K11 Owners Group

[Off the grid]

LT:
adjustable windshield
runs cooler (no belly pan!)
holds more beer
rear rack and 35L topbox, stock
radio, radio
more comfortable riding position
better 2-up
more production=more plastic available
crash bars (and subsequently the ability to put on highway pegs)
easy to change the oil
faster
easy tire swaps

RS:
looks cooler....no 2 ways about it.
rare....almost never see one.
looks cooler....no 2 ways about it.
umm.......
/scratches head

What say you, motobrick riders!


(NOTE THIS IS FRIENDLY BANTER and NOT AN ACTUAL OPINION. KEEP IT AS SUCH PLEASE)
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

[K11Martin]

LT

Pros;

Number of cylinders
It's not a tractor
Better weather protection
General all-round air of cool-ness
Range of accessories availaible...i.e....
CD changer
Espresso maker
Toaster
Inbuilt vacuum cleaner
Personal assistant seat
Anti-carjack system (other wise referred to as the boot-em-in-the-balls and **** off quick method)

Cons;
The provision for fitting highway pegs
Cost

RT

Pros;
You can get them in some nice colours

Cons;

It's an 'R'
No mention in the handbook of how to find the extra two cylinders
General air of tractor-ness

*******************************************************
Here in the UK, RTs are common as horse **** on a blind corner

(Despite my personal feelings, the RT is very, very popular here, but so's 'House' so I rest my case... )
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Currently riding a '93 K1100LT (ABS1) decked out with lights and aerials (Ex 70's Vespa rider)

Why not join the UK owners club at http://forum.bmw-club.org.uk/

[Off the grid]

Read the title again mate.....it's between an RS and an LT.

RT is a totally different bike!
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

[K11Martin]

Sorrreee...it's the drugs y'know .
_________________


Currently riding a '93 K1100LT (ABS1) decked out with lights and aerials (Ex 70's Vespa rider)

Why not join the UK owners club at http://forum.bmw-club.org.uk/

[Off the grid]

Pass em over!
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

[Jim Brotherton]

Apart from K11s rambleings. Has all to do with having to go around the circles in the wrong direction.
Definitely the RS, looks cool, looks fast and I own one. The LT looks to formal, but not any more so than the RT that I have. That is why the RS is used for fun and the RT for hauling the family around. There is a LT up the street I would trade the RT for, but the wife, kids and family pets go before the RS leaves.
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1995 K1100RS
2004 R1150RT

[SugarHillCTD]

OK, I'll play (and I'll keep in mind that this is FRIENDLY...) Remember, you asked for it!

LT:
Kinda looks like a Goldwing- is that a plus or a minus?
Tires must be less $$$ since they are SO NARROW
Big floppy bucket seats and shag carpet, I mean sheepskins, look OK on it
Radio keeps elderly riders from falling asleep
Enough storage space to help someone on moving day
Makes a good trike when aging rider can no longer hold it up (the bike that is)
Where's the cup holder for the Geritol?

RS:
FASTER (sorry OTG, copied that from your LT list)
Doesn't look like "Luxury Touring"
FASTER
Handles well in corners
FASTER
No place for #%@#!!*#! highway pegs
FASTER
Radio? We don't need no stinkin' radio
FASTER
Wife really likes how it looks (Need I say more??)
FASTER
Fairing isn't the size of a barn door
LOOKS FASTER
FEELS FASTER
Now those are TIRES!
Oh, and did I mention that it is FASTER?


OK, let me have it, I can take the heat- can't be hotter than riding a K11
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

[SugarHillCTD]

UH-OH.

Did I go overboard? Should I be pushed overboard? Have my K taken away and be given a moped?
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

[rydor]

[Flying Duck]

Less likely to get tickets on my green LT looking like a casual tourer than on my red RS all ATTGAT'd with a full face.

Though the LT does provide a little more protection, I prefer riding the RS in the rain. Mostly because with a hlf helmet on the LT, little drops of water fly up from the slot under the windscreen. On the RS I''m always full-faced so that's not an issue.

LT:

Pine green is ugly.
Neutral riding position - very relaxing for touring but still can be ridden pretty hard for a big ole beast.
Generally better protection - though it's a little too much in 90+ weather.
Tunes - especially nice with the MP3 CD player and handlebar remote.
Rides much better on radials but still not as fast and aggressive as the RS.
Factory top case sucks - bounces around and is awkward off of the bike. But I keep mine for the rear speakers.
Windscreen is great for riding sans helmet. (Thank dog I live in the US where it's still legal in most of the middle states and Alaska.)
"Stealth" fairing - what I mean by that is that people think it's a big lazy touring bike but actually it can be ridden to the pegs with much confidence.
With a half or no helmet, you can smoke(+1 for the cig lighter), drink and eat while riding.

RS:

Looks cool.
Begs to be ridden by a hooligan.
Was featured in an Aerosmith video.
I really like the positioning of the stock handloebars. Lets you get your upper body weight in and over the bike for hooligan riding.
Doesn't beg to be dropped like the LT does.
FASTER, FASTER, FASTER

I keep this RS closest to the garage door and it's my usual city rider. Since I have to wear a hemet in WA, OR and CA and because it's a better performer I prefer to ride the coast on the RS. For heading east, it's the LT.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[Mystic Red]

It's been documented that the LT has a smoother engine and transmission.
The fit of the tupperware and quality of the paint is much better on the LT and the front fender is MUCH more attractive.
Speedo on the LT is spot on while the RS can be off as much 10 percent!
LT uses no oil and the RS gulps it like Duck with a glass of Crown Royal. This is due to the overall tighter engine tolerances of the LT.
Head light is significantly brighter and an LT rarely needs additional lighting.
The reason for these differences (and I'm real surprised no has mentioned them) is that most all the RS's were built on Fridays and Mondays while the LT's were built mid week.
I read the above posts and realized that there is quite a bit Internet lore going on up there and I wanted to set to set the record straight.
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

[Flying Duck]

[SugarHillCTD]

[mnb]

The answer is simple...

The LT is better


because I own one.
_________________
M N B
1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition

[chopper_harris]

+1

If you want a sports tourer, there are many infinitely better bikes than the K11RS.

VFR800 (Interceptor for our colonial cousins).
ZZR 11/12.
Blackbird.

All can be had for the same or less $ than the K11 RS.

----

The LT does exactly what I expected, and more. For half the price of a similarly aged Pan-European, it was a no brainer

To my mind, the K12GT is the natural successor to the K11LT
The K12LT was not a logical progression, it was a change of direction to go after the Wing and HD Glide market segment
_________________
C1 200 (2001)
R100 RS (1990)
NSU Quickly N (1964)
Honda 400/4 F1 (1977)
MotoGuzzi 1000C (1978)
Suzuki TL 1000 R (1999)
Kawasaki KLV1000 (2005)
K12R Sport (2007) - Wifeys

[BMGraeme]

[Jim Brotherton]

[CheapJapCopy]

Er, the RS is a better set up LT without a "barn door". Nice wide tyre on the back instead of that spindly thing. What other differences?

If I want to trundle around with a big windscreen I use my K100RT.

Yeah, better sport tourers.. Hmm.. It's the bike I've bloody got so I'll stick with it I think. Road presence is superb, it's cheap as chips, rare..

Aw, I just like it. And it's even stopped guzzling oil for some wierd reason - maybe the 130mph cruises finally settled it down
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1992 K1100RS - Red and gold.

[BlackHoof]

My geezerly back would never allow the boy racer riding position of the
RS...

The oversized anvil/bowling ball carrying topcase on the LT is a bad
bit of engineering, the bike is already top heavy...

The "faster" RS would only result in more "Fast Driving Awards"...

Neither the RS nor the LT can hold a candle to the much vaunted
Suzuki Burgman, King of the Maxi Scooters..


_________________
Kent

'93 K1100LT- Blurple Colored
Lucky # 887
'27 Bugatti Replica/Kit Car-Dark Purple
'05 Suzuki Brugman/Russell Seat...

[jpberens1994K1100RS]

I'm kinda new to my K1100RS moving up from an old air head, but I'm really really pissed because as of right now I just can't go back, nor can I sell her. Here's what I see so far.....

Different bikes for different sized people.
Plus sized 6 footers and above, LT only way to go, RS too tight for some, just right for me and YES, seating position is better than my old R100RS.

Wide tires on the RS Better.
HP & trans too close to call. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much good information on this site, mine runs sweet now. Rougher when I got it due to previous owner not being handy with a wrench I guess. He had the dealer due the hard stuff, but fine tuning on these bikes takes time & paitience. That's for either.

RS feels faster, feelings are important.

RS seating position is just right for me, yes, it's more of an athletic position, but NOT super sport bike. This helps me PAY attention better. I'll say if you can easily do the same number of pushups as your age, you can ride an RS all day long.

RS looks faster all the time any where, don't even argue.

RS can carve it up and feels lighter than the LT, yes, I test rode / drove a used LT. Hard to pound an unfamilier bike that you do not own.

RS oil consumption? None to minor so far 29,000 miles on this one.

RS head light, plenty bright. But I like a little more so I e-mailed Martin Fabricating. He's working on a fork mount, front fender bolt, AVOID the caliper at ALL costs he said.

LT can carry more stuff ? get less stuff.

Radio? WTH? Life is noisy enough, it's my escape, again so personal a preferance. I'm betting a lot other RS riders figured out how to get tunes right into the helmet.

I almost bought an LT from a guy in Tenn. had lots of options & stuff. Bought a red RS instead, then had it crashed. Only had it home for two days, but I had to get another.

Burgmans are way cool looking, my body will tell me when I'm old enough for that. I'm hoping that's a ways off yet. Long ways off.
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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge