One of the Finest Touring Motorcycles Just Got Better in Nearly Every Way

Much more than simply an update of the R 1250 RT, BMW’s all-new R 1300 RT is a high-tech, high-octane marvel.

Published May 2, 2025

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Updated May 2, 2025

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Considering what the renowned German motoring brand has been up to lately, you may have sensed that BMW was building up to this moment.

After all, as tracked by GP, the brand has spent the past several weeks unveiling a number of stunning motorcycles, including most recently two stunning siblings, the R 1300 R roadster and R 1300 RS sport touring bike.

bmw r 1300 rt full — The new R 1300 RT represents a big leap beyond the 1250 in performance, approachability and tech.

Now let’s talk about the third member of the R 1300 holy trinity, which may be the most breathtaking of all.

Sharing a platform and engine with those two but packing significantly more technology, versatility and long-distance capability, that’d be the pure touring machine known as the R 1300 RT.

Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s simply a slightly bigger R 1250 RT with a fresh coat of paint. Because on almost every level, it’s a whole new and better bike.

Long-haul all-star

As mentioned, this bike shares a platform with the other two recently announced R 1300s.

That means it boasts a punchy 1,300cc air/liquid cooled Boxer engine making 145 hp at 7,750 rpm and 109.9 lb-ft. at 6,500 rpm.

Shape-wise, the R 1300 RT follows the lead of the R 1300 GS in slimming and straightening out its lines, which leaves the bike looking less curvaceous but decidedly more sleek and modern.

With an eye toward approachability, a trend I’ve been seeing emerge amongst a number of moto brands, BMW offers buyers a choice of manually shifting the six-speed gearbox or leaning on the brand’s Automated Shift Assistant.

Shape-wise, the R 1300 RT follows the lead of the R 1300 GS in slimming and straightening out its lines, which leaves the bike looking less curvaceous but decidedly sleeker and more modern.

bmw r 1300 rt side action — The position of the bars and shape of the tank enable either a comfortable upright riding position or a sportier lean.

Ergonomically speaking, the footpeg, hip and knee angles remain the same, but the handlebars get wider and shift slightly forward.

These changes plus the contour of the fuel tank enable riders to lean into a sportier position or sit comfortably upright on longer trips.

In another nod to approachability, the seat’s angle and height are adjustable, from 31.4 to 30.7 inches.

Lengthening said seat provides more leg space for a passenger, and two choices of topcases both offer passenger backrests with the option to be heated.

Safety first

Considering this bike has a claimed curb weight of 619.5 pounds and top speed of over 120 mph, you may be wondering about braking.

The stopping power is confidence-inspiring, courtesy of dual disc brakes with radial-mount four-piston calipers in front and a single disc and two-piston caliper in back.

bmw r 1300 rt action rear — At 27 liters apiece, the side cases provide plenty of storage for a weekend (or more) on the road.

More notably the bike boasts Integral ABS Pro — which essentially links the two brakes so even if you only squeeze the front brake, the rear one will also activated, helping to prevent you from soaring over the bars — as a standard feature.

From a suspension standpoint, the R 1300 RT features a front wheel supported by an EVO Telelever suspension and a rear wheel outfitted with an EVO Paralever suspension with electronically adjustable rebound, compression, spring rate and preload.

That’s a fancy way of saying the ride should be pretty damn cushy without you having to rely too much on what we gravel bikers like to call “human suspension.”

bmw r 1300 rt front action — If I have one aesthetic criticism of this bike, it’s that the tall windshield looks a tad goofy from the front.

Rounding things out, the R 1300 RT packs a number of other components that really raise the bar as far as standard touring motorcycle offerings are concerned.

These include full LED lighting, a 10.25-inch TFT display, Dynamic Cruise Control and Dynamic Traction Control.

From an options point of view, you can also upgrade with an adaptive headlight and one of two different audio systems, plus radar-backed Active Cruise Control, Front Collision Warning, Lane Change Warning, and Rear End Collision Warning.

Color coded

All that’s left to decide, really, is what color you want.

It’s worth noting, however, that the base model is Alpine White with Mineral Grey Metallic Matte, while the next step up is Triple Black, the only version of the bike to come with the shorter sport windshield.

The Racing Blue Metallic edition adds variable wind deflectors and other aesthetic touches.

bmw r 1300 rt reverse angle — Non-traditional schemes can be tough to get right, but this Blue Ridge Mountain Metallic totally pops.

At the top of the call sheet, you’ll find the eye-popping Option 719 Camargue version, featuring Blue Ridge Mountain Metallic paint with hand-painted pinstriping and a chromed exhaust.

This bike also features forged handlebars, variable deflectors and milled shadow pack, plus a painted fuel tank, with tubular handlebars and a clear-coated tank also available as an alternative.

Availability and pricing

The 2026 BMW R 1300 RT should roll into dealerships in late summer or early fall at a starting price of $22,495.

2026 BMW R 1300 RT

Starts at $22,495

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.