The RT series has always been considered as one of the best tourers that money could buy. Ever since the initial launch of the mighty BMW R100 RT four decades back, it had a fan base amongst the Americans who loved to explore the world. After all these years, the brand-new 2022 BMW R1250 RT also carries forward the same character of this yesteryear motorcycle, but with massive improvements in engine, refinement, features, and comfort.
The 2022 BMW R1250 RT sees no major changes from the outgoing 2021 model. Hence, the Boxer motor, the massive 10.25" TFT display, and all the bells and whistles that contribute to the safety and comfort of the rider remain more or less unchanged. Available for a base MSRP of $19,695, the 2022 BMW R1250 RT is here to compete with the likes of the Honda Goldwing, Harley-Davidson Road Glide, and a few more. Here are 10 things every motorcycle enthusiast should know about the 2022 BMW R1250 RT.
10 Boxer Motor Offers Deceptive Acceleration
The 2022 BMW R1250 RT comes with the mighty 1,254cc DOHC liquid-cooled 2-cylinder Boxer motor, producing 136 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque. Even though it is a 2-cylinder motor, the acceleration and performance on offer are deceptive. Twist the throttle in any gear and the bike rolls forward with no hesitation, unlike some of the rivals.
The low-end performance is effortless, and that makes it an easy motorcycle to overtake slow-moving traffic. The in-gear acceleration is a notch above the likes of the Goldwing and the Road Glide, both of which feel a bit lethargic in comparison to the R1250 RT. This tourer could also do the legal speed limit all day long with almost no heat and vibrations, making it one of the least stressful motorcycles to ride.
9 One Of The Most Comfortable Motorcycles On Sale
All the model years of the R1250 RT have been praised for their excellent comfort levels, and the same legacy continues with the mighty 2022 R1250 RT. One of the main reasons why this motorcycle takes the crown for being the most comfortable offering of the segment is due to the BMW Telelever suspension for the front and the BMW Paralever suspension for the rear.
This makes the ride extremely plush and refined. The wide handlebar, heated seats and grips, and wide tires (which helps in tackling all the minor imperfections on the road) are some of the other advantages of the BMW R1250 RT. Since the rear suspension setup is tuned to the softer side as standard, the pillion is also going to enjoy the ride.
8 Massive Windscreen And Top-Notch Aerodynamics Are Some Of The USPs
The 2022 BMW R1250 RT is a touring motorcycle that has been tested inside a wind tunnel and that has helped it to be quite aerodynamic, cutting through the wind with no fuss. While riding at the freeway speed limit, the rider is entirely cocooned inside a calm environment, which is unlike any other motorcycle of the segment. There is no wind gushing over the rider, and that helps the rider to feel fresh even after a 1,000-mile road trip.
The body lines are designed specially to make the rider feel as minimal stress and fatigue as possible, and that works. Another highlighting factor of this motorcycle is the electronically adjustable windscreen, which also helps to cut across the wind buffeting. Keep the windscreen in the highest setting, and you would be surprised with the lack of wind and other elements striking on the face of the rider.
7 Handling Of The R1250 RT Is Unlike Any Other Tourers
Even though many people think that the 2022 BMW R1250 RT is an elephant in terms of the handling and riding dynamics, it is exactly the opposite of it. Coming with a curb weight of 615 lbs, the R1250 RT completely hides the massive weight with ease. This is done with the help of excellent weight distribution, and hence the motorcycle is easy to handle at slow speeds, as well as during freeway runs.
The front end of the R1250 RT gets the 37 mm BMW Telelever suspension setup with a central spring strut. However, the rear end gets BMW Paralever with WAD strut offering spring preload and rebound damping ability. Coming with a car-like suspension setup, the handling is phenomenal, irrespective of the speed. The motorcycle dives into the corner with precision, hold on to the line well and could accelerate out of the corner with ease due to the grunt of the Boxer motor.
6 Loaded With All The Features That You Could Think Of
Like the outgoing 2021 R1250 RT, this 2022 version is also filled to the brim with all the required features for doing cross-country road trips. Many pieces of equipment like the BMW Motorrad full integral ABS Pro system, dynamic cruise control with braking function, LED headlight and taillight, dynamics traction control, hill-start control, and many more are offered as standard.
A long list of optional equipment can be had too. This includes adaptive headlight, adaptive cruise control with the radar sensor, charging equipment, dynamic electronic suspension adjustment with load compensation, keyless ride, heated seats, tire pressure monitoring system, etc. Apart from that, top case, tank bag, multiple seat variants, etc can be added from the optional accessories list as well.
5 The R1250 RT Is A Pain To Move Around From A Standstill
Being one of the heaviest motorcycles on sale in the United States, the 2022 BMW R1250 RT feels every bit heavy as its indicated weight of 615 lbs. This makes it a cumbersome task to move around at standstill, which would bother many of the riders, especially in the parking lots. The reverse parking into the sloped parking spots would also be quite beneficial for this motorcycle, as it doesn't come with reverse gear.
However, once the BMW R1250 RT starts rolling, it is like any other normal motorcycle out there. It feels super nimble and tractable, which is just the opposite character of it while it is at standstill. Being a fairly long and wide touring motorcycle, you would also need to find the right parking spot for it.
4 Rearset Footpegs Makes It Slightly Uncomfortable For Tall Riders
In comparison to the rivals of the touring segment, such as the Goldwing and the Road Glide, the 2022 R1250 RT comes with slightly rear-set footpegs, which would take some time to get used to. Even though it is not uncomfortable by any means, this would be slightly problematic for some of the tall riders out there.
The biggest issue is with the lack of space for the legs of these tall riders, which would make it a bit uncomfortable during the long rides. Another factor is that the rear brake pedal occasionally grazes the leg, especially while putting the foot on the ground while at a complete halt. This could cause bruises to the legs as well.
3 Quirky Design Language Might Not Be To Everyone's Taste
The 2022 BMW R1250 RT is more of a tool for the open highways, and hence BMW has focused more on things that make it a great tourer. As a result, the design may not be everyone's cup of tea. The front end looks a bit bulbous with the massive windscreen, character lines on the fairing, and the relatively smaller diameter tires (in comparison to the body).
The side and rear profile is also nothing to write about. However, the neatly designed Boxer motor, many golden and chrome elements, and the side boxes (optional accessory) add to the character. It also stands out from all the rivals and has a distinctive appearance, which is a plus point.
2 Some Features Are Buried Deep Inside The Instrument Cluster, Making It Unintuitive
The 10.25" TFT instrument cluster is above and beyond the ones offered by the rivals like the Honda Goldwing. However, one thing that takes away the experience from this otherwise brilliant system is how unintuitive it is, especially when accessing some of the vital features. If you wish to turn on the heated seat or the heated handlebar grips, it is not a one-touch approach, unlike the Goldwing.
You have to go deep inside the settings option of the motorcycle and that takes away quite a lot of seconds. A lot of concentration is also required for accessing these features. However, accessing all the basic information is a breeze and has never posed any problems.
1 10.25" TFT Display Is Sophisticated And Clever
The 2022 R1250 RT comes with a fully digital instrument cluster, and it could easily be coined as the best digital cluster on a production motorcycle. Even with the minor gripes that we had related to the interface, it will blow away the users with its top-notch display quality, smoothness, and abundance of data and features it provides.
The main screen gives out all the basic information related to the motorcycle speed, RPM, temperature, and many more. However, you are greeted with many more by accessing the cluster through the buttons on the handlebar. By connecting to the BMW Motorrad Connected app, the users can use navigation, view music information, messages, and attend phone calls. An optional audio system is offered too.