BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

If you had considered the R1200RS, besides the upright sitting position of the R1200RT, what else in the latter made you choose the RT over the RS ?

I have an RS Iconic (Sport SE spec) and have just ordered an RT LE sport style in mars red/slate grey. It's much more luxurious, has (for me) a better riding position, more luggage carrying capacity, and some worthwhile extras, e.g. hill start, electric screen, heated seat, and far better instruments. I like the built in indicators and mirrors too.
The RS is a great bike but the RT will do everything at least  as well and a bit more besides

Did look at RS but  luggage space, weather protection, heated seats, comfort for wife, better clocks, etc only advantage I could see of RS was cooler in hot weather. In UK no brainer.

Same as above - I couldn't really see the appeal of the RS. In my opinion, the R1200 'lump' is better for the long haul; if you want a 'sports' bike I can't see why anyone would buy an R1200 RS over an S1000 RR. But then I have never really seen the appeal of sports bikes anyway.

As my wife would be enjoying the back seat, I took her along when I tried both the RS and the RT. We both voted for the extra comfort of the RT.

I've been thinking back and forth between the R1200RS and the R1200RT for a while. I like the RT for its versatility, especially for multi-day trips. However, commuting with it when I need to split lanes everyday is not as easy as with the RS.

Just quick search to confirm suspicion RT 982mm RS 925mm. wouldn't have thought would make much difference especially on wide US interstates!! London whole different story. 

I commute on my RT in California, and lane split.  Occasionally I take my wife's F800ST instead, and am always amazed at how much more comfortable it is lane splitting, but it isn't that much skinnier.  A few inches make a difference.  But then I also occasionally take her ST on the open road, and after about 50 miles, I'm wishing I was on my RT!  The wind protection, seating comfort, cruise control, etc. win out big time in that case.  Wish they made an "RT" model based on the F800 - I'd buy one for my wife!


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F800st is 860mm

I have started folding the mirrors in on the RT when filtering through close traffic on the motorway. You wouldn't think it would make a difference, but it's surprising how much that extra couple of centimetres helps.

Paggers wrote: I have started folding the mirrors in on the RT when filtering through close traffic on the motorway. You wouldn't think it would make a difference, but it's surprising how much that extra couple of centimetres helps.

I put my main beam on... usually moves most out of the way. I have panniers on all the time.

smileymiley wrote: I put my main beam on... usually moves most out of the way. I have panniers on all the time.

Nothing will move everybody out the way, but I generally use main beam to improve the chances of being seen. I always have the panniers on too, so no point in folding the mirrors. I suspect filtering on a R1200RS (with no panniers) would be a little easier.

Sorry was never my intention to take thread off course. Comment about making much difference was in relation to which bike to choose not specifically  about filtering. Think we can all agree a thin bike is easier. If filtering was my main concern on bike choice I wouldn't pick either.

BoB21 wrote: Sorry was never my intention to take thread off course. Comment about making much difference was in relation to which bike to choose not specifically  about filtering. Think we can all agree a thin bike is easier. If filtering was my main concern on bike choice I wouldn't pick either.

Not at all. I want to thank you for bringing up that "RT 982mm RS 925mm" comparison. It does help me a lot to know the real width of each bike while lane splitting. So far my perception of the R1200RT is it is huge !!!  My F800GT is 902mm wide, so to compare to the R1200RT, it's like having 40mm more on each side of my F800GT.

Although the freeways are wide in the USA, many times cars don't leave much room, so every centimeter counts.

I am wondering how the R1200RT handles at low speed too ...

Take one on test you will be surprised at how balanced and easy to ride at slow speed even two up. First time  to BMW for me my only considerations were rt or rs didn't test rs because rt ticked more boxes especially two up. Wife liked rt over other makes I did try.