The BMW R 1250 RT gets major overhaul ahead of 2021

The BMW R 1250 RT has been given a major for 2021, with radar-guided cruise control, a revised styling package, and an all-new TFT dash.

BMW R1250 RT (2020) review

Here is everything we know about the new tourer and how it compares to the competition.

Dynamic Cruise Control and Active Cruise Control

BMW is chasing down Ducati and the Italian firm’s Multistrada V4, by offering the new tourer with a trick, radar-guided cruise control system available as an option. The system is claimed to be able to pick up target vehicles that are over 100 metres down the road, matching the vehicle's speed between 18 and 99mph.

For those not selecting the option of the radar-guided system, the standard bike also gets Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC) that can apply the bike’s brakes if the machine’s speed is increasing – due to riding down a steep hill for instance.

TFT Dash

Like many of the other bikes in the BMW range, the R 1250 RT will now come equipped with a trick looking and no doubt easy to read TFT dash. The system is a large 10.25” screen and includes the ability to view navigation information and the bike’s instruments at the same time. On top of that, the R 1250 RT’s new dash features Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone.

Revised styling and more aerodynamic fairing

It’s no secret that the previous generation of the RT was a bit of a top-heavy hector, more visually than anything else. The bike had swelled over the years, with ever greater layers of tech being added creating the need for a rather bulbous fairing. For 2021 the new RT is greatly slimmed down, with a much more svelte and modern look to the front end of the machine.

Housed within the new fairing are new LED lights and the entire fairing now finishes lower to try and improve the rider’s field of view.

2021 BMW R 1250 RT key features:

• Authentic boxer engine with BMW ShiftCam Technology for variation of the valve timings and valve stroke on the intake side.

• Powerful response across the entire engine speed range, exemplary fuel consumption, emission levels, running smoothness and refinement.

• Output and torque: 100 kW (136 hp) at 7 750 rpm and 143 Nm at 6 250 rpm.

• Knock sensor system for optimised travel suitability.

• New BMW Motorrad Full Integral ABS Pro as standard.

• Three riding modes as standard.

• New “Eco” riding mode for particularly economical riding as standard.

• Riding Modes Pro with additional riding mode “Dynamic” and new engine drag torque control (MSR) as an ex-works option.

• Dynamic Traction Control DTC as standard

• Dynamic ESA “Next Generation” electronic suspension with fully automatic load compensation as an optional extra.

• Hill Start Control Pro (HSC Pro) with extended function as an ex-works option.

• Newly developed front fairing with optimised aerodynamics.

• New LED headlamp as standard and new full-LED headlamp with adaptive turning light as an ex-works option

• Connectivity: New multifunctional instrument cluster with a 10.25-inch full-colour TFT screen and numerous other features as standard.

• New “Comfort telephony with extended smartphone connection” option.

• New Audio System 2.0 option.

• New double tone fanfare as standard.

• Intelligent Emergency Call as an ex-works option.

• Attractive basic paint finish along with the three Style variants “Elegance”, “Sport” and “Option 719” as ex-works options.

• Extended range of optional extras and Original BMW Motorrad Accessories.