New Member Introductions » Considering a new RS

I currently own a 2015 R Nine T and a 2012 R1200RT. I am not looking to do any long tours anymore and would like to downsize the RT and take advantage of the new technology on the 2020 RS. My wife won’t get on the back of the R9T and I need to see if she will like the RS.

I would consider the following modifications and would like feedback on what others recommend: exhaust (smaller), tail tidy/fender eliminator, windscreen (larger), top case (looking at Shad SH59X expandable) to throw helmets in on local rides. I would like to keep my GIVI tank lock bag, but it looks like there might be a conflict with the gps mount.

Is there anything I am missing?

I think the RS will be a good decision if you’re dropping the RT and want a modern tech bike that will still suit a pillion, certainly my wife thinks it’s a decent position and we have had a couple of successful 2 week trips across northern Spain and France.

You are possibly right that the tank bag may interfere with your GPS view, that will depend which seat option you take and how long in the body you are, however I’d recommend you reposition the Satnav anyway, it’s poorly located and takes your eye ( indeed needs a bow of the head) to view , there are good simple options to reposition the Nav above the clocks behind the screen, without any rewiring , this works much better and as a bonus will solve any issue with your tank bag.

I have OEM luggage so I will leave others to comment on larger more practical top boxes. A tail tidy might be a good change, depends a bit on the weather conditions you are likely to experience, those of us in wetter parts of Northern Europe tend to add mudslings and huggers in an attempt to protect the rear shock and suppress spray - particularly important when riding with a pillion who is likely to get muck on their legs and back even with a top box fitted!

There are LOTS of screen threads on here, have a search around, I’m not sure how much they will help, it seems we all differ on this one, that partly depends how much you wish to maintain a sports ( low screen) front end look and to what extent you will compromise that for a quieter still air ride. That said it’s a 5 minute job to switch screens so switching ahead of a tour is of very little effort once you find a replacement that suits you.

Good luck, I don’t think you will be disappointed, these are great all-round road bikes.

Welcome to the site.
I have not done any of the changes you want other than the a tank lock tank bag.
I used a small SW Motech bag and raised my GPS mount 1.5 inches.
I agree with Boxerboy that moving the GPS mount about the dash is a good modification.
One of the members here sells a mount that looks good and appears easy to mount.
The mount is motomate. https://moto-mate.com/product-category/b...-mount-r1250rs/

my wife didn't always care for the 1150R ride, in fact, I rarely remember her asking for a ride, unless it was perfect outside.. But she now is over the moon for the RS, planning overnight trips etc. that never happened before!!

She wanted me to get the RT, I wanted a new R. RS in the middle. RS is the cats pajamas for "sport" touring.

VS the RT you may give up a bit on comfort, the telelever really is a solid bit of kit....but not enough in my opinion. We find about 120 miles/2hrs it starts to get a little cramped 2 up and fully loaded, so we take a break earlier. note: she has an old tailbone injury so that doesn't help.... Air hawk seat pad helps. Turns out, It was PERFECT 2up for a 600 mile weekend. Found ourselves wanting to ride longer when we got home. :)

RS is going to give you absolutely all you need.

I prefer the stock panniers and top case. easy to use. But I'm looking at helmet locks-I find it odd that bmw didn't include that. Instead, Suggesting to put the helmet in the pannier. I cannot, my add on helmet intercom makes it a squeeze shut affair, plus I'm usually hauling groceries or something lol

exhaust, while unnecessarily big and shiny, is fine. Don't usually care for chrome on bikes, but I get a sense of satisfaction while cleaning it... so it stays.

I have a GIVI ST602 (4L) on mine and it doesn't interfere with the GPS cradle. The bigger bags might, though as others mentioned, you can relocate the cradle.

Welcome! I too think the RS is a good fit for your intended needs/purposes. I came from a K1600GT and I picked up my RS in time to only get one good ride in before holidays/winter, so I have a lot of what you’re asking about stacked up and ready for installation this winter, but therefore cannot add a ton of actual on-the-bike feedback yet. I would recommend you consider additional lights to make you more visible, with yellow covers for day and clear at night.

With the help of many on this forum in previous and in response to my posts, I’ve gone with: DominatoR oval exhaust, Shad 35 side bags and 59x top case and mounts, Givi screen, everything MaMo makes for this bike, Moto Mate GPS relo kit, Sirius XM radio, some Denali B6 and Switchback lights for rear and some clearwaters up front controlled by a Hex EZCan controller... and probably my old PDM60. I was good this year ;)

Zitat von backRoadS im Beitrag #6

---

With the help of many on this forum in previous and in response to my posts, I’ve gone with: Sirius XM radio.

---

@darrell you bet! Give me a couple weeks to get in to it, but will do

I pulled the trigger and am extremely pleased with my decision. Shad expandable top case is well made and looks a lot better when collapsed, but I did put the passenger pads on it. With the GIVI tank lock bag, I used a Motomate gps relocation kit: easy installation, well built and great position. Machine Art cylinder head protectors. Puig tail tidy looks great but install took 4 hours.

The safety tech was the main selling point, but the TFT display was a bonus and I didn’t expect it to be the rocket ship it is. My R9T is going to be lonely.

Zitat von Bumblebeemer im Beitrag #9

---

My R9T is going to be lonely.

---

XM

This topic caught my interest. FWIW, around 2010 I rigged a small XM receiver we had laying around and associate antenna on my F659GS twin. It worked OK. At that time I was wander around the north, Canada, the Maritimes, Alaska. The further north you go the worse it work..latitude vs satellite position I would guess ..if there are obstruction to your south, trees, mountains etc the signal drop out.
This still happens with our current cars but no where near as bad.
The installation itself was easy with the ratio in or on my tank bag (I build a small mount), the antenna was on the windshield so there was some wiring dangling around.
In the end I stopped using it.

This post made me look a XM on the iPhone. I found this link but have not used it https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/03/...r-mac-or-iphone.

Clearly this only work if there is cell phone coverage.

I may try that in the next few days

Don't some GPS offer XM as a subscription?

Zitat von Vtbob im Beitrag #11

---

XM

This post made me look a XM on the iPhone. I found this link but have not used it https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/03/...r-mac-or-iphone.

---

Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #12

---

Zitat von Vtbob im Beitrag #11

---

XM

This post made me look a XM on the iPhone. I found this link but have not used it https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/03/...r-mac-or-iphone.

---

It's nice that XM went back to free streaming if you already have an account.
At home I listen to XM quite a bit on the computer and sometimes on the phone.
XM must be hurting, the last four years they have agreed to $5 a month plus tax and fees on both of our cars.
No begging required, I just call and ask for the same rate for another year.
I pay for XM because we have poor FM reception in our area. Too far from a city.

If I wanted XM on the bike I don't know which way I would go. We don't have unlimited data on our phones so paying for another XM plan may be cheaper.

---

You guys are in luck with your timing :) I spent half the day prepping and organizing for my winter farkling, so let me go snap a few picks of my gear and will post a new thread specific to SXM. It won’t be on the bike still for a few weeks but will l, perhaps give you some ideas.

Posted SXM info here: SXM Install (Sirius XM satellite radio)