When it was introduced in 1996, the BMW R 1100 RT was the heaviest motorcycle BMW had built up to that point, and you feel that in its character: a composed, comfortable tourer that devours the miles without complaint. Under the substantial fairing sits the familiar air-cooled boxer with oil cooling, the so-called oilhead, paired with the characteristic Telelever front wheel and shaft drive at the rear. Many enthusiasts still find this 1100 more pleasant and more reliable than its 1150 successor, precisely because the engineering is simpler. At Motorparts-online.com you will find a wide range of new and used parts for this BMW tourer.
The R 1100 RT shares its 1085 cc two-cylinder boxer engine with the R1100R, R1100GS and R1100RS, but each model received its own tuning and equipment. The engine delivers 90 bhp at 7,250 rpm and a generous 95 Nm of torque, more than enough to move this heavy tourer along briskly with luggage and a pillion passenger. The air-cooled boxer with additional oil cooling explains the oilhead nickname, the designation that sets this boxer generation apart from the older, purely air-cooled airheads.
What stands out about the chassis is the Telelever system at the front. Instead of a classic telescopic fork, a trailing arm carries the damping, so the motorcycle barely dives under hard braking. At the rear, the Paralever construction with a cardan shaft provides low-maintenance drive without a chain. Both systems determine which parts fit your motorcycle, so when it comes to front forks, damper elements and drivetrain components, bear this specific layout in mind.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Production years | 1996-2001 |
| Engine | 1085 cc air-cooled two-cylinder boxer (oilhead) |
| Power | 90 bhp (66 kW) at 7,250 rpm |
| Torque | 95 Nm at 5,500 rpm |
| Drive | shaft drive (Paralever) |
| Front suspension | Telelever |
These specifications form the starting point when searching for the right parts.
If you ride this oilhead, you may know it: a slightly jerky, pulsing sensation at a constant throttle opening between roughly 3,000 and 5,000 rpm. This surging is a well-known trait of the oilhead injection, which is set up lean from the factory. People often suspect an expensive fault, whereas the cause usually lies in the tuning.
First get the basics right.
Before you reach for costly solutions, it pays to work through the fundamentals:
A well-tuned engine hardly surges for most riders. If the sensation remains annoying, an added fuel module or newer injectors offer a solution. Not sure whether it is down to the tuning or a worn part? Then a compression test is a sensible next step.
This BMW tourer was one of the first with ABS, in this case the mechanical ABS2 system. That system is reliable in itself, but notoriously sensitive to battery voltage. Are the ABS lights flashing after you pull away? That often does not point to a faulty pump, but simply to a weak or ageing battery.
If you run into electrical issues, watch out for these well-known points:
So start with the battery and the wiring before you think about the pump. On the braking side too, vigilance is no unnecessary luxury: the rear brake caliper is known for seizing, which causes accelerated wear of pad and disc. So check your brake parts regularly, from front brake discs to brake calipers.
At its core the motorcycle is a long-distance machine, and you see that in its equipment: an electrically adjustable windscreen, a spacious fairing, panniers and often a top box. Those particular parts are in high demand, because in daily use and after a tip-over they are the first to need replacing.
Popular parts for this tourer include:
If you want to give the motorcycle a fresher look or repair it after damage, you will find both new and used fairing parts in our range. Looking for parts for several models? Then feel free to browse the wider range of BMW parts.
The RT was produced from 1996 to 2001 at the BMW factory in Berlin-Spandau. It appeared as the successor to the R100RT and was itself succeeded by the R1150RT. During that period the motorcycle remained largely unchanged technically, which keeps the search for the right parts straightforward.
With the ABS2 system, a weak battery is by far the most common cause. First ride the motorcycle for a quarter of an hour to warm it up and test again; if the lights keep flashing, the battery is often due for replacement. A poor earth connection or dirty wheel sensors can also cause the message.
Many engine and drivetrain components are related, because the entire R1100 family shares the same boxer engine block. Even so, the tuning, the bodywork and the chassis details differ per model. So always check the part number and the year of manufacture before ordering anything.
Start with a correct valve adjustment and synchronising the throttle bodies; on many engines the jerky feeling largely disappears as a result. Fresh spark plugs, a clean fuel filter and cleaned injectors help on top of that. If it persists, newer injectors or a fuel module offer a solution.
Yes, in our range you will find both new and used parts, with new stock every week. Orders go out quickly and fall under our money-back guarantee. Check the current range at Motorparts-online.com.
ABS rear sensor ring €35.00 |
| BMW R 1100 RT |
1990 - 2002 |
| Used part. Normal Use |
| Fr 17 Jul - Mo 20 Jul |
ABS sensor rear €45.00 |
| BMW R 1100 RT |
1990 - 2002 |
| Used part. Normal Use |
| Mo 20 Jul - Th 23 Jul |
Air flow meter €19.50 |
| BMW R 1100 RT |
1990 - 2002 |
| Used part. Normal Use |
| Fr 17 Jul - Mo 20 Jul |
Brake disc set €204.95 |
| BMW R 1100 RT |
1990 - 2002 |
| Used part. Normal Use |
| Tu 21 Jul - Fr 24 Jul |
