Duel BMW R1250RT Vs Honda GoldWing: New deal in Moto GT
The new BMW R1250RT has just been released! To evaluate this 2019 novelty and its variable-timing flat-twin, Site opposes it to the Honda bestseller: the GoldWing and its flat-six. An unfortunate slip considerably reduced our rolling, but without spoiling our MNC duel… On the way.
R1250RT Vs GoldWing – page 1: New duel of GT motorcycles
Last May, Site suggested to its readers to embark on a cruise on the two flagships of the BMW and Honda ranges: the and the Touring. Two "steamer" motorcycles with six-cylinder engines, moreover placed flat, designed primarily for "offshore" motorway trips.
Six months later, the program changes … slightly. Presented in early October at her home in Cologne at the Intermot 2018 show, the new BMW R1250RT is already landing in French dealerships! To better judge these capacities, MNC decided to confront it directly with its biggest rival: the Honda GoldWing..
- Duel MNC K1600GTL Vs Goldwing Touring:
- BMW R1250RT:
- MNC Test – Honda Goldwing 2018:
Le Journal moto du Net would have gladly selected a Pan European, but this model has! There is no trace of its more typical Cruiser replacement, the CTX1300, or even of the VFR1200F: for the Tokyo Reds, the new GoldWing now represents the "road par excellence". The only one too.
And French bikers have visibly adopted it since on November 14, the 2018 GL1800 introduced one in France: "in a little over 7 months, 1012 Goldwings were delivered by the network", congratulate Honda officials. For information, the previous French record was held by the GL1500 with 1008 copies sold in 1997.
- MNC Live: 2018 Honda Goldwing sets new sales record in France
Site’s Premium readers – who, as everyone knows, are much more fortunate than others – nevertheless know that the GoldWing is not the only one to seduce large French drivers: in 2017, BMW sold 715 K1600GT and 470 GTL . At the same time, the R1200RT generated 1562 registrations alone, more than the two K1600s combined..
With the MotoGP and WorldSBK 2018 championships over, the end of the year promises to be one of the most exciting in the "Moto GT" category: the competition suddenly accelerates due to the release of the R1250RT, equipped with the new flat- twin with variable valve timing already tested by MNC on the R1250GS (compared to the Multistrada 1260 DVT).
- MNC duel: BMW R1250GS Vs Ducati Multistrada 1260 DVT
Like the maxitrail, the BMW road vehicle underwent only minor aesthetic changes. The RT retains its impressive owl face – which it shares with the K1600s -, its sophisticated fairing, its high 25-liter tank, its pair of large removable cases and its luggage rack ready to receive a top case….
The chassis does not change in 2019: the tubular steel trellis frame that (sits) on the Boxer is still associated with the Telelever system at the front and the Paralever single-sided arm at the rear. The secondary gimbal transmission is retained, naturlich.
Big engine evolutions for BMW
The R1250RT must be carefully inspected to find that the engine shoes are now in two parts in order to give free rein to the new exhaust manifolds, that the 4-piston radial calipers are no longer branded Brembo but BMW … and that they cover them. – cylinder heads bear a new "Shift Cam" inscription !
Because the changes between the 1200 and the 1250 are major. The German engineers already noted in 2013 that "for the first time in the history of BMW Motorrad, the gearbox and the clutch are integrated in the crankcase of a boxer engine" while "the cylinders are no longer screwed separately. on the crankcase, but integrated directly ".
In 2019, the big first is the appearance on a BMW Motorrad series engine of the "Shift Cam" technology which makes it possible to vary the timing and the lift of the intake valves thanks to an ingenious "one-piece transmission shaft equipped with two pairs of cams per valve ", controlled by an electromechanical actuator.
Remember that the partial load cam must optimize the consumption and the pleasure of the mill (air and water cooled, always) via reduced valve lift, while the full load cam is supposed to promote engine performance by increasing the same lift.
Compared to the K1600GT / L, the RT is – a little – less luxurious and more versatile. Certainly, like its elders, it must allow its owner to cut the road on a motorcycle towards the summer holidays. But she must also be able to effectively face the routine motorcycle-work-sleep..
It is for this same extremely busy program that Honda is offering its "standard" GoldWing: this replacement for the F6B is essentially distinguished from the new GoldWing "Touring" by the absence of a top case at the rear and the presence of a shorter bubble at the front … but also the abandonment of traction control and electronic suspensions !
"Is this new MNC R1250RT Vs GoldWing duel fair?", Some riders are already asking themselves … Is the fight between these two motorcycles equipped with flat engines fair? If we refer only to their displacement, the answer is obviously no: it seems foolish to measure a "small" flat-twin of 1254 cc to a "big" flat-six of 1833 cc! And yet…
By browsing the technical sheets (see the last page of this duel), we quickly realize that the fight is not so unbalanced: in terms of maximum power, the BMW boxer delivers 136 horsepower in this version "Shift Cam "against 126 hp for the Honda unit. When it comes to torque, the advantage turns with the six-cylinder engine and its 170 Nm, against 143 Nm – all the same! – for the BMW twin cylinder.
Another difference in "size": the weight of the two road bikes! The R1250RT has certainly taken 5 kg compared to its predecessor 1200 and therefore weighs 279 kg fully loaded. But it remains significantly lighter than the GoldWing (365 kg!), Which has nevertheless lost 20 kg compared to its predecessor F6B !
A little more than 6 kg were saved via the new engine, both more compact and efficient thanks to its 4-valves per cylinder and its Unicam-type cylinder heads, also more modern with its electronic accelerator and its 6-speed gearbox ( the DCT is reserved for the Touring version). And unlike BMW with its new RT 2019, Honda revolutionized all of its "GW" in 2018…
Revolution of manners at Honda
New silhouette as sharp as the CTX1300, lightened aluminum double beam chassis, double wishbone front and Pro-Arm type rear suspension system combined with a Pro-Link shock absorber: the Japanese engineers have completely revised and even redesigned their "Wing. ‘Gold’ so that it gains dynamism.
On the Honda scale, the GL1800 finally reaches a substantial weight of 365 kg all full, which are responsible for concealing a center of gravity placed at the lowest and a set of 18-inch rims at the front and 16 inches at the back. The R1250RT uses a common 17-inch wheelset.
The new GoldWing sees the capacity of its fuel tank decrease (21.1 liters) but it is full of technologies: four driving modes, electronic suspensions, traction control, cruise control, heated grips, starting aid in hill, reverse, GPS, Apple Car (!) Play…
Is it a "short" GoldWing – but fully equipped – that Honda offers at a price logically – unfortunately, inevitably? – up to its endowments: prepare a check – or take out a loan (!) – for 25,999 euros for this entry-level Honda in the large displacement road department.
At BMW as always, the call price is attractive: "from 19,700 euros", indicates the Bavarian firm on its official website, specifying that the standard equipment of the R1250RT includes "ABS Pro, ASC (automatic stability control), 2 driving modes (rain, road), the multi-controller, the drive shaft (that’s better, Editor’s note!), the adjustable electric windshield and the HSC (start assistant by rating)".
To benefit from services similar to those of the Honda, it is imperative to draw from the vast catalog of accessories: the Comfort packs (central locking, electric bubble, tire pressure control, power outlet, alarm, etc.), Touring (ESA electronic suspensions, heated saddle, cruise control, GPS preparation) and Dynamic (Pro driving modes, daytime running lights …) raise the note by 2,670 euros.
To align the BMW on the GoldWing, it is also necessary to check the boxes keyless start (315 euros) and MP3 Bluetooth radio (1095 €!). For good measure and because there is still the budget to match the Gold, it is also possible to select the Shifter Pro (430 €) and the intelligent emergency call (315 €).
Color question, Honda added in 2019 a black to the unique matte silver discovered in 2018 (color of our test model). The BMW color chart is more extensive and complex: a basic "alpine" white can be replaced by four other paints, each with specific finishes..
For this MNC duel, "our" R1250RT adopts the Sport style: colors red "Mars" and black "Dark slate" exclusive, completed with a dark color of the engine-transmission unit, a short screen (standard screen on request at the order and without supplement), gray rims and "gold" calipers. Finally, golden.
In this configuration, the R1250RT finally comes to 25,120 euros, almost the same price as the GoldWing! Unbalanced at first glance, the game therefore tightens strangely as we detail these two Moto GT machines … What are they worth handlebars in hand? Answer on next page !
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