BMW R 1250 RT
BMW's flagship sport-tourer — 1254cc boxer twin, 136bhp. The R 1250 RT is the dedicated touring sibling to the R 1250 GS. Telelever front suspension, full luggage standard, heated grips/seats, electronic suspension, cornering ABS, dynamic traction control, cruise control. UK from £20,995. Replaced by R 1300 RT in 2025. Direct rival to Honda Gold Wing and Yamaha FJR1300.
- Engine
- 1254 cc
- Power
- 136 PS
- Weight
- 279 kg
- Seat height
- 805 mm
- A2 licence
- —
Liquid-cooled boxer twin (ShiftCam)
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 61 · Insurance 41 · Theft 100
The BMW R 1250 RT holds its value about as well as most bikes (around 26% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and costs about average to insure (around £680/yr typical). Theft risk is low. The main thing to check on a used one is the final drive (shaft).
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: R 1250 RT
Engine
Petrol · 1254cc
Power
136 ps
Torque
143 Nm
Weight
279 kg
Seat
805 mm
Transmission
6-speed manual
Economy
48 mpg
R 1250 RT — 1254cc boxer twin with ShiftCam variable valve timing, 136bhp, 6-speed. Telelever front, full electronic suspension. Shaft drive. 25L tank. Replaced by R 1300 RT for 2025.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£15,536
Range £13,982 – £17,090
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£21,695
At 5 years
£13,885
At 10 years
£9,980
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Belt or shaft drive eliminates the chain/sprocket consumable; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£2,542
Per year
£847
Per mile
£0.11
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
ABI motorcycle scheme · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£680/ year
Roughly £57 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £1,122 | £1,496 | £2,094 |
| Age 22-29 | £689 | £918 | £1,285 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £510 | £680 | £952 |
| Age 40-49 | £449 | £598 | £838 |
| Age 50+ | £408 | £544 | £762 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
1/4Low risk
Low risk
Not a typical theft target. Basic locking deters opportunists; standard insurance terms apply.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
What this means for you
Tourer demographic, large/heavy bike — lower theft profile. Standard chain + disc lock sufficient.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
1
Medium
0
Low / cosmetic
4
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| high | Final drive (shaft) Service item, expensive when due 40k+ mi | £600+ |
| low | Front brake pads 10-14k mi | £160 |
| low | Battery every 4 years | £180 |
| low | Heated grip element 3-5 years | £160 (warranty) |
| low | Tyre pressure sensor 5+ years | £200 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the BMW R 1250 RT, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Strengths
- +ShiftCam boxer twin — most refined touring engine
- +Full electronic suspension + ABS Pro + DTC
- +25L tank gives 500+ mi range
- +Shaft drive — no chain maintenance
- +Built-in panniers + top box capacity
Watch-outs
- −Service costs very high (£480/year)
- −Heavy (279kg) — feels it at slow speed
- −Replaced by R 1300 RT for 2025 — depreciation accelerated
- −Final drive service expensive