BMW R 1200 RT 2015 — Specifications

Imagine a seasoned globetrotter returning home after 800 effortless kilometers, neck relaxed and a smile on their face. They remove their helmet, caress the flank of their machine, and murmur something incomprehensible. This is the relationship the BMW R 1200 RT has maintained with its owners for decades. No instant infatuation, no spectacular posture. Just an efficiency that eventually becomes indispensable, like a perfectly fitting pair of boots.

The 2015 version of the BMW R 1200 RT marks a true turning point. The 1170 cc flat-twin engine finally adopts partial liquid cooling, and the entire character of the machine is thereby modified. The 125 horsepower delivered at 7750 rpm, combined with a torque of 125 Nm available from 6500 rpm, propels this 274-kilo “ship” with a disconcerting ease. Facing a Honda Gold Wing, the RT plays the card of dynamism where the Japanese model prioritizes total smoothness. Facing a Yamaha FJR 1300, it displays a clearly superior technological sophistication, but also a BMW R 1200 RT price that makes you wince: 18,400 euros in base configuration. And the word "base" takes on its full meaning here, since the list of options would be enough to fill a separate catalog. The absence of a GPS as standard on a machine positioned as a reference for Grand Touring remains difficult to swallow.

What strikes you when you swing a leg over is the richness of the onboard electronics. Two riding modes as standard, an ASC traction control system, a 5.7-inch color TFT screen inherited from the larger K 1600 models, a navigation wheel on the left handlebar control. As an option, the semi-active ESA suspension automatically adapts to the load and chosen style, the Shifter Pro eliminates any intervention of the clutch during gear changes, and the Keyless Ride system allows you to start without taking the key out of your pocket. The BMW R 1200 RT reliability of this equipment is also the subject of numerous discussions on specialist forums, some owners reporting electronic issues after several years of use. This is the downside of dense technology: the more components there are, the more important the BMW R 1200 RT maintenance plan becomes.

The geometry remains faithful to what made the RT famous. The Telelever at the front and the Paralever monobrach at the rear transmit a precise feel, without the braking disturbances generated by conventional forks. The shaft drive, silent and chain-free, is perfectly suited to long, loaded journeys. Four-piston Brembo calipers biting 320 mm discs at the front ensure firm and modulable deceleration, with standard ABS to manage degraded situations. The 805 mm adjustable seat suits a wide range of heights, and the continuously adjustable electric windscreen memorizes its position, a detail that seems insignificant until the first journey in the rain.

The 2015 BMW R 1200 RT is clearly aimed at an experienced globetrotter audience, accustomed to long distances, not frightened by a still sustained BMW R 1200 RT motorcycle price on the used market. Those looking for a used BMW R 1200 RT will find well-maintained machines, their owners generally being attentive to mechanical follow-up. The announced consumption of 3.9 liters per hundred kilometers, combined with the 25-liter tank, offers a theoretical range exceeding 600 kilometers, which radically changes the way you organize a stage. With a BMW R 1200 RT top case and the adapted side cases, the machine becomes a truly uncompromising travel tool. Not perfect, not cheap, but difficult to replace once you have tasted this level of road competence.