Sportier handling

It’s wide enough to make you think twice about breathe-in filtering, so spacious you’ll have perpetually happy pillions and full of fuel it weighs a hefty 279kg, but the R1250RT somehow has the agility of a sportsbike. It’s always been this way, which is why the RT is as capable on the mountain roads of Europe as it is trudging along the motorways to get there. Our test bike comes with optional electronic suspension with constantly adjusting damping and rear self-levelling preload. It delivers a smooth ride but the ride quality isn’t the last word in plushness, like a multi-cylinder tourer or BM’s own K1600.