spinalator

I copied and pasted from a FB owners group. I did edit and add a few things, and then did updates at the very bottom. <paste> Initial thoughts (04/2024): -First time out today, I got to test the bike in 20 to 30 kph crosswinds. Def a litte taller than the wing and fells a little less planted on the freeway, but seemed predictable. I realize pretty much every bike will not feel as planted as the wing, since it is extremely low to the ground, longer and 200 lbs heavier, but I digress. -The funny shaped windscreen let a lot of sidewind around it, but coming off ADV bikes, it is not the worst I have been on. The windscreen is too short for me, so I will have to source one a couple inches taller, might go an inch wider. (Edit: This was a sports screen, the touring one is good) -Trunk is massive and square shaped, helmets and full gear can fit. -It took 20 minutes to pair my iPhone, and I found the process frustrating. Only 1 minute to pair my Sena 50. I rebooted the phone twice, turned bluetooth on and off, and messed around until the bike and phone could talk to each other. The bike really wanted to pair with a neighbour's TV, but that is not a good long term relationship. -I like the TFT display, brightness seemed to work well. The wonderwheel will take some getting used to, but I think I will like it. -I did not get the BMW connected stuff to work, so I finally resigned myself to the radio, and will go back and read the manual a little better and perhaps watch some YouTube videos. The submenus were all blacked out and not accessible. -I already REALLY miss Carplay, but will give this an honest try before adding additonal screens, Garmins or whatnot. (I mounted my old Zumo XT and have a waterproof wireless charge mount for my iPhone now) -The heated grips/seat controls buried in menus on the screen is really bizarre, so I will program the speed buttons as many people do. Really odd to do it this way, head scratcher. (I programmed the buttons on the side of the fairing for seat and grips, no longer have to dig through the menu) -I did highway pegs, and engine guards. Feels odd to have feet so far out on the boxer, but I knew that sitting in the showroom. Def. More options for wing here. -The wing's seat made my lower butt/upper legs sore where they exited the seat, the RT has the familiar butt burn under the SITS bones (ischial tuberosity for the anatomically inclined). I was going to ride a month and see if my butt and the seat can come to terms, if not, I will get heading the custom route. (Never got comfortable, getting a custom seat this year) -great power delivery, snappy throttle, less vibey when parked (than I remember from earlier boxers). I thought the transmission was smooth and not clunky. -I miss the reverse gear -Adaptive cruise is OK, I do not care about it as much as I thought I would. I still use it by default but if you run into issues with traffic in front of you, you likely have serious problems as a rider. It is mostly convenience, I have some to find. I have not done a ton of night riding that is not interstate, so I can't really comment on the adaptive headlights. -(To me it feels) more flickable compared to the goldwing, rivals the Super Tenere. I will enjoy this more in the mountains. -The speakers I am never going to use, I would rather of had storage in those fairing holes, or a donut warmer, but that is me. (END of initial impressions) After one season: -Electronics: I do not like the BMW ride app. I know what they were trying to do, but it is buggy, has connection issues, and is not as intuitive as CarPlay in the Honda. I gave up on it after a month, and mounted my phone up front, like it is 2013, plus a Zumo XT. Most modern phones do not fit in their cubby, I had to go back to an iPhone SE to get an iPhone to fit. Seriously stupid design. The SXM reception is a well known flaw, ignored by BMW, and fixed with a 20 dollar antenna from Amazon. I removed the weird mushroom antenna on the front fairing and moved the Amazon one to the top of the trunk, which I am too lazy to take off the bike. The adaptive cruise died after a month, which took out the entire cruise control system. I later learned I could have disabled menu items and likely got basic cruise to work. It took three trips to 2 different BMW dealers to fix, and about 9 hours in software updates to the bike. Not exaggerating. Worked good for the rest of the season after that. -Boxer: not as smooth, a little vibey, but actually better than expected. The bike is snappier and quicker than expected. With no cruise at all, touring was annoying and I did get some numbness in my throttle hand, which I have never had before. With cruise working and with mountain roads, I have never felt it again, perhaps it was me and not the bike. -seating position is a little sportier than the wing, feet further back, but still not as tucked as a VFR. -The wind protection is actually better on the BMW, especially once I ditched the sport screen for a touring one. -Bags are way uglier, but so much more functional on the RT. For a 55 year old, not even a close call, I would take the storage over aesthetics every time, but not everyone would, I know. A lot to digest, sorry about the length.

That looks great and the way you did it makes a lot of sense! 👍

The last VFR was a 1200, I could not get comfortable on that bike, tried for three years. Next was a Yamaha Super Tenere for 3 years, loved that bike, the constant sidewinds here made it a little annoying on the highway. Next was a COVID purchase 2020 Goldwing. Great bike, but I started getting tailbone pain and I could not get comfortable on the wing. Weird I know. Currently on a 2023 R1250RT. I like the bike and will give it another two years. I am not in love with the local BMW dealer system, and the new strategy for owners not being allowed to do maintenance on their own bikes, and hate the BMW connected app. The wing CarPlay was so much better. Tailbone hates this bike too, looking at RDL seat. Currently looking at an old VFr 400 as a play bike, so it does seem like you never escape the VFR world, haha.

Hi there, been awol for 3 years, I thought I would swing by and see what mischief you have all been up to. Welcome new members and all you old duffers!

Make sure you post up some pictures!

Good work people!

Very few up here, I saw a '13 or '14 (?) for sale at a dealer about 7 hours away from where I am, before Xmas. I am moving further out to crappy road areas, so I am selling mine and getting a duallie for now (see classifieds for details, haha).

My recall is done, and the shop was very fast.

I have a GPR and it is fine. A little louder after 3 years of usage, but I have had no issues with it.

I am in Canada, and told the dealer the VIN, he ordered the part, took 6 days to come in, I dropped bike off, and 2 hours later rode it home. Then we had 5 inches of heavy wet snow, since I live in Canada...

I am hoping to sit on one at a moto-show this winter.

I have a ZG touring and ZG double bubble. I am 6'1" with tall torso and the DB gives me some buffeting. I can not recall if it is worse than stock, since I have had it on for over a year. I was going to put the touring one on to try, it looks more like a barn door, but we are going to the Black Hills in a month and it will still be cool in the early AM.

I bought nonOEM for the vtech and they fit fine, 40 bucks for two and I use a soft carry on bag for the trunk

They look nice, but you may find them on the smallish side. It depends what they are used for. If you are carrying a small bag, iPad, or just want to lock wallet and gloves when at the gym, they would be fine.

What seat is that? Euro special? I phoned but the lady in accounting said they were in a meeting, but out in 20 minutes, but no one called me back. I looked at their long PDF form and gave up, I have no idea what I am supposed to fill out. I want heat, touring shape, high end foam, possibly a little higher to lift me up, do not care about passenger or piping, black, and not a basket weave. What did you get?