Highs and Sighs: 2026 BMW R 1300 RT
The trend of BMW’s flagship motorcycles becoming lighter – even if only visually – is one that I can get behind (both physically and metaphorically). In recent years, BMW RT and GS tourers have become bulbous gargantuans. While we must give credit where it’s due in that these machines handled far better than two-wheeled behemoths should, cutting size and weight is rarely a bad thing, and that holds true with BMW’s latest sport tourer.
Not only has BMW made the RT visually lighter, it’s also bestowed its sweet new 1,300cc air/liquid cooled Boxer with the ShiftCam variable valve system claiming 145 hp at 7,750 rpm and 109.9 lb-ft. at 6,500 rpm with its six-speed transmission located under the engine. BMW also now offers an option on how that transmission is operated with a choice of traditional manual shifting or the Automated Shift Assistant which we had the opportunity to sample recently in the Fatherland. As usual, BMW offers up enough options for riders to customize their RT experience to a head-spinning degree.
Keep scrolling to get a quick take from our quick first ride of the 2026 BMW R1300 RT.
High: A solid foundation
BMW’s latest Boxer engine is a gem that we first sampled in the R1300 GS two years ago at the and later rallied through Africa during the 2024 BMW GS Trophy. BMW has a long history of sharing its Boxer engines across multiple platforms that somehow work to propel large machines through the rigors of off-road while simultaneously performing double or even triple duty during tours or daily commutes. This latest 1,300cc bruiser is no different. While it may have lost some of the low-end torque from the depths of the rpm-range compared to its predecessor, it gains a sporty feel higher into the rev range without losing the broad torque curve that’s characteristic of the configuration. It shouldn’t surprise then that this makes it a mill perhaps even better suited to a sporty tourer. Slap that Boxer into a chassis that was formed around it like a second skin with its sheet metal steel main frame and aluminum lattice subframe, and you have a svelte package with a cohesive design. That configuration keeps the entire thing as tight and efficient in design as the pros in Bavaria could muster. Wunderbar!
High: Adjustable fairings aren’t just a gimmick
Despite the 2026 R1300 RT looking visually “slimmer” and “lighter,” there has been no loss in protection from the weather and the adjustable fairings are actually a net gain. In addition to the adjustable windscreen, we now have two-position adjustable fairings on either side of the bike. Simply reach down and pull the fairings up to give yourself an extra bubble of wind protection from your thighs up to your chest. When it gets warm, you can just as easily lower them back down, which was the case on our sometimes wet and sometimes humid and warm ride northeast of Munich. The airflow is smooth in both positions and appreciable differences are felt to an almost shocking degree. Action when moving the fairings is smooth and positive and easily done while riding. Add the inherent wind/weather protection that the Boxer engine lends to your lower appendages, and you have a motorcycle ready to protect from whatever the road or Mother Nature throws at you.
High: All the tech you could ever ask for
Standard ride modes weren’t enough, aye? Well, all it takes is money to get more tech than you could shake a maypole at! How about some extra Pro modes? Interested in adjustable, IMU-based safety features like traction control and ABS? Keep it coming. How about electronic suspension and radar to give adaptive cruise control, frontal collision warnings, and blind spot monitoring? Maybe a couple of audio options? Now we’re getting there! Cap it off with heated everything, an electronically adjusted windscreen, Headlight Pro that lights up the bend as you lean, and the option of an automatic transmission (Automated Shift Assistant) and you’ve got a veritable spaceship on two wheels. Oh, and did I mention you’ll be navigating all of that technology through a 10.25-inch TFT display? Welcome to the future.
Sigh: Too many options?
Is this something to sigh about? BMW certainly doesn’t think so. That’s why you have color and trim packages, Dynamic packages, Comfort packages, Comfort Passenger packages, Top Case Prep packages, Option 719 packages and more which comprise 82 line items to choose from in BMW’s on-site bike builder. Of course, if you choose some of those packages it drops or adds other things to your build. I guess Burger King isn’t the only place to let you have it your way. A sigh? Maybe not, but it’s certainly a lot to wrap one’s head around.
Sigh: Automated Shift Assistant works well, but not flawlessly
If it’s not already clear, I’m really scraping the bottom of the barrel to find three things to sigh about in regard to the 2026 BMW R1300 RT. The ASA is actually one of the better, if not the best, automated motorcycle transmissions this author has had the pleasure of being pampered by. The problem is in the fundamentals of such a system. Yes, the character of the system changes between ride modes, holding gears longer when in Dynamic and rowing through them to the top cog quickly in Road, but as it sits today, these systems are no match for an experienced (or even not-so-experienced) motorcyclist with his or her eyeballs taking in what’s about to happen next on the road. These traits align with similar systems we've tested as of late like the Honda NT1100 DCT. These systems are reactive, and as much as they’ve been refined or engineered over the years, they still aren’t a match for riders looking to eke the maximum performance out of their steeds. For touring though, having the option to set the ASA to be manually manipulated via the foot lever might just close the gap between having to choose a manual transmission over BMW’s Automated Shift Assistant. The disconnected feeling of the lever operating a sensor rather than a shift linkage will just be something you’ll need to accept. A sigh? You’ll have to decide for yourself.
Sigh: Price
As tested through the rolling hills of Bavaria, our R1300 RT pressers clocked in north of $33,000 which included the Impulse package ($7,345), Automated Shift Assistant ($935), Audio Pro ($445), and Carbon Cylinder Guards ($1,587), on top of the $22,495 MSRP (and $695 destination fee). Not an insignificant chunk of change by most standards. Of course, you are getting a motorcycle from a luxury brand with cutting edge technology and – as mentioned above – you do have a dizzying array of options to choose from that could slash your total bill or increase it as you see fit. You could always special order a complete base model (which you’ll likely need to do as most dealers don’t order models for the showroom without some sort of add-ons) if you're budget-minded. Calling out the price as a “sigh” may not be totally fair either, as we always say, you and your wallet will be left to make the final decision.
Conclusion
The 2026 BMW R1300 RT is a worthy heir to the Bavarian firm's sport touring crown. With loads of technology and a stout power plant wrapped in a willing chassis, the RT is arguably in a class of its own these days when it comes to tourers. All it costs is money – and a fair bit of it.
