles are emotional creatures, the styling is either sheer beauty or “another rolling cough drop” from the stylist’s drawing board. That BMW Feel There is a legend that Lexus once took their design engineers on a month-long working vacation to Europe’s finest five star resorts so that they could absorb the feel of quality expected by the upper echelons of society. Tasting the feel of the 2003 R1150RT, one touch of this RT and it is immediately evident that BMW engineers have not needed such an education since WWI partitions moved BMW chief design engineer Max Fritz from aero engines to motorcycles in 1923. There is a quality feel to everything the body touches and to every operation performed by the controls. It is one of those “you know it when you feel” it sort of things. The Human Fit Factor “Never ride a motorcycle you are not comfortable on” was the first admonishment I received decades ago when the two wheel virus first stuck me. BMWs in general, and RT’s in particular, fall to this selection criterion. Maybe it is a social or cultural thing, but seat height on all BMWs is tall. Even as seat height can be varied through three positions, the lowest one is still over 31 inches! While the RT’s seat is adjustable over a range of 31.7, 32.5, and 33.3 inches, vertically challenged riders should assure themselves that their skill and experience levels provide them the ability to control an over 600 pound motorcycle while stopped on an unforgiving surface. It does make one wonder if all Germans are really over six feet tall. But comfort while moving will never be a question. Once the seat and handle bars are adjusted to the rider, daily riding distance should only be limited to the rider’s available vacation time. Differences in human leg and arm lengths can be compensated for with a minimum of effort. All controls fall easily at hand and are laid out in a logical manner. Some new to BMW riders have difficulty getting used to an individual switch on each side for the right and left turn indicators, but after a few miles the logic is unmistakable. Control of the windshield’s height and angle is accomplished by a rocker switch on the left thumb. As many notice during interstate automobile travel, your true lines of visibility change as fatigue causes the body to slump. Correct windshield height becomes important after those well rested miles have taken their toll. Another overlooked human fit factor is the ease of raising the RT onto its center stand. 600 pounds can become an issue if your bodybuilding regime only consists of hitting the alarm clock snooze alarm or pushing buttons on the television remote control. The balance designed into the RT and its folding lift lever allow even the most sedentary to easily rock it onto a stable parking position. Accessories Few accessories are needed for the 2003 BMW R1150RT, so few are available. The RT already has a fine AM/FM/Weather Band/Cassette stereo and large detachable saddle bags. Only the tail trunk and tank bag should be considered as a must have accessories. This large trunk is well suited for those light but bulky items needed on the road. The necessity to bring along a purse is not problem for either appropriate rider or passenger. The tank bag is the perfect catch-all for wet weather gear, maps, and other cannot live without items. The removable saddle bags and tail trunk are lockable using the single BMW ignition key. They can be opened while mounted, and a red tell-tale marker is visible should they not be securely latched to the motorcycle or locked. That detail can be very important when traveling at highway speeds. Performance No, this RT will not outrun the latest unlimited classes of thinly disguised super bike Grand Prix motorcycles from Japan or Italy. But my own experience has been that those vehicles are not suited to daily commuting or two-up 1000 mile riding days, and the RT most definitely is. I have yet to have found a situation where I could not keep the café crowd in sight on either an Interstate highway or traversing Deal’s Gap. The easily attainable speeds that grossly exceed every posted speed limit in the U.S. and allow for continuous left lane travel on the German Autobahn, normally highlight the overall performance of the RT over its short fuse competition. Fuel economy runs between 44 mpg at 75 mph and 53 mpg at 56 mph. So the 6.6 U.S. gallon fuel tank will easily allow over 200 miles between refueling. The high performance design of the engine does require unleaded premium fuel, but the BMW Motronic engine management system (O2 sensor and catalytic converter providing digital input to the fuel injection system) can and will compensate. Use of lower octane can be expected to return lower fuel economy. The 1130 cc big twin boxer engine, coupled with the six speed gearbox, allow optimum performance in all normally expected riding conditions and situations. Below, taken from a Cycle World magazine road test in 2001, are some expected benchmarks of the R1150RT to use while comparing it to the competition. Standing ¼ mile: 12.68 seconds at 105.76 mph. 0-30 mph: 1.7 seconds 0-60 mph: 4.0 seconds 0-90 mph: 8.3 seconds 0-100 mph: 10.8 seconds Measured top speed: 123 mph Braking distance, 60-0 mph: 105 feet Show Off Features When you spend over $15,000 (US) for a motorcycle everyone you know wants to see why a motorcycle costs so much more than a Kia Reo. That is when you have to show off the features that make it worth all those zeros. Some of the most significant are: Adjustable windshield, adjustable handlebars, adjustable seat height, AM/FM/Weather Band/cassette stereo, heated hand grips (high-end automobiles have heated seats don’t they?), externally adjustable rear suspension, fully integrated (linked) EVO antilock brakes, and fog lights. Riding Impressions OK, here is what you really wanted to know when you started this review. With around a quarter of a million miles ridden on the seven BMW motorcycles I have personally owned (along with tens of thousands on many others ranging from Harley Davidson through most of the Japanese and European marques), my 2003 BMW R1150RT is by far the finest all around motorcycle I have ridden. Solo and two-up comfort is exceptional, and performance in both emergency and normal riding situations far exceeds all my expectations. Yes, there can be shortfalls for some riders, but overall I have never regretted my purchase. (Update 16 Jan 06) The Seat BMW seats are an area of great discussion among the BMW motorcycle culture. I found the stock seat comfortable in most every situation. The shape does allow a limited amount of tailbone support, the padding is acceptable for my 140 pound body, and the shape of the very front part does not force the legs wider when reaching for the ground. In all honesty, I do have an aftermarket Sargent (c) seat that I sometimes use for serious long distance riding. It lowers my body, gives more tail bone support, without forcing my legs wider when reaching for the ground. Forcing the legs wider does effectively increase the seat height and can be a problem for those vertically challenged riders. So the width or the front of the seat can be very important. Consideration of a custom tailored aftermarket seat would be in order if you are planning on entering the next Iron Butt Rally, or not tall enough for a comfortable stance at a stop sign. But for most riders I believe the stock seat is more than adequate. Vibration! There use to be a joke that went: "No, it doesn't vibrate" said the BMW rider as he pulled up his socks! Facing facts, the R1150RT has a vertically opposed (boxer) twin cylinder engine so there should be noticeable vibrations. But my experience, over the few thousands of miles I have ridden this RT, is that they are almost unnoticeable. Never have I felt vibrations through either the seat or footpegs. But I have noticed a slight "buzz" through the handle bars within the last 500 rpm short of the engine speed red line. In all fairness, I have installed solid mounted bar backs, rather than the stock rubber mounted handle bar risers. This could be allowing vibration through to the hands. But with sixth gear producing engine and vehicle speeds so far in excess of any reasonable road speed, that buzz might keep me out of hospital emergency rooms! (End of update.) Reliability and Cost of Ownership BMW motorcycles have generally gotten a bad rap for scheduled maintenance costs even with their stellar reputation for reliability. Yes, there is an expensive initial 600 mile service that normally cost around $500, but follow-on services are only required at 6,000 and 12,000 intervals. That 600 mile service is well worth the money. While in the shop the entire machine is fully inspected, all fluids and filters are changes, and a road test is performed to assure the owner of a fully serviceable mount. Is this really necessary? Some disagree, but maybe that is why BMW R11 series motorcycles with well over 200,000 miles on their odometers are commonplace. Rare is the marque with a reputation like that, so maybe not messing with success is the best investment. Technical Specifications For some, the numbers do make the difference. Engine Type: 2 cylinder, horizontally-opposed “Boxer” Valves: 4 per cylinder Displacement: 1130 cc Bore X Stroke: 101 x 70.5 mm Horsepower: 95 at 7,250 rpm Torque: 72.3 ft. lbs. at 5,500 rpm Compression ratio: 11.3 : 1 Cooling system: Air and oil Fuel induction: Bosch Motronic MA 2.4 Catalytic converter: 3-way dual converter with oxygen sensor Clutch: Single-plate, dry, hydraulic actuation Gearbox: 6-speed, constant mesh Final drive ratio: 2.91:1 Electrical / Electronic Systems Engine Management: Central electronic system with Motronic 2.4 Alternator: 12V 700W Battery: 12V / 19 AH Headlamp: H3 and H7 Testing / diagnostics: Mobile diagnostic computer – MoDiTeC Dimensions Fuel Tank: 6.6 U.S. Gallons Seat height: Adjustable, 31.7, 32.5, 33.3 inches Curb Weight (wet): 614 lbs Chassis Front suspension: BMW Telelever Rear suspension: BMW Paralever Final drive: Shaft Front suspension strut: Gas Shock absorber Rear suspension strut: Gas shock absorber with externally adjustable damping and preload Front brake: Two 4 piston EVO calipers with floating 320 mm discs Rear brake: 2 piston caliper with 276 mm disc Wheels: 5 spoke aluminum, 3.50 x 17 front, 500.17 rear Front tire: 120/70R17 steel-belted tubeless radial Rear tire: 170/60R17 steel-belted tubeless radial