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Question

Hello,

I am thinking about getting a BMW 1200 RT but I am worried about overheating in traffic on a hot day during a long trip. For example, on last year's trip we rode (2 up with all our gear for a 2 weeks) into Boise, Idaho and it was 104 F. We hit stop and go traffic for 45 minutes and went a total of about 10 miles. Last Monday we were 2 up on a 430 mile day and found ourselves in Sisters, Oregon, 90 F doing stop and go for 10 miles. It also took an hour. My present bike (Honda ST1100) has a radiator and worked fine but I like the ergonomics of a 1200 RT. Would an air cooled boxer engine with a small oil cooler last in that heat without ruining it?

If not, is there an addition I could put on that would keep the oil from getting up to a sufficient temp. Higher temp limits bearing life.

Gary Tarver

Submitted: 290 days and 19 hours ago.
Category: BMW
Value: $20
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

2009 1200 RT

Already Tried:
Honda ST1100

Posted by Sam 290 days and 19 hours ago.

Answer

The RT are excellent bikes. Most of the police bikes around where I live are RTs and they beat the hell out of them and leave them running most of the day. I have never seen of one fail due to overheated oil. There is really no need for additional coolers, the factory one works just fine.

290 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

Sam,

 

You fail to say where you live: in the hot South West, in the moderate Northwest, Central USA, on the East Coast, etc. All of the police bikes that I have seen on the west coast are also 1200 RT's. However, you NEVER see them in stop and go traffic. I used to live in a large city also. You NEVER see cops sitting in traffic. They are always passing by stopped cars on the way to the accident, or parked on the side of the road giving tickets. They never just sit in traffic. Because of this, they always have air going past their jugs. The last cop's RT I saw here in my town was towed away because it failed. Now, I don't know why it failed, it just had to be carried away.

Accepted Answer

Sorry about that, I live in Albuquerque New Mexico. In the summer we see many days over 100. The cops that have started riding them, absolutely love them. The city got a cheaper contract for cop bikes through Honda and several officers got a petition together to boycot the new Honda police cruisers because they like their Beemers so much.

 

As long as you use the BMW recommended synthetic oil and follow the oil change interval, they will last a long time.

 

My wife has a 1972 R75/5 that runs great in stop and go traffic, and it doesnt even have an oil cooler.

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Expert: Sam
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 806
Answered: 6/2/2009

BMW Master technician

BMW S.T.E.P. graduate, 10 years BMW dealership experience

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