New BMW R1300 RT
A huge update to BMWs brilliant boxer powered Taurer, the R 1250 RT.
So We will go through all of the updates we can spot with the seven key things that you need to know about it.
New Engine for the R1300 RT
Now, naturally, following on from the R 1250 G’s being updated to the R 1300 Gs, and the same for the Gs adventure in the next year or two, you can expect pretty much all of the other 1250 boxer powered bikes to move over to this new engine.
Thats exactly what looks to be the case here with the RT and with the extra displacement and improved cooling that you get with this 1300 cc new boxer twin.
theres going to be a decent boost in performance versus the current 1250 model.
As it stands, the 1250 RT makes 136 Hp & 7750 revolutions per minute and 143 newton of peak torque at 6250.
But the 1300 Gs makes 145 Hp & 7750 revolutions per minute.
So that’s nine more horsepower peak and 149 newton meters at six and a half thousand rpm. R1300 RT
So an extra six newton meters of peak torque. I’d expect the exact same performance figures in the RT as the Gs there.
And it should give you a nice improvement in acceleration out on the road, the 1300 Gs did feel quite a bit more lively than the 1250 equivalent out on the road.
So definitely good news for RT fans who like to get a move on.
Improved Performance and Weight Reduction
Now, along with the extra oomph that BMW managed to get out of this engine, they also improved the packaging a bit as well.
So they made it more compact and also a little bit lighter. And there were weight savings on the chassis as well.
So a new sheet metal frame that uses the engine as a stress member, and also brand new cast aluminum subframe.
Now, admittedly, the RT is a bit more covered up with fairings, so it’s a little harder to make out. R1300 RT
But I’d be very surprised if it didn’t at least get a very similar structure when it comes to the chassis construction.
Now, one would hope that combined with the engine changes, that could lead to some fairly significant weight savings.
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Like take the Gs, for example, which went from 249 kg in its base spec to 237, which is a pretty big twelve kilogram drop keb weight on the current r 1250 RT in its base spec is actually 279 kg.
So, yeah, almost certainly a little less would be appreciated.
ASA Technology
Now, another interesting point we can pick out is the fact that this particular bike doesn’t have a clutch lever.
And so that pretty much confirms that it will get BMW’s new ASA, or automated shift assistant.
The basic idea of this is there’s an electronic actuator on the clutch and one on the gearbox as well. R1300 RT
And you can either run the bike in a manual mode, where you choose the gears from the buttons on the switch gear, or you can run it in automatic, where it will do absolutely everything on your behalf.
And yeah, for a bike like this, where you’re going to be touring on it, perhaps riding in traffic a little bit as well, the complete lack of a clutch lever and the fact that you can just ride it as a twist and go, might be quite appealing to some potential buyers.
Now, this tech is going to be more and more common over the next couple of years, because you’ve also had similar systems from KTM and Yamaha announced.
that’s on top of the existing dual clutch transmission system that Honda have offered for many years, and also more recently, their e clutch bikes.
I think if I was riding in a more dynamic, engaging way, a sort of sporty weekend ride, I’d I still probably prefer the sort of satisfaction and engagement of a regular mechanical manual shift.
But yeah, I can see how it makes sense on a big tour like this, where you’re basically trying to eat up the miles as quickly as possible in as much comfort as possible.
But as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. So do let me know down in the comments whether if you were buying a new R 1300 RT, you’d spec up Asa or not.
Advanced Suspension System
Now, another area of the 1300 GS that got a fairly major overhaul was the suspension. R1300 RT
it’s got their new Evo televa system at the front end. And also the electronic suspension package called DSA, or dynamic suspension adjustment, got a pretty interesting new feature as well.
You see, previously, along with pretty much all other semi active suspension systems on the market, DSA constantly adjusted damping to try and match the current riding conditions and style.
But look, with this new version, it’s actually got an additional reservoir on the shock at both the front and rear.
this can open and close basically in an instant.
what it effectively does is changes the spring rate. This means you’ve got a much bigger range of adjustability.
so BMW say it’s especially beneficial at varying levels of load.
if you potentially riding with full luggage, a passenger, or maybe just a passenger, or maybe just the luggage, or maybe sometimes solo.
This is an automatic, electronically adjustable suspension system that’s much more likely to find the optimal setting for all those different scenarios.
So almost certainly, with the nature of this bike being a tourer, I’m expecting to see the same suspension upgrades here.
Safety Features in R1300 RT
Now, on the previous generation R 1250 RT, you did have the option of a radar at the front end, which opened up active cruise control.
I think I’m right in saying it was one of the first bikes on the entire motorcycle market to be made available with such tech. R1300 RT
you have got radars both front and rear, and it would make complete sense for it to get the latest and greatest in terms of BMW capabilities with this sort of hardware.
You see, recently there was a massive update announced for the R 1250 Gs adventure, becoming the R 1300 Gs adventure.
And not only does it get the active cruise control, if you pay to spec that package up front collision warnings and blind spot warnings,
but also a new feature called rear collision warnings, which will flash both of the rear indicators quickly if it detects from the rear radar that theres a vehicle approaching a little too hastily. R1300 RT
For me, its a really smart safety feature that could help to avoid a fairly nasty collision.
Bold Styling and Modern Design
Now, both the 1300 Gs and the 1300 GS adventure, I think its fair to say, have caused quite a reaction when it comes to the styling, with a pretty different look to the bikes that preceded them.
it seems like BMW hasnt been put off making bold changes with another significant update in the Lux department that moves in a much more modern direction.
This RT looks a little more chiseled and angular, with some sharper lines to the bodywork and also there are some, some big changes to the lighting as well, which again make it look a lot more modern. R1300 RT
In fact, I think it feels a bit like they’ve positioned the front facing radar in the optimal spot. There must be a kind of best position for it in terms of height.
the rest of the front end seems to have been designed around that fact, like the main projector led headlight that sits just below it, and then the daytime running lights,
which sort of flank that at either side, then you’ve also got like a big bite out of that massive electronically adjustable windscreen, which again accommodates the radar.
the indicators at the front have been moved up to the handguards, much like the Gs.
You can also spot some extra little fog lights down low at the bottom near the engine there, and then the back end is also new, of course, with some pretty clean looking led tail lights.
I gotta say, I don’t think the current RT, it’s not a bad looking bike, but it’s not particularly daring either.
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I actually think a bold change in this instance could potentially be a good thing, and I actually think it’s going to look pretty good when it’s done.
Now, what I will say is this bike does look fairly far along in terms of it being production ready, and so perhaps we can expect it to be on the market ahead of the 2025 riding season.
so perhaps this new RT could be one of the bikes present on the stand there.