BMW R 850 RT 2005 — Specifications

Remember the endless hesitations in front of a BMW dealership at the end of the 90s. Choosing between a 1998 R 850 RT and an 1100 was a real puzzle, as both machines shared a common silhouette and differed mainly on a few pieces of equipment. With the 2005 model year, the situation changes radically. The younger sibling adopts the same bodywork, the same integrated panniers, the same electrically adjustable windshield and the EVO braking system with ABS assistance as its big sister. The price tag stands at €14,500, about €1,800 less than the 1150. Enough to make the decision tighter than ever.

Under the fairing, the 848 cc flat-twin reuses the in-house architecture with its 87.5 mm bore and 70.5 mm stroke, four valves per cylinder and a proven valvetrain. The figures announce 73 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and 79.4 Nm at 5,500 rpm, compared to nearly 95 horsepower for the 1150. The spec sheet of the BMW R 850 RT also reveals a wet weight of 288 kg with a saddle at 805 mm, which means you'll have to work the six-speed gearbox more willingly than on the larger displacement. Sixth gear, as it stands, only reveals its worth on open highways, where it plays the role of an overdrive that calms the revs and cuts fuel consumption, a blessing for long trips with the 25.2 litres of the tank.

The mixed chassis, with its cast aluminium front frame and steel rear, retains the dynamic signature dear to Munich. 40 mm Telelever at the front, Paralever single-sided swingarm at the rear connected to a shaft drive, four-piston caliper braking on a 320 mm disc up front and 276 mm at the rear, shaft drive transmission, it's all there. On the angle, the machine tips in with that peaceful neutrality that reassures from the very first kilometres. You steer it with a press on the handlebar, it follows the line without complaining, smooths out tarmac joints and devours back roads up to its announced top speed of 191 km/h. It loses 22 horsepower compared to the 1150, but gains in liveliness on slow sequences, where the overweight of the big twin sometimes weighs in.

That leaves the question of the audience. This tourer targets the relaxed rider, the couple heading off on holiday with panniers and top case, the user who racks up 20,000 km a year without flinching. Those seeking raw sensations will rather look towards a Honda Pan European ST1300 or a Yamaha FJR 1300, more characterful. On the licence front, take note, the BMW R 850 RT A2 licence remains possible via the restriction to 34 horsepower that the brand long offered on the 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 generations, making it an interesting candidate for a young licence holder who wants to aim directly at a real GT. On the used BMW R 850 RT market, the 2004 and 2006 model years trade between €4,000 and €7,000 depending on mileage, battery condition and maintenance history.

A few reservations punctuate the picture. The gearbox isn't the smoothest on the market, the weight makes itself felt during manoeuvres in a sloped parking lot, and purists will regret the absence of heated grips as standard, unlike the 1150. Customisation enthusiasts are now eyeing more radical transformations in the style of BMW R 850 RT cafe racer or BMW R 850 RT scrambler, but the massive fairing makes the exercise ambitious. For anyone looking for a sober, reliable and well-bred tarmac devourer, this tourer ticks the right boxes. A BMW R 850 RT 2003 review already summed up the case back then, and the BMW R 850 RT 2005 version test confirms the verdict, the essentials are preserved, the extras have just changed their label.