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 2: Engines flat but raised
By riding the bikes one after the other, Site has the confirmation that the approaches of the two manufacturers are quite distinct: the rider climbs in the R1250RT, while he goes down on the GoldWing! We are more one with the BMW because the thighs fit around – and under! – the thin tank and the arms are very slightly bent. We could imagine ourselves at the controls of a huge streamlined roadster !
Unsurprisingly, the Honda rather gives the impression of settling aboard a custom: the seat height – not adjustable – is low (745 mm), the footrests are almost like running boards, the arms are stretched towards the handlebars and the lumbars are naturally wedged against the large padding of the passenger seat. The hands are also more apart on the Honda (59 Vs 52 cm between each gloves according to MNC measurements).
The high-legged should not hesitate to take advantage of the adjustment offered by the seat of the BMW: by raising the seat from 805 to 825 mm (the operation takes less than a minute), the knees gain in opening and the pilot in comfort. Bikers over 1.75 m then continue to put both feet on the ground simultaneously.
Another advantage for pilots with long and beautiful legs: the black plastic cover located behind the cylinders not only acts as an insulation in summer, but also as a bumper all year round! On the RT – unlike the GS – flat-twin novices do not risk damaging their tibia by moving their leg a little too far. The left especially…
Because to get the side stand which is completely hidden under the left cylinder, you have to "throw" your foot forward. We note in passing that the side indicator present on the GoldWing would be much more useful on the R1250RT. BMW should steal the idea from Honda … After all for their new road, the Japanese were inspired by the front trains used by the Germans !
After a first studious day spent collecting the motorcycles, detailing them, photographing them and comparing them, Site was getting ready to ride for a long time with them the following days. Alas, an ugly trace of diesel decided otherwise…
Perfectly aware that roundabouts are false friends for bikers (they make them run … in a mess), it is very wisely that MNC approaches the one at exit n ° 20 of the A4, direction Château- Thierry. Perhaps more focused on the motorcycle than on the road, the Journal moto du Net does not see the dark line that crisscrosses the tarmac … Patatras !
- MNC Live :
Despite a perfectly reasonable angle grip, "our" GoldWing turns suddenly at maximum tilt! Even Marc Marquez could not have rectified the situation … The Honda slips a few meters and finds itself lying on its left side in the middle of this damn roundabout. Fortunately, she did not encounter any obstacle and will be able to set off again.
First observation: you should never relax your attention when driving a motorcycle. Everyone knows this, of course, and yet a few – who consider themselves experienced and cautious, such as Site – still fall for the trap..
Second observation: the new GL1800 is super easy to pick up! It sits relatively high on the side and offers excellent grip under the saddle. In addition, the effort of the unfortunate and ashamed rider is limited by the extremely low position of the center of gravity of the motorcycle..
Third observation and not the least: the consequences of such a slip are minimal! Inspected by the workshop foreman at Honda France, the GoldWing is off for a pad and footrest replacement, that’s all! Not sure that the RT – which was following the GW on the roundabout – would have gotten away so easily…
Honda bows to BMW…
Fortunately, our duel is not over. On the one hand, because MNC already knows the GoldWing well, having it at the start of the year, and then having it. On the other, because "our" brand new R1250RT is intact. In addition, the rework tests were carried out the day before.
The Tokyo Reds are right: although completely revised, the engine of the GoldWing "still produces a unique sound and sensations". Very low in revs, the smoothness and tone of the six-cylinder are unmatched in the market and in themselves are a great reason to buy. However, MNC is not completely won over.
Although easy to dose, the clutch control is a little too harsh to deal with daily traffic jams. Fortunately, on the road, we do without the left lever to up or down gears, as the Honda’s 6-speed gearbox is so gentle. That of the BMW is rougher and its shifter ("up and down") is sometimes reluctant.
The Honda unit disappoints on the other hand by its perfectible linkage of throttle and rear wheel: the injection is a sudden suspicion, the cardan transmission a bit dry. So much so that the combination of the two makes very low-speed maneuvers, crossroads or cornering positions a bit chaotic. In short, many areas in which the old Gold excelled, to the delight of its owners and motorcycle taxis customers. !
On the BMW, the soft clutch, the finely calibrated accelerator and injection as well as the transparent transmission greatly facilitate the management of the motorcycle, yet more imposing than the Honda. The more upright driving position also improves the pilot’s ease. Not to mention its weight advantage, necessarily an ally during maneuvers.
The proof ? MNC makes a series of U-turns for the photo shoot more easily and quickly with the Bavarian. In town more generally, the pilot of the RT overlooks the traffic more than on the GW. He can anticipate the movements of other users a little better and predict his own overruns.
In a straight line, Site notes that the flat-twin is as elastic as the flat-six. But the German elastic band is much more "stretched" than the Japanese! To compare these two "Moto GT" machines, the Journal moto du Net has previously selected the sportiest modes of the two engines..
Leaving villages crossed quietly on the last report, the "light" BMW and its 1250 cc twin liter literally leave the "heavy" GoldWing and its 1.8 liter six-cylinder in place! Note that these tests were carried out solo and empty suitcases … and that the Honda takes about 47 km / h at 1000 laps in "overdrive", against 31 km / h for the BMW in sixth.
Even when selecting 5th gear, the Honda does not accelerate as hard as the BMW in 6th (!) Between 50 and 80 km / h. To get ahead of the RT (still in 6th), the GW must drop the fourth gear: the GoldWing then – finally – takes the lead, but is caught up and overtaken a few moments later….
The new BMW "Shift Cam" engine impresses: full everywhere, it has a better extension than the new "Unicam" from Honda … Munich engineers do not lie: "the high torque curve, the elasticity and irresistible power with fewer gear changes are quickly becoming indispensable ". The duel is not over for all that: there are still many points to study and distribute on the next page !
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