In This ArticleWhereas throwing my leg over the brand new 2026 BMW R 1300 RT, I recalled a dialog from a few years again. Shortly after spending a month with a BMW K1600GTL, I discovered myself in a BBQ spot in Tyler, Texas. Midway via my brisket, a man pulled in on a BMW R 1250 RT, a sport-tourer with a spunky boxer engine, however not the chic inline-6 of the Ok-bike. He grabbed the desk subsequent to me, and I instantly requested him how he appreciated his RT.
“It’s such a fantastic machine and goes about as laborious as I ever need to and is fairly plush on my previous bottom.” (Observe: He didn’t say “bottom,” however it is a household weblog.) I requested him what he considered the Ok 1600 and if he’d had an opportunity to experience it. “Oh man, that’s one candy engine, however , it’s simply too heavy of a machine for me. I like how I can simply toss the RT round.”
BMW had organized for a gaggle of the motoring press to spend a couple of days driving the brand new RT down from Greenville, South Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, culminating in BMW Motorrad Days Americas 2025, on the Barber Classic Competition held on the Barber Motorsports Park….with an entire lot of fabulous roads in between. Louisiana may invoice itself as “Sportsman’s Paradise,” however the roads in North Georgia and Northern Alabama might simply lay declare to “Sports activities-Touring Paradise.” Would the brand new RT show a worthwhile inheritor to my Texas good friend’s earlier bike?
The R 1300 RT represents a major evolution within the Motorrad’s touring bike lineup, and slots right into a product area that’s considerably ignored or deemphasized by its opponents; that of the Sports activities-Touring bike. Apparently, the Motorrad’s personal market analysis finds few pure opponents, because the bulk of consumers have gravitated an increasing number of in the direction of the ADV market, which in flip has spawned extra road-focused iterations of these beefy all-rounders. (Although the Japanese OEMs appear extra within the class than the Europeans.) For BMW’s competitors, in the present day’s Honda VFRs and Ducati ST3s have a tendency to begin life extra upright and with knobbier tires.
The Most Highly effective Boxer Engine Ever
On the coronary heart of the R 1300 RT is a newly developed 1300cc liquid-cooled boxer engine, which it shares with the brand new R 1300 GS and GS Journey. The brand new motor delivers 145hp (versus 136hp for its predecessor) and 110 lb-ft of torque (versus 105 lb-ft), with extra torque and smoothness throughout the rev vary (and improved gasoline financial system) because of ShiftCam variable valve timing. It’s easy, quiet, linear, and powerfully dramatic in all the perfect methods. Each my wrist and bottom would assert that is the perfect BMW boxer engine but, and the general public appears to agree.
At our second-night lodge, a man approached our group of bikes parked out entrance with a dreamy look in his eyes. “I rode a rented GS [one of the new 1300s] down the coast of Spain this summer season with a buddy,” he reminisced. “Man,” he stated, “unbelievable bike. If my spouse dies earlier than me, that’s the very first thing I’m gonna get myself!” He didn’t appear to be kidding.
The compact 6-speed gearbox and clutch, now situated withing the engine housing itself, has a decreased total size, concentrating mass towards the middle of gravity for higher maneuverability. The shortened transmission shaft additionally leads to notable weight financial savings, with the brand new engine’s powertrain weighing 14.3-lbs lower than the unit within the earlier motor.
A Chassis with Sporting Pretensions
The all-new metal and aluminum chassis provides improved rigidity and extra compact packaging than earlier than. Suspension upgrades embrace the brand new EVO Telelever entrance and EVO Paralever rear programs, which offer enhanced steering precision and stability.
BMW launched the Telelever over 30 years in the past and has been refining it ever since, the Porsche 911 of motorbike suspensions, if you’ll. This newest iteration merges some great benefits of prior variations—similar to brake pitch compensation and the separation of spring and steering capabilities—whereas enhancing rigidity and steering precision. The design includes a handlebar decoupling system, centered on a versatile stainless-steel plate that transmits steering forces with out inflicting undesirable tilting. The higher fork bridge is mounted to each pivot and rotate to enormously improve stability, whereas a further curler bearing within the decrease fork bridge reduces friction for extra exact steering. The suspension consists of digital damping and spring price adjustment, with a entrance journey of 5.9 inches, offering higher experience stability and management. As with all Telelever-equipped BMW’s, the RT’s steering is exact, secure and confidence-inspiring.
On the rear, the EVO Paralever is electronically adjustable for rebound and compression, in addition to spring price and preload. Rear journey is 6.2 inches.
Using our curvy, snaking route offered each method of tarmac and terrain to check out the brand new RT’s dealing with, from quick sweepers to mid-speed cambered curves to 15-mph switchbacks the place speed-limit indicators weren’t kidding. (We even had an precise snake make an look in the midst of the new street as we went zooming by.)
The roads round Helen, Georgia, have the texture of an prolonged Tail of the Dragon, and from the vehicles and bikes taking part in on that stretch, the phrase is clearly out. From leather-clad riders on Ducatis driving a severe tempo, to native squids in denims driving Gixxers like they stole them, to even one Harley-riding hero who left a path of sparks as his baggage and pegs dragged the bottom, bikes aplenty loved the fantastic problem on supply. The RT felt proper at dwelling, it’s playful, sprightly nature by no means being overmatched by the terrain. And the bike’s distinctive seems perked up even probably the most motorcycle-jaded native.
One such colourful gent glided up on an e-bike whereas we had been stopped for lunch, sporting a fisherman’s cap and sucking on a Dum-Dum. “You from California? Welcome to the US!” Was he speaking to me, I questioned, or the bike?
Seeing our row of bikes lined up in his North Georgia city, all with California distributor plates, he’d made the not unreasonable assumption that we had been maybe not from round these components. I thanked him for his welcome. “Good bikes!” he hollered over his shoulder as he gave a giant smile and peddled on down the sidewalk.
Most Suspension Adjustability and Rider Aids
The elective Dynamic Chassis Adjustment (DCA) provides three commonplace driving modes—RAIN, ROAD, and ECO—in addition to elective DYNAMIC and DYNAMIC PRO modes, permitting riders to modify between plush touring and extra spirited driving on the fly. As with many trick semi-automatic suspensions, I shortly landed on the DYNAMIC setting and simply left it alone. (Although I did spend a couple of nail-biting miles plodding alongside in ECO mode when gasoline grew to become an sudden concern.)
A brand new function taking nifty benefit of the suspension’s digital adjustability is a “Prop-Up Assist” which makes it simpler to handle the automobile on the middle stand. When the middle stand is lowered, the bike’s suspension lifts itself as much as help placing the bike on the stand. Useful. You’ll seemingly need to use this function, because the facet stand itself is noticeably brief, leaning the bike over at an angle that makes it a problem to remount in sure conditions (making every single day “leg day”). For shorter riders, that is may very well be a selected annoyance.
ASA: Wherefore Artwork Thou Clutch Lever?
My bike (and certainly all of our take a look at bikes, reflecting the Motorrad’s want to get the phrase out) was outfitted with the Computerized Shift Assistant (ASA), which automates clutch operation and equipment adjustments. Should you’ve ever ridden a bike with automated up-and-down fast shifting, you’ll instantly get the thought, the notable distinction being that…there’s no clutch lever. There are two modes: Computerized and Guide. In Auto, the bike handles all of the shifting. The rider simply twists the throttle and the bike strikes off, altering gears up and down as driving type and situations warrant. In Guide, the rider shifts up and down as regular utilizing the foot lever, figuring out the rev vary at which the engine works, and permits extra granular management over engine breaking and shift factors. Of curiosity is that in both mode, it’s functionally not possible to stall the engine.
Now right here I’ve to confess one thing: I needed to hate this method. I’m a dedicated handbook transmission man, as evidenced by the three handbook transmission vehicles I personal (two of them newer). On a bike, I’ve at all times felt the interaction between the clutch lever and the throttle was one of many actual joys of the game, a skillset destined to develop into anachronistic in some unspecified time in the future but a part of the essence of motorcycling. However let the document present that in about 5 minutes utilizing ASA, I used to be a convert. It really works nice and fits the RT’s persona completely. And whereas there are nonetheless low-speed conditions the place a handbook clutch lever can be preferable (or not less than reassuring in a mechanical teddy bear kind of method), if I had been to advocate and even purchase an RT, I might go along with ASA. There, I stated it.
Electronics and Security Options
The RT is festooned with all method of know-how match for a contemporary touring bike and doesn’t diverge considerably from the Motorrad’s different top-shelf machines. The ten.25-inch TFT coloration show is shiny and legible in all situations, and consists of smartphone-mirrored navigation by way of the BMW Motorrad Related App. The Using Assistant suite provides complete security options, similar to Lively Cruise Management (ACC), Frontal Collision Warning (FCW), and Lane Change Warning—utilizing radar and automatic braking interventions to scale back the chance of accidents. Full LED lighting is commonplace, whereas the elective Headlight Professional adapts beam path and depth primarily based on driving and cargo situations. Audio choices embrace an built-in system with HD radio, FM/AM bands, and an elective Audio Professional system for enhanced sound readability in any respect speeds. I can report that the stereo works, in that I turned it on, heard sound coming from the dual audio system, then turned it off in favor of the cacophony of motorbike sounds passing by (apologies to our audiophile readers for that pitiful assessment.)
Controls are accessed by way of thumb buttons and a rotary dial, which will likely be acquainted to anybody who’s ridden a contemporary BMW bike. It’s not my favourite system, however I admire the Motorrad’s consistency throughout platforms. One niggle: Would it not kill BMW to backlight the buttons for nighttime driving?
As with different BMW touring bikes, the entrance and rear brakes are absolutely built-in. Pull the brake lever, you get each brakes. Push the rear brake pedal, you get each brakes. Pull the entrance lever and push the rear pedal…you get the thought. BMW defined this was as a result of necessities of the ABS Professional system, together with its companion, Dynamic Brake Management, and varied different digital nannies needing management authority, however in brief, you’ll get what you get by way of stopping. In response to the literature, there are evidently some situations the place the bike permits the rider to lock the rear wheel by way of the rear brake lever, however I didn’t uncover that individual habits in the true world. All that stated, braking is spectacular, linear, and sure-footed.
Trendy Design and Touring Facilities
The design of the brand new R 1300 RT is distinctly fashionable, with an angular edginess that manages to keep away from Stormtrooper parody. It’s a considerable bike, to make certain, but in addition manages the fragile steadiness of wanting giant however nonetheless tidy, not at all times straightforward when wrapping a physique round a giant boxer engine ( you, GS Journey). Consider it because the NFL linebacker of bikes.
A number of coloration choices can be found: Alpine White, Triple Black, Impulse Racing Blue Metallic, and the fetching Choice 719 Camargue Blue Ridge Mountain Metallic, alongside premium options like hand-painted pinstriping, solid handlebars, and variable wind deflectors. As befitting BMW Motorrad’s product vary, match and end is great all through.
A phrase on the windscreen: Spectacular. Electrically adjustable by way of a thumb swap, the zone of stillness when absolutely prolonged is sort of unnerving, particularly when paired with the side-panel deflectors. It’s the calmest expertise I’ve ever had on a bike, even at speeds inside shouting distance of 100mph (for science, you perceive). “Serenity now!” certainly.
In fact, the touring a part of sport-touring implies carrying stuff over distances, and the usual baggage system consists of built-in 27-liter facet instances (expandable to 33 liters by way of the Variable Baggage System). The detachable high case swallows as much as 54 liters and, when outfitted with the elective Consolation Passenger Bundle, consists of heated seats, a heated backrest, and heated grips (although the controls for grip warmth are considerably infuriatingly buried in a menu fairly than managed with a devoted button). It’s plush.
One part that does er on the facet of sport fairly than touring is the rider’s seat. After about 200 miles, my unmentionables received a tad numb, so the equipment catalog will seemingly be your good friend should you plan on repeatedly rolling up the miles within the RT. It’s actually not the plush Eames Lounge Chair saddle of BMW’s Ok 1600 GT. That stated, the RT’s saddle is grippy and formed to maneuver round on a bit, so the sporting selection appears deliberate.
Technical Specs and Pricing
Main specs for the 2026 BMW R 1300 RT embrace a wheelbase of 59 inches (barely lower than that of the R 1300 GSA), seat peak choices from 30.7 to 33.9 inches, and a complete moist weight of 619.5 lbs (barely heavier than a GSA’s 593 lbs; blame the built-in sidebags). Acceleration from 0 to 62 mph takes 3.6 seconds, with a high pace of 124 mph. The gasoline tank capability is 6.3 gallons (in comparison with the GSA’s 7.9-gallon tank). The bike has a beginning MSRP of $22,495 plus vacation spot charges, although you’ll seemingly inflate that value greater than a bit after some high quality time with the choices checklist. You may experience away on my absolutely loaded take a look at bike for simply shy of $32,000.
BMW Motorrad Days America: The Circus Involves City
In the end, our band of riders arrived at BMW Motorrad Days America, held along side the Barber Classic Competition. Motorrad Days brings collectively all-things BMW Motorrad, with actually each bike within the portfolio featured on static shows, many obtainable for take a look at driving by these affected person sufficient to attend in line. Strolling right into a Motorrad supplier, even the biggest, is one factor; however seeing the bikes lined up gleaming within the solar, surrounded by drooling onlookers, with educated product consultants chatting up the curious and smitten is one thing else totally.
You identify the bike, it was there, together with the excellent retro R12S with its electric-fade Lava Orange Metallic paint, and in addition the Idea RR Superbike, a preview of the S 1000 RR’s future, unveiled earlier this yr as a part of the celebrated Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como. All of it was coloured by the sounds of rockabilly from the stage and the demon squeal of stunt riders doing issues that, if I attempted them, would seemingly put my crash gear to good use. (It was additionally a deal with to meet up with the oldsters from the BMW Efficiency Using Heart, available to advertise their choices.)
The Barber Classic Competition itself is to bikes what the Pebble Seaside Automobile Week is for vehicles, with classic racing in lots of classes, occasions like Motorrad Days America and the Isle of Triumph, vendor shows aplenty, and probably the most fabulous bike swap meet I’ve ever seen. And bikes of all sizes, shapes, and kinds actually in all places. All constructed across the absolute glory that’s the Barber Classic Motorsports Museum, the biggest assortment of bikes anyplace on the planet (with a smattering of vehicles as nicely, particularly the Lotus marque). Motorcycling would appear to be alive and nicely if the Barber Classic is any indication.
The RT was, if not invisible, then considerably misplaced within the crowd at The Classic, although admittedly a dozen unreleased-model bikes with producer plates all in a line will at all times draw curious glances, if not an precise crowd. The relative anonymity was punctured, nonetheless, by the handful of parade laps across the Barber racetrack itself, the place our RTs lead a various pack of others on an unique group experience, together with one leather-clad couple driving a riotous racing sidecar rig powered by a classic BMW boxer motor. It spent the laps immediately behind me, darting out and in of my mirrors, its throaty exhaust echoing off the Alabaman hillocks. Wonderful.
The R 1300 RT: Virtually a Throwback
In an period of accelerating platform homogeneity, when ADV bikes need to be Tourers and Sport-Tourers need to be canyon carvers, manufacturers search for methods to mix their part mixes to pour out differentiated merchandise. So, it’s seemingly inevitable that some touring bikes develop into extra sport-focused and a few ADV bikes grew to become extra road-focused. If Ducati’s Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak could be one of the crucial competent pure street bikes available on the market, why can’t the R 1300 RT tackle an equally spirited sport persona whereas nonetheless offering consolation to roll away the miles? BMW has clearly gone in that path with this new RT. It’s virtually old style; a correct sport-touring bike, with smiles aplenty.
