Hi Great to hear. Take your time and be patient. The rear shock on the RT is quite an easy one to remove as the swing arm is single sided.. Best to take the rear wheel off to gain access. then be prepared to chock the rear diff once you remove the shock mounts. Feel free to ask me if there is anything you need to know.
Thank you for taking the time to make this very good helpful video. My 2004 R1150RT comes on Thursday and first job is to connect a phone mount charger to the battery, which requires thankfully just one sides removal. Video has been really helpful.
Thank you so much. Straight to the point. No nonsense in order to amuse the attention impaired. New owner old bike. I'm coming to understand the BMW addiction. They are not Japanese perfection by any means; but, I'm in love with this thing. You know your in love when you find foibles charming!
Brilliant many thanks for your comments. Glad it helped you. These BMW bikes are an addiction. Once you have been exposed to them it is hard to look elsewhere
Another excellent instructional vid., without the all too common 10 minute pre-amble! I’ve found it very useful to keep the various fairing bolts in some sort of order, so they go back into the same positions on reassembly, as some are longer than others. Thanks.
Hi Alan, yes, I know what you mean about the re-amble that some videos have. It is so annoying. It is a good idea to keep the bolts in the right order, I should have mentioned that as the ones that fit it the top 'tank' position, are much shorter than the others, and should have a ;point' on the end of them. Glad you liked the video.
DO YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN GET TO WHERE THE FRONT ABS SENSOR PLUGS IN WHEN THOSE SIDE FAIRINGS ARE OFF OR DO YOU STILL HAVE TO TAKE THE UPPER ONE OFF TOO ? IM GUESSING THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO REPLACE SINCE THE DASH INDICATOR IS FLASHING ABS.
@@joeshmo4929 Hi, I do believe you can take the ABS sensor off if you just remove the R/H fairing as the connector is on the side of the fairing frame near to the oil cooler.
Hi, Yes there is a lot of plastic on the RT. But, it does come off fairly easily, with the minimum of tools. i was in Austria once and had to tighten an oil pipe on the engine which had come loose and was leaking. My mates thought the game was up and would have to take it to a shop. But although it looks as if you are taking loads off, it is not too bad really. My next bike for this year is a R1100GS. No fairings, and loads of places to put cameras. Hoping to do some 'touring' videos this year with my riding mates. Some great motorcycling roads here which are just waiting to be discovered. Glad you like the videos. Take care, and ride safe.
Nice review. I just picked up a 2000 R1100RT (had a 99 and an 05 in the past) and plan to check the valves so this is helpful to see how many things I'd forgotten about since I had my 99' RT. Cheers!
@@RestorationBiker Good hear back thanks. Yes it will be extremely helpful once I buy the bike. I've decided on an oil head because of the engineering and the potential mileage they are capeable of. Rods Rides & Wrenches is a Canadian youtuber who took the highest mileage RT he could find and did tests on it. Also when he took a look at the splines on the final drive it was impressive to see the lack of wear. He has good videos if you havn't seen them they're worth a look.
@@clickireland1113 Hi, I have had many oil heads. I had an R1100RT for 7 years, and put 120,000 miles on it. It was still running like a watch when I sold it. If they are looked after they will do unbelievable mileages. Yes, it seems as if some people panic about the 'spline lube' I have never taken one apart that has had any 'lube' problems. I certainly wouldn't go to the extremes of taking it apart at some of the low mileages that I have seen recommended. I will definitely check Rods, rides, and wrenches out he seems to be the same as me!. Hope you get a good bike, and enjoy riding it. They are addictive. As motorcycling is too!
@@RestorationBiker Sounds class you had the miles put on your RT and I'm really looking forward to getting one. A guy had one for sale here last week with 23k on the clock and I delayed because A. It was White and B. because it was the 13th and what was I thinking shur I could have had the fairing repainted. Anyways bike sold for I think €1500. Honestly I've no sense sometimes. Tell youu what I'll keep you posted and put up a shpt of the bike when I get it. Of course now last night I came across the R90S and the R100S so I think I'll need a big garage someday and I've already told the white lie to the good lady that I only want to do little runs on the bikes and just then keep them in the living room and look at them. The second part of that's actually true. See how that goes.
@@clickireland1113 Ha Ha, you are a true motorcyclist. You know what to tell your lady to get her to allow you to enjoy yourself. Well done. Wow an R90S in your front room, would be superb. You must send me a pic of that when you get one. Shame you missed that white one. But, there will be another one on the horizon soon. I would love to know how you get on, keep me posted.
This is a great video. I'm trying to remove the rear fairing (side and taillight). Do you have any instructions for it as well? I want to strip off all the fairing parts to custom-paint the bike. Much appreciated.
Hi, yes I did this in one of my R1100RT restoration videos. I think it was the second one. I show how to remove those fairing pieces. Let me know if you need any help.
Hi, Yes, I have done quite a few clutches on these boxer engines. There is a lot of work involved in doing a clutch on one of these bikes. The rear subframe, has to be 'rotated' so that it is pointing upwards. This will leave enough room to remove the gearbox, giving access to the clutch. It is possible to remove the gearbox, with the swing arm, and rear wheel still in position.. Let me know if you would like more info on the clutch replacement.
I have a BMW 97 R850R. It does not come with a fairing but I bought an old Vetter fairing. Now I have to figure out how to mount it to the bike. Is it even possible?? Do you know of any video tutorials?
Hi, that is an interesting job. I am sure there should be a bracket on the upper part of the frame just under the top yoke which should have a connection for the RT fairing. You could make good use of that to start. Then, you would need to arrange sideways mountings. If you look at the way that the RT's fairing frame attaches to the main frame, you could make use of those mounting points on your bike. It is a big job, but a very enjoyable one to work on. Keep me updated on how you get on.
@@RestorationBiker Hello! Thanks for responding. Just to be clear; my bike is not an RT and the fairing I want to fit is not specifically for a BMW. The fairing is made by Craig Vetter. I was told that it can be fitted to any bike. However, the mounting for it will have to be a custom build. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you are saying. Cheers!!
Hi, These are pretty good bikes especially as it has only got 20K on it. The no1 problem with these, (I don't think a 20K bike will suffer) is the gearbox, can 'slip' when in 2nd or 3rd gear. It feels as if the engine has misfired, but it is the selectors in the box. I have had a couple that have done this. They all smoke when started for a few seconds, so don't worry about that The gearchange is slow and notchy compared to other bikes. Don't worry there is nothing wrong with it that is normal. The rest is just simple bike engineering. Make sure it works as it should with no funny noises
@@narcissistinjurygiver2932 Hi, Well done for buying it with only 28K on it you should be able to enjoy it for a long time to come. Engine oils?? Wow, there is a topic that is as hot as tyre choice. there will always be someone who will think you have made the wrong choice no matter what you do. I tend to refrain from suggesting things that get people 'hot' under the collar.. I personally use 5w 30 in my bike. but, it depends on the climate you operate in, the amount of work you give the engine to do, and how often you change the oil. I would have no problem using the 5w-40 you are thinking of using. Keep a check on the level and change it regularly . The R1100RT hardly ever uses oil. The R1150RT drinks it. It is down to the breather system. The 1100 is a much more simple and therefore more reliable system.. Get out there and ride. And enjoy it.
@@RestorationBiker have you ever changed the alternator? I figure that while I have it apart I change the starter and alternator as they are wear items. I am also going to remove all the plastic and have it painted Soul red crystal metalic. I think it will be beautiful. Also, how do I get the code for the radio?
@@narcissistinjurygiver2932 Hi, yes, if you look through my videos you will see where I show the alternator on the bike I restored. If you are removing the plastics to have them repainted you will find it is very easy to gain access to most of the various parts. Starter and alternator is a good idea. The code for the radio is something I have never had to do, so I can't advise on that. But I would have thought there are people who can access that for you. If you get the serial number off of the back of the radio for them.
I have a 96 RT....there is a10mm nut next to the headlamp bulb socket on the inside of the cockpit on the near side.This has to be removed before the cockpit fairing comes off.
Hi Yes, these two threaded studs are not meant to have nuts fitted to them. They are location studs for the headlamp. lots of people have said that their bikes have had them fitted. But the official BMW workshop manual shows that they are just for the location.. I should have mentioned these in my video, as I know some people do put nuts on them. Thanks for mentioning it. I may see if I can edit my video to mention them.
@@itroy3039 Yes, I think the police ones are perfect for cameras. Never fitted any of them though, so I don't know if they are ok to fit.. I am sure there is a hole for them in the fairing, which would be a bit of a 'job'
Misleading, headlight is bolted to the front fairing by 4 screws & by the front shocks by another 3 bolts not shown in the video! (Maybe bronen, maybe removed from the previous owner?)
Yes I know exactly what you mean as I have seen machines that have been attached in this way. BUT!!!! That is NOT the factory way. Machines that have the bolts that you are describing have had mechanics at some time fit the bolts that you state. If you look in the correct BMW manual it will show the attachments in the way that I have shown. I should have done a bit in the video to state that you may find bolts in these places when taking it apart.
You forgot to mention the three nuts on the inside, the ones that hold the plastic onto the internal steel frame! They are the most important! Fucking Tutorial !!!
The three nuts you refer to must be the ones on the back of the headlight. these normally do NOT have nuts fitted as they are just location studs. I have stripped many of these bikes and I have never stripped one with nuts. It looks as if someone has fitted nuts to your bike which I can imagine would be a real faff to remove.. Sorry for the agg. I should have mentioned that they COULD have been fitted with nuts.
@@RestorationBiker All motorcycles in Europe have those three nuts. I don't think a brand like BMW can de-diversify the fixings of an element as important for safety as the front fairing. You can see very well in your video the rubber housing in the frame of the bike and I'm sure that if you check the pins on the fairing they will surely have a threaded pin. Probably all the bikes that you have taken apart were previously taken apart by someone who did not know how to reassemble them. Because putting those nuts back is very difficult and only official BMW dealerships do it. Anyway thank you very much for your reply and for your videos
@@marcoratti2605 Hi, Yes, you are probably right. They are threaded pins, which would seem that they should have nuts fitted to them. I have been lucky as all of the bikes I have stripped have not had nuts fitted so I have never fitted them myself. I do have a BMW workshop parts manual, so I will dig it out and check if it shows the nuts. If it does I will see if I can edit the video so others will know to look out for them. Thanks for letting me know, take care and ride safe.
I'm replacing the rear shock on my RT, I'm very new to bike maintenance and fitting so I'm learning as I go so UA-cam is a God send, thanks.
Hi Great to hear. Take your time and be patient. The rear shock on the RT is quite an easy one to remove as the swing arm is single sided.. Best to take the rear wheel off to gain access. then be prepared to chock the rear diff once you remove the shock mounts. Feel free to ask me if there is anything you need to know.
Thank you for taking the time to make this very good helpful video. My 2004 R1150RT comes on Thursday and first job is to connect a phone mount charger to the battery, which requires thankfully just one sides removal. Video has been really helpful.
Great, thanks for the feedback, glad it helped you. Have fun with your R1150RT
Thank you so much for this incredible video, it's just what I needed to remove all this with confidence.
Brilliant glad you liked it. That is exactly why I do these videos. To help fellow motorcyclists.
Thank you so much. Straight to the point. No nonsense in order to amuse the attention impaired. New owner old bike. I'm coming to understand the BMW addiction. They are not Japanese perfection by any means; but, I'm in love with this thing. You know your in love when you find foibles charming!
Brilliant many thanks for your comments. Glad it helped you. These BMW bikes are an addiction. Once you have been exposed to them it is hard to look elsewhere
Great video! You’ve obviously done this more than once!
Hi, yes i was in the trade for 50 years. Also the BMW R1100 series was my favorite bike too. Done that job a few times
Great video, very informative and NO stupid graphics or music , just the information you need.
Hi, thanks for the kind comments, glad you enjoyed it.
Another excellent instructional vid., without the all too common 10 minute pre-amble!
I’ve found it very useful to keep the various fairing bolts in some sort of order, so they go back into the same positions on reassembly, as some are longer than others.
Thanks.
Hi Alan,
yes, I know what you mean about the re-amble that some videos have. It is so annoying.
It is a good idea to keep the bolts in the right order, I should have mentioned that as the ones that fit it the top 'tank' position, are much shorter than the others, and should have a ;point' on the end of them. Glad you liked the video.
DO YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN GET TO WHERE THE FRONT ABS SENSOR PLUGS IN WHEN THOSE SIDE FAIRINGS ARE OFF OR DO YOU STILL HAVE TO TAKE THE UPPER ONE OFF TOO ? IM GUESSING THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO REPLACE SINCE THE DASH INDICATOR IS FLASHING ABS.
@@joeshmo4929 Hi, I do believe you can take the ABS sensor off if you just remove the R/H fairing as the connector is on the side of the fairing frame near to the oil cooler.
@@RestorationBiker RIGHT HALF SIDE MEANING LOOKING AT THE BIKE OR SITTING ON IT ? THANKS FOR RESPONDING !!!!!
@@joeshmo4929 hi, it is the right side whilst sitting on the bike. the connector is on the fairing frame just under the main cowl.
I need remove the fairing to access the screen mechanism which has stopped working so this video will be very useful, thank you for making it.
Glad it was useful for you.
Just got my '99 in December. Appreciate these tutorials! Way more plastic on these than my '90 airhead or Triumph Thunderbird Commander!
Hi,
Yes there is a lot of plastic on the RT. But, it does come off fairly easily, with the minimum of tools. i was in Austria once and had to tighten an oil pipe on the engine which had come loose and was leaking. My mates thought the game was up and would have to take it to a shop.
But although it looks as if you are taking loads off, it is not too bad really.
My next bike for this year is a R1100GS. No fairings, and loads of places to put cameras. Hoping to do some 'touring' videos this year with my riding mates. Some great motorcycling roads here which are just waiting to be discovered. Glad you like the videos. Take care, and ride safe.
Nice review. I just picked up a 2000 R1100RT (had a 99 and an 05 in the past) and plan to check the valves so this is helpful to see how many things I'd forgotten about since I had my 99' RT. Cheers!
Great to hear!, glad you found it useful. That is exactly why I do these videos, to help other motorcyclists.
Cheers mate. Another good instruction video. Hope all is well with you.
Hi,
Many thanks. I am fine thanks, hope all is well with you and your family too.
Great, no nonsense (and no annoying music)
Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Very handy proceedure to see done thanks
Hi, Glad you found it helpful, thank you.
@@RestorationBiker Good hear back thanks. Yes it will be extremely helpful once I buy the bike. I've decided on an oil head because of the engineering and the potential mileage they are capeable of.
Rods Rides & Wrenches is a Canadian youtuber who took the highest mileage RT he could find and did tests on it. Also when he took a look at the splines on the final drive it was impressive to see the lack of wear. He has good videos if you havn't seen them they're worth a look.
@@clickireland1113 Hi, I have had many oil heads. I had an R1100RT for 7 years, and put 120,000 miles on it. It was still running like a watch when I sold it. If they are looked after they will do unbelievable mileages. Yes, it seems as if some people panic about the 'spline lube' I have never taken one apart that has had any 'lube' problems. I certainly wouldn't go to the extremes of taking it apart at some of the low mileages that I have seen recommended. I will definitely check Rods, rides, and wrenches out he seems to be the same as me!. Hope you get a good bike, and enjoy riding it. They are addictive. As motorcycling is too!
@@RestorationBiker Sounds class you had the miles put on your RT and I'm really looking forward to getting one. A guy had one for sale here last week with 23k on the clock and I delayed because A. It was White and B. because it was the 13th and what was I thinking shur I could have had the fairing repainted. Anyways bike sold for I think €1500. Honestly I've no sense sometimes. Tell youu what I'll keep you posted and put up a shpt of the bike when I get it. Of course now last night I came across the R90S and the R100S so I think I'll need a big garage someday and I've already told the white lie to the good lady that I only want to do little runs on the bikes and just then keep them in the living room and look at them. The second part of that's actually true. See how that goes.
@@clickireland1113 Ha Ha, you are a true motorcyclist. You know what to tell your lady to get her to allow you to enjoy yourself. Well done. Wow an R90S in your front room, would be superb. You must send me a pic of that when you get one. Shame you missed that white one. But, there will be another one on the horizon soon. I would love to know how you get on, keep me posted.
Excellent instruction!! Bought a 98 1100rt last year, need to service preload and wasn't sure how to get access.
Glad it helped. Happy biking
This is a great video. I'm trying to remove the rear fairing (side and taillight). Do you have any instructions for it as well? I want to strip off all the fairing parts to custom-paint the bike. Much appreciated.
Hi, yes I did this in one of my R1100RT restoration videos. I think it was the second one. I show how to remove those fairing pieces. Let me know if you need any help.
BIG thanks for that vid!
Many thanks, glad you liked it.
Very useful. Tell me have you done a clutch on an Rt11
Hi, Yes, I have done quite a few clutches on these boxer engines. There is a lot of work involved in doing a clutch on one of these bikes. The rear subframe, has to be 'rotated' so that it is pointing upwards. This will leave enough room to remove the gearbox, giving access to the clutch. It is possible to remove the gearbox, with the swing arm, and rear wheel still in position.. Let me know if you would like more info on the clutch replacement.
Great video thanks for making it!
Thanks for your comments, glad you liked it.
Thank you very much for this helpful Video.
Brilliant, so glad you found it helpful.
Great manual, thank you!
Hi, glad you liked it.
Me puedes decir dónde se encuentra el cable para conectarle el ordenador para hacerle un diagnóstico, Gracias
Hi, I don't think that there is an OBD port on the R1100's I have never done it myself.
Hoping to get my hands on one that has been sat in a front garden for 2 year's. Only done 45k.that is a very well designed bike
Hi Sounds nice. Give it a good service and start to enjoy it. Superb!
I have a BMW 97 R850R. It does not come with a fairing but I bought an old Vetter fairing. Now I have to figure out how to mount it to the bike. Is it even possible?? Do you know of any video tutorials?
Hi, that is an interesting job. I am sure there should be a bracket on the upper part of the frame just under the top yoke which should have a connection for the RT fairing. You could make good use of that to start. Then, you would need to arrange sideways mountings. If you look at the way that the RT's fairing frame attaches to the main frame, you could make use of those mounting points on your bike. It is a big job, but a very enjoyable one to work on. Keep me updated on how you get on.
@@RestorationBiker Hello! Thanks for responding. Just to be clear; my bike is not an RT and the fairing I want to fit is not specifically for a BMW. The fairing is made by Craig Vetter. I was told that it can be fitted to any bike. However, the mounting for it will have to be a custom build. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you are saying. Cheers!!
i never had a bmw. i am looking to buy one this weekend. a 96 with 28k miles. when i inspect it what should i look for? any known problems?
Hi, These are pretty good bikes especially as it has only got 20K on it. The no1 problem with these, (I don't think a 20K bike will suffer) is the gearbox, can 'slip' when in 2nd or 3rd gear. It feels as if the engine has misfired, but it is the selectors in the box. I have had a couple that have done this. They all smoke when started for a few seconds, so don't worry about that The gearchange is slow and notchy compared to other bikes. Don't worry there is nothing wrong with it that is normal. The rest is just simple bike engineering. Make sure it works as it should with no funny noises
@@RestorationBiker can i run 5w-40 full syn in it? just bought it. thanks
@@narcissistinjurygiver2932 Hi, Well done for buying it with only 28K on it you should be able to enjoy it for a long time to come. Engine oils?? Wow, there is a topic that is as hot as tyre choice. there will always be someone who will think you have made the wrong choice no matter what you do. I tend to refrain from suggesting things that get people 'hot' under the collar.. I personally use 5w 30 in my bike. but, it depends on the climate you operate in, the amount of work you give the engine to do, and how often you change the oil. I would have no problem using the 5w-40 you are thinking of using. Keep a check on the level and change it regularly . The R1100RT hardly ever uses oil. The R1150RT drinks it. It is down to the breather system. The 1100 is a much more simple and therefore more reliable system.. Get out there and ride. And enjoy it.
@@RestorationBiker have you ever changed the alternator? I figure that while I have it apart I change the starter and alternator as they are wear items. I am also going to remove all the plastic and have it painted Soul red crystal metalic. I think it will be beautiful. Also, how do I get the code for the radio?
@@narcissistinjurygiver2932 Hi, yes, if you look through my videos you will see where I show the alternator on the bike I restored. If you are removing the plastics to have them repainted you will find it is very easy to gain access to most of the various parts. Starter and alternator is a good idea. The code for the radio is something I have never had to do, so I can't advise on that. But I would have thought there are people who can access that for you. If you get the serial number off of the back of the radio for them.
I have a 96 RT....there is a10mm nut next to the headlamp bulb socket on the inside of the cockpit on the near side.This has to be removed before the cockpit fairing comes off.
Hi Yes, these two threaded studs are not meant to have nuts fitted to them. They are location studs for the headlamp. lots of people have said that their bikes have had them fitted. But the official BMW workshop manual shows that they are just for the location.. I should have mentioned these in my video, as I know some people do put nuts on them. Thanks for mentioning it. I may see if I can edit my video to mention them.
Thanks!
Glad you liked it. Hope it helps you.
Grazie mille 😉
Many thanks, and ride safe.
@@RestorationBiker ✌️
very helpfull thanks
Great, nice to know it helps. Many thanks.
Great video mate
I'm thinking of installing crash bars to my RT
But it looks like a bit of a mission 🤔
Hi, Heed do a good set, and they are not too bad to fit. There are so many sets on the market to chose from.
@@RestorationBiker very true I like the old police style also good fir mounting lights on
@@itroy3039 Yes, I think the police ones are perfect for cameras. Never fitted any of them though, so I don't know if they are ok to fit.. I am sure there is a hole for them in the fairing, which would be a bit of a 'job'
@@RestorationBiker it's a bit of work involved and a sub frame needs to also be installed but I think it's a winter project 🤔
@@itroy3039 Let me know how you get on with it.
Misleading, headlight is bolted to the front fairing by 4 screws & by the front shocks by another 3 bolts not shown in the video! (Maybe bronen, maybe removed from the previous owner?)
Yes I know exactly what you mean as I have seen machines that have been attached in this way. BUT!!!! That is NOT the factory way. Machines that have the bolts that you are describing have had mechanics at some time fit the bolts that you state. If you look in the correct BMW manual it will show the attachments in the way that I have shown. I should have done a bit in the video to state that you may find bolts in these places when taking it apart.
Same on the R1150RT I guess?
Yes the lower panels are exactly the same parts on the 1150 the top part is only slightly different. So the process is the same
You forgot to mention the three nuts on the inside, the ones that hold the plastic onto the internal steel frame! They are the most important! Fucking Tutorial !!!
The three nuts you refer to must be the ones on the back of the headlight. these normally do NOT have nuts fitted as they are just location studs. I have stripped many of these bikes and I have never stripped one with nuts. It looks as if someone has fitted nuts to your bike which I can imagine would be a real faff to remove.. Sorry for the agg. I should have mentioned that they COULD have been fitted with nuts.
@@RestorationBiker All motorcycles in Europe have those three nuts. I don't think a brand like BMW can de-diversify the fixings of an element as important for safety as the front fairing. You can see very well in your video the rubber housing in the frame of the bike and I'm sure that if you check the pins on the fairing they will surely have a threaded pin. Probably all the bikes that you have taken apart were previously taken apart by someone who did not know how to reassemble them. Because putting those nuts back is very difficult and only official BMW dealerships do it. Anyway thank you very much for your reply and for your videos
@@marcoratti2605 Hi, Yes, you are probably right. They are threaded pins, which would seem that they should have nuts fitted to them. I have been lucky as all of the bikes I have stripped have not had nuts fitted so I have never fitted them myself. I do have a BMW workshop parts manual, so I will dig it out and check if it shows the nuts. If it does I will see if I can edit the video so others will know to look out for them. Thanks for letting me know, take care and ride safe.