In case you didn’t know it, there is a toggle button on the left side of the handlebar that allows you to raise (And lower) the windscreen. If you are uncomfortable withe the air hitting you in the neck, you can raise the windscreen so that the air flow goes ultimately over your helmet.
Love my '21 RT. I rode a Blackbird for 17 years / 90K miles and absolutely loved it. Twenty years ago, if anyone had told me I'd be riding a BMW someday, I probably would have laughed. But I'm getting older and appreciate the comfort. It's great I can still ride a powerful bike that is civilized *and* fast. My wife actually encouraged me to get it, "you're in your mid-60s, how many more years will you be riding, why not get something you love." She also loves riding pillion on it. I wasn't sure about the quickshifter at first but it seemed to get a little smoother after the engine broke in. Also, I adapted to how it likes to be used - keep power on when accelerating and it changes gears seamlessly. I don't downshift with it much, but it's nice to have when I'm a little unprepared for a tight corner - just tap it down a couple of times, one less control to manage.
Great video! Greetings from South Carolina, USA! I am considering the R1250RT, and was wondering if you will be doing a video focusing on the Gearshift Assist Pro. I own a 2009 K1300S and love the assist upshifter that came on that model, but the gearbox is a bit clunky. I would love your thoughts on the assist pro after you've gained experience with it. Thanks!
hi Gil, greetings from Perth! I love the Shift Assist. I use it all the time (as much as I can). It takes a little getting used to but I love it. I will do a video, but I'm struggling with my camera gear at the moment - trying to resurrect a Drift Ghost as the 2nd cam... but hopefully not too far away.
Why dont you raise the windshield to a height that suits you. I ride with mine about 3/4 up so the top of the windshield is just below my eye level. Works great for me. With the windshield all the way up, its annoying to have to look through the windshield.
hi Fenton - with the warmer weather here in Perth I prefer to have it fairly low. I'm pretty sure if it had the "lip" at the top it would help... and like you - I hate looking through the windscreen.
The 7JUROCK makes a replacement windscreen for the new R1250RT that offers heights of 22", 24", 26", and even a 27". But the deal for me is the optional adjustable visor vent. When you have the screen all the way up and it is dead still in the cockpit and hot out... you need some air flow to help stay comfortable. This is where the visor vent comes in perfectly. You can open it and direct the air flow where you need it. Next best thing to air conditioning. I had one installed in a replacement windscreen on my 2003 GL1800. Gord
@@BigTedInOz Under most warm situations, it is sufficiently effective. But when it gets oven hot out, it just vents hot air on you. I suppose that still helps with evaporation but at that point it seems best not to ride in those conditions. It's just not comfortable under those circumstances. But for normal warm weather, where all you need is some breeze to help cool you down... it really saves the day. Definitely worth it imo. Gord
G'day Ted. Good to hear you're loving it. My 2021 is still a bit of a virgin. Picked it up a month ago and I've only done 600 or 700 miles so far. I'm retired so, really no excuse :). I sadly didn't get ACC, it wasn't available when the bike was built apparently. Have to get it after market. I have it in my hybrid corolla, invaluable on motorways.
Hey Tony! 😎 I think I had mine ready for the first service in about 3 days! You definitely need to get out more. When I bought mine, it was the last one in Australia that was complete. Had I waited it would have been missing the ACC & radio... All because of that damn chip shortage. You should definitely try to get the ACC - it's brilliant. I'd be interested in what it costs... so please lemme know here.
@@BigTedInOz I have ACC in my Hybrid corolla so I know how amazing it can be :). Cost wise I think I'm going to be up for about £800 or 1500 AUD... not cheap, but, I got it initially second hand with only 2k mile s on the clock for way under new price :).
The screen isn't a bad price for an upgrade, and you have quite a few options. I purchased a Madstad screen for my Triumph Tiger before I traded it in and that thing was very expensive but completely worth it at £350 plus postage from the USA to the UK.
Hi Ted, I can recommend a Puig screen, have it on my '20 RT and on my former '17 and '18 RT, only €93 and works great in the lowest position with my 1.82m. Don't you feel a (big) difference with the quickshifter when the engine is cold and hot? The quickshifter on my '20 RT works perfect with a cold engine but becomes quite cluncky when the engine is hot (let's say about after 50 km). Greetings from The Netherlands
Hi Fred, it seems that I'd normally have to mail order a screen here in Perth. However, there's a guy not too far south of me that sells the Puig screens so I've been interested in this one too. What screen size/dimensions do you have in your RT?
@@BigTedInOz ua-cam.com/video/BJ1mGTsmLOU/v-deo.html This guy shows you the difference between the screens I think. Or Puig show you aswell - ua-cam.com/video/RkvGaTLVqkA/v-deo.html
hiya - yes - I use it in winter, but mainly when it's raining. Summer here in Oz is way too hot to ride with it up ... hence the desire to get something else.
Hi from the (wet) UK do you mean bigger or smaller screen needed I’m going in Tuesday to place my order for a new RT ,here we get the blue RT it’s called a sport version ( the one I’m having) the only difference is a sport screen shorter ¬ as wide , I am 6ft1’ with a long back end 30’ inside legs ( hence the change to art from my gsa , I can’t make my mind up on the screen as it’s a free option here at time of purchase. So same hight as me would u go even bigger that the standard screen thanks in advance, Dale 🏍️👍🎉
@@dalehawkes1698 hi Dale - given you're in the (wet) UK - then maybe the bigger the better ;). I wasn't thinking of changing the size: for me the standard that is on mine is perfect: on it's highest the rain/water does not hit my visor, but I can also just see over the top of the screen - I hate looking through them - particularly in the rain at night. On the lowest (where I leave it when it's not raining or very cold) is OK - it could be lower in summer for cooling, but then I'd sacrifice the height needed for rain. My main thinking for an alternate screen was for the shape... nothing specific, but my knowledge (not even experience) of my previous Honda ST1300 suggests this can have a drastic impact to airflow - in order to provide cooling in summer, rain protection, along with minimising turbulence around the helmet to reduce noise. This is very much like a lottery though - unless you manage to find a ride with exactly the same config as yours... not easy. I can imagine I might end up using the current screen for winter/rain, and changing to something else (even shorter, with a different shape) for summer. Examples (not a recommendation - I don't know): puig.tv/en/bybike/bmw_r1250rt_2021
Hi Ted. Greetings from snowy Finland. Great to have you back posting videos. Liked your blood plasma donation story, too. You mentioned that you calibrated your speedo. Did you actually manage to calibrate it (how?) or did you compare the speed on the TFT to the speed measured by some GPS device? This is what I did (I also ride an R1250RT) and, consequently, I set the cruise control at approx. 4-5 km/h above the posted speed limit. It is too bad that BMW chose not to provide precise speed information from the outset. Since the maps on the phone/TFT seem to utilise GPS, the satellite signal could be used for speed as well. Still, it's good enough for government work.
hey Porco! Thanks for the comment... yes - it's been a while... COVID, dead PC, laziness... a couple of reasons ;)... I calibrated my speedo over a period of a few months using phones, dedicated GPSs, and various other means... We occasionally have a warning system (usually around schools & roadworks) where there's a radar with the measured speed on the side of the road. It's not perfect, but I arrive at a reasonable average overread... I have received a speeding ticket yet :D. I assume this is global, but certainly in Australia cars must never underread by design. Therefore, they always overread. This is to avoid the inevitable litigation and challenges to speeding tickets. I believe there are devices that can plug in to most speedos to provide a correction - but I'm not sure about the Beamers given their CAN BUS. In the end... I just adjust. Anyway, how's life in Finland? The last time it snowed here in Perth was probably during the last ice-age :D.
@@BigTedInOz Thanks for the reply. That's the same way I've determined the speedo error. Being in my mid-60s, I lost the need for speed a long time ago and I'm totally happy to chug along at the posted speed limit (the occasional track days are the exception). I try to make it to the shores of the Arctic Ocean at least once a year or so (Covid restrictions in Norway put a stop to that for a couple of years) and it takes me about three days or so to get there. On these trips I might push the envelope a bit - taking care not to break the speed limit too much. Then it is important to know how fast your are actually going because traffic fines in Finland can be astronomical. There is a flat fee for minor infractions but if you really haul it, it can be costly. Above a certain threshold the ticket will be based on your income b/c the thinking is that millionaires and us regular folks must feel equal pain when breaking the law (make more money - pay more for traffic violations). Thus far the record for being clocked at 81 km/h in a 40 km/h zone was approx 120,000 € ('awarded' to a Finnish NHL ice hockey millionaire). In such cases you normally lose your licence for a few months as well. Here in southern Finland where I live we still have to wait a month or so before we can take our bikes out from winter storage. At present we have 40 cm of snow on the ground. The riding season lasts from mid-April to mid-Oct. At least we're not snowed in like the good folks in California right now... My only contact with Perth thus far is associated with an' ICEmergency USB' key ring dongle which I bought over the internet some years ago. It is developed and sold by '40-year riding veteran Tony Walton of Perth', as a m/c web page calls him. Great item. It is so refreshing to be able to see videos such as yours from warmer climates while waiting to swing a leg over the bike. Something to look forward to. Thanks again and take care.
@@BigTedInOz Fortunately those kind of tickets are only given to real high earners. The average Joe will get away with several hundreds to some thousands of euros (and losing the licence for a couple of months) - depending on the severity of the violation.
34degrees!!! Sod riding in that! I’m melting then as a Brit and someone who’d prefer it being chilly anyway. That’s too hot mate, you can keep it. How the hell do you manage? 15 to 20 is fine by me, mid 20’s and it’s hot!
34C - I think I said "it's pretty warm" - that's only just starting to warm up here in Perth :D ... I must admit the summer just gone was very mild... it's the first time in something like 20 years that Perth didn't have a day over 40. PS. in summer I ride with a vented jacked and always aim for green traffic lights :D.
In case you didn’t know it, there is a toggle button on the left side of the handlebar that allows you to raise (And lower) the windscreen. If you are uncomfortable withe the air hitting you in the neck, you can raise the windscreen so that the air flow goes ultimately over your helmet.
I was wondering why he didn't do that aswell, it didn't occur to me that he might not know the function is there.
Love my '21 RT. I rode a Blackbird for 17 years / 90K miles and absolutely loved it. Twenty years ago, if anyone had told me I'd be riding a BMW someday, I probably would have laughed. But I'm getting older and appreciate the comfort. It's great I can still ride a powerful bike that is civilized *and* fast. My wife actually encouraged me to get it, "you're in your mid-60s, how many more years will you be riding, why not get something you love." She also loves riding pillion on it.
I wasn't sure about the quickshifter at first but it seemed to get a little smoother after the engine broke in. Also, I adapted to how it likes to be used - keep power on when accelerating and it changes gears seamlessly. I don't downshift with it much, but it's nice to have when I'm a little unprepared for a tight corner - just tap it down a couple of times, one less control to manage.
yes - I think mine was the mid-life crisis purchase too, but I didn't get much encouragement from wifey :D.
Thanks Ted. ‘V Stream’ are good screens if you go that way. Cheers 😎👍
Great video! Greetings from South Carolina, USA! I am considering the R1250RT, and was wondering if you will be doing a video focusing on the Gearshift Assist Pro. I own a 2009 K1300S and love the assist upshifter that came on that model, but the gearbox is a bit clunky. I would love your thoughts on the assist pro after you've gained experience with it. Thanks!
hi Gil, greetings from Perth! I love the Shift Assist. I use it all the time (as much as I can). It takes a little getting used to but I love it. I will do a video, but I'm struggling with my camera gear at the moment - trying to resurrect a Drift Ghost as the 2nd cam... but hopefully not too far away.
Why dont you raise the windshield to a height that suits you. I ride with mine about 3/4 up so the top of the windshield is just below my eye level. Works great for me. With the windshield all the way up, its annoying to have to look through the windshield.
hi Fenton - with the warmer weather here in Perth I prefer to have it fairly low. I'm pretty sure if it had the "lip" at the top it would help... and like you - I hate looking through the windscreen.
The 7JUROCK makes a replacement windscreen for the new R1250RT that offers heights of 22", 24", 26", and even a 27".
But the deal for me is the optional adjustable visor vent. When you have the screen all the way up and it is dead still in the cockpit and hot out... you need some air flow to help stay comfortable.
This is where the visor vent comes in perfectly. You can open it and direct the air flow where you need it. Next best thing to air conditioning. I had one installed in a replacement windscreen on my 2003 GL1800.
Gord
hi Gord - thanks for the info... the vent looks like a great idea. I'd seen them on other bikes, but wasn't too sure on their effectiveness.
@@BigTedInOz Under most warm situations, it is sufficiently effective. But when it gets oven hot out, it just vents hot air on you.
I suppose that still helps with evaporation but at that point it seems best not to ride in those conditions. It's just not comfortable under those circumstances.
But for normal warm weather, where all you need is some breeze to help cool you down... it really saves the day. Definitely worth it imo.
Gord
G'day Ted. Good to hear you're loving it. My 2021 is still a bit of a virgin. Picked it up a month ago and I've only done 600 or 700 miles so far. I'm retired so, really no excuse :). I sadly didn't get ACC, it wasn't available when the bike was built apparently. Have to get it after market. I have it in my hybrid corolla, invaluable on motorways.
Hey Tony!
😎 I think I had mine ready for the first service in about 3 days! You definitely need to get out more.
When I bought mine, it was the last one in Australia that was complete. Had I waited it would have been missing the ACC & radio... All because of that damn chip shortage.
You should definitely try to get the ACC - it's brilliant. I'd be interested in what it costs... so please lemme know here.
@@BigTedInOz I have ACC in my Hybrid corolla so I know how amazing it can be :). Cost wise I think I'm going to be up for about £800 or 1500 AUD... not cheap, but, I got it initially second hand with only 2k mile s on the clock for way under new price :).
@@tonycarpenter-Makzimia Ouch - that's not cheap, especially if I convert to AUD. However, well worth it!
@@BigTedInOz I solved it, and after TFT has been nothing but a nightmare, I have gone for a 2020 model NO TFT, all the fun.
The screen isn't a bad price for an upgrade, and you have quite a few options. I purchased a Madstad screen for my Triumph Tiger before I traded it in and that thing was very expensive but completely worth it at £350 plus postage from the USA to the UK.
Hi Ted, I can recommend a Puig screen, have it on my '20 RT and on my former '17 and '18 RT, only €93 and works great in the lowest position with my 1.82m. Don't you feel a (big) difference with the quickshifter when the engine is cold and hot? The quickshifter on my '20 RT works perfect with a cold engine but becomes quite cluncky when the engine is hot (let's say about after 50 km). Greetings from The Netherlands
Hi Fred, it seems that I'd normally have to mail order a screen here in Perth. However, there's a guy not too far south of me that sells the Puig screens so I've been interested in this one too. What screen size/dimensions do you have in your RT?
@@BigTedInOz ua-cam.com/video/BJ1mGTsmLOU/v-deo.html This guy shows you the difference between the screens I think. Or Puig show you aswell - ua-cam.com/video/RkvGaTLVqkA/v-deo.html
Have you used the electric button to the windscreen in its highest position. I’m 6’1 and it sends the airflow over my helmet.
hiya - yes - I use it in winter, but mainly when it's raining. Summer here in Oz is way too hot to ride with it up ... hence the desire to get something else.
@@BigTedInOz that’s answered my question too. That damn heat is way too much for me. It’s not enjoyable at anywhere near 34!
thanks for review. How tall are you?
Hi, I'm 186cm, or 6'1". I also have the seat on the highest position.
Hi from the (wet) UK do you mean bigger or smaller screen needed I’m going in Tuesday to place my order for a new RT ,here we get the blue RT it’s called a sport version ( the one I’m having) the only difference is a sport screen shorter ¬ as wide , I am 6ft1’ with a long back end 30’ inside legs ( hence the change to art from my gsa , I can’t make my mind up on the screen as it’s a free option here at time of purchase. So same hight as me would u go even bigger that the standard screen thanks in advance, Dale 🏍️👍🎉
@@dalehawkes1698 hi Dale - given you're in the (wet) UK - then maybe the bigger the better ;).
I wasn't thinking of changing the size: for me the standard that is on mine is perfect: on it's highest the rain/water does not hit my visor, but I can also just see over the top of the screen - I hate looking through them - particularly in the rain at night. On the lowest (where I leave it when it's not raining or very cold) is OK - it could be lower in summer for cooling, but then I'd sacrifice the height needed for rain.
My main thinking for an alternate screen was for the shape... nothing specific, but my knowledge (not even experience) of my previous Honda ST1300 suggests this can have a drastic impact to airflow - in order to provide cooling in summer, rain protection, along with minimising turbulence around the helmet to reduce noise.
This is very much like a lottery though - unless you manage to find a ride with exactly the same config as yours... not easy. I can imagine I might end up using the current screen for winter/rain, and changing to something else (even shorter, with a different shape) for summer.
Examples (not a recommendation - I don't know): puig.tv/en/bybike/bmw_r1250rt_2021
@@BigTedInOz thank you 👍
Hi Ted. Greetings from snowy Finland. Great to have you back posting videos. Liked your blood plasma donation story, too.
You mentioned that you calibrated your speedo. Did you actually manage to calibrate it (how?) or did you compare the speed on the TFT to the speed measured by some GPS device? This is what I did (I also ride an R1250RT) and, consequently, I set the cruise control at approx. 4-5 km/h above the posted speed limit.
It is too bad that BMW chose not to provide precise speed information from the outset. Since the maps on the phone/TFT seem to utilise GPS, the satellite signal could be used for speed as well. Still, it's good enough for government work.
hey Porco!
Thanks for the comment... yes - it's been a while... COVID, dead PC, laziness... a couple of reasons ;)...
I calibrated my speedo over a period of a few months using phones, dedicated GPSs, and various other means... We occasionally have a warning system (usually around schools & roadworks) where there's a radar with the measured speed on the side of the road.
It's not perfect, but I arrive at a reasonable average overread... I have received a speeding ticket yet :D.
I assume this is global, but certainly in Australia cars must never underread by design. Therefore, they always overread. This is to avoid the inevitable litigation and challenges to speeding tickets. I believe there are devices that can plug in to most speedos to provide a correction - but I'm not sure about the Beamers given their CAN BUS. In the end... I just adjust.
Anyway, how's life in Finland? The last time it snowed here in Perth was probably during the last ice-age :D.
@@BigTedInOz Thanks for the reply. That's the same way I've determined the speedo error. Being in my mid-60s, I lost the need for speed a long time ago and I'm totally happy to chug along at the posted speed limit (the occasional track days are the exception).
I try to make it to the shores of the Arctic Ocean at least once a year or so (Covid restrictions in Norway put a stop to that for a couple of years) and it takes me about three days or so to get there. On these trips I might push the envelope a bit - taking care not to break the speed limit too much.
Then it is important to know how fast your are actually going because traffic fines in Finland can be astronomical. There is a flat fee for minor infractions but if you really haul it, it can be costly. Above a certain threshold the ticket will be based on your income b/c the thinking is that millionaires and us regular folks must feel equal pain when breaking the law (make more money - pay more for traffic violations). Thus far the record for being clocked at 81 km/h in a 40 km/h zone was approx 120,000 € ('awarded' to a Finnish NHL ice hockey millionaire). In such cases you normally lose your licence for a few months as well.
Here in southern Finland where I live we still have to wait a month or so before we can take our bikes out from winter storage. At present we have 40 cm of snow on the ground. The riding season lasts from mid-April to mid-Oct. At least we're not snowed in like the good folks in California right now...
My only contact with Perth thus far is associated with an' ICEmergency USB' key ring dongle which I bought over the internet some years ago. It is developed and sold by '40-year riding veteran Tony Walton of Perth', as a m/c web page calls him. Great item.
It is so refreshing to be able to see videos such as yours from warmer climates while waiting to swing a leg over the bike. Something to look forward to. Thanks again and take care.
@@porcobianco 120k - bloody hell... I think I'd be walking everywhere :D.
@@BigTedInOz Fortunately those kind of tickets are only given to real high earners. The average Joe will get away with several hundreds to some thousands of euros (and losing the licence for a couple of months) - depending on the severity of the violation.
34degrees!!! Sod riding in that! I’m melting then as a Brit and someone who’d prefer it being chilly anyway. That’s too hot mate, you can keep it. How the hell do you manage? 15 to 20 is fine by me, mid 20’s and it’s hot!
34C - I think I said "it's pretty warm" - that's only just starting to warm up here in Perth :D ... I must admit the summer just gone was very mild... it's the first time in something like 20 years that Perth didn't have a day over 40.
PS. in summer I ride with a vented jacked and always aim for green traffic lights :D.