Should you Buy the 2024 BMW R 1250 RT? - Bike Review

JP takes a demo ride on the BMW R 1250 RT and gives an honest first impression review.

[fentontaylor]

Pretty much everything you said about the RT is wrong. It is very fast and would blow your Street Glide off the road (0-60 in 3.2 seconds). It is super sporty with a 4.6" trail and corners like a beast. It wieghs about 615 lbs with the panniers (about 210 lbs Less than your Street Glide). The leg position is definitely more sporty that a Street Glide (I had one), so that does take some getting used to. i love the handlebars and the angle they have. Too bad they didnt tell you how to raise the electric windscreen as it makes riding on the freeway very comfortable.

[RuneKaasa]

Before you test a Bike, familiarize yourself whit how things work, comparing your HD and RT is like testing Apples against banans

[matthewmartin]

I understand not giving it a good review being a Harley rider, I have a Harley and a bmw, and sitting higher up with narrow handle bars can throw you off, but spend a day on a bmw and let yourself adjust and learn the bike, you're Harley will never leave the garage again.

[leoscherer]

I had a very similar experience as you. In 2022, I tested this bike, looking for a replacement (or second bike) to my 2014 Street Glide that had 80k miles. I left the demo ride disappointed, because I felt the bike was OK, but didn't love it. After testing several other bikes over the next few months, I decided to get the RT in Jan '23. It was an expensive gamble, but it paid off. After 6k+ miles, I couldn't be happier. This is a fantastic motorcycle! I did have to add some handlebar risers and a better windshield, but it needed nothing else for comfort. My only guess why I didn't like it at first is because it is SO much different than my Harley (also demo rides are a joke...you really need more time than they allot to really get a feel for a bike). They are two very different machines, both wonderful in their own ways.

[huibertdegraaf]

I have never heard someone complaint as much as this guy and wrong about lots.

[chicagodrive]

Those windshields are adjustable. Very functional and nice.

[tombstone]

I rode The BMW R1259 RT and have to disagree with you. I've owned nothing but Harley baggers and took a ride in this beautiful machine ! It's as smooth as butter and tons of power. For long distance traveling a Honda Gold Wing would a close match. But I'm still keeping my Harley's. I ride year around and prefer to ride then take a car. This BMW will be in my garage next month looking forward to traveling this year.

[michaeldobson]

There is no buffeting on the RT. How about raising the windshield.

[christopherdegutis]

Why didn't you use the electronic wind screen if wind was a bit much for you?

[jamesjerome]

I have the K16 and the RT. They provide a different experience. The RT is the best one up with luggage sport touring bike you can buy. Both need highway pegs for big mile comfort. Would suggest doing 30k miles on either and you will be sold on how good it really is. K16 is much better for two up, with full luggage.

[konacyclist]

A lot of your negative comments can be attributed to unfamiliarity with the proper operation of this motorcycle and its' features. It is a lot better touring bike than your review suggests. I''m sure I would feel much the same way about riding your personal motorcycle since I have no experience riding Harley Davidson motorcycles.

[pete]

Appreciate the you needed to be more familiar with the few features that would have improved your ride like the windscreen and an engine that is not limited. I have both a harley SB 114 and this bike, yes 2 different worlds, but my experience on the BWM is much more positive then what you experienced. The seating position is what it is that is all about preference 👍

[michaeldobson]

You cant ride a Harley like that. Accelerating and maneuvering is so much quicker. Try using your left thumb where it indicates UP / Down to raise up the windshield. No you do not need to remove your hand from the clutch to use the turn signals. Stick with Harley’s it fits your mentality.

[aces]

Within 90 seconds, your statements made me disqualify your opinions as uninformed.

[moiggc]

I guess if you're not going to like the bike, you're not going to like the bike.
It's funny how opinions can vary over the same items, like the boxer engine for example. That one single RT feature is what this bike is all about (little sentimental here, but you get the point).
He called top heavy... well, that certainly is not the case.
But hey, if we'd all liked the same things...

[PAinVA]

Just an FYI for you. I have the same bike. I too had trouble with finding neutral initially; that changed as it broke in more. No way you could have known that obviously.

[rodneybarcus]

This is a first. Most people fall all over the boxer engine and the rt in general. I can tell buy the comments that some people are but hurt by what you said about the rt. I would also prefer the K1600 over the rt for different reasons. I'm from this area and your right traffic is brutal.

[patpaxton]

The bike is Limited for demo rides by BMW. The other that commented is right almost everything you said about this bike is wrong. How can you review a bike truly if you don’t even know how to raise the windscreen. This bike rides like a sport bike when not limited. It handles like a dream and is far superior to an Harley I have owned [7 of them, 4 CVO’s]. If you raise the windscreen on the interstate you ride in a no buffet bubble that is awesome. I own a K1600 GTL, 1250 RT, and 1250 GS. This is without a doubt the best all around road bike BMW makes.

[BoxerRT]

That bike is as fast as a $300K Porsche 911 GT3 or $500K Ferrari 488 Pista (0 to 60 2.96 sec by Cycle World) if you know what you're doing. 😂 I don't go to those types of events for the reason that 99% of the people get wrong opinions about the bikes during those short trips. Also, the Riders who leads those groups gets so fed up with constant rides, they get sloppy and rush people in and out of the bikes. They should in fact provide useful product information prior to each ride. I just watched another video as one of the riders went off the road in to the ditch with a $20K bike. If you go to your local Dealer, speak with an actual sales person who would spend time with you to educate you and then send you out for a test ride, you'd feel different about many bikes.

[joeschmoe]

You haven't said one thing of value or usefulness during your whole ride review except "I dont know."
🤔