Guy Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages

Adventures in Sport Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT

Exploring North America...One Road at a Time

03-03-11  62,036 miles- Replaced front and rear tires with Metzller Roadtechs 368 dollars.  Work done at the Honda Shop.  Notice the price was not that much more for 2 tires, then the BMW shop got for one.

04-28-09- 48,407, Replaced rear tire in Knoxville, Tennessee.  The tire still had life but had slow leak.  235 dollars.

03-30-09 47,108 miles-Routine 24k service.  Adjusted valves, rear drive shaft fluid, new plugs, and changed oil, the  main highlights. This service is more detailed then the regular 6k check and almost double price.  Also new front tire, and rear brake pads.  Parts over 300 dollars, and labor was over 400 dollars for a total of 782 dollars.  It is quick to see how much more it costs to own and operate the more finicky RT.  My brother advised if I bought a shop manual we could do the valves checks in his garage, and save some money.  The valve check is not complicated, nor is the rest of it.  

02-02-08-39,000 miles- routine 6k check.  Adjusted valves, checked fluids, and routine safety check.  Replaced alternator belt (preventive) suggested at 40k miles.  New rear tire.  This rear tire delivered 15,000 miles and still had 2 more showing.  But upcoming trip to Key West was looming.  Still original brake pads.  The Honda goes through pads about every other tire.  I don't know why the RT is a better at those items then the Honda, perhaps weight?  The same tire on the Honda goes about 11k miles.

No current recall campaigns in effect.

Repaired left turn signal.  Quit working on last fall's ride to NY.  I just now got to it (wanted to consolidate repair with service.)  I feared I had a bad switch, but tech cleaned connection and repaired unit without a part, 30 minutes labor though.  Not covered by warranty.  539 dollars. 

4-12-07. 29,135- Routine 6k service.  233 dollars

3-20-07.  24, 807 miles- replaced front and rear tires with Metzllers Road Techs.  Tires and installation 425.00 dollars.  

12-14-06.  22, 755 miles- 24,000 mile service.  Adjusted valves, changed out all fluids.  Serviced rear splines and changed gear oil.  Spark plugs, air filter.  Replaced both high and low beams.  (both units had burned out.  Non warranty) they seem to go out between 10-15k.  402 dollars.  150$ parts and 250 labor.  

2 minor recalls carried out.  Replace bango bolt.  Factory feared unit would loosen, and replaced with hex.  Also rerouted sensor line from front fork.  I had no problems with the bike concerning these issues.

4-4-06.  13,902 miles- Routine valve check, and 6k interval service.  New tires front and rear (Road Pilots) replaced one low beam headlight bulb.  Total 573 dollars.

10-1-05-  8,123 miles- Routine valve check and clearance and 6k check.  219 dollars

07-28-05.  735 miles-  Completed 600 mile break in service.  Total cost 233 dollars.