Dear V-Told, just keep doing this - it's honest :) Few days ago I did 2k km on this bike (Bieszczady and around), mixed roads and conditions, half the trip in the rain. Few things: - The same experience with the screen position (1,87m) - on highway either you get the whole wind blast on your helmet or you have to crouch behind the windshield which is unnatural. - Goes like hell when unloaded, with pillion and stuff (3x panniers) it's better to reduce gear before fast "actions". - Brakes are amazing, combined with Pilot Road 5 it's hard to turn the ABS on even on wet road when breaking hard. - Suspension most of the time worked well (I used Dynamic or Rain modes, rest were useless), agree that you can experience this sudden drops, or "ups" on bigger bumps (but only when riding harder ;-)). - Active cruise control works well (bike keeps chosen distance, of course especially good on highways). - Perfect balanced and fast turning even at low speeds (low center of gravity/boxer engine). Pillion opinion: It's not a bike for touring, feels a bit like a tractor, not really smooth, seat comfort ok, everything else ok. You'll get fuel gauge simply by pressing few times "up" button, when on the "main screen" (It'll be shown up in the right up corner of the screen). Remaining Distance is a bit better in my opinion - it adapts to your current driving style. Cheers and ride safe, hope to meet you someday :)
I‘ve done more than 6000km’s during the last few weeks with my new R1250RT and I can agree to most of your comments to this bike. I think, the suspension is better than you tell us and also the wind protection (but I like to feel wind around my helmet…) Did you notice, that the seat-height can be adjusted? I‘m 1,81m tall and in the high position (825mm) it fits perfectly for 500+km day-trips without any leg problem (I‘m a sporty best-ager of 62years). All in all: Well down, bro😉👍
Yup, the seat is adjustable and at either 82,5 or 80,5 cm - totally right. I'm honestly wasn't impressed by the wind protection but that tends to be an issue on most adventure and also touring bikes like this RT. Not sure why but manufacturers clearly prefer to make the windshields shorter rather than taller. But hey, it's a super high-quality and well-built bike with amazing brakes, engine full of torque and great range.
... hi from Germany! you're right! I have had a 1250 rt for 2 months ... of course the 719 ... fully equipped, the best I've ever driven! After 600 thousand km on different motorcycles, I can say = It doesn't get any better! Next, I'll drive across Europe, the 21er is a TGV for the road! stay healthy! Have a good trip 😉😎💯👍👌✌
Hi, I'm glad that you're enjoying your R1250RT - it's an awesome tourer built exactly for that. It's also got impressive technology center and one of the best and coolest displays out there. All the best to you!
@@peterboczan2116 ...I can say after more than 50000 km with a GS 1200 Adventure? absolutely reliable! I bought my BMW 1150 R with 113,000 km! absolutely reliable! My RT 1250 causes 0 problems = reliable! And the service at my dealer? significantly cheaper than Harley used to be and reliable since 2017...if something doesn't work? I recommend changing dealers... that may be the only problem...
What bike from the sport touring bike category would you give the highest rating? From your perspective? Is there a 9/10 bike? What sport touring bike gets your highest rating?
I'm on my first BMW (an F900R) and already am REALLY looking forward to the next generation boxer in naked R form. As a brand, they clearly have an army of practicality nerds working for them and I'm down with it.
@@VToldsMotoShow very much so. I prefer naked bikes and even though I love the styling of the RnineT, I'm too used to things like a quickshifter, TFT dash and other luxuries to go back to a bike without them.
Suspension: - All suspensions are a 'compromise'. The RT does not have (nor need) the long travel of a GS, so it's understandable why they would tune the suspension to be softer over the initial range of travel, then firm-up as the travel reaches its limits. Otherwise the bike would frequently bottom-out, and it would not be as stable for aggressive riding. There's no question its bias is towards comfort, but the handling in the twisties is still among the best of all dedicated tourers. Your overall rank of 7 is strange, as you don't mention which alternatives exceed the performance and qualities of the RT, and rank higher. Many reviews I've seen rank the R1250-RT among, or superior to, any of the other touring bikes you can buy. I currently own a 2002 BMW R1150-RS, so not totally unfamiliar with BMW bikes.
Would love to see backlit handlebar switches for night riding and the charging port storage compartment be able to accommodate an Ultra size Smart phone. BMW should be able to handle that. Premium.
I'm wondering about the backlit switches as this seems not to be that complicated. Especially if one manufacturer has managed to implement that already. I agree that especially on a touring-oriented RT this would make sense.
Hi V-Told! Thanks for once more, a very useful video, man! You Rock! I’m a proud owner of a BMW GS 1250 R of 2020. In a more proper video you’ve made an important job comparing the multistrada and the Above mentioned GS, I said in a comment to it, that in my bike, the difference between the road mode and the dynamic was not very obvious and I still have that opinion. You can tell the difference a little bit more when you’re driving fast or more aggressively, but in low and medium revs I didn’t took ever a strong impression, with the RT that difference becomes evident! The RT in straight line and moderate speeds riding inside the legal speed limits, is plush, comfortable and the suspension gives you the sensation you’re riding a top model bike, it absorbs graciously every bump every depression of the pavement. But if you go faster in a road full of twisties, and if you’re riding it in the road mode, the suspension is too soft, along with the heavier mass it carries, the rear doesn’t goes along and the bike doesn’t feels planted as it should, or as you could expect and there, you must put it in dynamic mode, so everything corrects it self and you feel in total control again. Is that what you call the automatic suspension stabilization, the ESA system, or the riding modes are a different feature of the bike? Other point, where I totally agree , is the astonishing beauty of this bike new front. It’s easy to fall in love with that face 😂 It changes the whole personality of its looks, turns it into an attractive young machine, full of energy, promising endless fun and joyful experiences. And to put an end to all doubts, the horn honks almost like a truck or even a train. It is marvelous to know it is there, not to use it often, but just to know if you need it, it’s there for you, doing the job at the highest level of efficacy and style! From my point of view it is a distinct sign of nobility, or a statement of leadership amongst all bikes,. It rules! Sorry for the long comment and please don’t forget to give me your opinion about the above presented question, as I really value your knowledge and very useful insights about this machines. Be well and I’ll be looking forward to your best reply 🙏🏼
Great description of how suspension of the RT feels - really on point! Now about the riding modes - these are about power delivery of the engine, now suspension is being controlled by ESA as you mentioned. I tend not to feel the difference when changing either, so the riding modes and ESA. With ESA I know there are subtle differences but clearly here my butt is unable to tell the specific difference. As for riding modes, you perhaps may feel a considerable difference between the Rain mode and all others as it limits the power, so the bike will simply be restricted in terms of power - this you may likely feel yet again, between the others I cannot tell the difference. Cheers and thanks for sharing!
2023 model can display the fuel gauge in the Home Screen. It does have dynamic ESA suspension. I am 5’9” and don’t have a wind buffeting issue with my helmet. I have found different helmets can cause issues with some windscreens. The model I’m riding is USA 2023 R1250RT with the premium package.
Currently riding a 2019 RT 1250, my brother and I ordered a pair of 2022s, mine a triple black and a blue one for my brother. I always ride mine in dynamic mode haven’t had any issues, love the suspension usually ride two up.
Hi, thinking about this bike. How is it 2-up? Do you have something behind the passenger, like a sissy bar on Harley, or just the side bags? I am a long time Harley Owner, but not loving the price they want for the new bikes, so considering BMW. I would use it mostly for multi-day touring trips
@@ToddEdmondson I love my 2019 1250. I have a small top case on the back with a pad so my wife can lean against it. We are both smaller I’m 150 lbs, my wife is 100lbs. At times I wonder if my wife is still on the bike behind me, the power and handling are fantastic. The bike is great for long distance touring. We make a trip to Reno normally in about 10 hours. (About 600 miles) I find the TFT screen and the LED headlight intriguing on the new model. However I’ve heard the TFT screen can be troublesome on the 2020-2021 models at times. Apparently BMW is updating the system in September. Hopefully issue will be resolved when we take delivery on the 2022’s.
@@ToddEdmondson I'm a BMW owner. If you're going from HD to R1250RT, it will be a big difference, no more the same philosophy. The RT is a sport tourer bike which can be for very easy and comfortable in 2-up for long trip.
My wish list bike is basically an XR or RS version of the R1250GS with the longer GS suspension, narrower RS fairing with mirror placement higher, full street side cases from the RT. This would be a nice, comfortable touring setup.
I was able to lower rage foot pegs 30mm with a lowering kit and raise the bars 33mm and the bike is absolutely perfect 👍 prefer the angry owl look on the headlights…. Not really a fan of the new headlights 🥺
Thanks a lot for sharing that as this may be very helpful to know for a lot of riders out there. Very useful information and I see that we had a similar observation in regard to the foot pegs. Thanks a lot again!
I own a K1600GT. I road an R1250RT at a ride event a few days ago. The RT rear suspension was bouncy like a 1962 Chevy with bad rear shocks. Yes, I changed the modes and number of riders setting. Still bouncy. Distance between seat and pegs was way too short. Bike didn't cut into turns as well as my K. By the time I got the windshield high enough the top edge was in my line of site. No way would I buy this bike. So there. Someone needed to say it. Great review.
Enjoyed your comparison to a huge turbo diesel engine with two turbines, one for low and one for high range. And it's got to be emissions deleted and have a performance tune!
I have a 2020 R1250RT and I agree that ist´s a good bike overall, the engine is powerful, it has a lot of torque, good wind protection, good equipment, powerful brakes... Again, I agree that the suspension is quite soft, but that´s because it´s more a Grand Tourer than a Sport-Tourer. In the end is a 300kg+ bike. It rides quite well in the twisties, as it has a short wheel base, but it´s heavy and has big momentum, it can be ride fast, but with caution, it´s not a sports bike.
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed and that's right - the pronunciation of "idle" should be as you mentioned. I've recently done the exact same thing in another video and only afterwards realized that it's not what it should've been. All the best!
You have to get an extension for the screen, I have the same issue with my Triumph and I purchased an after market Madstad screen to replace mine and it solved the issue.
I’m kind of confused why BMW didn’t give this whole refresh/new tech treatment first to their K1600 line, isn’t that their flagship line of touring bikes? On the other hand, being the bike many markets use as their police bikes, and likely far more profitable as a product for BMW for that reason, I’m guessing, maybe that’s why they pushed this update over updating the K1600??
Not sure that it always works exactly on the basis of being more expensive = more profitable. If they make less units, which I'm convinced they make, then keeping all the staff, production line etc. may make it a much less profitable product. Likely it is exactly this way. Then less bikes are brought in for service etc., so investing in it makes less sense than investing and refreshing more popular models.
So BMW now has the mega-huge TFT that debuted on the latest RT being featured on next year’s K1600. BMW probably wanted a year’s worth of data on this TFT in customer’s hands before updating the K1600 with it. The K1600 is the flagship in North America, not BMW’s home market of Europe. There, it’s the RT
Did you test a bike without Dynamic ESA? I have a 2019 RT and it handles superbly in the twisties with the ESA set to dynamic. In Road mode it is much softer.
You were not correct in saying the fuel gauge does not tell you how much fuel you have left in the tank. You simply did not have the display at the top right set for that function. You can set the display to show ten “Bars” for a full tank, and as the fuel is consumed, the number of bars decrease. Otherwise, I enjoyed your review of my 2022 RT. Ride safe.
Good honest review. Suspension issues when loaded up just need adjusting a little and dynamic setting is needed to stiffen things up a bit. GSA has a better suspension set up. RS is worse on road setting unless you weigh under 12 stone so the answer is to increase preload. ESA wasn’t well sorted with 1200 but is better on 1250. Blind spot monitoring on a bike? Seriously? 😂😂😂 totally not needed if you swivel your head and use your eyes. Agree re controls. Too much distraction on modern bikes. Call me old fashioned but a good LCD and proper analogue clocks such as gs1200 or late model 1200RT I much prefer. Why do we need all this data? We don’t. Quick-shifter is something I rarely use. Nice to have but not the most reliable system.
It might at the higher RPM, at lower this guy here has got a real punch, seriously. FJR may just as well be compared with a 6-cylinder K1600GT with its "jet engine".
It is an electronic throttle, that why there is a little latency. The computer needs to analyse what you're doing and what do you want. It react around 0,5sec which is dangerous on low maneuvering on parking, cause you expect little reactions when playing with the throttle but it doesn't follow. So I almost fall a few times in the first months, but no it's ok, I get it.
If you really not into a cruising bike then probably it wont suit your taste. I test rode this bike and everything negative you've said on your review doesn't applied to what I experienced. For me this bike is perfect and well suited to what ride I do. Just a thought, thanks.
Maybe it's not allowed but it's not forbidden either mostly. Italy, Spain and Greece would not exist if not so filtering on motorcycles and scooters. In 30+ degrees summers, impossible and pointless. But yeah, I heard that Germans can get pretty upset at filtering and in the UK there are some single instances of weird behaviour. Here in Poland, at least the capital city, Warsaw, it's perfect.
@@VToldsMotoShow yes exactly, I’v been driving for more than 20 years going from racer to roadster supermoto, etc…and I’m looking for a unicorn, nothing exceptional every where but pretty good everywhere, especially for the protection against rain. I thought this could maybe be a interesting option.
I guess you could say that. However, it doesn't ride like a GS and the sitting position is different. Yeah, on the road it feels much more like a GS rather than K1600, but the position is more like on a K1600 rather than a GS. So all in all, it seems to be pretty accurate.
The RT surely feels so much lighter than it is and than it looks, so you may be very positively surprised even in the long run. This bike is quite unique because of that in the large touring motorcycles category.
Cześć V-Told. możesz napisać po naszemu o co chodzi z tym zawieszeniem i czy uwagi dotyczą egzemplarza z dynamic ESA czy bez? Świetny bike, dobrze się Ciebie słucha, świetny angielski (respect bro) Ciekawe czy w 2023 na 100lecie pokażą nowy model BMW RT? Jak sądzisz? Pozdrawiam, sub leci.
Cześć, zawieszenie trochę pływa, a na większych wyrwach tył potrafi dobijać. Czyli przy łagodnych nierównościach trochę mu brakuje kontroli, a jak jest coś większego, po czym trzeba przejechać, to potrafi przywalić znienacka tak w kręgosłup, że można się srogo zdziwić. Super na autostradę i austriacką górską drogę, ale na boczne drogi można by chcieć z tego powodu wybrać coś o większym skoku zawieszenia, aby tak nie bolało. Myślę, że BMW na razie nie będzie ruszać RT, bo całkiem niedawno aktualizowano tę generację. Teraz powinien być czas na GS, a chwilę po tym ewentualne nowe technologie przerzucić do RT. Tyle że to nadal trochę wróżenie z fusów :). Szerokości!
Well, on the other hand it's pretty informative and after displaying a map there, it really starts growing on you and RT is probably one of a very few motorcycles which may truly benefit from a digital display - that's as it's a proper touring bike. But yeah, I get your point.
I like your reviews but each time I say: THIS IS BIKE FOR ME AND MY PILLION. You kill it with your reviews 🤣. Please give me advice for best onroad touring bike comfortable for me and passenger. 2021 model if possible.
Hey, I think that if you’re considering riding with a passenger, then there may not be a choice considered to be better than the RT :). But then if RT wouldn’t suit you as a rider, I’d say check the GS. Now if you’re into really serious touring, there’s K1600GT/GTL which is a huge beast and likely you won’t even notice having a passenger in the back. This one would be specifically for touring and should be compared with a Honda Gold Wing. In other words, all of those bit adventure and touring motorcycles will handle riding with a passenger (performance, sitting space, luggage mounts&cases) so in the end of the day, it’s up to you what’s the most important for you. If straight line performance, then there’s Multistrada V4 and BMW S1000XR, if ease of overtaking without having to reduce gears, then BMW boxer-engined bikes like RT and GS. If fun and ease of handling, then GS, if highway riding, consider a step up to K1600GT or Gold Wing. If I were you and had only to consider riding with a passenger, these are what I’d be looking at as the best in class. I hope this helps.
@@VToldsMotoShow I dont like the look of the GS but the K1600gt/gtl is bit to high in price. Specifically in the country where I come from. R1250rt looks good, price is acceptable and it performs good (you say so in the video) but I just need to know how is it for long trips for me and passenger. Let's say fuw, whole day trips.
@@monkey_jaxo Hello, I'm an owner of a K1600 GTL. My partner and me choose that one cause we didn't like the Boxxer engine in general (from all brand). At the beginning, we're were looking for the R1250RT, but now that we've made a few trips with the K1600, we will never change for another bike. We've try it the R1250RT, the GS1250 and the K1600 on last cause it was more expensive. Before we left the parking, we did 70 meters to go to the road and we both knew that we will go for it, no hesitation. The RT is also a great tourer bike, if you go for a test, you will not be disappointed.
Wygląda na to że trochę dławi się paliwem dlatego że szybko otwiera przepustnice, kwestia fuelingu znów. Moim zdaniem lepiej więcej paliwa "na dole" niż mniej wiec nie odbierałbym tego jako wadę tym bardziej że chyba nikt tak nie robi :) podczas jazdy zapewne gwałtowne dodanie gazu wyrywa moto do przodu ☺️
Zgadzam się, że nie jest to najważniejsza rzecz na świecie i być może poza mną i paroma kolegami przyzwyczajonymi do "gazowania" i takich dzikich ruchów manetką, to nikt tego nie robi ;). Ale tak, podczas jazdy i będąc już na wyższych obrotach, to nie ma żadnego zawahania - idzie niemal jak elektryk!
Dear V-Told, just keep doing this - it's honest :)
Few days ago I did 2k km on this bike (Bieszczady and around), mixed roads and conditions, half the trip in the rain. Few things:
- The same experience with the screen position (1,87m) - on highway either you get the whole wind blast on your helmet or you have to crouch behind the windshield which is unnatural.
- Goes like hell when unloaded, with pillion and stuff (3x panniers) it's better to reduce gear before fast "actions".
- Brakes are amazing, combined with Pilot Road 5 it's hard to turn the ABS on even on wet road when breaking hard.
- Suspension most of the time worked well (I used Dynamic or Rain modes, rest were useless), agree that you can experience this sudden drops, or "ups" on bigger bumps (but only when riding harder ;-)).
- Active cruise control works well (bike keeps chosen distance, of course especially good on highways).
- Perfect balanced and fast turning even at low speeds (low center of gravity/boxer engine).
Pillion opinion: It's not a bike for touring, feels a bit like a tractor, not really smooth, seat comfort ok, everything else ok.
You'll get fuel gauge simply by pressing few times "up" button, when on the "main screen" (It'll be shown up in the right up corner of the screen). Remaining Distance is a bit better in my opinion - it adapts to your current driving style.
Cheers and ride safe, hope to meet you someday :)
I‘ve done more than 6000km’s during the last few weeks with my new R1250RT and I can agree to most of your comments to this bike.
I think, the suspension is better than you tell us and also the wind protection (but I like to feel wind around my helmet…)
Did you notice, that the seat-height can be adjusted? I‘m 1,81m tall and in the high position (825mm) it fits perfectly for 500+km day-trips without any leg problem (I‘m a sporty best-ager of 62years).
All in all: Well down, bro😉👍
Yup, the seat is adjustable and at either 82,5 or 80,5 cm - totally right. I'm honestly wasn't impressed by the wind protection but that tends to be an issue on most adventure and also touring bikes like this RT. Not sure why but manufacturers clearly prefer to make the windshields shorter rather than taller. But hey, it's a super high-quality and well-built bike with amazing brakes, engine full of torque and great range.
@@VToldsMotoShow so an old 4000$ BMW 1200 RT 2006 with 25 000KM is a better buy than that one?
... hi from Germany! you're right! I have had a 1250 rt for 2 months ... of course the 719 ... fully equipped, the best I've ever driven! After 600 thousand km on different motorcycles, I can say = It doesn't get any better! Next, I'll drive across Europe, the 21er is a TGV for the road! stay healthy! Have a good trip 😉😎💯👍👌✌
Hi, I'm glad that you're enjoying your R1250RT - it's an awesome tourer built exactly for that. It's also got impressive technology center and one of the best and coolest displays out there. All the best to you!
But what about BMW reliability? They do not seem to be doing well in that respect.
@@peterboczan2116 ...I can say after more than 50000 km with a GS 1200 Adventure? absolutely reliable! I bought my BMW 1150 R with 113,000 km! absolutely reliable! My RT 1250 causes 0 problems = reliable! And the service at my dealer? significantly cheaper than Harley used to be and reliable since 2017...if something doesn't work? I recommend changing dealers... that may be the only problem...
What bike from the sport touring bike category would you give the highest rating? From your perspective? Is there a 9/10 bike? What sport touring bike gets your highest rating?
@@peterboczan2116 yawn!
I'm on my first BMW (an F900R) and already am REALLY looking forward to the next generation boxer in naked R form.
As a brand, they clearly have an army of practicality nerds working for them and I'm down with it.
Does this mean that an R1250R would interest you?
@@VToldsMotoShow very much so. I prefer naked bikes and even though I love the styling of the RnineT, I'm too used to things like a quickshifter, TFT dash and other luxuries to go back to a bike without them.
Suspension: - All suspensions are a 'compromise'. The RT does not have (nor need) the long travel of a GS, so it's understandable why they would tune the suspension to be softer over the initial range of travel, then firm-up as the travel reaches its limits. Otherwise the bike would frequently bottom-out, and it would not be as stable for aggressive riding. There's no question its bias is towards comfort, but the handling in the twisties is still among the best of all dedicated tourers. Your overall rank of 7 is strange, as you don't mention which alternatives exceed the performance and qualities of the RT, and rank higher. Many reviews I've seen rank the R1250-RT among, or superior to, any of the other touring bikes you can buy. I currently own a 2002 BMW R1150-RS, so not totally unfamiliar with BMW bikes.
You're reviews are the most honest and this one interests because I am considering trading my r1200r for an RT
Would love to see backlit handlebar switches for night riding and the charging port storage compartment be able to accommodate an Ultra size Smart phone. BMW should be able to handle that. Premium.
I'm wondering about the backlit switches as this seems not to be that complicated. Especially if one manufacturer has managed to implement that already. I agree that especially on a touring-oriented RT this would make sense.
Hi V-Told! Thanks for once more, a very useful video, man! You Rock!
I’m a proud owner of a BMW GS 1250 R of 2020. In a more proper video you’ve made an important job comparing the multistrada and the Above mentioned GS, I said in a comment to it, that in my bike, the difference between the road mode and the dynamic was not very obvious and I still have that opinion. You can tell the difference a little bit more when you’re driving fast or more aggressively, but in low and medium revs I didn’t took ever a strong impression, with the RT that difference becomes evident! The RT in straight line and moderate speeds riding inside the legal speed limits, is plush, comfortable and the suspension gives you the sensation you’re riding a top model bike, it absorbs graciously every bump every depression of the pavement. But if you go faster in a road full of twisties, and if you’re riding it in the road mode, the suspension is too soft, along with the heavier mass it carries, the rear doesn’t goes along and the bike doesn’t feels planted as it should, or as you could expect and there, you must put it in dynamic mode, so everything corrects it self and you feel in total control again. Is that what you call the automatic suspension stabilization, the ESA system, or the riding modes are a different feature of the bike?
Other point, where I totally agree , is the astonishing beauty of this bike new front. It’s easy to fall in love with that face 😂
It changes the whole personality of its looks, turns it into an attractive young machine, full of energy, promising endless fun and joyful experiences. And to put an end to all doubts, the horn honks almost like a truck or even a train. It is marvelous to know it is there, not to use it often, but just to know if you need it, it’s there for you, doing the job at the highest level of efficacy and style! From my point of view it is a distinct sign of nobility, or a statement of leadership amongst all bikes,. It rules!
Sorry for the long comment and please don’t forget to give me your opinion about the above presented question, as I really value your knowledge and very useful insights about this machines.
Be well and I’ll be looking forward to your best reply 🙏🏼
Great description of how suspension of the RT feels - really on point! Now about the riding modes - these are about power delivery of the engine, now suspension is being controlled by ESA as you mentioned. I tend not to feel the difference when changing either, so the riding modes and ESA. With ESA I know there are subtle differences but clearly here my butt is unable to tell the specific difference. As for riding modes, you perhaps may feel a considerable difference between the Rain mode and all others as it limits the power, so the bike will simply be restricted in terms of power - this you may likely feel yet again, between the others I cannot tell the difference. Cheers and thanks for sharing!
2023 model can display the fuel gauge in the Home Screen. It does have dynamic ESA suspension. I am 5’9” and don’t have a wind buffeting issue with my helmet. I have found different helmets can cause issues with some windscreens. The model I’m riding is USA 2023 R1250RT with the premium package.
A bike introduced to the market a year before it was ready
Currently riding a 2019 RT 1250, my brother and I ordered a pair of 2022s, mine a triple black and a blue one for my brother. I always ride mine in dynamic mode haven’t had any issues, love the suspension usually ride two up.
Hi, thinking about this bike. How is it 2-up? Do you have something behind the passenger, like a sissy bar on Harley, or just the side bags? I am a long time Harley Owner, but not loving the price they want for the new bikes, so considering BMW. I would use it mostly for multi-day touring trips
@@ToddEdmondson I love my 2019 1250. I have a small top case on the back with a pad so my wife can lean against it. We are both smaller I’m 150 lbs, my wife is 100lbs. At times I wonder if my wife is still on the bike behind me, the power and handling are fantastic. The bike is great for long distance touring. We make a trip to Reno normally in about 10 hours. (About 600 miles) I find the TFT screen and the LED headlight intriguing on the new model. However I’ve heard the TFT screen can be troublesome on the 2020-2021 models at times. Apparently BMW is updating the system in September. Hopefully issue will be resolved when we take delivery on the 2022’s.
@@ToddEdmondson I'm a BMW owner. If you're going from HD to R1250RT, it will be a big difference, no more the same philosophy. The RT is a sport tourer bike which can be for very easy and comfortable in 2-up for long trip.
My wish list bike is basically an XR or RS version of the R1250GS with the longer GS suspension, narrower RS fairing with mirror placement higher, full street side cases from the RT. This would be a nice, comfortable touring setup.
I was able to lower rage foot pegs 30mm with a lowering kit and raise the bars 33mm and the bike is absolutely perfect 👍 prefer the angry owl look on the headlights…. Not really a fan of the new headlights 🥺
Thanks a lot for sharing that as this may be very helpful to know for a lot of riders out there. Very useful information and I see that we had a similar observation in regard to the foot pegs. Thanks a lot again!
I own a K1600GT. I road an R1250RT at a ride event a few days ago. The RT rear suspension was bouncy like a 1962 Chevy with bad rear shocks. Yes, I changed the modes and number of riders setting. Still bouncy. Distance between seat and pegs was way too short. Bike didn't cut into turns as well as my K. By the time I got the windshield high enough the top edge was in my line of site. No way would I buy this bike. So there. Someone needed to say it. Great review.
Great review and very detailed !
Enjoyed your comparison to a huge turbo diesel engine with two turbines, one for low and one for high range. And it's got to be emissions deleted and have a performance tune!
Just ordered one😂. Not worried at all, no really! 😅 Thanks for the review. 👍
I have a 2020 R1250RT and I agree that ist´s a good bike overall, the engine is powerful, it has a lot of torque, good wind protection, good equipment, powerful brakes... Again, I agree that the suspension is quite soft, but that´s because it´s more a Grand Tourer than a Sport-Tourer. In the end is a 300kg+ bike. It rides quite well in the twisties, as it has a short wheel base, but it´s heavy and has big momentum, it can be ride fast, but with caution, it´s not a sports bike.
You can configure the TFT to show the fuel left on the main screen. Press Menu Up to toggle the options until you see it on the top of the screen
I knew it must've been somewhere. Still, a quick search for it on the spot was unsuccessful andd so I left it as it was - quite ridiculous.
Great review. Hilarious presentation style! “Idle” should be said “eyedel” Such a great bike.
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed and that's right - the pronunciation of "idle" should be as you mentioned. I've recently done the exact same thing in another video and only afterwards realized that it's not what it should've been. All the best!
You have to get an extension for the screen, I have the same issue with my Triumph and I purchased an after market Madstad screen to replace mine and it solved the issue.
Yeah, either a deflector alone or exactly a whole new, taller screen.
Please review R18B and compare? I know very different but I’m trying to choose 🤔🏍👍🏽
That’s possible. My local dealer had one not long ago. Perhaps they still have it or will have another one early next year.
I’m kind of confused why BMW didn’t give this whole refresh/new tech treatment first to their K1600 line, isn’t that their flagship line of touring bikes? On the other hand, being the bike many markets use as their police bikes, and likely far more profitable as a product for BMW for that reason, I’m guessing, maybe that’s why they pushed this update over updating the K1600??
Not sure that it always works exactly on the basis of being more expensive = more profitable. If they make less units, which I'm convinced they make, then keeping all the staff, production line etc. may make it a much less profitable product. Likely it is exactly this way. Then less bikes are brought in for service etc., so investing in it makes less sense than investing and refreshing more popular models.
So BMW now has the mega-huge TFT that debuted on the latest RT being featured on next year’s K1600. BMW probably wanted a year’s worth of data on this TFT in customer’s hands before updating the K1600 with it. The K1600 is the flagship in North America, not BMW’s home market of Europe. There, it’s the RT
Did you test a bike without Dynamic ESA? I have a 2019 RT and it handles superbly in the twisties with the ESA set to dynamic. In Road mode it is much softer.
Great review, thanks!
I'm glad you like it. Cheers!
Your new content is great. Keep it up!
Thanks, will do!
You were not correct in saying the fuel gauge does not tell you how much fuel you have left in the tank. You simply did not have the display at the top right set for that function. You can set the display to show ten “Bars” for a full tank, and as the fuel is consumed, the number of bars decrease. Otherwise, I enjoyed your review of my 2022 RT. Ride safe.
Right right - that is correct. I just wish it was always there regardless of the setting. Thanks!
Good honest review. Suspension issues when loaded up just need adjusting a little and dynamic setting is needed to stiffen things up a bit. GSA has a better suspension set up. RS is worse on road setting unless you weigh under 12 stone so the answer is to increase preload. ESA wasn’t well sorted with 1200 but is better on 1250. Blind spot monitoring on a bike? Seriously? 😂😂😂 totally not needed if you swivel your head and use your eyes. Agree re controls. Too much distraction on modern bikes. Call me old fashioned but a good LCD and proper analogue clocks such as gs1200 or late model 1200RT I much prefer. Why do we need all this data? We don’t.
Quick-shifter is something I rarely use. Nice to have but not the most reliable system.
An FJR would make this feel like a moped in acceleration ;) Thanks for the review.
It might at the higher RPM, at lower this guy here has got a real punch, seriously. FJR may just as well be compared with a 6-cylinder K1600GT with its "jet engine".
The H2SX would make the FJR feel like a moped.
@@mcscotty325 That's a totally different bike, fine for a blast, but not a continental missile
The mounts on your windshield are not symetrical, did you notice?
I noticed that as well. The one on the right side is upside down. Easy to fix though.
Nope, no idea about that. It was a dealer's bike.
The rt on this video don't have esa suspension? But you can get it as a option?
That's why I chose multistrada enduro..the suspension on the rt was poor on continuous jagged roads
I hope you haven't missed a chance of testing the GS or GS Adventure.
❤ this bike!
So what is your perfect bike?
It is an electronic throttle, that why there is a little latency. The computer needs to analyse what you're doing and what do you want. It react around 0,5sec which is dangerous on low maneuvering on parking, cause you expect little reactions when playing with the throttle but it doesn't follow. So I almost fall a few times in the first months, but no it's ok, I get it.
Yup, called ride-by-wire. I'm not sure if it actually had not been first introduced in BMW K1600 series. So yeah, very good point.
If you really not into a cruising bike then probably it wont suit your taste. I test rode this bike and everything negative you've said on your review doesn't applied to what I experienced. For me this bike is perfect and well suited to what ride I do. Just a thought, thanks.
Would be interested to know where our feelings were different.
I have no problems with the width since filtering is not allowed in almost all countries in the EU
Maybe it's not allowed but it's not forbidden either mostly. Italy, Spain and Greece would not exist if not so filtering on motorcycles and scooters. In 30+ degrees summers, impossible and pointless. But yeah, I heard that Germans can get pretty upset at filtering and in the UK there are some single instances of weird behaviour. Here in Poland, at least the capital city, Warsaw, it's perfect.
Belgium it’s allowed.
It’s not allowed in the US except for a couple of states. But I do it anyway. Otherwise what’s the point of riding a motorcycle to work?
What is the meaning of,, filtering “?
Thank You
Great review thank you !
Could you you do some good review on the xadv 750 ?
I'm glad you like. I admit I had to google the name and found "Honda X-ADV 750" scooter. Is thie what you meant?
@@VToldsMotoShow yes exactly, I’v been driving for more than 20 years going from racer to roadster supermoto, etc…and I’m looking for a unicorn, nothing exceptional every where but pretty good everywhere, especially for the protection against rain. I thought this could maybe be a interesting option.
Is it reliable ?………
I wish I could answer that. For the first years there's warranty, so nothing to worry about in any case, really.
My first year of 8200 miles have been without any issues - all FUN.
its a 1250gs with the k1600 plastics basically.
I guess you could say that. However, it doesn't ride like a GS and the sitting position is different. Yeah, on the road it feels much more like a GS rather than K1600, but the position is more like on a K1600 rather than a GS. So all in all, it seems to be pretty accurate.
I should have my 2022 R/T in less than a month...time to sell the Dragster RR...
Hey, all the best with your new "RTransformer"!
@@VToldsMotoShow See how it goes...I never rode a motorcycle that big I will find out when I leave the dealership...
The RT surely feels so much lighter than it is and than it looks, so you may be very positively surprised even in the long run. This bike is quite unique because of that in the large touring motorcycles category.
@@VToldsMotoShow I find out this week!
@@masterspin7796 How is the bike? Mine is due in three months.
How tall are you ?
I’m 183 cm tall / 6 feet tall.
Cześć V-Told. możesz napisać po naszemu o co chodzi z tym zawieszeniem i czy uwagi dotyczą egzemplarza z dynamic ESA czy bez? Świetny bike, dobrze się Ciebie słucha, świetny angielski (respect bro) Ciekawe czy w 2023 na 100lecie pokażą nowy model BMW RT? Jak sądzisz? Pozdrawiam, sub leci.
Cześć, zawieszenie trochę pływa, a na większych wyrwach tył potrafi dobijać. Czyli przy łagodnych nierównościach trochę mu brakuje kontroli, a jak jest coś większego, po czym trzeba przejechać, to potrafi przywalić znienacka tak w kręgosłup, że można się srogo zdziwić. Super na autostradę i austriacką górską drogę, ale na boczne drogi można by chcieć z tego powodu wybrać coś o większym skoku zawieszenia, aby tak nie bolało. Myślę, że BMW na razie nie będzie ruszać RT, bo całkiem niedawno aktualizowano tę generację. Teraz powinien być czas na GS, a chwilę po tym ewentualne nowe technologie przerzucić do RT. Tyle że to nadal trochę wróżenie z fusów :). Szerokości!
@@VToldsMotoShow Mówisz o egzemplarzu z dynamiczną ESA (regulowane elektronicznie zawieszenie)?
Kiedy Volvo byku ? :D
Oj, takiego Volva to już świat może nie wyprodukować. Teraz jest inne V8, trochę mocniejsze, ale jeszcze bez wydechu ;)
Should have left the analog gauges, that dash looks cheap
Well, on the other hand it's pretty informative and after displaying a map there, it really starts growing on you and RT is probably one of a very few motorcycles which may truly benefit from a digital display - that's as it's a proper touring bike. But yeah, I get your point.
I like your reviews but each time I say: THIS IS BIKE FOR ME AND MY PILLION. You kill it with your reviews 🤣. Please give me advice for best onroad touring bike comfortable for me and passenger. 2021 model if possible.
Hey, I think that if you’re considering riding with a passenger, then there may not be a choice considered to be better than the RT :). But then if RT wouldn’t suit you as a rider, I’d say check the GS. Now if you’re into really serious touring, there’s K1600GT/GTL which is a huge beast and likely you won’t even notice having a passenger in the back. This one would be specifically for touring and should be compared with a Honda Gold Wing. In other words, all of those bit adventure and touring motorcycles will handle riding with a passenger (performance, sitting space, luggage mounts&cases) so in the end of the day, it’s up to you what’s the most important for you. If straight line performance, then there’s Multistrada V4 and BMW S1000XR, if ease of overtaking without having to reduce gears, then BMW boxer-engined bikes like RT and GS. If fun and ease of handling, then GS, if highway riding, consider a step up to K1600GT or Gold Wing. If I were you and had only to consider riding with a passenger, these are what I’d be looking at as the best in class. I hope this helps.
@@VToldsMotoShow I dont like the look of the GS but the K1600gt/gtl is bit to high in price. Specifically in the country where I come from. R1250rt looks good, price is acceptable and it performs good (you say so in the video) but I just need to know how is it for long trips for me and passenger. Let's say fuw, whole day trips.
@@monkey_jaxo Hello, I'm an owner of a K1600 GTL. My partner and me choose that one cause we didn't like the Boxxer engine in general (from all brand).
At the beginning, we're were looking for the R1250RT, but now that we've made a few trips with the K1600, we will never change for another bike.
We've try it the R1250RT, the GS1250 and the K1600 on last cause it was more expensive. Before we left the parking, we did 70 meters to go to the road and we both knew that we will go for it, no hesitation. The RT is also a great tourer bike, if you go for a test, you will not be disappointed.
Yamaha FJR 1300. 😉
That's quite a sporty torpedo, isn't it?
I rode one,and thought it was great.I also think they're overpriced and overhyped.Jmo.
Overpriced - maybe but then it depends on what you compare it with. Overhyped? That's more unlikely but still depends on what you mean by hype here.
@@VToldsMotoShow
Fair enough.
Wygląda na to że trochę dławi się paliwem dlatego że szybko otwiera przepustnice, kwestia fuelingu znów. Moim zdaniem lepiej więcej paliwa "na dole" niż mniej wiec nie odbierałbym tego jako wadę tym bardziej że chyba nikt tak nie robi :) podczas jazdy zapewne gwałtowne dodanie gazu wyrywa moto do przodu ☺️
Zgadzam się, że nie jest to najważniejsza rzecz na świecie i być może poza mną i paroma kolegami przyzwyczajonymi do "gazowania" i takich dzikich ruchów manetką, to nikt tego nie robi ;). Ale tak, podczas jazdy i będąc już na wyższych obrotach, to nie ma żadnego zawahania - idzie niemal jak elektryk!
@@VToldsMotoShow Glad that's sorted out, lol