Loan R1250RT

[HGS]

27th June had my R1250 GS in for its 12k service at Halliwell Jones Chester
I hadn't booked a loan bike but they were short staffed and didn't know how long it would take
I was offered a loan bike....few choices including a R1250RT
Different but what a good bike
Not as comfortable as my GS but 125 miles later I was seriously impressed
Would need to alter the handle bars somehow, they canted my hands outwards putting pressure on my wrists. Seat has a hard edge that dug into my inner thighs and the angle of my knees felt a little more acute than on the GS
Took it over Ruthin to Corwen, so some good twisty roads
Great TFT screen.....Cardo and phone connected in minutes. I hadn't selected helmet as output, so treated the dealers to some AC/DC via the speakers until I found the option to helmet
Handles really well for its size.
Same engine but seemed smoother than the GS and didn't shake itself at tickover
I do big tours on the GS and it works well. Only reason for me to have one would be if I was riding 2 up on tour
Took the panniers off, looked OK
Tried it in my garage, might need a bigger garage

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I've had an 1200RT for a couple of years now and it does everything the GS does apart from the 'off road' bit

I tend to run it without the panniers fitted unless I'm off somewhere that they would be needed

I look upon it as a BIG scooter with gears

 

[GreatScot]

I've had an 1200RT for a couple of years now and it does everything the GS does apart from the 'off road' bit

I tend to run it without the panniers fitted unless I'm off somewhere that they would be needed

I look upon it as a BIG scooter with gears

I ran a GSA TC for five years and have had a K1300GT and 1300S among a mixed bag of non-BMW bikes. I decided to downsize to just one bike back in 2021 and I ended up with a 1200RT TC and have never regretted it. Like you, unless on hols, I run it without panniers and just a tank bag. It fits like a glove and is such a comfortable and capable bike and so easy to look after.

 

[Arsey]

I prefer the looks of the RT, circa 2005.
The current one looks like it’s melted .

Try an RS1250.

Rented a 1200 recently and it was very good

 

[matgriff]

Nice pic outside cafe Yum Yum's in Corwen.... always stop there for a coffee and bacon/egg bap when passing

 

[GreatScot]

And an early RT, not mine but seen recently in Tavistock. Just lovely for its time ….. and now.

 

[MRDDD]

I’ve had the 1250gs sold to get a k1600 grand America then sold due to its now to heavy for me bought a 1250 rt and I now think why did I ever buy those previous bikes . The rt on tour is excellent through the mountain twisties and straight boring roads it’s great . I won’t change

 

[Morety]

I've had the latest 1250 as my duty bike for the past few days and whilst it's very good, I must admit, I preferred the 2016 1200 model which I found more comfortable (not sure why...seat seemed better on the older one but someone will be along to say there's no difference ) and for me anyway (it all depends on your height and lid you use) seemed to suffer less buffeting. The engine on the new one started whistling recently and it sounds a bit like an induction system leak somewhere. Power wise, I can't really say I notice a lot of difference between the 1200LC and 1250 LC. The RT's are heavy beasts. 1250 revs a bit higher with a sightly more linear feel. Engine mapping is spot on and the large TFT is great. Still prefer my 1200RS though which is a lot more nimble. Had an RT very like that grey R100RT in smoked green and put big miles on that. Would still like another; that grey one is absolutely lovely.

 

[zoltan]

And an early RT, not mine but seen recently in Tavistock. Just lovely for its time ….. and now.

View attachment 333128

A 1995 model apart from the cylinder head. Had a 2008 RT at the same time. At just over 240kg the 100RT feels much lighter and smaller than the 1200, will keep 90mph at 4000revs just like the 1200. The only bike I made a profit.

 

[skr80a]

Picking mine up tomorrow

 

[sven]

I’ve just collected an RT loan bike whilst Vertu Shipley investigate the rattly engine on my GSA.

It handled horribly at first, but the tyres were around 5 psi down at both ends. Pumping them up cured the issue….

Just been for a spin up into the Yorkshire Dales with my wife and it handles well on smooth roads, but is nowhere near as nice to ride as my GSA on the bumpy backroads.

 

[casbar]

Thanks for your test ride report. I’ve had an RT since 2014 and on a 1250 now. Ridden over 60k miles on them. Now I know they are shit I’ll get myself straight off to my dealers to buy a GSA.

 

[Pukmeister]

I've always wondered about running a proper tourer like the RT, I've never ridden one.

That front fairing looks massive, like the designers went for as big as they could fit.

 

[stever1]

I’ve just collected an RT loan bike whilst Vertu Shipley investigate the rattly engine on my GSA.

It handled horribly at first, but the tyres were around 5 psi down at both ends. Pumping them up cured the issue….

Just been for a spin up into the Yorkshire Dales with my wife and it handles well on smooth roads, but is nowhere near as nice to ride as my GSA on the bumpy backroads.

I’ve had 4 GS’s and an RT. much as I loved the RT I have to agree about the ride. The RT wasn’t as good on bumpy surfaces.

 

[skr80a]

I’ve had 4 GS’s and an RT. much as I loved the RT I have to agree about the ride. The RT wasn’t as good on bumpy surfaces.

However, on anything other than fast sweeping bends, the RT totally out handles the GS in terms of stability and turn in / flickability

 

[sven]

Thanks for your test ride report. I’ve had an RT since 2014 and on a 1250 now. Ridden over 60k miles on them. Now I know they are shit I’ll get myself straight off to my dealers to buy a GSA.

Where did I say it was sh*t (once the tyre pressures were corrected)? I just said it was nowhere near as nice to ride as a GS on bumpy backroads, neither was my RS or XR with their stiffer suspension as the GS suspension soaks up the bumps and keeps its composure. As these are the types of road I ride 75% of the time the GA/GSA suits my riding more and has probably 90% of the RT's ability on all other roads once the ESA is set to Dynamic mode.

I've also toured the western USA on an RT and owned one for a couple of years at home and it was a great bike for two-up touring, but it didn't suit my daily/weekend riding roads.

 

[beemerboy9]

I’ve just collected an RT loan bike whilst Vertu Shipley investigate the rattly engine on my GSA.

It handled horribly at first, but the tyres were around 5 psi down at both ends. Pumping them up cured the issue….

Just been for a spin up into the Yorkshire Dales with my wife and it handles well on smooth roads, but is nowhere near as nice to ride as my GSA on the bumpy backroads.

With a great deal more suspension travel, the GSA should deliver a " magic carpet" ride.

Unfortunately, for the vertically challenged amongst us, the GSA is not an option. Of course a lowered GSA with less suspension travel, would have less of an advantage over the RT.

I would agree that GS's ride better than RT's. You takes yer pick ....as they are both fantastic touring machines.

 

[sven]

With a great deal more suspension travel, the GSA should deliver a " magic carpet" ride.

Unfortunately, for the vertically challenged amongst us, the GSA is not an option. Of course a lowered GSA with less suspension travel, would have less of an advantage over the RT.

I have a low suspension 2022 GSA as I have short legs and the suspension is very supple on road setting, so it’s excellent on bumpy backroads. It keeps its composure where the XR used to jar and the RS became unstable. The RT was better than those two, but I’m surprised it didn’t have a softer damping option as ISTR recall my 2012 RT TC had?

 

[casbar]

I have a low suspension 2022 GSA as I have short legs and the suspension is very supple on road setting, so it’s excellent on bumpy backroads. It keeps its composure where the XR used to jar and the RS became unstable. The RT was better than those two, but I’m surprised it didn’t have a softer damping option as ISTR recall my 2012 RT TC had?

Where did I say it was sh*t (once the tyre pressures were corrected)? I just said it was nowhere near as nice to ride as a GS on bumpy backroads, neither was my RS or XR with their stiffer suspension as the GS suspension soaks up the bumps and keeps its composure. As these are the types of road I ride 75% of the time the GA/GSA suits my riding more and has probably 90% of the RT's ability on all other roads once the ESA is set to Dynamic mode.

I've also toured the western USA on an RT and owned one for a couple of years at home and it was a great bike for two-up touring, but it didn't suit my daily/weekend riding roads.

Keep your knickers on, my comment was tongue in cheek. I personally couldn't give a stuff what anyone thinks about RTs or any other bike. Its personal choice what you ride

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I've always wondered about running a proper tourer like the RT, I've never ridden one.

That front fairing looks massive, like the designers went for as big as they could fit.

It's a bugger when the weather is as hot as it has been over the past week