6 Best New Features Of The 2021 BMW R1250RT!

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[davidrobinson]

I've got a 2014 SE model with the quick shifter, the first of the part water cooled ones. I absolutely love it. As a bike to ride all year round in the UK's climate (except when there is a hint of ice, I'm not that stupid!) it is just fantastic. Superb fairing, heated grips, heated seat, optional larger touring screen, it really does look after you. Some of my best rides have been around North Wales in the pissing down rain and the way the bike handles is just awesome. I've always used Michelin Road Pilot 4 GTs and the bike feels so planted even when it is sluicing down. I believe from reading reviews on touring tires on the market now that the Road Pilot 4 GTs have been bettered. I'm a bit of stick in the mud and was reluctant to change as I new what I was getting with the Pilot 4s and I had total confidence in them. Only just put new front and rear on, had the bike dealer serviced and was looking forward to getting some good rides in when Boris announced another lock down, doh! My only criticism of the bike from a riding point of view is that its weight and size can make it a little tricky to manoeuvre and peddle around on nadgery little off-camber country lanes if you happen to take a wrong turn. Done plenty of that! But that's only to be expected on such a big bike. No reverse unfortunately. The bike had a few warranty claims in the first three years of ownership that needed sorting out and I must say that BMW were very good at seeing to them. Mine is now well out of warranty so it's fingers crossed. As for the new model. I'd be a liar if I said I wouldn't have one. But my 'old' one is still doing all I want from a touring bike and I just could not justify the expense of changing. I didn't mean to write so much but I hope my comments have struck a chord with other owners and have been useful to anyone thinking of getting this brilliant bike. You may even be able to snap up a good deal on the outgoing model before the new one hits the showroom. Stay safe everyone.

[cyclistman]

My style of riding is to “intervene manually” all of the time when on my bike!

[skipwalker]

I truly dislike the shift toward angry designs. Give us some HAPPY looking bikes!

[andrewd]

Having adaptive cruise on a couple of my cars, being old school, ok old, I still don’t rely on this system! Having said that it, the system on cars works brilliantly & I’ve actually used it to come to a complete stop at traffic lights without me intervening. Scary? Hell yeah! But again, it does work! So no qualms with buying any bike with this feature.😎👍🏼 Thank God they’ve added the TFT.... FINALLY!🤤

[Visionery]

It always amazes me how every new model is the best thing since popcorn... until the next model.

[SickBikeDude]

Rich retired travelers are buying this bike, so the cost doesn’t mean anything to them. If I would ever hit the lottery I’d buy one. It’s an awesome bike.

[Rgsa]

All safety aids, at least for the average Joe like myself, are game changers. I’ve been riding bikes since 1987 (Bultaco 360) and I’d say that the absence of blind spot warning such as the one in Ducati or KTM, is a big miss for the big Beemer that wants to be synonymous with safety and riding experience.

[theonlyredspecial]

Cracking bike. Almost bought one but went for the k1600 for the engine and other goodies. Another good presentation mate. You are the best at these news style motorbike videos on YouTube. Id love to see you doing videos on the mcn news or something similar every month even though tmf does it too. To get your take on breaking news .

[mw]

Sold the wife and my kids for this bike and I’m still 26.000 short...

[circlekings]

Amazing Motorcycle Folks. Dispense with the naysayers and sour grapes - I ordered mine today. Shall sell current bike and car to afford it! One Life 👍❤️☺️

[ronniefranks]

I love BMW and have owned two. Let my last one go because there aren’t enough dealers and it was way too far to go for service. If I had a local dealer, I’d be riding one.

[jsprite]

Needs 2 things to make it perfect: Reverse gear and Blind Spot Monitoring. I'd trade the active cruise control for these 2.

[throttlechaser]

Phenomenal bike, incredible tehnology. I say that BMW is 3-4 steps ahead evry other bike manufacturer

[wolf]

What is not mentioned is that when you load up a motorbike with all the electronic goodies, not only does price and complexity go way up but what about a few years down the road when the drivetrain is still perfectly capable of many more miles and some electronic accessory breaks down and the cost is super high to replace it ? Do you toss a perfectly good bike because it's actual value is not worth sinking a thousand dollars or much more into it ? Or after 7 years or whatever the gov't requires from a manufacturer, critical electronic parts are not available . Some of these electronic features are very alluring but for what they are asking for these new bikes, you would be wise to think long term before you lay your money down.

[vmaxdave]

How the H. did we survive the 70' and 80's on Rice burners and air cooled bmer's - oh yes it was fun and cheap :)

[neilwatson]

ACC will be a great addition for the long range rider. Took some getting used to in my car, but wouldn’t be without it now.

[Jodyrides]

Simple/reliable is what made BMW famous in the first place. Motorcycles that could be serviced by the owner. bMWs have increasingly become complex. You have to marry the dealer when you buy a BMW now.. last time I was at the BMW dealer to buy filters for my k1200 lt, , shop labor rate was $110. @ hr.. there was a k1200 lt in the shop for a clutch replacement due to the slave cylinder leaking fluid on the clutch..i asked the mechanic doing the job the cost...$4500... and that was in 2009...
my best friend has had 3 bmw cars..every scheduled maint visit to the dealer cost between $800. and $2000...
I currently own a gl1800 gold wing and a Moto Guzzi Norge..
I recently did a 15, 000 mi service to my Norge.. everything from clean/lube the steering head bearings, fork oil change the clutch and brake fluid, adjust the valves, clean and re-greased the rear suspension pivot/ linkage bearings, lubed driveshaft splines, change in the gas tank fuel filter, I even inspected the oil pump ..Simple
I went out on that limb one time buying a BMW. Never again. My BMW K 1200 LT was the most flawed quirky motorcycle with that weird front end that I ever owned and I have owned dozens of motorcycles..
One sidenote. I struck a deer at 70 miles an hour on my BMW K 1200 LT. Both mirrors flew off and went straight to China. Those mirrors 12 years ago cost $492 each..Total damage was $5500, but the cost of each mirror alone was an eye opener..Those BMW mirrors were almost exactly the same as on my Honda Pacific coast. I checked to see how much the mirrors for my commuter bike, the honda Pacific coast cost at that time. $72 each..That pretty much sums up the reason I’ll never buy a BMW anything. The cost of the parts, and the scheduled maintenance costs that you cannot do the scheduled maintenance chores yourself..The ones you can do, Like change the clutch and brake fluid, you need special bmw tools to do those..
all of this ultra complexity makes bmw less and less desirable to me.. I don’t go for the gadgets. I’ve had two ventures, BMW, and now a gold wing, I never even turn the radio on, never..I just want a motorcycle, not a 767..I am very interested in when Suzuki reintroduces their all new Touring machine with air conditioning

Not interested in adaptive cruise control on a motorcycle but luv it in my truck

[TheGreatestBeyonder]

I had a 5 series that had this feature. It works well. The new bike looks very nice, but sitting on a motorway for hours sounds painful to me and to be avoided at all costs!

[UncleWally]

With respect to the grand touring bikes, there’s an emergent demographic - ahem - that is being drawn to the current “automatic” (DCT like) transmissions and reverse/forward crawl speed options. I hated DCT when it was introduced, but Honda’s 2020 examples are quite brilliant. The features I once mocked are, sadly, now much more appealing. People change, so does technology; getting the right fit between the two is no small challenge.