New R1250RT spied

**Richard230** · 03-08-18

It looks like the long-awaited R1250RT, with its VVT Euro 5 engine, will be arriving on your dealer's showroom floor one of these days (probably next year). Which will come first the RT or the GS version? My money is on the GS, in spite of the engine being tested in an almost production-ready RT platform. But I could be wrong.

It has happened before:

http://www.motorcycle.com/features/2...er-engine.html

**WildWilly** · 03-10-18

Interesting read. I agree that the GS will probably get top billing. It's in BMW's best interest to dance with who brung em.

**danham** · 03-10-18

I see no mention of an RS, which is rapidly becoming the boxer stepchild. Too bad; it's really the only model that would lure me back into the showroom with the title to my ST in my hand.

-dan

**Dave May** · 03-10-18

The R and RS are always last, using any engines left over after the GS run.

**Daboo** · 03-10-18

The part that would interest me about the new engine, is if it had self-adjusting valves. I'm sure there's an excellent reason as to why I need frequent valve adjustments on my motorcycle engine, but never think about it on my cars. I sold my 1999 Camry with about 240,000 miles on it and all I did was change the oil and filter. And it was still running strong.

Just musing here...when will motorcycle design get to the point of having minimal "real" change? I'm thinking of the way cars have evolved over the last 10 years. Once they got power windows, door locks, sunroofs, power rear trunks on mini-vans, etc., then it seemed the next big thing was to get a large display in the dash and a movie player for the kids. The things that make a car take you from point A to B have come to the point where the design changes are tweaks, not major upgrades to the experience. Now it is adding one gee-whiz feature or another to differentiate your product from all the others that have the same things.

I see the same thing happening on the motorcycle designs. We have some phenomenal bikes today. The difference between a 1970 Honda CB750 and a F800ST is pretty big. There were some major improvements. The difference between the F800ST and the F800GT is more small and incremental. The F800GT is great as is IMHO, but there are technology advances you can find in the more expensive models. Things like taking the ABS and SAS from a static kind of design to a more dynamic design that works in corners effectively. The more expensive bikes have a dynamic suspension that supposedly tailors the settings to how and where you're riding. So once you have all those great ideas incorporated in a motorcycle...what's next? A DVD player to watch your favorite movie on?

Probably not.

Then take this one step further. Look at the 2018 F800GT and the R1200RS...and what's the difference? Not much. Both have Ride Modes Pro and ESA II. Both have NAV VI controlled from the left handlebar. Now that BMW has added those options that used to differentiate the premium models from the GT...what's next for the premium models?

Self-adjusting valves?

Chris

**WildWilly** · 03-10-18

Guess which motorcycle maker has had self adjusting valves for years?

**Daboo** · 03-10-18

Umm...all of them? "Self" == "Me"?

**Richard230** · 03-10-18

Originally Posted by WildWilly

Guess which motorcycle maker has had self adjusting valves for years?

My 1984 Honda Nighthawk CB700SC did and it also had shaft drive.

However, my Zero doesn't need any adjusting, other than a firmware revision download once in a while that can be performed at home using a smart phone app.