BMW introduced this touring nameplate in late 2018 as the successor to the long-running R 1200 RT, with the new model year 2019 machine marking the shift to the 1,254cc boxer family and BMW’s ShiftCam variable valve timing concept. It carried forward the RT formula of a large, shaft-driven, long-distance tourer while updating the styling, electronics and rider-focused comfort features that have defined the line for decades. The new generation was positioned as a more refined and technologically advanced version of BMW’s classic highway tourer rather than a clean-sheet redesign, preserving the model’s reputation for stability, weather protection and all-day travel capability.
The R 1250 RT quickly became the standard bearer for BMW’s boxer-powered touring segment and remained closely associated with both private sport-touring riders and official fleet use. BMW Motorrad has long supplied RT-based motorcycles to police and other authorities around the world, and the R 1250 RT continued that tradition immediately after launch. That dual role helped reinforce the model’s image as a practical, premium touring motorcycle with real-world durability, not just a luxury flagship.
Within BMW’s lineup, the R 1250 RT represents the brand’s modern interpretation of the traditional grand tourer: a machine built around comfort, protection and easy long-distance pace, but with enough character and chassis sophistication to appeal to enthusiasts as well. It sits in the same historical RT lineage that helped define BMW Motorrad’s reputation in the touring class, while the 1250-era boxer update gave the nameplate a more contemporary feel and kept it competitive in the premium touring market.