I love my '06. Owned for 3 plus years now. Bought at 24,000 miles. Now at 63,000. Thanks to Kirk's videos, the LT is relatively easy to maintain if one has some mechanical mind. At 65 yrs old, this will probably be my last bike. (Riding tip: never come to a stop with wheel turned or it will fall)
Bought a 2002 LT and it's coming to the stop that is very different for me. I've ridden bikes in the 200-400lb range for over 50 years. Those bikes you flick around, turn the handlebars at a stop, switch feet...., just comfy..... With the LT you want to stop a certain way and you don't move around. Once moving the bike is great. Parking is an issue:: Twice, once in driveway the bike just rolled off the side stand. a 2% grade can do it. Yesterday I parked on a small slope at St George Hotel, Volcano Ca and just like that if came off the stand. No damage. It'll never happen again.
Loved my LT. Rode it across the country, to Mexico 2 up and everywhere in between with the CD blaring. When the wife quit riding I replaced it with a 1200 GT but will always have fond memories of riding CA-1 in the pouring rain.
I bought a 2008 model on the 15th of may 2016 , and I haven't driven a bike since 1986 when I took my driving license. And yes , I dropped it twice nearly still standing , but I drove the LT on a Go Cart track last sunday , 22nd of may 2016 with no problem. And you know what ; with only 300 km experience on a bike since 1986 , I drove with my left hand behind my back 2 laps ! On the 19th of june 2016 I'm going to spend a whole day on a race track in southern Sweden to learn more , can't wait !! Me and "Mr. Spandau" , my bikes nickname 😄. ( BMW motorcycles are made in Spandau / Berlin. ) This is a great bike !!
I think if I was to go for a heavy bike, it would be a honda 1800 goldwing instead, just my first thoughts. But would have to weigh the cost of ownership & maintenance with the level dealer networks nation wide, then throw it into the mix to make a real decision ?
+Douwe Bloot ...To be honest the BMW bikes from what I've rear & know of haven't had the best long term reliability overall, some models are better than others, but the reasons I first posted have a big part to play, but that would go for any new bike.?
Don’t buy a BMW K 1200 LT. Here’s why. I thought after 40 years on two wheels I deserved to have the best for once. I sold my 16-year-old Yamaha venture royale with 138,000 trouble-free miles on it and bought a 2004 BMW K 1200 LT. It has a great seat. Perfectly positioned back rest. My wife’s loved heated back seat and backrest. I thought the motor was very well refined and well behaved. Clutch action was very easy. Once rolling, it felt lighter than it was. Very powerful brakes.. more than adequate power. Engine and radiator heat was not a problem on warm days. I bought the machine used with 9000 miles on it. I read the owners manual. I went to my local dealer and bought a BMW oil filter, $21?. I asked the dealer about the maintenance required for the ABS Braking system & the routine brake fluid change which I have read online must be done often.. I think it was every two years because, that avoids problems with some type of electric pump that feeds break fluid to the calibers.The dealer said yes we can take care of that. $850 plus materials.. The online warnings said, don’t even think about trying to do this yourself at home because it is an electrical/mechanical braking system. And if you don’t have the proper tools/experience/or you get air in the system. You will be taking the motorcycle to the dealer to have the system reset because the brakes will not work,On a trailerThey simply will not work if you get air in the system and the alarm in the computer lights the dashboard up that you have brake failure. Thank goodness for RUclips. I learned on RUclips that it can be done And while I was at it, I changed the clutch fluid, which required a special tool that I had to buy at the BMW dealer. But if you do not change the clutch fluid also while doing the brake fluid. The slave cylinder near the clutch will probably leak sooner or later, ruining the clutch.At that time, that job was almost $3000 in labor and parts. I’m sure it’s much more now. The electric windshield was nice, but it was hi meaning you could never look over it unless you work 6‘13“ tall. The problem with that is, the windshield was distorted and wavy. For that price, that windshield should be clear and distortion free. Speaking of brakes.. The rear brakes made a horrible scratching grinding noise. I thought that there was a rock embedded in one of the brake pads grinding against the rotor. That was not the case. I checked online some of the forms, and they said there is a simple fix for that. They all do it, you buy an aftermarket rotor and aftermarket pads..then the horrible noise goes away. It’s not cheap either. Then there is the oil burning situation. I remember going to a biker gathering at our local gathering spot. sometimes 3 to 5000 motorcycles show up. I pulled in as usual, parked my motorcycle on this side stand. As I inched through the crowd, my rear brakes were grinding, but I try not to let that bother me. But when I was leaving, after my machine had been parked on the side stand. Started the machine up, and clouds of oil filled the area.. this is normal for the BMW four-cylinder engine when it’s parked on the side stand.The crowd was not amused, and neither was I. Machine had a factory security system. That somehow disabled the ignition system, and you had to carry a keyfob much like the ones you get with your car for opening and closing the doors remotely. The only problem was., Every time I got gasoline. I had to dig that Fob out of my pocket or tank bag to enable the motorcycle to be started again. It doesn’t sound like a major problem, and it really wasn’t, but I didn’t like it. Wish they could’ve timed it for five minutes rather than less than a minute.Another annoying design was, when you turn the key to the left of shut the engine off, you had to turn it to a second click or your battery will go dead overnight. Which happened often. I never really got used to the Rototiller style handlebars. It felt like I was sitting well behind the center of gravity and the handlebars were too long. I felt disconnected, almost like I was sitting on the passenger seat. Speaking of low speeds. Those electric brakes had no feel at parking lot speed’s. It could make an experienced rider look like a beginner struggling with those breaks, the front end, the weight of the machine, especially if there is a passenger on board.Complicated by the weight of the machine. And the grinding noises from the rear disc. And further complicated by that weird tell a lever or whatever it’s called front end that does not compress when you press down on it. You brake ait low speeds, the energy does not go into the fork springs like with the telescopic fork. That energy goes into making the bike feel top-heavy if you have the handlebars turned slightly. I have had 2 Yamaha ventures. I put 138,000 miles on one, 42,000 miles on the second one. I never dropped either one of those machines. But that weird front end complicated by the no feel electric brakes, caused me to drop my BMW K 1200 LT two times in parking lots. The reason I finally got rid of the machine is. There was a lot of chatter on the Internet about the rear gear set housing bearings failing. There were pictures of the housings with pieces missing out of them, and one actually with flames. I also read articles of people traveling happily across the country, and they would casually mention that they had the rear gear set housing bearings failure, and they were delayed a few days while it was repaired. I went to my local dealer and asked about this problem. He chuckled and acted like it was a foolish rumor. He said that only happens when people are pulling a trailer and carrying a passenger with a lot of luggage. I have had two transmission lock ups over my riding life. If you have a lock up after the clutch, pull in the clutch and will not save you. And the thought of having a lock up because of a bearing failure in the rear wheel, that was the last straw. I sold the machine because I just could not ride without worrying about having the rear wheel lock up. I also couldn’t get used to that weird front end that does not compress to absorb kinetic energy when you use the brakes. It’s just a different feel. And it makes the Machine a real handful if you have the bars turned slightly, because instead of that weight energy going into the Forks Springs, it goes into making the bike want to fall over as I mentioned before which I did two times. One other little thing I forgot to mention earlier. You have to buy a lot of special tools that only fits BMWs for some simple chores. I also forgot to mention the rearview mirror‘s. Both of my mirrors had fallen off at different times. They just fell off. $480.each... when I spoke to another LT owners, they would chuckle and say, oh my mirrors fall off from time to time, and practically all of them said, they have dropped their machines from time to time also, everyone of them. I was told to get used to it. I also have a Honda pacific coast, which I considered to be, probably the best all-around motorcycle in the universe. It has a very similar rearview mirror set up. Only, Honda had metal tether cables attached to the mirrors, and when they pop off on a Honda from being bumped, they hang from the cable and you just put them back on. BMW or could have done that, but I guess they like getting the $480 a mirror when they fall off. After I sold the BMW. I bought a Moto Guzzi norge. Abs that can be turned off with a push of a button, and they can be bled without special tools or a special procedure. Electric windshield that is not distorted, regular telescopic forks, 300 pounds lighter than an LT. very easy to work on, and you don’t have to marry the dealer. Valve adjustment takes less than 30 minutes, and you don’t even have to remove the fuel tank, and those special tools needed. No shims either. This is my fourth Guzzi, and I have never had to take any of them to the dealer for anything. The Guzzi is not as perfect as a Japanese machine as. But it’s a hell of a lot closer than the BMW is. And a hell of a lot cheaper. I realize the BMW had reversed, which it had to have for that much weight. And a six CD changer, and cruise control,. But I never listen to the radio or CD on a motorcycle ever. I do miss the cruise control on my Norge, and my Norge does have heated grips from the factory. I don’t think I would ever recommend buying the LTE to anyone. I know they discontinued it a few years ago. But I don’t wonder why. It was an imperfect machine at a very high price.. If you want a big Turing machine, you cannot go wrong with a gold wing. If you want a sport touring machine I would look at the Kawasaki concourse or the FJR1300.. or whatever you like, but I think I would pass on the BMWs. The honest speaking owners they tell you the truth the way it is. Will tell you that they are not perfect and they are expensive to maintain. I’ve spoken to a few people that said they were the worst motorcycle they ever had in their life. When I heard that from a couple guys, I thought about it, and I have to say, that my LT was probably the worst motorcycle I have ever had. Just had too many flaws and to many handling problems and to much weight... that’s too bad because, it was really nice on the open road...BMWs sure ain’t what they used to be. They actually set the standard for long distance and reliability with their air cooled twins.. but that was a long time ago..
arthur green Arthur do you know me? When you said I must be a competitor, did you mean that I was possibly competition as in sales competitor? Like possibly a Honda dealer or an Indian dealer? I am not. I’m just a very disappointed ex owner of what I thought was top-of-the-line equipment. on the other hand, if you meant competitor in the sense that I am a competitive person. I am that. In fact,I am an ex-six-time road racing champion. I have won 6 road racing championships, and I was a 2 Time National road racing champion, Yamaha 250s.. after working at my regular day job 40 hours a week, I sold motorcycles and wrenched on motorcycles at four different dealerships for 17 years in the evenings and on weekends,, simply because I am a motorcycle junkie. I have more than 700,000 miles behind Barz just on the street, mostly commuting.Today, July 2020, I own the fewest number of motorcycles in my garage Then I have owned since the 60s. I have cut way back, and I am down to just four motorcycles. My Goldwing 1800, my Moto Guzzi Norge, my Honda pacific coast, which I consider to be the most useful best all-around motorcycle in the history of the universe. I commuted on my current PC 800 for 24 trouble for years I mean I had no trouble at all with this machine ever.And I have my Yamaha Road race 250 machine that I won all those championships on ,resting in a corner fading away. I am surprised anybody even found my comments about the BMW LT that I owned, that I was so disappointed with.. I mean I thought I finally made it to the top of the heap as far as the best touring equipment when I bought that BMW. After owning it, and finding out how flawed and imperfect it was, I felt like a fool for wasting my money and my time , buying a reputation.. I have known some longtime BMW riders and mechanics over the past four decades.I now agree with what they say, bmw’s sure ain’t what they used to be.!
Harry Lime - Thanks for the honest comments, I have done tons of research on the K12LT recently as I have been fortunate enough to be gifted a 2002 model with 38k miles on it. Literally right now on its way to its new home in Florida. I hope the older models have less issues but it has cost me $2k in replacing brake lines and fuel pump, two known issues. Safe riding. Ian.
To funny how about the under size battery, the very expensive tires, the small container volume, the exesive weight also top heavy and prone to tipping,oil site glass and filler plug, bike has to be on side stand to fill fuel, all service is mucho$$$$ or diy very time consuming the most simple task requires removal of plastic panels, the rear caliper mounted low which holds dirt and debris causing wear. Beware of this motor cycle.....it does look good though.
This bike is too top heavy at slow speeds; its only a matter of time before it goes over in the parking lot. Its plagued with a weak dry clutch and rear drive. I would not take one if it was given to me.
Wanted to put emphasis on the fact it is an expensive bike but used an unfortunate choice of words. They do a number of reviews at the same time and you have a short time and no script when you give your review, I should have said “if you are looking at a Honda Goldwing or a Harley Custom you should check the K1200 out” . My apologies!
experienced rider? How much experience does one have to have to be considered experienced? I am not kidding, I have over 700,000 miles behind bars just on the street. Most of them commuting, I would go to work if it was going to rain or if it was raining lightly. I’ve been caught in the snow several times at work and had to ride home in the snow, One time in 6 inches of snow. I’ve been riding off road dirt bikes, play only, not motocross for over 30 years. I’ve written trials bikes in competition. I road raced motorcycles for eight years..I won 6 roadracing championships, two times national champion AMA, and WERA.. I have had 108 motorcycles and quads. I’ve had three ventures, one Goldwing GL 1800, one BMW K 1200 LT. That was the most flawed motorcycle I ever owned. It was also my first and only BMW. I am never going out on that BMW limb again. You have to marry The dealer.. I was also a motorcycle mechanic in three different shops for Honda/Yamaha. I was a salesman part-time for 17 years selling motorcycles Yamaha, Honda, suzuki, Kawasaki. Because of my interest and racing in motorcycles, I needed to work part time in a motorcycle shop to get parts at cost.. I am a certified ATV instructor. I was a Pennsylvania motorcycle state inspection mechanic. do you know anyone with more experience? I repeat, that BMW K 1200 LT was my very first BMW, and I will never buy another one. Their cars are the same way. I know two mechanics. They convinced me that BMW actually makes things more difficult to work on and you require special tools to do simple maintenance jobs. They convinced me that they do that on purpose so you have to go to the dealer to support the service department and that dealership.. after owning a BMW and my best friend has had three BMW convertibles. I believe that.. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the three BMW is within 100 miles of where I live are now out of business. I’m talking about motorcycle shops.. they are all gone from Western Pennsylvania. Out of business.. In the 70s and 80s, BMWs, their air cold two cylinder bikes were the standard for a long distance sport touring. In the early 80s when they started to play the high-performance game with the Japanese. BMW proved that they are not perfect. Lots of flaws with those machines. My friend that has had three. BMW convertible cars, bought the first K bike from BMW when they came out in the early 80s. I drove him to the dealership to pick up his new BMW K bike.. I followed him home because I was driving his car. When he got home, it was almost 9 PM. He ran past me into his phone to call the dealer, in an attempt to get him to take the bike back. He hated it from the first night. The dealer would not let him take it for a test drive. . A few years later he bought a BMW K 1200 RS new. When he took that machine into the dealer for his first check up according to the owners manual, it cost him something like $1400, and you couldn’t tell that they did anything. I’m sure that they probably synced the throttle bodies and changed some fluids, and checked the air pressure in the tires. But that was pretty excessive on that price I was a mechanic at three different dealerships like I said. But the Internet was saying, don’t even try to change your own brake fluid on your K 1200 LT. Because if you get air in the system, it completely shuts down and you’ll have to transport the bike to the dealer to have it reset.. Do you do you watch the show, it was a series called long way around or long way round. Actor Ewam McGregor and his friend Charlie Boorman went around the globe across Europe and Mongolia and North America and back to England on BMWs. They had a third motorcycle along written by the cameraman. That was a multiepisode television series. In the middle of Mongolia, they had a break problem with one of the machines. Both of those guys were very experienced motorcycle riders/mechanics. They could not get the brakes to work even a little bit. They were on satellite phone to the factory at BMW trying to get the brakes to work at least a little bit on one wheel. But they were completely shut down and they ended up transporting that motorcycle somehow to the nearest train station and sending it back to Great Britain because they could not get the brakes to work at all. They took the third motorcycle in that group belonging to the cameraman, and, they bought the cameraman a Jawa two-stroke motorcycle locally. Charlie, EWAN, and the cameraman all agreed, they should have rode jawa bikes for that type of a trip instead of BMWs.. they showed video of the cameraman literally toying with EWAN and Charlie riding circles around them as they wrestled with their BMW GS motorcycles on those terrible roads across Mongolia on the road of bones.. another widely known story. About 10 years ago, two riders rode together in the endurance event here in the USA called the iron butt.. The 2 Riders rode BMWs.. they carried a complete spare final drive with them. That’s probably around 40 or 50 pounds. But they felt it necessary to carry a spare. That is the first time I ever heard of any rider in the iron but carrying a spare final drive. Because they were blowing up very often in those days. Back in the 2000s. I actually saw a GS final drive on the Internet, I’m sure The picture is still on the Internet. Of a final drive on a BMW GS, that blew up, like they were doing, only this one the case was opened up because of the fragments inside that had exploded fracturing the case, and the gear lube inside was actually in flames. I have never even heard of that on any Japanese motorcycles shaft drive ever. Never heard of it.. that’s the long and the short of it. I think I have enough experience. Let me change that, I know I have a hell of a lot of experience. And I have learned never to buy another BMW.. they have become overly complex and unreliable because they don’t give them enough testing.. dealers are disappearing around here anyway, because they have priced themselves out of the market.. I would definitely advise anyone considering buying a BMW K 1200 LT, to not buy it. It is not a very well designed machine, and it has too many flaws.. you might be curious about what I’m writing now here in August 2022. it’s Friday night, tomorrow I am going riding with friends on my 2008 Yamaha royal star venture. My third Venture since 1986. I had my first one for 138,000 miles, I had my second one, a 2002 royal star venture, 48,000 miles, and I just picked up this 2008 royal star venture, used, totally stock in September 2021. I spent a month changing all the fluids and taking everything apart, swingarm off, shock off, steering head bearings, all fluids, new tires, carburetors off, adjusting the valves, and none of them needed adjustment at 30,000 miles. Just everything was checked lubed adjusted. Tomorrow, a couple buddies of mine and I are headed for the east coast, no definite destination, just go.. I also have a new Kawasaki Z 400. Great little bike, I have 22 improvements to that machine on RUclips under my other RUclips name. No modifications were done to the airbox, computer, or the exhaust, I just made improvements to luggage capacity, seat, windshield, horns, grips, foot pegs, spores, Jesus clips, hand guards, tank bag, luggage rack, etc... I always have a non-fairing sport bike, and a big fairing touring bike.. Any questions?
Авто/Мото
Electric centrestand is a killer idea
Owned this some years back. Its definitely one of the best bike i ever owned.
I love my '06. Owned for 3 plus years now. Bought at 24,000 miles. Now at 63,000. Thanks to Kirk's videos, the LT is relatively easy to maintain if one has some mechanical mind. At 65 yrs old, this will probably be my last bike. (Riding tip: never come to a stop with wheel turned or it will fall)
Bought a 2002 LT and it's coming to the stop that is very different for me. I've ridden bikes in the 200-400lb range for over 50 years. Those bikes you flick around, turn the handlebars at a stop, switch feet...., just comfy..... With the LT you want to stop a certain way and you don't move around. Once moving the bike is great. Parking is an issue:: Twice, once in driveway the bike just rolled off the side stand. a 2% grade can do it. Yesterday I parked on a small slope at St George Hotel, Volcano Ca and just like that if came off the stand. No damage. It'll never happen again.
Loved my LT. Rode it across the country, to Mexico 2 up and everywhere in between with the CD blaring. When the wife quit riding I replaced it with a 1200 GT but will always have fond memories of riding CA-1 in the pouring rain.
Hearing an ex Harley guy comment that a K1200lt is for the “financially stable” rider makes me worry.
I bought a 2008 model on the 15th of may 2016 , and I haven't driven a bike since 1986 when I took my driving license.
And yes , I dropped it twice nearly still standing , but I drove the LT on a Go Cart track last sunday , 22nd of may 2016 with no problem.
And you know what ; with only 300 km experience on a bike since 1986 , I drove with my left hand behind my back 2 laps !
On the 19th of june 2016 I'm going to spend a whole day on a race track in southern Sweden to learn more , can't wait !!
Me and "Mr. Spandau" , my bikes nickname 😄. ( BMW motorcycles are made in Spandau / Berlin. )
This is a great bike !!
Can find these things for a song nowadays, but you gotta keep an eye out for metal shavings in the final drive.
How long do you think it would take to go 60-100 in this bike ?
How to remove the fronthood with headlight?
I think if I was to go for a heavy bike, it would be a honda 1800 goldwing instead, just my first thoughts. But would have to weigh the cost of ownership & maintenance with the level dealer networks nation wide, then throw it into the mix to make a real decision ?
+Douwe Bloot ...To be honest the BMW bikes from what I've rear & know of haven't had the best long term reliability overall, some models are better than others, but the reasons I first posted have a big part to play, but that would go for any new bike.?
Reliability . Passenger arm rests.
Don’t buy a BMW K 1200 LT. Here’s why.
I thought after 40 years on two wheels I deserved to have the best for once. I sold my 16-year-old Yamaha venture royale with 138,000 trouble-free miles on it and bought a 2004 BMW K 1200 LT.
It has a great seat. Perfectly positioned back rest. My wife’s loved heated back seat and backrest. I thought the motor was very well refined and well behaved. Clutch action was very easy. Once rolling, it felt lighter than it was. Very powerful brakes.. more than adequate power. Engine and radiator heat was not a problem on warm days.
I bought the machine used with 9000 miles on it. I read the owners manual. I went to my local dealer and bought a BMW oil filter, $21?. I asked the dealer about the maintenance required for the ABS Braking system & the routine brake fluid change which I have read online must be done often.. I think it was every two years because, that avoids problems with some type of electric pump that feeds break fluid to the calibers.The dealer said yes we can take care of that. $850 plus materials..
The online warnings said, don’t even think about trying to do this yourself at home because it is an electrical/mechanical braking system. And if you don’t have the proper tools/experience/or you get air in the system. You will be taking the motorcycle to the dealer to have the system reset because the brakes will not work,On a trailerThey simply will not work if you get air in the system and the alarm in the computer lights the dashboard up that you have brake failure.
Thank goodness for RUclips. I learned on RUclips that it can be done
And while I was at it, I changed the clutch fluid, which required a special tool that I had to buy at the BMW dealer. But if you do not change the clutch fluid also while doing the brake fluid. The slave cylinder near the clutch will probably leak sooner or later, ruining the clutch.At that time, that job was almost $3000 in labor and parts. I’m sure it’s much more now.
The electric windshield was nice, but it was hi meaning you could never look over it unless you work 6‘13“ tall. The problem with that is, the windshield was distorted and wavy. For that price, that windshield should be clear and distortion free.
Speaking of brakes.. The rear brakes made a horrible scratching grinding noise. I thought that there was a rock embedded in one of the brake pads grinding against the rotor. That was not the case. I checked online some of the forms, and they said there is a simple fix for that. They all do it, you buy an aftermarket rotor and aftermarket pads..then the horrible noise goes away. It’s not cheap either.
Then there is the oil burning situation. I remember going to a biker gathering at our local gathering spot. sometimes 3 to 5000 motorcycles show up. I pulled in as usual, parked my motorcycle on this side stand. As I inched through the crowd, my rear brakes were grinding, but I try not to let that bother me. But when I was leaving, after my machine had been parked on the side stand. Started the machine up, and clouds of oil filled the area.. this is normal for the BMW four-cylinder engine when it’s parked on the side stand.The crowd was not amused, and neither was I.
Machine had a factory security system. That somehow disabled the ignition system, and you had to carry a keyfob much like the ones you get with your car for opening and closing the doors remotely. The only problem was., Every time I got gasoline. I had to dig that Fob out of my pocket or tank bag to enable the motorcycle to be started again. It doesn’t sound like a major problem, and it really wasn’t, but I didn’t like it. Wish they could’ve timed it for five minutes rather than less than a minute.Another annoying design was, when you turn the key to the left of shut the engine off, you had to turn it to a second click or your battery will go dead overnight. Which happened often.
I never really got used to the Rototiller style handlebars. It felt like I was sitting well behind the center of gravity and the handlebars were too long. I felt disconnected, almost like I was sitting on the passenger seat.
Speaking of low speeds. Those electric brakes had no feel at parking lot speed’s. It could make an experienced rider look like a beginner struggling with those breaks, the front end, the weight of the machine, especially if there is a passenger on board.Complicated by the weight of the machine. And the grinding noises from the rear disc. And further complicated by that weird tell a lever or whatever it’s called front end that does not compress when you press down on it. You brake ait low speeds, the energy does not go into the fork springs like with the telescopic fork. That energy goes into making the bike feel top-heavy if you have the handlebars turned slightly. I have had 2 Yamaha ventures. I put 138,000 miles on one, 42,000 miles on the second one. I never dropped either one of those machines. But that weird front end complicated by the no feel electric brakes, caused me to drop my BMW K 1200 LT two times in parking lots.
The reason I finally got rid of the machine is. There was a lot of chatter on the Internet about the rear gear set housing bearings failing. There were pictures of the housings with pieces missing out of them, and one actually with flames. I also read articles of people traveling happily across the country, and they would casually mention that they had the rear gear set housing bearings failure, and they were delayed a few days while it was repaired. I went to my local dealer and asked about this problem. He chuckled and acted like it was a foolish rumor. He said that only happens when people are pulling a trailer and carrying a passenger with a lot of luggage.
I have had two transmission lock ups over my riding life. If you have a lock up after the clutch, pull in the clutch and will not save you. And the thought of having a lock up because of a bearing failure in the rear wheel, that was the last straw.
I sold the machine because I just could not ride without worrying about having the rear wheel lock up. I also couldn’t get used to that weird front end that does not compress to absorb kinetic energy when you use the brakes. It’s just a different feel. And it makes the Machine a real handful if you have the bars turned slightly, because instead of that weight energy going into the Forks Springs, it goes into making the bike want to fall over as I mentioned before which I did two times.
One other little thing I forgot to mention earlier. You have to buy a lot of special tools that only fits BMWs for some simple chores.
I also forgot to mention the rearview mirror‘s. Both of my mirrors had fallen off at different times. They just fell off. $480.each... when I spoke to another LT owners, they would chuckle and say, oh my mirrors fall off from time to time, and practically all of them said, they have dropped their machines from time to time also, everyone of them. I was told to get used to it. I also have a Honda pacific coast, which I considered to be, probably the best all-around motorcycle in the universe. It has a very similar rearview mirror set up. Only, Honda had metal tether cables attached to the mirrors, and when they pop off on a Honda from being bumped, they hang from the cable and you just put them back on. BMW or could have done that, but I guess they like getting the $480 a mirror when they fall off.
After I sold the BMW. I bought a Moto Guzzi norge. Abs that can be turned off with a push of a button, and they can be bled without special tools or a special procedure. Electric windshield that is not distorted, regular telescopic forks, 300 pounds lighter than an LT. very easy to work on, and you don’t have to marry the dealer. Valve adjustment takes less than 30 minutes, and you don’t even have to remove the fuel tank, and those special tools needed. No shims either. This is my fourth Guzzi, and I have never had to take any of them to the dealer for anything.
The Guzzi is not as perfect as a Japanese machine as. But it’s a hell of a lot closer than the BMW is. And a hell of a lot cheaper. I realize the BMW had reversed, which it had to have for that much weight. And a six CD changer, and cruise control,. But I never listen to the radio or CD on a motorcycle ever. I do miss the cruise control on my Norge, and my Norge does have heated grips from the factory. I don’t think I would ever recommend buying the LTE to anyone. I know they discontinued it a few years ago. But I don’t wonder why. It was an imperfect machine at a very high price..
If you want a big Turing machine, you cannot go wrong with a gold wing. If you want a sport touring machine I would look at the Kawasaki concourse or the FJR1300.. or whatever you like, but I think I would pass on the BMWs. The honest speaking owners they tell you the truth the way it is. Will tell you that they are not perfect and they are expensive to maintain. I’ve spoken to a few people that said they were the worst motorcycle they ever had in their life. When I heard that from a couple guys, I thought about it, and I have to say, that my LT was probably the worst motorcycle I have ever had. Just had too many flaws and to many handling problems and to much weight... that’s too bad because, it was really nice on the open road...BMWs sure ain’t what they used to be. They actually set the standard for long distance and reliability with their air cooled twins.. but that was a long time ago..
I have an 03 and also several GL1800's - Never buy another BMW again it's an expensive unreliable MC compared to all Asian bikes.
A person with this much wind must be a competitor.
arthur green
Arthur do you know me? When you said I must be a competitor, did you mean that I was possibly competition as in sales competitor? Like possibly a Honda dealer or an Indian dealer? I am not. I’m just a very disappointed ex owner of what I thought was top-of-the-line equipment.
on the other hand, if you meant competitor in the sense that I am a competitive person. I am that. In fact,I am an ex-six-time road racing champion. I have won 6 road racing championships, and I was a 2 Time National road racing champion, Yamaha 250s.. after working at my regular day job 40 hours a week, I sold motorcycles and wrenched on motorcycles at four different dealerships for 17 years in the evenings and on weekends,, simply because I am a motorcycle junkie. I have more than 700,000 miles behind Barz just on the street, mostly commuting.Today, July 2020, I own the fewest number of motorcycles in my garage Then I have owned since the 60s. I have cut way back, and I am down to just four motorcycles. My Goldwing 1800, my Moto Guzzi Norge, my Honda pacific coast, which I consider to be the most useful best all-around motorcycle in the history of the universe. I commuted on my current PC 800 for 24 trouble for years I mean I had no trouble at all with this machine ever.And I have my Yamaha Road race 250 machine that I won all those championships on ,resting in a corner fading away.
I am surprised anybody even found my comments about the BMW LT that I owned, that I was so disappointed with.. I mean I thought I finally made it to the top of the heap as far as the best touring equipment when I bought that BMW. After owning it, and finding out how flawed and imperfect it was, I felt like a fool for wasting my money and my time , buying a reputation.. I have known some longtime BMW riders and mechanics over the past four decades.I now agree with what they say, bmw’s sure ain’t what they used to be.!
My apologies. I'm convinced that you know your stuff. I just thought that you were working for competitors.
Harry Lime - Thanks for the honest comments, I have done tons of research on the K12LT recently as I have been fortunate enough to be gifted a 2002 model with 38k miles on it. Literally right now on its way to its new home in Florida. I hope the older models have less issues but it has cost me $2k in replacing brake lines and fuel pump, two known issues. Safe riding. Ian.
I love my LT, its a fantastic touring bike.My one is build in 2007.Even if I wanted to sell my LT, I couldn't. My wife would kill me .....😳
fight Does anyone identify bigger this versiqnC . .
Clutch slave cylinder
To funny how about the under size battery, the very expensive tires, the small container volume, the exesive weight also top heavy and prone to tipping,oil site glass and filler plug, bike has to be on side stand to fill fuel, all service is mucho$$$$ or diy very time consuming the most simple task requires removal of plastic panels, the rear caliper mounted low which holds dirt and debris causing wear. Beware of this motor cycle.....it does look good though.
So I should not buy it?
Cd player?! 😂
This bike is too top heavy at slow speeds; its only a matter of time before it goes over in the parking lot. Its plagued with a weak dry clutch and rear drive. I would not take one if it was given to me.
if someone gives you a bmw for free and you don't want it contact me and ill have it picked up. by car carrier
what do you ride?
You don't know what you are talking about. Typical keyboard jockey. Opinion based on uninformed bias.
After 03 they had a lot of problems. 99- 03 are the better ones.
@rdelaski Power center stand plus reverse! Ever try to push one backward (800+ pounds)? I wouldn't buy one of the older ones b/c of no reverse.
@@beemrdon52 There are two kinds of men in this world, and you aren’t either one of them.
@@VagaBumAdventures too funny...
Very arrogant comment!! Anyone can buy it.!! He should have said this bike is for experience rider!!
Wanted to put emphasis on the fact it is an expensive bike but used an unfortunate choice of words. They do a number of reviews at the same time and you have a short time and no script when you give your review, I should have said “if you are looking at a Honda Goldwing or a Harley Custom you should check the K1200 out” . My apologies!
experienced rider? How much experience does one have to have to be considered experienced? I am not kidding, I have over 700,000 miles behind bars just on the street. Most of them commuting, I would go to work if it was going to rain or if it was raining lightly. I’ve been caught in the snow several times at work and had to ride home in the snow, One time in 6 inches of snow.
I’ve been riding off road dirt bikes, play only, not motocross for over 30 years. I’ve written trials bikes in competition. I road raced motorcycles for eight years..I won 6 roadracing championships, two times national champion AMA, and WERA..
I have had 108 motorcycles and quads. I’ve had three ventures, one Goldwing GL 1800, one BMW K 1200 LT. That was the most flawed motorcycle I ever owned. It was also my first and only BMW. I am never going out on that BMW limb again. You have to marry The dealer..
I was also a motorcycle mechanic in three different shops for Honda/Yamaha. I was a salesman part-time for 17 years selling motorcycles Yamaha, Honda, suzuki, Kawasaki. Because of my interest and racing in motorcycles, I needed to work part time in a motorcycle shop to get parts at cost..
I am a certified ATV instructor. I was a Pennsylvania motorcycle state inspection mechanic.
do you know anyone with more experience?
I repeat, that BMW K 1200 LT was my very first BMW, and I will never buy another one. Their cars are the same way. I know two mechanics. They convinced me that BMW actually makes things more difficult to work on and you require special tools to do simple maintenance jobs. They convinced me that they do that on purpose so you have to go to the dealer to support the service department and that dealership.. after owning a BMW and my best friend has had three BMW convertibles. I believe that..
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the three BMW is within 100 miles of where I live are now out of business. I’m talking about motorcycle shops.. they are all gone from Western Pennsylvania. Out of business..
In the 70s and 80s, BMWs, their air cold two cylinder bikes were the standard for a long distance sport touring. In the early 80s when they started to play the high-performance game with the Japanese. BMW proved that they are not perfect. Lots of flaws with those machines. My friend that has had three. BMW convertible cars, bought the first K bike from BMW when they came out in the early 80s. I drove him to the dealership to pick up his new BMW K bike.. I followed him home because I was driving his car. When he got home, it was almost 9 PM. He ran past me into his phone to call the dealer, in an attempt to get him to take the bike back. He hated it from the first night. The dealer would not let him take it for a test drive. .
A few years later he bought a BMW K 1200 RS new. When he took that machine into the dealer for his first check up according to the owners manual, it cost him something like $1400, and you couldn’t tell that they did anything. I’m sure that they probably synced the throttle bodies and changed some fluids, and checked the air pressure in the tires. But that was pretty excessive on that price
I was a mechanic at three different dealerships like I said. But the Internet was saying, don’t even try to change your own brake fluid on your K 1200 LT. Because if you get air in the system, it completely shuts down and you’ll have to transport the bike to the dealer to have it reset..
Do you do you watch the show, it was a series called long way around or long way round. Actor Ewam McGregor and his friend Charlie Boorman went around the globe across Europe and Mongolia and North America and back to England on BMWs. They had a third motorcycle along written by the cameraman. That was a multiepisode television series.
In the middle of Mongolia, they had a break problem with one of the machines. Both of those guys were very experienced motorcycle riders/mechanics. They could not get the brakes to work even a little bit. They were on satellite phone to the factory at BMW trying to get the brakes to work at least a little bit on one wheel. But they were completely shut down and they ended up transporting that motorcycle somehow to the nearest train station and sending it back to Great Britain because they could not get the brakes to work at all. They took the third motorcycle in that group belonging to the cameraman, and, they bought the cameraman a Jawa two-stroke motorcycle locally. Charlie, EWAN, and the cameraman all agreed, they should have rode jawa bikes for that type of a trip instead of BMWs.. they showed video of the cameraman literally toying with EWAN and Charlie riding circles around them as they wrestled with their BMW GS motorcycles on those terrible roads across Mongolia on the road of bones..
another widely known story. About 10 years ago, two riders rode together in the endurance event here in the USA called the iron butt.. The 2 Riders rode BMWs.. they carried a complete spare final drive with them. That’s probably around 40 or 50 pounds. But they felt it necessary to carry a spare. That is the first time I ever heard of any rider in the iron but carrying a spare final drive. Because they were blowing up very often in those days. Back in the 2000s. I actually saw a GS final drive on the Internet, I’m sure The picture is still on the Internet. Of a final drive on a BMW GS, that blew up, like they were doing, only this one the case was opened up because of the fragments inside that had exploded fracturing the case, and the gear lube inside was actually in flames. I have never even heard of that on any Japanese motorcycles shaft drive ever. Never heard of it..
that’s the long and the short of it. I think I have enough experience. Let me change that, I know I have a hell of a lot of experience. And I have learned never to buy another BMW.. they have become overly complex and unreliable because they don’t give them enough testing.. dealers are disappearing around here anyway, because they have priced themselves out of the market.. I would definitely advise anyone considering buying a BMW K 1200 LT, to not buy it. It is not a very well designed machine, and it has too many flaws..
you might be curious about what I’m writing now here in August 2022.
it’s Friday night, tomorrow I am going riding with friends on my 2008 Yamaha royal star venture. My third Venture since 1986. I had my first one for 138,000 miles, I had my second one, a 2002 royal star venture, 48,000 miles, and I just picked up this 2008 royal star venture, used, totally stock in September 2021. I spent a month changing all the fluids and taking everything apart, swingarm off, shock off, steering head bearings, all fluids, new tires, carburetors off, adjusting the valves, and none of them needed adjustment at 30,000 miles. Just everything was checked lubed adjusted. Tomorrow, a couple buddies of mine and I are headed for the east coast, no definite destination, just go..
I also have a new Kawasaki Z 400. Great little bike, I have 22 improvements to that machine on RUclips under my other RUclips name. No modifications were done to the airbox, computer, or the exhaust, I just made improvements to luggage capacity, seat, windshield, horns, grips, foot pegs, spores, Jesus clips, hand guards, tank bag, luggage rack, etc... I always have a non-fairing sport bike, and a big fairing touring bike..
Any questions?
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