2021 BMW R1250RT - Real-Life Review 

Thank you so much for this review. It's the most thorough I've seen so far on the 2021 1250RT. I ordered mine before Christmas and it's supposed to be here next month. Watching your video has me even more excited.

RIP brother! He had such a great career going. I considered him on top of the game with his enthusiasm, skills, and knowledge. You wonder what bikes he’d be reviewing in the current years? I know whatever’s out there after death he is reunited with his loved ones by spirit; maybe even riding around on all his favorite bikes? Ride in paradise💙😎🙏🏼

Thank you for the review, probably the first, that present adaptive cruise control in action in real life on the bike! Very informative!

Guys, you made an amazing video, especially the radar system testing. Im not sure other reviewers will be able to test the radar as thoroughly as you. Big thumbs up!

Just ordered the 1250R. In 3 years I’m sure I’ll be riding the RT. Perfect touring machine.👍

love your content bruv...you are doing amazing job here. many thanks

You hit the nail on the head when you said “maneuverability”, from a safety/survivor viewpoint on a long trip this is what separates this bike from, say, a Street/Road Glide that weight 300 lbs more, and seating position more relaxed. The RT is the Equestrian rider, Harley the Western. Great video, thx, and Swerve Carefully!

I was waiting for this road review, as you made a very interesting unboxing video. You are the first to post a riding review, and I was keen to hear your thoughts. Added to that I’ve ordered almost exactly the same specifications on my UK bike. I’m very happy you liked the bike, and my only disappointment is the back-lit controls on my £23,000 ‘toy’. I didn’t add the stereo, or exhaust as I wanted to hear the boxer sound. The cost of the paint job made my eyes water, but being a classic ‘white’ colour, and hand painted pin-stripes I just couldn’t resist! Lastly, I appreciate the effort you and the team took to fully test the cruise control (another option I added). All in all, an amazing review. Many thanks, and I’ll keep watching all your posts! 👏💪👍

Best review ever, even light performance during the night. Well done!

This is the review I have been waiting for. I will test ride this RT in April, providing my local dealer actually gets one! Australia always seems to get the bikes bloody last. My last bike will either be the GS/GSA, or the RT. Never ridden the RT, but the reviews have always been very positive about it. Thanks for the review, terrific as usual guys and stay safe. Currently 32 degrees Celsius at the moment where I live. Feel sorry for you guys having to wear 12 layers of clothing!! LOL.

Appreciate your work! Thank you for the review,despite the cold! Good luck!

Wonderful review. This is my next bike. Thank you!

You do amazing videos. Thank-you. Keep it coming.

A very good review of the bike, well documented, nice job! Thanks

Superlative review!! Hold that radar stuff, creeps me out just watching. You my friend have courage!! Ciao.

Amazing review of new RT- I want one now! Cristian is so charismatic throughout, he can makes everything appear fascinating.

great review, thank you so much! greetings from South Africa!

I am struggling to decide between the RT and the GS. This review was REALLY helpful! Thanks!

Greetings from Sydney Australia!! Your channel is as good (if not better) than all the rest! I’m amazed at the quality of videography, stunning scenery from drone footage, plus the ability to display the best images of the bikes you review. Keep up the amazing work 🇦🇺👍

Great video, love your style of presenting and nicely shot.

Love this video on 1200 rt , you are a legend 🙌

The RT is one beautiful bike. Nice review 👍🏽

I own a 2017 RT now your review is making think i should go get a 2022 RT. thanks for the review bro, good job

Hold on, I didn't realize you guys started your own channel, SUBSCRIBED! Nice to you be here!

Whenever old video pops out and I watch still cannot believe he is not here anymore. Rest in peace bro

Wow those winding roads bordered by snow like a winter dragon ha. Wonderful review, we appreciate the efforts! The new windshield does supposedly let a bit of air in at the bottom when fully elevated. That TFT dash is the best on any bike. No wonder cops love these over everything else. I normally ride with just the top case (without panniers), to stay thinner for filtering. Thanks and greetings!

The seat and grip heating menu can be easy accessed by on of the special function buttons on the left sinde of the cover, called Favorite Keys. Key #2 does it and Key #4 is for navigation. The Rest for Audio which my RT will not have, no need for music on a bike. So you do not have to surf through the menu !

Great review, Cristian. We miss you.

Adaptive Cruise Control offers another feature, say you have set 120km/hr and come upon a car doing 100, you will slow down, as soon as you can pass, press indicator, turn and lean the bike and it will accelerate back up to 120km/hr again. Great video and camera angles, thanks for going the extra distance in producing the video.

Best demo of ACC. Well done.

The button to close the luggage compartments has always been on the right side of the handle bar, right above the Mode button, and the heated grips and heated seats were always in the menu. New with the 2021 RT is that the 4 buttons on the left fairing, which used to be dedicated for the radio, are now favorites. They can be assigned any function you want. I believe number 4 is heated grips and number 5 is navication. Like I said, you can change this. A soft press/touch will show its function on the display. A hard press will activate it.

Your explaination & information truely informative...thank2 a lot bro...👍👍

I have a 2019 R1250RT and at first I was vey frustrated by the control/buttons trying to find where things were? (I was used to my R1250GS TFT) After a week or so everything became intuitive and I found that I could adjust things with my eyes closed (even the heated seats & grips). I find the RT a little slower on the turn in than my GS but 2 up it is just awesome. In the heat (Australia 40c plus) I find that it actually blocks a of the hot air where my GS has the hot air streaming around you which sort of balances out your body temp between the 2 bikes! I love both of my 1250s, the RT is our 2 up tourer, the GS is my go anywhere touring / dirt road explorer. Looking at the new dash I am not convinced it's worth changing yet and they don't do a red RT in the new model! Great review keep up the good work!

Great review... Now I want one so badly!

Another great review 👍👍

Great review!! For the heating grips you have a quick access on the second favourite button on the left panel. (1 of the 4 buttons you have for favourites as quick acces)

Great review - thanks! Fingers crossed that BMW update the RS with the screen / nav / infotainment system from this RT!

A. SUPER. AWESOME. REVIEW. I. NOW. GOIN TO BUY ONE. THIS. IS. THE. BIKE. AND. THE. BEST. REVIEW. ON YOU TUBE. TNKS. SIR..

14:25 ..weather protection and riding in hot climates ! You make a good point sir.

Great review! Nice bike!

A very detailed and well presented video - thanks for sharing 👍

I miss this guy. Natural, objective. May he be well.

great job... love this bike... Im sold!

Beautiful bike, great review!

Wonderful content as always. If it was your money, would you take this or GSA?

Nice review 👍 thank you and many regards to Romania!

Excellent review, thanks 🙏🏻

Great review. Just bought the 2021 GS1250 (triple black). The RT looks even more capable as a motorway tourer but much of my riding is city commuting or in traffic so the GS seems like the best fit possible. Obviously, you need 148nm of torque for central Paris😂

Good review. Fun and informative.

A lovely looking bike and great to see all the updates with the omission of one thing you’ve spotted; the lack of a backlit switchgear!!!🤔

Very agree regarding the summer! In my area sometimes 41 deg C and RT is absolutely "hot" bike due to airflow can not be managed!

Looks like a lovely machine, but I’ll bet it is still a pain to change the air filter! Thanks for a very good review.

Hi, I liked your test of R1250RT 2021. I’m receving my bike in April 2021. At a certain point of the presentation you were lokking for the button for the grip heating on the handlebar .. on the R1250RT 2021 it is the button number two (2) on the left side of the bike! Make Life A Ride, ferdi

Great review. Very informative. I have my 2020 RS now, and am considering to trade in for the new RT in couple yeas for more wind protection. I do commute on bikes in Japan, and it can be cold in the winter. The only thing holding me back is the BMW Connect App does not support the maps of Japan.

Great review, how’s the ground clearance and suspension over potholes or bad roads ? Ground clearance in mm or Cms ? In comparison to GS ?

R.I.P ...Respect from Greece

After waching you, I ordered the R1250 RT Elegance. It's coming in May ;)

I couldn't have one of these without having a GSA, I love both

Nice review! As a former owner of both older RT & 1200GSA one (of many) questions comes to mind. So now you have an integrated GPS. But what about real time control, e.g. zoom functions? Are these now lost? On of the previous system's fortè IMO was that you could do zoom in/out while riding. KTM (1290) came/comes with 4 configurable quick-select modes. No such on the 2021 RT? That certainly could make, for instance, heated grips more accessible. Custom options would not seem a big ask on such an expensive machine, agree? Backlit buttons should also be standard on this bike, totally agree. Another thing that baffles me is why BMW hasn't introduced the same air funneling system you find on 1600GT/GTL. On my old RT I got totally fried when it was hot. A spoiler on the screen was utterly needed. It helped but an in-built funneling solution would be better.

Great review!

I have a 2018 K1600 GT and love the incremental heated seats and heated grips using the wonderwheel. Agree that BMW should have included integral lighting in the handle bar switches. Would have loved to see a demo of your adaptive headlights high beam not just low beam. Good review. Thanks!!

Amazing road bike, thanks for review 👍

I will miss this guy. Sad news.

Great review and very nice update for the RT. I hear the new R1300 shiftcam Boxer engine is coming in 22 ? So that in the RT would be worth the wait....

I just found out he passed, very sad , I always enjoyed his videos. Rest In Peace mate

As always a great assessment,thks.

Good test, as usual. What do you prefer between this and K1600GT? Have RT torque enough at low rpm, like the KGT?

I would like to ask you about your comments on ride comfort, I rode the 2020 model and ended buying the GSA as I found the RT to be quite a firm ride. I really liked the RT and I’m wondering whether or not they have changed its base specs this year for a plusher ride. Having done a bit of riding on the GSA, I realize that as much as I love it, I keep thinking about the RT and it’s superior weather protection. So, was it noticeably softer, I will ride one when they get to Australia but I value your opinion.

Excellent video, thanks.

A short cut for the heated grips is thru the buttons on the far left side, marked 1-4. I believe #3 is heating options. Mine was shipped missing the radio, I believe BMW is short on semiconductors like other manufactures

That test with the car cutting you off was brave and incredibly informative.. Excellent video

I subscribed just for your accent. Great review!

yes the big test for an every day bike is in 30c plus days..right now I have the GSA but I wonder if personal over heating would be an issue or not if your not on the highway all day?

Rest In Peace king. I m still watching you

👍👏❤️🙏🏻very educative video thanks a lot

Excellent content. Thank you for the adaptive cruise control demonstration. I don't know of any other YT creator that did this demonstration. BMW (and other OEM's with TFT's) not offering Apple's CarPlay/Android Auto is a big fail, and is preventing me from buying a new BMW. Increasingly, buyers are not interested in wonky moto OEM apps. Just let us mirror our phones. Thank you also for pointing out the lack of illuminated buttons. At the price of a new BMW, it should have lighted buttons.

Great review👍

Great stuff! Keep it up.

Great channel, always enjoy your videos. I don’t get the appeal of all the electronics on new motorcycles.

Agree about the illuminated switch gear. It still amazes me that unlike cars, almost no motorcycles today have illuminated switch gear, despite having advanced traction control systems and even adaptive cruise control on bikes such as this one. Really hope this gets added for future bikes

Would the optional tubular handlebar be a good upgrade? At least you can attach something if needed. Thanks!

I don't normally care for white vehicles...cages or bikes...but man, does that bike look good in white. The black trim and the black pinstripes add a lot of contrast and it looks fantastic.

Awesome review

Greetings from North Texas Exelent video clip

RIP , I’ve always enjoyed your reviews mate. 🇳🇿

Congratulations being first in the World to review the bike in road conditions. You got there first with the unboxing, but I had wondered why you hadn’t had it out. Then I saw the snowfall and realised why. Still, you’ve beaten everyone to the punch, even long running journalists like Motorcycle News (MCN). I am getting a bike this year after a gap of 7-8 years having sold my bike as a familial sacrifice. However, good as her word, the Kamp Kommandant has agreed for me to get a new BMW. She came out in Oct/Nov 2020 for a test ride on the 2020 GSAdv (not the 2021 update). I was dead set on that because the K1600 and RT hadn’t been updated and the GSAdv seemed perfect for the crappy UK roads, plus all the crash protection was appealing to me. However, having seen this, and the fact that all models come with the panniers as standard, and the latest tech, I’ll just ride carefully. The tech package is what really appeals to me, along with the comfort. It was great you did a real world test with the new ACC, but I wonder if it’s not switched on do you get auto-braking like you do in all cars after 2015? You answered our questions about how the bike is on poor road surfaces too. The other thing is the top box is a really good size. Big top boxes look out of place on a GS, and though it’s an extra cost option I’m definitely getting one. The Kamp Kommandant likes the idea of touring across Europe and this looks ideal. The only two concerns are the summer air flow, as you touched on, and me having a spaz and dropping it. The other consideration is do I get that lovely (but very costly) paint job because that is around the cost of the top box, and a few options like the 719 seat and the SOS function. The last BMW I had I max specced it. I don’t understand why people are too tight to pay for the extras. It makes the bike far more saleable when you get rid of it. Perhaps then, I shouldn’t be a tight are]se nd get it fully loaded with the 719 paint job.

Great review

Great review! I have a 2019 R1250RT and the only thing I'd want from this bike are the LED headlights. Did they change the seat at all? After 200 miles I HAVE to get off my 2019 RT as my butt hurts, the seat is so hard. I had a 2011 R1200R before and I could ride all day with that seat.

This new r1250rt is amazing nice driving.

That’s a nice bike. I was out on the V Strom today in -3c and could have done with more wind protection even with full electrics on.

I saw this one in person when I was getting items off my totaled R Nine T (rear ended by a distracted driving teen). That display is 🔥 🔥 🔥!

I love this bike . I’ll wait I heard lighted switches r coming. I think u can program favorite things like heated grips to one of the four buttons on the left. The Spezial paint scheme is beautiful. Great review like all of your reviews. U and your team do a spectacular job producing these videos 👍

Miss you’re videos…… r.i.p 🙏🏼

what model phone do you have ? what fits in the fairing pocket is my concern. the short cut buttons to the left of the fairing can be set up to work the heated seats/grips

I miss this guy after a year. RIP.

Excellent review, hmm should I trade my R1250 GS Rallye in?

Cool review, like your accent 👍

Fabulous and profession review as ever. RIP 🙏

Yine çok güzel bir tanıtım videosu olmuş. Transfagrasan kışında çok güzel görünüyor. Tanıtım gerçekten çok tatminkar ve çekimler çok güzel. Tebrik ediyorum. Ve yeni videolarınızı merakla bekliyorum. Bu sene Romanya'ya gelebilirsem sizde musait olursanız tanışmakta isterim.

The old R1200 didn't have heated button either. Wonder what is going to happen to the K16s because of EU5. I find the driving position and mirrors on the K are much better for touring although the RT is a great city / touring bike because of weight and manoeuvrability. Wouldn't warnings of cars in the blind spot be more useful than ACC? Why didn't they fit the side vents that are on the K for hot days?