R1300RT Motorrad Announcement

[kbasa]

If I was going to buy a RT for two up riding I think I would go with the white 1250 RT like the one in post # 15.
Nice clean style and the side bags are larger.

The side bags are Varios that can be expanded or retracted like GS bags. I like that white one, but also like the blue with the larger legends. I saw a picture of one with the "sport screen" on it on the BMW site and it looked super sporty. It looked like it was about the size of my VFR.

Around here, that white one with all the black panels just screams "COP", which would probably be helpful for lane splitting. Following the CHP through traffic is pretty interesting. People just jump out of the way.

 

[HSVPhil]

I realize I'm probably one of the younger ones here at 67 but I still like to camp at rallies. To me, if I'm not camping at the rally I don't feel like I'm actually "at the rally".

Hope to see ya camping in Lebanon in six weeks.

 

[lee]

The side bags are Varios that can be expanded or retracted like GS bags. I like that white one, but also like the blue with the larger legends. I saw a picture of one with the "sport screen" on it on the BMW site and it looked super sporty. It looked like it was about the size of my VFR.

Around here, that white one with all the black panels just screams "COP", which would probably be helpful for lane splitting. Following the CHP through traffic is pretty interesting. People just jump out of the way.

The expandable bags are a option. I think the bags that come standard are 27 or 28 liters.
I don't know when you order if you can get the the Vario bags instead of the standard bags, or if you purchase the Vario bags from the dealer.

 

[lee]

This article mentions the Vario bags.
Would the GS, RT and the RS use the same Vario bags?

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2026-bmw-r-1300-rt-rs-tourers-are-here-to-give-the-competition-a-run-for-their-money-250747.html

 

[kbasa]

This article mentions the Vario bags.
Would the GS, RT and the RS use the same Vario bags?

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2026-bmw-r-1300-rt-rs-tourers-are-here-to-give-the-competition-a-run-for-their-money-250747.html

GS bags are square, while the RT/RS bags are more sculpted.

 

[lee]

Here's the 1300GS Vario cases.

 

[kbasa]

Here's the 1300GS Vario cases.

Woah. Maybe the ARE the same bags. That'd be new.

 

[lee]

Woah. Maybe the ARE the same bags. That'd be new.

I forgot about the new bags until I googled R1300 Vario bags.

I found where the GS Vario cases are 25 &32 liters on one side and 24&30 liters on the other side.
The RT Vario case are 27 and 33 liters each.

 

[JeffRT]

I love most everything about this. I guess I'm not thrilled with the idea of giving up my GPS, and I love the way I have my '14 RT set up. I know I could add a GPS to The 1300 but I'm not a big fan of having stuff mounted from the handlebars. I'm also unsure about the automatic shifting option. I would like to try that out and see if I like it. I'm really looking forward to seeing these in person but I read they are not going to be in showrooms until the Fall at the earliest.

 

[lee]

I don't know when you order if you can get the the Vario bags instead of the standard bags, or if you purchase the Vario bags from the dealer.

Looking at the Configuator for the RT you can get the Vario cases from the factory.

BMW Motorrad Configurator - all models, colors, packages and prices

The official BMW Motorrad NA Bike Configurator. Build your dream bike. View our current model range, find a retailer and test ride a BMW motorcycle today.

configurator.bmwmotorcycles.com

 

[professorb]

I really wanted to love this bike...
The tech sounds really impressive...
But they made it heavier than my beautiful '21 RT...
And they made it SO ugly...
WTF, Berlin???

 

[kbasa]

And they made it SO ugly...
WTF, Berlin???

It's like a song that gets played every time they release a new RT.

My 05 meant the guppy holding a flashlight shape of the 1150RT got turned into Transformers, then, from the R12 into something more curved and now another evolution.

Think of it this way: you can't see it while you're riding it!

 

[lee]

Think of it this way: you can't see it while you're riding it!

We shouldn't be that way but Debbie and I can't handle owning a ugly vehicle. We can't even handle a ugly color
We realize that everyone has different tastes in style or color, but if it's ugly to us it's out
Lucky for us we have similar tastes for style and colors.

 

[jono]

It's like a song that gets played every time they release a new RT.

My 05 meant the guppy holding a flashlight shape of the 1150RT got turned into Transformers, then, from the R12 into something more curved and now another evolution.

Think of it this way: you can't see it while you're riding it!

I had a very enlightening conversation with David Robb at an MOA rally giving me his take on a number of design decisions and I can respect and appreciate those decisions. But even BMW admitted the Bangle Butt design missed the mark long after the public criticism died down. I'd hazard a guess that the BMW designers would be hard pressed to explain the GSA and now the RT designs as being "elegant" or "graceful". And yes, I want a motorcycle to be less industrial and more artistic since it's a vehicle of passion.

 

[captainmarko]

I thought the new GSA was pretty silly looking in the photos. Very different in person. Looks pretty good IRL.

 

[oldcamper]

I had a very enlightening conversation with David Robb at an MOA rally giving me his take on a number of design decisions and I can respect and appreciate those decisions. But even BMW admitted the Bangle Butt design missed the mark long after the public criticism died down. I'd hazard a guess that the BMW designers would be hard pressed to explain the GSA and now the RT designs as being "elegant" or "graceful". And yes, I want a motorcycle to be less industrial and more artistic since it's a vehicle of passion.

I too had a one-on-one discussion with David Robb at an MOA rally many years ago regarding motorcycle design, but i think he might have been a little offended when I opined Muth’s R100RS with solo seat and bags was the most elegant, balanced and beautiful design BMW ever produced.

To be fair, it’s probably not easy to integrate the telelever into a fully faired motorcycle, and probably accounts for the front heavy look of many BMW’s bikes that have it.

 

[steveaikens]

Fully loaded, $38,000. You can save $1000 by shifting yourself and even more by not choosing the 719 but a fully loaded GSA is $32,500 so that's a lot more money for an RT which albeit does include luggage where the GSA will not have luggage at that price.

IMO - there is no possible way in the world that there is a factory motorcycle worth that amount of money. Add to that the horrible looking "design" and BMW has a loser on their hands.

 

[omega man]

IMO - there is no possible way in the world that there is a factory motorcycle worth that amount of money. Add to that the horrible looking "design" and BMW has a loser on their hands.

IMO, as riders want all the features of their 4-wheel vehicles, the price will reflect that. As for BMW having a “loser” on their hands, might take a couple of years to really decide what the demand is for the “new” design.
OM

 

[jono]

IMO, as riders want all the features of their 4-wheel vehicles, the price will reflect that. As for BMW having a “loser” on their hands, might take a couple of years to really decide what the demand is for the “new” design.
OM

OTOH the pretty well equipped 2025 Gold Wing 50th Anniversary model comes in at $25,500. Pretty sure if I was facing a $10K premium of the RT over the GW, I'd buy the GW. When I bought my RT, the GW was close to the same price

 

[LFarling]

I thought the new GSA was pretty silly looking in the photos. Very different in person. Looks pretty good IRL.

Me too! I saw one at War Horse and it was way nice. Well, except for that price tag. It looked boxy in photos but in person that seemed to smooth out. Of course it could be when your bent over drooling all over yourself, looking at all the "stuff" you loose sight of that photograph you saw in a magazine.