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Opinion R1300RT

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Scout70

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Joined
Jul 29, 2021
Messages
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Bike
2021 R18 Classic Custom
Yesterday I took out my dealerships 2026 R1300RT and put 300 miles on it for them. It was a demo bike that has to have at least 300 miles on it before it could be sold. It’s a beautiful machine, triple black with unmatched fit and finish, fully loaded. Price tag $33,000.

These are my subjective thoughts on the bike. About 90k I was finding the seat starting to get uncomfortable. It has very little padding or adjustments. The European ergonomics has a slight lean forward that after a few miles I noticed I was feeling the slight pressure on my hands/wrists. The automatic transmission was great in manual mode but in auto mode it was busy with constant shifts that were not always smooth. My DCT Goldwing was much smoother. The bike weights 620 pounds but feels much heavier especially when moving it out of the garage. A reverse gear would have been great. The process of switching from heated grips the the windshield adjustment was annoying especially to turn the heat up or down. The bike is nimble and engine awesome.

So what is my point here? I own a 2022 R18B. At about 150 miles I was wishing I was on my R18B. More comfortable, no pressure on the wrists and low to the ground. No confusing adjustments and the R18B has a much better plant on the road given its weight. I was considering a trade but not now. Made me love and appreciate my R18B much more, especially at $33,000+!

My subjective review! Thanks.
 
I have an R Nine T and now an R18 TC, but I choose to ride the R18 most of the time, it's just so comfortable and "chill". The R Nine T is fun to take out when I want something faster or more nimble but on the R18, I just choose my lane and chill out on the road--much different experience. If you find that you do want something else, maybe just add one to the stable ;-)
 
Funny how riding another bike makes us appreciate ours more. I've felt the same several times with other bikes I've owned.
Me to i sold mine to freind missed it so much I bought it back there's nothing out there with the carrector 0f r18
 
After putting on the "Weekender" seat along with different handlebars and custom floorboards....I really like my R18. At about 7,000 miles I noticed it seemed to smooth out nicely. Boxers do that. On the highway at 3,000 RPM it is utopia. I should add that I mounted a classic windshield frame to my base model with 18" Jurock and fork deflectors.
 
A fortnight ago I had opportunity to ride a Triumph 1200 Street Twin. Good looking, nice build, it had a decent mid range (helped or hindered depending upon your POV by very short gearing) but other than that was fairly unremarkable really. Like so many modern bikes I find these days. Not for me.
 
I have an R Nine T and now an R18 TC, but I choose to ride the R18 most of the time, it's just so comfortable and "chill". The R Nine T is fun to take out when I want something faster or more nimble but on the R18, I just choose my lane and chill out on the road--much different experience. If you find that you do want something else, maybe just add one to the stable ;-)
Fwiw.... I have a r9t (scrambler) as well..... and favour the R18 90% of the time.... the R18 stirs the senses 2x more.... my r9t is mostly for dirt roads with a sealed road thrash on the way.

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For some irrational reason I have been contemplating the purchase of a second R18 base. There are still a few new ones out there from 2024.
Sounds very rational to me (in a not married kind of way, if married I'd personally go with "brave").....
 
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justabill, those titanium headers sure look great in the photo.
Thanks! They were gorgeous. Pulling up that photo made me think about getting something similar for the R18. I already put the word to the dealer that if that specific bike ever comes back, they need to call me first.
 
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