I'm not lying when I say it's one of the best reviews i have ever seen. You mentioned everything that needed to be mentioned and that too without being repetitive/boring. Kudos to you guys. Great job!
Great video. Thankfully you did not copy how other youtubers/"vloggers" that shows noting but the view on the road that they see when they ride the bike and not showing the bike that much.
Great review. I get tired of reviewers riding down the road telling us their opinion while the viewer has to stare at the dash. Very well thought out review and cinematography. You guys hit all the right spots I want to hear when reviewing a bike. Finally the bike looks terrific and I do like the color.
i own a 2016 R1200RT. So far so good after 50,000 klms While I like the bike I find it uncomfortable. Im 5,10. Ive replaced the terrible stock seat (as many others have) and ideally need to raise the bars and lower the footpegs. Hopefully the seat on the 2022 model is improved. Somehow I doubt it. Q. Would I recommend a RT ? Yes I would. However many others find the GS more comfortable for taller riders. I agree with you , its not a bike for a beginner
Interesting. I've just traded my GS for an RT (don't have it yet) but my GS seat was so comfy I could ride all day. Will be surprised if RT not as good.
My wife is a motor police officer, she rides this bike and gets to bring it home every day :) some times i would get her to turn on her police lights and siren and chase me on my Harley or Hayabusa lol.
Having owned 1200 GS, 1250 GS, 1200 GSA, 1250 GSA and K 1600B and the 2022 RT - RT is the best choice if you only ride on the asphalt. Handling is a dream! 150 pounds lighter than the K 1600 model bikes. 17" tire and steeper Rake makes it much easier to handle than the GS and GSA. Power locks, Power Windshield, Heated Grips and Seats, 10.25" TFT and countless other options, and still cheaper than the other Models makes the RT the Champ. Good luck finding one to buy here in the US. All back ordered and some Dealers will not have one for the remaining of the year.
It's the kind of bike that just speaks for itself, all you need is to test ride it. The fact that it's hard to get a hold of is probably a testament to how good it is!
Excellent review of the RT. I’ve owned three RT’s, and other bikes such as Triumph, Harley and Goldwing, but the RT is the lightest and easiest bike to ride. I’m only 5’11” and I have the lowering peg kit and bar risers on this particular bike, and in comparison to bike I had without these two additions I find that it lowers your legs and is more comfortable.
The seat height is adjustable from 805mm (31.7 inch) to 825mm (32.5 inch). Our shortest rider Don stands at 5'4 and he got along with the bike just fine. The bike is also very well balanced making it very approachable despite its size. Hope this helps!
One of the best reviews on RU-vid by far. It was a pleasure watching. Back in 2020, the difference price between the RT fully loaded and the new Goldwing DCT Tour was just $2700.00 cheaper out the door. It was a no brainer for me to get the 6th Gen Goldwing. And yes, the RT is THE bike for city/hwy riding equally. Another factor is dealer locations in the USA. Not too many. It is a turn off to some. Cost of repairs and holding for parts from Germany could be a pain. The service on them is time and/or miles. I do here that in the future, BMW is looking to service these bikes at car dealers too. That was an internet rumor. Not sure if it's true.
Firstly, thanks for the compliment, we appreciate it! The dealer network in South Africa is pretty expansive so we can't speak for our viewers in the States but your line of thinking makes sense. As for BMW servicing bikes through their car dealers, it sounds like a great idea but as you said, just an internet rumor for now.
I disagree about the new rider. This is lite scooter and well balanced and better than anything American made. The Sportster is heavy and surely doesn’t produce the power of this machine. The Indian Scout allow creates similar power, isn’t near as fun as the tourer.
It's entirely possible to pick this up as your first bike and be totally fine, a few people actually have. The problem is, any accidental inputs or a temporary lapse of judgment could result in an expensive lesson to learn.
To many bikes not enough time, I went to purchase an RT and ended up with a K1600B after demo rides with my Mrs. She really prefers the smoother bikes and since the intent was to continue 2up travels that trumped the RT. But if I could have a 2nd solo bike it would be in my garage. Heck probably need 3 bikes to cover the adventure itch as well...
Hahaha the perfect amount of bikes is always n+1! We are yet to test the K series BMW's but in terms of styling alone, the 1600B looks the business! Either way, enjoy it and ride safe!
Great review and maybe the best I have viewed. I only provide the disagreements because you did such a great review on everything else. Here goes, forgive me: The bike feeling of instability in the rear feels more like wind. You ride in a bubble. The wind must bounce somewhere. Drop this bike down to a 30* lean and easily switch to a 30* lean on the other side and stability is now your friend. What was that you were saying? I have felt nothing like this on a big street bike. OK, I use 2 fingers on the clutch always. I just don’t get that comment. What? Oh, the kick stand sucks. I don’t care. While my phone is unlocked and connected, I am making phone calls, listening to music, and navigating. What else did you want? (Get the latest updates or you will be complaining.) The exhaust sounds OK at best. If you want the quick shift to work well, focus. It is not great. No match for the Concours and it has no additions. The bikes that come closest to the RT misses the FJR1300Es and the Concours14. These 3 bikes share the progression of sport touring. My bias opinion, but I think sport touring has become a marketing phrase.
Thanks so much Jon for taking the time to watch our video and also highlighting some very interesting points that we didn't cover. It's always great to hear opinions from a different perspective. Cheers, Josh.
I have a 2012 and 2020 K1600GT, one dark side, one not. I really struggled whether to get another GT or move to the RT. I guess at 60, I'm not ready to drop that much horsepower yet! But every year and upgrade makes the RT's lighter weight more intriguing. BTW, I ran both GT bikes on the dyno and was SHOCKED by the results! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-S12xklB_cPk.html
Not at all. It looks big and intimidating at first, especially with how wide the front seems but it's definitely not top heavy. In fact, we found the R 1250 RT to be very well balanced even at slow speeds. This is in part due to the boxer engine being mounted so low and the bars providing a good amount of maneuverability.
Hello there! We have 4 riders in our team with heights of 1.66m, 1.78m, 1.84m and 1.97m featured in this video. Is there anything specifically you'd like to know?
@@MotoTribeTV I’m 187 and I’m tryna imagine myself sitting on the rt. Cos we don’t have one in the showroom yet. Just ordered mine, coming in this month 😆
Thats cool. I own this exact bike and the review is spot on! Surprisingly when you compared it to other bikes, I traded in my K1600GT for this... and thats the bike you recommended as an alternative!
One of the top motorbike reviews I've seen. And I've been watching a lot them. Fantastic job guys, you covered the essence of the bike and what a biker needs very well.
See, this is the kind of insight owners can give that we simply can't with our limited time frame. Why does it go through front tires faster than the rear?
That is a true statement and it applies to many other heavy-front bikes as well. Luckily, there is a workaround. The 21RT is my third RT in succession (previous ones were 2007 R1200RT and 2016 R1200RT) and the only problem I ever had with tire wear on RTs was with the factory installed Metzeler Z8s on the 21 model year RT (elsewhere in Europe the new RT wore Michelin Road 5s but here in Finland it came with the Z8s). They grip the road OK but otherwise they are total crap. The front tire, especially, wore out unevenly and too soon, and in October I was really happy to replace the Z8s with a trusted pair of Michelin Road 5s. When it comes to uneven wear, especially when you ride a heavy-front bike, already decades ago my dealer recommended using higher than recommended front tire pressure. Back then I rode the Honda Blackbird and its heavy front generated cupping. On my RTs I've used 2.7 bar front /2.9 bar rear and this has worked fine for me. I've ridden Metzeler Roadtecs and Michelin Roads, and routinely reached 10 000 miles /16 000 km on them. The Z8s on the new RT were ready for the crap heap at 13 000 km. Mind you, after 40 years of riding I had not changed my riding habits one bit. However, depending on your body weight and riding habits (solo or two-up, aggressive canyon carving vs touring etc) the 2.7/2.9 combo might not work for you. Anyway, I started riding the new RT last April and the only gripe I have with it is that the maximum following distance you can select on the ACC is too short, especially at higher speeds (unless the latest firmware update changed that). Having said that, last summer the ACC saved me from rear-ending a car ahead of me when he suddenly braked real hard to avoid hitting wildlife standing in the middle on the road. I did not react quickly enough because I had already ridden several hundred miles that day and I was in la-la land enjoying the scenery. But the ACC did and applied the brakes. Money well spent.
I go through 2 rears to one front on my 06 RT. I ride rather aggressively however. Michelin Road 5's are my tire of choice. I'd say tire wear depends on the tire, riding style, and air pressure is important. The general statement they eat front tires is not true.
Can't say I've found that to be the case on my 2013 RT, found rears wearing out first, but the fronts not so far behind, so the get replaced as a pair.
This is my first motorcycle since I passed the driving test and I have to admit you are wrong to say it is not for beginners. At first I was a little scared, but after a year and riding over the winter, it’s now the perfect motorcycle.
Fair enough, but would the average beginner rider be comfortable dropping this bike and be able to pay for repairs? Perhaps not... But nevertheless, congrats on your purchase of an awesome motorcycle! May you have many safe and happy KM's!
@@MotoTribeTV I'm experienced and dropped her.. just the cable cover was was scratched.. found one on eBay for 50 bucks and a gasket for 20 usd and I was in my way.
hey i have to come back on my stupid comment,i bought a 23 RT and i have to say your review is excellent and i was wrong! really love the bike just missing apple car play to make it perfect! subbed to the channel👊🏻
Yes, indeed, compliments to the MotoTribe team for the review. Putting a review video like this together takes loads of time and effort and thus we hope BMW gives you their thumbs up for putting them out there!
Ive always hated anything german, all their vehicles have always been over priced depreciating unreliable POS, i speak from experience until one day i decided to buy a rt a 2007 and figured i give it a try since i ever had a german bike, boy was impressed!! Light nimble fast great handler insane fuel economy it was awesome, that bike had already like 65k miles so i sold it cuz i feared the reliability but one day i Will buy a new one and test that reliability Out!
We address the sat nav questions in our Q&A video with BMW here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YPeZdU0JVRo.html As for the phone charger, 2 of the 3 phones we tried fit. It was an omission on our part not mentioning it though. For that we apologize.
Reliability is the one thing we can't test as we don't have the bike for months/years on end. However, we've had a few owners comment on this video about their owner experience and they seem very happy with the RT, both old and new.
Nice review, I have a 2021 RT like it but looking at the 2022 K1600 very similar but a different heavier ride ….RT seems less power but lighter on your table comparison how might I calculate power to weight comparison as to be the RT although less power seems virtually just as fast as the heavier K on roll on and somewhat more flickable being lighter with the K a bit more planted in the corners but pushing the front with extra weight ……. Any thoughts on direct comparison and PtW numbers between the two bikes , Stu U.K.
Hi S H, I was recently at the launch of the new K 1600's here in South Africa and we were able to put some good Km's on them. In terms of calculating power to weight, I'm not really sure how to do that, I'm no engineer. But I can honestly tell you they are both two very different beasts. The K 1600 handles and performs a lot like a sports bike, imagine an XR on steroids. Whereas the 1250 RT is easier to live with everyday, in traffic, on small runs and will keep up when the riding gets more spirited. Personally, cornering on the RT felt more stable than on the K 1600, the weight might be carried lower due to the boxer engine? Hope this helps a bit. - Greg
@@MotoTribeTV many thanks Greg I loved the smooth linear power of the K16 but worry about handling its weight around the garage / parking . With my RT it’s manageable save when loaded up then reversing is a challenge when parked . So I guess it RT for everyday use but big K for longer trips and I have to decide 😉
Just traded my 2012 Honda VFR1200F for exactly what’s shown in your video. I really loved the Honda - but I am blown away by this marvel of a bike. It really is amazing and though I miss my beautiful VFR, I’m not sorry at all to be on this great motorcycle.
To be fair, the VFR is a fantastic motorcycle in its own right but the Beemer is just out of this world! Congrats on your awesome new motorcycle and thank you so much for watching!
Not sure this bike could be set up tall enough for me at 6'2" and a 34" inseam. The rider in the vid seemed like his knees were too high already for my taste in comfort and at 65 years young comfort is more key than ever.
I am the tallest rider in our team at 6’4” and almost at age 60 this was absolutely one of the best motorcycles I had the pleasure of riding. I had no problem spending a long time in the seat or around town. Extremely comfortable and very easy to handle. Go test ride it. You will be very comfortable in the seat - Ben
Great review guys thanx! I’m riding a 2003 1150RT which is smooth, comfortable and quiet but essentially’tech-less’. Once the house is done I’m gonna have to decide on an RS or an RT. Looking forward to cruise control!!
Fail. The so called GPS requires a smart phone and data plan on all the time. As a Canadian travelling in the USA this is an expensive deal breaker. Add in frequent dead cell phone zones makes it worse. A dedicated GPS is always connected and does not require a data plan and cell phone.
It is like this: you use your localy stored maps and only GPS from phone, so no data if you download your maps. But anyway, I still prefer my 2020 with more usable GPS motorrad navigator VI device. Don't really like the looks of "dash" that looks like a tablet. In EU countries we have the same phone rates when roaming as in domain country, so there is no problem with axpencive data, BUT ...There are a few countryes non EU and thre's a big bill waiting there if you're not careful (Monaco, Switzerland, Balkan countryes, East non EU ..., Vatikan). I own my 5th BMW and third RT. Always com e back for more RT :) I hate it, but love it. It's like having a few mistress but always come home to your wife because not perfect in particular, but does all well. Best wishes, great video, great points there ...
Really needs back-lit handlebar switches for night riding and a phone charging port large enough to hold popular Ultra size smart phones. Otherwise a great bike.
Maybe if you're not used to the bike, back lit switches might be useful, but if you're on a bike you know do you need to look at the switches when you indicate or go from main to dip beam?
Thanks, glad it was helpful! It does look big initially but it's so incredibly easy to get along with that it won't feel much bigger than your GS once you've given it a test ride. Let us know how you get along!
Im 5'5" n i have always wanted this bike thinking it was good as a daily ride and reliable. I didnt realize how big it looks but as far as my moneys worth and since i drive far for my work i think this is my best bet just need to get on it and see if i can reach the ground, im not liking the other baggers which are low but im over harley and nothing else gives what this bike does....
I'm 5'5'' also and I can reach the ground on the standard saddle (820 mm, if I remember well). But, with no extra, you can order a low saddle (760 mm). To ride a lot and in any weather condition, I can't see of any other bike better than this one. Though, even in the USA many policemen ride this bike.
@@MotoTribeTV keen is a strong word, i was just at the chapter "Exhaust sound" and got a tiny bit dissapointed you didnt rip it just a little bit, i have this notion that eventho i think german bikes is creme, i feel this bike would sound kinda crap above the 9k rpm, BUT I DONT KNOW - if im honest, your version of "riding it in anger" is a little bit too kind :D
Hahaha the bike still belongs to BMW at the end of the day so we'd rather not have video evidence of us nuking their engines on public roads! But we have a pure sound video coming soon that will hopefully redeem the RT.
I changed my seat out for the Sargent on my 1200rt I absolutely love the bike and recently put in a set of Michelin road 6 tires and they increased the overall performance and comfort of the bike I have earned the iron butt on it doing 1000 miles in a day additionally I want to point out I’m almost 300 LBS and 6,3 and I can go from full tank to empty without having to stop and relax the seat heat works great along with the grip heat I love everything with the bike
@@MotoTribeTV I meant it. The quality of the video, the tonality of the comments, the neutrality, the relevance, the structure etc... 10/10 about all we can expect in a review GG 👍👍👍
That absolutely helps!! I have watched your review several times, can’t take my eyes off those shoes . Also one of the best RT reviews. Great job , thanks for the info .
I ride a Honda Phantom Shadow and looking to upgrade. I love how you this BMW has everything i want on a bike but my question is . How expensive is maintenance I've owned BMW 535i and a 735 sedan and maintenance isn't cheap. Are there engine guards or pannier guards as i have those on my Honda Shadow and i have 12 years of riding experience. BTW i really love the review.
Hi there, first of all, thanks so much for watching! Second, in terms of maintenance costs, your experience will vary from one owner to the next. Servicing isn't terribly expensive at least not as far as European bikes are concerned. Parts and spares availability will be dependent on where you live and the dealer support network. As for engine guards, I have seen RT's with them but I'd contact BMW to find out if it's OEM or aftermarket. Not sure about pannier guards though. Cheers - Josh
@MotoTribeTV thank you for your response. I live in the United States and there's a BMW dealer where I live. I do know that hourly rates for motorcycle mechanics is as of right now at around $140-$160 per hour. I've replaced brakes, bought new battery and oil change for my Honda Shadow and it wasn't too expensive but since this is a BMW probably will be more expensive than parts for a Honda.
What i did not like on this video it is that when you mist some thing if you want to back up for a minute or couple minutes it go to the beginning so you hve to re listening all again that is make me kuit the video
Hi @geeman1492 ! those would be the Alpinestars Grange Riding Shoes - Black / Indigo. I've been riding with them now for 2 years and absolutely love them! hope that helps!
If you could only have one bike? Buddy most of us can only have one bike. I picked the GS my buddy rides an RT it works very well for him. Mine works for me. I'm am pretty sure I saw a couple of RT's on the Dempster so they are quite capable if you change the tires.
I've a 2021 R1250RT & a 2018 R1200GSA - both bikes are excellent - the RT in deed is a nice cruiser on the asphalt - Your video was very informative - good job - regards! Luiz S Pereira - Chino Valley Arizona USA
Personally I am 1.78m (5'9) but we have riders featured in the video ranging from 1.66m (5'5) to 1.97m (6'5) and we all found the bike to be perfectly manageable 👍 - Josh
Great bike, and great review. I'm surprised you didn't include the Goldwing Bagger as competition, as I feel they are very similar in equipment and intended market.
Thank you! To answer your question, the Goldwing Bagger was still fairly new to the market (non existant in South Africa) around the time we were doing our review so we didn't understand it well enough to include it. Looking back, it would have been a great addition, but so it goes. Nevertheless, thanks for stopping by and thanks for watching!
