Should I have bought a BMW R1250RT instead of an R1200GS? 

Hi everyone, just a few quick notes as add on to the bike and a few tips if you want to select a similar one. The bike ist great and runs without trouble. I am riding BMW bikes since 1977, first was a R45, followed by countless R100RS, I was using them up to 90.000 km and then exchanged it for the next until the first R1200RT came. Some years I did up to 30.000 km in mostly in the mountains between Austria, Germany Switzerland and Italy. From the R1200RT I had a 2008, 2012 and a 2018 Model. Two milestones between the early and the 2008 models: The ABS System is modified and the later models got a better modulator. From 2010 on the engine and the instrument panel got as well a modification and some mechanics call it the best air cooled engine ever built. Later the Liquid / Air cooled engine came with 125 hp. From colleagues I heared that the problem with the fuel sensor foil of the early models is now history on the LC. I had with my 2008 once the trouble and the part got exchanged . That is not cheap when you do it at the BMW Service center is around 200 € all together. Riding the Bike is as Steve states a piece of cake when you consider the weight of around 270-290 kg. Change of parts when you are able to do it yourself it is easy to maintain. The only problem is then that the service reminder on the instruments is illuminated permanently as you need the OBD to connect with the laptop to tell the bike it was in service and the next 10.000 km or 12 Months it is good again. If you want to convert the single seater to a double seater again then look into Ebay, there you are able to locate some used back seat cushion at low price. If you are riding downunder you would not use the heated seat. The wiring is diffrent between the R1200RT and the R1200RT-P = Police version. Another diffrence is also that the frist gear is lower then the civil version to roll as slow as possible without pulling the clutch to find the exact grinding point. This is usefull to reduce the wear and tear. As a civil rider you rarely notice this but it is usefull when you escort during protocol visits in a cohort of 3, 5, 7 or even 15 bikes. The BMW plant in Berlin has a seperate production line for the P version. Some of the wirings are diffrent and also the crash bars left and right, front and back. If the bike is laight on the side it is better protected then the civil version. The shortfall is later the civilian utilisation, the side case does not fit a helmet, the civil version does but you need to change also the case holder left and right, if you cannot locate those parts used then you run quickly in a price range where you could buy a used civil bike with lower mileage / kilometers and have it all standart. Also, at least for me in my free time, it is nice to listen to the local radio station and get some entertainment as well. Nice feature also together with the radio and the Navigator 6 is the live traffic information on the display in front. It warns you of accidents, objects on the road or any other hazard. So far my add ons to the Steve´s video and comments. My next bike could be the R1250RT why? it comes with the cornering lights and has, at least here in Europe, a SOS emergency call system that automatically sends a 112 Call, like 911 in the US, and reports your position, it tries to built a voice connection as well but if the rider does not answer the position is located easier. Some riders who slide of the road into the slope on the side where found too late at the next day. If some would be found earlier they would be still alive. A feature my present bike has and the next also must have and I am more then glad if I never need it like the ABS and the ASC until today despite the far over 200 km / hr the bike travels if desired, happy that we are still able to do it now and then if conditions permit. Ride safe and return home happy, your friends and family deserves this. Best wishes PETER

If the RT is the BMW 5 Series, the GS is the X5. Both Models are fantastic and you will not go wrong with either one.

I’m on my 4th RT now, the latest one being a 2023 - 1250. They are just brilliant machines, not perfect but so very good at everything.

I had a 1250 GS and now ride a 1250 RT. I find that the RT actually handles much, much better than the GS due to the 17" front tire and better rake and trail numbers. I ride the freeways here in Los Angeles every Sunday only to get up to the mountains, where I love to ride. When pushed, the RT handles similar to a sports bike on sweeping turns. The seating position on the GS is more comfortable with because your knees aren't bent as much, but the GS sits higher. Then, on the way home, I put it back in Road Mode, put the cruise control on and travel in calm air the whole way. Thanks for the video

Having had a life time of sports bikes and fancying a little comfort and European touring but not wishing to spend a fortune I decided panniers , shaft drive .. power to move the thing with a pillion /luggage at a price and kept coming back to BMW K1200S … found one in as new condition with 19,000 miles in the yellow /black and what a bike !!!! Love it

Coming from sportsbikes but getting old ( aren’t we all ) and wanting something a little comfier and indeed ‘slower’ to go touring on but still wishing to have shaft drive the obvious choices of a GS ( but I don’t want to go the long way round to Tescos with all the ‘Charlie’s’ … and the RT is a bit of a bus so I went for the underrated RS , a few mods later ( tall tinted screen, raised handlebars and a motorrad 6 satnav) and I’ve never been happier with a bike 😊

I find that my GSA is mostly a road touring bike, with the ability to turn off to an unpaved path. Nice to have that option and not worry about scratching a saddlebag. But I am also wondering if the RT would be better suited to me. I want to go test ride one but I’m afraid I will like it too much 😂 Don’t want a 3rd bike so the Road Glide would have to be sold first, and maybe also the GSA, and keep it simple with only 1. There must be a reason that a lot of police departments worldwide are going RT over HD.

Ridden too many bikes to mention, but for the last ten years they’ve all been RT’s. Put bar risers and a lowering peg kit to provide a more upright sitting position. Love this bike ❤️👍

Had a similar question with my own 1200 GS until I had to make the decision when it was stolen so ended up getting the 1250 RS. Bar risers and larger screen later and it’s almost where I want it now. Love it.

I bought my first RT in 1998, and have since owned four of them. It doesn't do everything perfectly, but it does everything I ask of it. I love to ride long distances and the RT's ergo could not be better. I am 6', 220 lbs, have a 34" inseam. My last BMW was a 2017 GSA and I sold it for my last RT. Cheers!

I've had a 2020 R1250RT for over 2 years and really pleased with it. It does everything I need effortlessly. Great for twistys or motorway miles either 1 or 2 up. Nice video but I'm surprised at the speeds you filmed yourself doing.

I have been riding a GS since 2008. My current GS is an R1250GS which I have been riding for 4 years. I recently picked up a used 2018 R1200RT. I havent even touched the GS since I got the RT. I love the RT. I think the RT is a far superior street bike to the GS. The GS is a great all around, do everything bike. But if youre staying on paved road, the RT is better. BTW, the smaller 17" front wheel makes it more flickable,

Thanks for your views on the RT. I will collect mine this Friday. To be honest, I didn't even consider or test the GSA or the new GS. I wanted a full bells and whistles sports touring bike above all, and not a bike which has huge off road potential, but potential that I will never use. I also like all the toys on the RT. Looking forward to next year so I can get out and enjoy it properly.

The GSA or the RT are both excellent options. The first is ultra flickable in any circumstances and the bike is also lighter. On the open roads the GSA can do it very well but the RT does it faster with a bit more comfort on higher speeds. On the RT the road mode is extra soft and it is more desirable with two on board. With the pilot and passenger on the bike you will not feel it wallaby wise and the suspension gets stiffer. With just the pilot the ride mode for me is also the dynamic mode. They’re are both very good. One more prepared for the spring and summer season and the other more desirable for the autumn and winter 😂 Nice video. Is always nice to watch a video where the sound of the riders voice is clear despite the speed and the wind blast. Only on a bike like this!👍🏻

Yes!

Hi again, it's funny you mention the width of the RT. I filtered all the time on mine with no problems at all. The boxes don't stick out any further than the mirrors, so if they go through..... Mirrors take some getting used to being where they are, but they are brilliant. The pegs do give a different riding position to the GS, but on our trips I rode for 8 or 9 hours ( with stops) with no problems at all. The electronic suspension is lush, and that fairing/screen does an amazing job of keeping all kinds of weather off you. I really miss having a shaft drive bike😒😒 Nice to see you take it on the back roads to try it. I went to the RT from a Tracer 900GT, and was a bit wary at first. I needn't have been, once you are used to an RT you can push them as hard as you like on the bends. The RT's love long sweeping bends and you can really push them on those kinda bends, even two up. It's obvious why the Police use em, they really are a wolf in sheeps clothing. Having said all that, on tighter twisty roads, my mates on their RS's started to pull away from me. The biggest problem for me, was the weight. I'm still waiting on a shoulder op and it was just too heavy to wheel around to get her in/out the garage. I dropped mine 3 times so she had to go. The Versys I've got now isn't actually that much lighter than an RT, but it feels so much lighter. I do wonder though, that once this shoulder is hopefully fixed, there may be a 1250RT in the offing. I loved my 1200 that much. I think you should try the 1250GS also, that engine is quite a bit better than the 1200 by all accounts.

Coming from a r1200GSA LC to a r1250 RT, it depends upon your use case. If you wander off the normal roads often, go for any GS. If you mostly ride on reasonable roads, you may check out the RT next time. Seat hight may also play a role. Safe riding! 👍

Good film. I ride a 2019 1250RT: I keep it in road mode with auto suspension adjustment. I don't find it wallowy at all, I find it nimble, comfortable and precise and I can ride it very quickly when roads are quiet and vision is good. The only roads it doesn't swallow easily are some remote country lanes with lumpy foundations - such as those approaching Tan Hill Inn where I stayed recently. It gets a bit bouncy on these but the answer is to just slow down a bit. A GS might perform better in these conditions due to its trail-bike heritage, but how often do most of us encounter this type of surface? I've ridden mine all over North Wales and it's been a joy. I don't need to "muscle" the bike into any corner, the handling seems intuitive and reminds me of a 250! I previously had a 1200R for seven years which I loved except for the lack of weather protection. The variable valve timing on the 1250 makes it a hell of a lot faster - top gear pick up into the illegal speed realm is amazing! The only time any muscle is required is pushing it in and out of the garage. But my comments are based on being 6ft and 15 stone, and I can appreciate that if you're smaller your impressions may differ. Good luck.

Had an RT for 2 years - speed is an issue, (too easy to go quick) beaut machine, but swapped for R18 TC. Love the big boxer! And easier to be more pedestrian.

Another worth trying is the FJR1300? The RS would need the higher bars mod or something like Helibar risers but feels the quickest and best handling of all the boxer bikes. I replaced my gsa with an RS which really I prefer riding.

I would recommend trying the 1250GS or the 1250GSA before jumping ship. I have had 2 1250GSA's the first was standard chassis which i was not over confident on as i am 5'10" with a short leg. I then traded that in for the 1250 GSA lowered chssis, best decision i ever made.

I went for the R1250RS instead of the RT or GS. I found it suited me better as with the luggage option, panniers. top box and tank bag, it gives me the ability to tour and be a normal sports bike in 3 minutes. Also it does all the things the GS/GSA does without the weight.

I bought a 2022 RT a few months ago with 6k miles on it for £14k. I later noticed excessive corrosion on the engine casing. Its getting a brand new engine and gearbox fitted next week. Can't fault BM for their customer service and warranties. I love the bike. It rides way better than you'd expect after looking at it. Feels like a much smaller unit. Saying that I do plan on getting something smaller as a second bike for fun rides, probably an XSR900.

I tried the rt when my gs was getting serviced. Loved the rt. if wasn’t for the option to do the odd lane the rt was way better for me

RT, RS, GS in that order 🙂

I’m your height and had three GSs, the last a 1250 GSA. Got tired of the height and weight so now on a Multistrada V2S (950) which is superb if chain drive and a lot more sports focussed though very comfy. If I went back to the superb boxer engine I’d try the RS with the optional R bars, bit of an open secret that it’s a superb road bike and suited to us guys with limited height and no intention of anything rougher than a bumpy back lane. If I carried a pillion regularly I’d try the RT.

I am driving somewhere around 40k km a year. Rain, storm, sun, day, night. Last bike was r1200rt. Sold it with 190000 km on it. Now i have r1250rt. I have only one complain - the mirrors! They vibrating at around 100-120 km/h.

I’ve got a 2018 r1200gs which has been great, never let me down. Have you thought about the brand new r1300gs? It’s going to be revealed later this month and is rumoured to be lighter and have automatic lowering suspension, similar to the HD Pan American I guess. This could be a revelation for anyone effected by the relatively high seat and loving the quality and service from BMW

I went from a 1200rt to a 1250rt and the performance difference was noticeable. I'd expect the same if you went for a 1250gs. I fully expect the new 1300 engine to find its way onto the RT soon. There is nowhere to mount a camera on the bike on the RT, other than an adapter that replaces the badge on the handlebars. The RT absolutely can filter, but it is almost one metre wide, so there are definitely situations I wouldn't follow a slimmer bike through. Leave road mode for the motorway, switch to dynamic for the country roads. The satnav system really requires a modern phone. If you do what I did and buy a cheap recon Nokia from Amazon, expect frequent disconnections. Having said all that, I love my RT, I love the big bike feel and I love that it shouldn't be able to handle the way it does. I love that I can leave my helmet locked in a pannier when I get off it. The powered windshield. The heated seat. The illuminated, carpet-lined top box,.....

A better comparison would be the GSA. My biggest complaint is the weight when stopped. You really need to be careful when pulling off from a stop. That is when it feels top heavy.

Personaly having had the issues and the way B.M.W. dealt with me I would not be given a B.M.W. over priced both parts and the bikes themselves Chester branch apparently agreed with B.M.W. my case was not justified ie yet again fuel pump issues having had many many re calls apparently now its not their doing ???????????? Well done B.M.W. !!!and thanks for all the help "not" !!!!!!!!!!!!

Surprised to hear the RT rode smoother than the GS. I have heard several reviews which said the opposite, which makes sense given how much more suspension travel the GS has. Perhaps it comes down to the 1250 just having an improved suspension compared to the 1200.

Overall, a very helpful review. But…the 17” front wheel gives it LESS flickability than the 19” on the GS? That makes very little sense to me. A 17” is a sport bike tire size and produces much quicker steering. The 19” larger diameter creates more stability but slower steering. What you’re feeling is not down to the wheel size, but rather the narrower, angled bars and greater weight of the RT.

Adaptive cruise control - I’m surprised those systems are set to work on distance between vehicles and not time between vehicles. If it were time between vehicles, a lesser or greater distance would be automatically calculated depending on the speed.

I would have thought a 19" diameter tire is less flickable than 17" just based on gyroscopic effect

I have to drive 400 miles one way to get a chance to sit on one, let alone test ride. I did not fit well on an R18, but I know that is like comparing apples to oranges.

I love m’y 2014 RT. Ride a few Hondas (st1100/1300) and the RT makes them feel stiff.

Tiger 1200 is great for a shorty, you sit in it more than in it. I’m 5’ 6 and found it perfect

For me the weight is a bitch below about 12 mph after that it could be an 800,I love all the protection,I went for a bigger screen,love the fact no need to live in the gearbox like you on a 125,mine is only used for what it was made to do and that is touring and it is only two up,if I was going solo not sure what I would go for.I hate what people call clean air to me that is just windy

I do the same thing couple weeks ago and RT didn't impress me over my GS. Same engine, same width, RT have stronger brakes and better wind protection and better seat... and that's it. GS have better seating position, it's better on bad roads and bumps, better luggage options and can be used on and off road. I didn't like how my helmet can't fit in top box and due to shorter suspension travel your spine feel every bump.on road that GS don't notice at all But i can say that RT looks much better and i like it but didn't found any major difference over GS that will make me swap from GS to RT. I'am better on GS

Having had the 1100, 1150, & 1200 GS bikes, I moved to a 1200RT (putting 60k miles on) and now have the 1250RT (non-TFT screen version). Perspective - 51 year dude, been riding 35 years, commuting and recreational, all weathers, a couple of crashes (nothing too major), and IAM Roadsmart F1rst & Masters Distinction accredited as I take road safety very seriously. Do I regret the change - yes and no. Yes - the GS is one of the best bikes currently in production, it can and will do everything you need it to. There are also very few places to add personalised No - the GS is a bitch to keep clean, and the wet weather protection is way less. Regarding the Road/Dynamic settings, I agree that the road setting feels washed-out, but on a motorway it is simply heaven, and so that is where I used it initially. Interestingly, having forced myself to use 'road' on non-motorways it didn't take too long to overcome that washy wallowy feeling (a few months) and it meant that if I did want to 'make progress when the conditions allowed', slipping it into dynamic made everything waaaaaay more responsive. I also feel much happier filtering on it now and I love the ease of cleaning. This is my first continued use of the Quickshift system, and having now done around 7000 miles on my 1250RT I am not a massive fan. I can up-shift far smoother using standard clutchless changing, and the downshifting micro-blip seems more useful when wringing the neck out of the bike, which I'm getting too old to do anyway. I prefer my old way of seamless downshift matching. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I don't see why BMW needed to put these features on their bikes. I try to borrow a 1250GS when I service mine, I adore the day on it, and then feel content getting back on the RT; does this answer your question?

What about the k1600? I am currently looking at RT and K1600i need to test both

As an English speaker USA I can understand about half of what you are saying

La RT est la reine de la route !

Just one walk-around would have been nice on both bikes. I have no idea watching this mate

Yes, you should have.

Have a 1200 gsa find road noise is bad 😎🏍💨💨💨💨👍🏻🇨🇦🍻

I have had 2 hexhead r1200rt a few years ago i liked them my current bike i a 72 plate gsa rallye i have tried the rt a few montha ago and to be honest i didnt like it at all it felt too low and too cramped

Aha shipley is your local dealership👌

Why not a KTM SAS?

"Big heavy beast". Really? Ride a Gold Wing or an Electra Glide fer Heavens sake!