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R 1250 Rt

  • The 2019 BMW R 1250 RT is fitted with the new 1254cc Boxer with BMW ShiftCam tech.

  • Outwardly, the new bike looks identical to the R 1200 RT.

  • But there are small updates here and there that made it even better.

Having tested the previous R 1200 RT, the prospect of testing the 2019 R 1250 RT was very much welcomed, with a dash of curiosity.

For starter, the bike features the new 1254cc Boxer. It’s not just a matter bigger bores only as it features the new BMW ShiftCam variable valve timing tech.

The capacity increase and ShiftCam work together to push maximum power to 136 hp at 7,750 RPM and torque to 143 Nm at 6,250 RPM, up from 125 hp/125 Nm in the previous 1204cc Boxer.

The new Boxer and its transmission in the RT is brought over entirely from the R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure, including the same gear ratios.

The version we tested here is the Sport version, distinguishable by its Mars Red paintjob and lower windscreen. But it’s fitted the Dynamic Package which includes:

  • Daytime Running Light (DRL);
  • Headlight Pro;
  • An extra Dynamic riding mode;
  • Auto Hill Start Control (HSC);
  • Dynamic Brake Control (DBC);
  • Dynamic Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA);
  • Quickshifter which works for both up- and downshifts;
  • BMW Keyless Ride.

Standard equipment include:

  • ABS Pro;
  • Switchable Automatic Stability Control (ASC);
  • Anti-hop clutch;
  • Panniers.
  • Cruise control.

We’ll leave the equipment list as such as there are so many different ways one could a BMW motorcycle. If so inclined, one could go all out and opt for the Option 719 Package.

I remembered my experience on the previous R 1200 RT fondly. It was big, but it was easier to ride than some 600cc middleweight bikes, I kid you not. It handled like a large scooter and getting through traffic jam wasn’t as difficult as most thought.

So, as I approached the R 1250 RT, it looked exactly like its predecessor. The only things to tell them apart are the spoiler ahead of the transmission and the exhaust headers that are swept further backwards.

I guess there’s no need to change when the old bike’s aerodynamics and design worked so well already.

The ergonomics remain exactly the same: Comfortable to the stage of being coddled.

But I noticed small changes to the TFT screen in the instrument cluster. An added readout was the Hill Stop Control (HSC) icon. Besides that, the Dynamic ESA’s preload settings no longer showed the icons of “helmets and briefcases.” Instead there were the options among MIN, AUTO and MAX. There were two damping settings: ROAD, DYNA (for dynamic)

Personally, the Dynamic ESA settings, HSC and new engine are the real new stuff for the R 1250 RT.

But oh, what difference they make!

First up, the engine drives a whole lot smoother now especially below 4,500 RPM. The engine note becomes louder above that rev and the bike accelerates much faster. However, the way it picked up speed was deceptive. It didn’t have the arm-straightening and neck snapping effect, but you’d be running at 200 km/h in no time. The typically smooth BMW quickshifter contributed to this as well.

Throughout testing I found that it’s best to keep power mode at DYNA during normal riding as the throttle action was more direct. But I’d usually switch to ROAD when I had my wife as the pillion and riding through city traffic. There’s a slight delay in RAIN mode, of course, but the engine’s smooth torque made you forget it pretty soon.

But I’d like to add that the ESA’s preload settings confused me in the first few days. I’d usually keep it in “single helmet” mode in the 1200, so I left it in MIN on the 1250. That gave rise to a heavier feeling bike and steering. I was so confused that I thought there’s too much weight below the fuel tank, which shouldn’t be so for a BMW Boxer…

MAX setting was too tall for my stubby legs… so I chose AUTO for a test, and that sorted out the “problem” immediately. The setting gave the bike optimal chassis balance at all times depending on how much you and your passenger, and the luggage weigh.

As for the ESA’s damping, DYNA worked best as it had more compression and rebound damping to control the shock’s action. The ROAD setting was somehow to soft, resulting in the rear pumping up and down. On the other hand, you’d get ultimate comfort while riding on smooth highways in ROAD setting.

I rode the bike around in KL for a few days, using the bike in a commuter role. I was glad that BMW retained the RT’s signature agility. Yes, the bike was wide, but it was easy to judge the gaps. Also, that Boxer engine, Telelever forks and Paralever swingarm meant that the RT was actually a dressed-up GS. In fact, it was more agile than the GS as the swingarm is much shorter.

As such, I just stood on the footpegs when traffic slowed down to crawling speeds and the RT exhibited had that signature low-speed stability like a GS when I stood up!

Of course, there were instances when there was no gap at all. Drivers were especially kind when they saw the RT and strived to open up gaps. Thank you. But when I had to sit behind cars, I played around with the radio stations and settings. So, there’s nothing to it.

The ultimate riding pleasure was out on the open roads, without doubt. The bike gobbled up the distances so seamlessly that I found myself reaching my destinations almost unexpectedly. There’s this grin I couldn’t wipe off my face when I rode to Ipoh and back.

Talking about the journey back, I was caught in an immense rainstorm that I had only experienced in Cambodia thus far. It was so heavy that I could only see the taillamp of two cars in front! The rain sounded like BB pellets as they pounded my helmet.

But the R 1250 RT? It just kept going. I had set the screen to its highest position and it deflected rain past my helmet’s visor.

I switched to ROAD mode in this rain to see what the bike could do.

And I got what I wished for!

Riding in the right-most lane at 140 km/h (it’s still raining heavily), I switched lanes to visit an R&R ahead. The rear tyre ran over a white line and started sliding. It wasn’t one of those mini-slips, mind you, I glanced down at the handlebar quickly and saw that it had turned right, in opposite lock to the slide.

At this stage, what Sifu Oh Kah Beng and the California Superbike School would tell you is just to relax and ride it out. Yes, that’s right: Do nothing.

I held the throttle open. The slide changed direction to the left, then back to the right, once again to the left… followed by a wiggle at the handlebar… and finally, the bike ran straight at 100 km/h. Why the bike kept sliding was because I was running in a straight path over the white lines. It would’ve been only one slide had I travelled past them and into the next lane.

I’m sure the bike’s automatic stability control had cut in and saved the day, and my skin. I didn’t even feel like my heart had escaped out of my throat. No shaking knees. No WTF was that! No eyeballs as wide as dinner plates. The slide felt controlled, despite the R 1250 RT weighing some 279 kg when fully fueled.

Speaking of fuel, I only refilled the tank once during the KL – Ipoh – KL trip. Ridden carefully, the 25 litre tank has a range of 500 kilometres.

So, there you go, I’ve already mentioned in the R 1200 RT review that I loved the bike for its comfort, handling, features and balance. The R 1250 RT took those attributes and continued with them while adding newer and better functions.

I divide the bikes that I personally like by categories. The R 1250 RT is unbeatable in the luxury sport-tourer category.

  • The sixth edition of the BMW Motorrad Night Fuel Malaysia will be held on 22nd June 2019.

  • It’s set to take place at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base at Sungai Besi.

  • Will we see the new S 1000 RR, R 1250 GS and R 1250 RT?

The sixth edition of the BMW Motorrad Night Fuel Malaysia will be held on 22nd June 2019. It’s set to take place at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base at Sungai Besi.

The BMW Motorrad Night Fuel Malaysia event has toured across Malaysia since 2016. This 2019 event is a return to Kuala Lumpur.

Celebrating the Making Life a Ride spirit, the BMW Motorrad Night Fuel Malaysia event is one of the largest gatherings of premium motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country and is open to all BMW Motorrad owners.

Held on Saturday, 22nd June 2019 at The Base, Sempang Airport, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base along the Sungai Besi area, the event will host a night filled with great food, music, camaraderie.

Night Fuel Johor Bahru, 2018

And as usual, the introduction of new motorcycles from BMW Motorrad Malaysia as well as a lucky draw chance to win a BMW Motorrad GS model. Our guess are the new S 1000 RR superbike, R 1250 GS and R 1250 RT, among others.

Sensational line-up of live performances includes the TC Buskers, Arjuna Band and a special performance by a legendary Malaysian Rock Legend!

Details of the event:

Date                :           22nd June 2019, Saturday

Time               :           7:00PM to 11:00PM

Venue             :           The Base, Sempang Airport, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base, 57100 Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur.

Ticket entry to the Sixth BMW Night Fuel Event Malaysia 2019 is at RM 90.00 via online registrations from now until Monday, 17th June 2019 and at RM 110.00 for walk-in registrations during the event itself. Visit BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s website HERE.

More details are also available on BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s Facebook page or call BMW VOICE at 1800-88-3000.

  • BMW Motorrad dengan serta merta telah memperkenalkan secara rasmi model R 1250 GS dan R 1250 RT 2019 yang baharu.
  • Kedua-dua buah motosikal ini akan dijana oleh enjin Boxer 1,254cc dengan Shift Cam baharu.
  • Kedua-dua buah model ini juga akan dilengkapi dengan pelbagai penambahbaikan yang lain selain enjin tersebut.

(more…)

  • BMW Motorrad are quick to officially roll out the new 2019 R 1250 GS and R 1250 RT.

  • Both bikes will receive the new 1254cc Boxer with Shift Cam.

  • Both models will also see a number of upgrades besides the engine.

(Pictures courtesy of BMW Motorrad.)

Yes, as we had published earlier, BMW Motorrad decided to unveil the R 1250 GS and R 1250 RT even before the Intermot show.

So, what is all the bru-ha-ha with these two bikes, you ask?

The BMW R 1200 GS is simply the world’s best-selling motorcycle and is the cash cow for the Bavarian manufacturer. But other manufacturers are starting to encroach into BMW’s market share and it is time to move the yardstick. The obvious part to start with is obviously the liquid/air-cooled Boxer engine which began production in 2013.

As we had reported earlier, the new 1254cc Boxer is now equipped with Shift Cam, BMW’s variable valve timing apparatus. The powerplant now yields 136 bhp and 143 Nm of torque. 136 bhp is still behind the likes of the 160 bhp KTM 1290 Super Adventure among others, but according to BMW, even 125 bhp was enough.

Anyway, let us get on with a few details of the new models.

2019 BMW R 1250 GS

  • The 2019 GS is looks outwardly similar to the current R 1200 GS except for a few changes.
2019 R 1250 GS in Granite Gray
  • Standard equipment will include Road and Rain riding modes, ASC (automatic Stability Control), HSC (Hill Start Control) and ABS Pro (Cornering ABS).
  • An optional Riding Modes Pro package which adds Dynamic riding mode and Dynamic Traction Control (DBC).
2019 R 1250 GS in Cosmic Blue
  • Specifically for the R 1250 GS, the package further adds Dynamic Pro, Enduro and Enduro Pro.
  • There is also Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) which prevents unintentional acceleration when braking.
2019 R 1250 GS in Exclusive paint scheme
  • The R 1250 GS will get a new 6.5” full-colour TFT display. Vehicle and connectivity functions are controlled via the standard BMW Motorrad Multi-Controller wheel.
  • LED lighting is standard, while LED DRL is optional.
2019 R 1250 GS TFT screen
  • Optional “Next Generation” Dynamic ESA is available for the GS. ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment).
  • As with the current ESA and ESA Dynamic systems, the suspension load and damping characteristics can be selected with the press of a switch, but adds a number more modes such as “Dynamic” and “Dynamic Pro,” plus “Enduro” and “Enduro Pro” just for the GS.
2019 BMW “Next Generation” ESA Dynamic
  • The new R 1250 GS will line up includes an off-road oriented R 1250 GS HP.
  • The HP is loaded up to the gills with off-road equipment. Optional for HP is the sports suspension with extended travel.
2019 R 1250 GS HP
  • There are four new colour schemes – two basic and two in striking style.
  • The basic versions are Blackstorm metallic and Cosmic Blue metallic. On the striking side, one is the Exclusive which combines Blackstrom metallic and Night Black.
2019 R 1250 GS in action
  • The other is the HP, finished in BMW’s racing colours and emphasizes off-road capabilities.
2019 R 1250 GS HP in action

2019 BMW R 1250 RT

  • Much of the updates to the R 1250 GS were carried over to the R 1250 RT.
  • The new RT looks similar to the current R 1200 RT at first glance but there are a number of distinguishing differences, apart from the cylinder head covers.
2019 R 1250 RT in Alpine White
  • The front brake calipers have been uprated, there are engine spoilers underneath the stator cover, the exhaust downpipes curve further back, and of course, the R 1250 RT badge.
2019 R 1250 RT in Elegance paint scheme
  • The engine tuning, performance and gearing ratios are unchanged from the GS.
2019 R 1250 RT in Sport paint scheme
  • There are also two riding modes, “Road” and “Rain” besides ASC (automatic Stability Control) and HSC (Hill Start Control) as standard.
2019 R 1250 RT in Option 719 Spezial colour scheme
  • The RT gets a 5.7” full-colour TFT display, flanked by analog speedometer and tachometer, but no connectivity options yet.
2019 R 1250 RT instrument panel
  • Owners can upgrade to “Next Generation” Dynamic ESA; an option unavailable on the current R 1200 RT.
2019 R 1250 RT view of the office
  • LED headlights and LED DRL are optional.
2019 R 1250 RT in Option 719 Spezial colour and optional brown seat
  • Colour options are basic option in Alpine White, Option 719 Spezial in Blue Planet metallic and Sparkling Storm metallic, Sport option in Mars Red metallic, Elegance in Carbon Black metallic.
2019 R 1250 RT in action

  • BMW Motorrad akhirnya telah memperkenalkan model R 1250 GS dan R 1250 RT baharu yang hadir dengan enjin Boxer yang baharu.
  • Enjin 1,254cc yang baharu ini adalah versi Boxer 4-injap yang kelima.
  • Ia tampil dengan peningkatan kuasa dan tork sehingga 14%, beserta pengurangan penggunaan bahanapi sebanyak 4%.

(more…)

  • BMW Motorrad has unveiled the new R 1250 GS and R 1250 RT along with the new Boxer engine.

  • The new 1254cc engine is the fifth 4-valve Boxer version.

  • It boasts a 9% gain in power and 14% in torque, plus 4% reduction in fuel consumption.

(All pictures courtesy of BMW Motorrad.)

It was BMW Motorrad’s worst secret, because the news of a new 1250cc Boxer engine and RT broke out in the open as soon as they started working on the project. Hence probably why BMW decided to roll out the specs and features of the 2019 R 1250 GS and R 1250 RT even before the expected launch at Intermot.

For your information, the German manufacturer has followed their tradition of launching both new GS and RT simultaneously.

We have covered most of the techs of the new 1254cc Boxer with Shift Cam variable valve timing, so far but here is a little bit more about the new engine since the full spec sheets have been released, also.

BMW 1250 Boxer with Shift Cam

We have previously shown the illustration of the workings of the new Shift Cam technology, so please click on this link for more information and the video.

BMW R 1250 GS Boxer Engine with “Shift Cam” Technology Illustrated

  • The new Boxer produces 136 bhp (100 kW) at 7,750 RPM and 143 Nm of torque at 6,250 RPM, a 14% gain.
  • Comparatively, the current 1174cc engine produces 125 bhp (92 kW) and 125 Nm of torque at the same RPMs respectively. (Please refer to the dyno chart below, courtesy of mcnew.com.au)

  • Referring to the graph, horsepower is as linear as before, but the biggest gain for torque is from 5,000 RPM onwards.
  • There is 110 Nm (77% of maximum) on tap from 2,000 RPM, building to just over 120 Nm (84%) at 3,000 RPM.

  • This means there is acceleration practically anytime the rider opens the throttle.
  • The new engine gains up to 4% better fuel economy, while trading 5kg extra.

  • There is a new BMS-O engine control unit (ECU), slipper clutch as standard (finally!), upgraded lubrication and cooling system, quieter toothed (HyVo) timing chains, and two knock sensors.
  • The transmission has also been refined further.

That is it for now. Check back with us tonight as we take a closer look at both the new models.

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