The Touring Bike For People Who Hate Stopping For Fuel
There’s a moment on every long ride when everything clicks. The road finally opens up, the corners start flowing, the engine settles into its sweet spot; just then, a little amber fuel light flicks on. Your rhythm is gone, and you’re doing mental math and hunting for the next fuel station instead of enjoying the ride. It’s a small thing, but on a long tour, it’s the biggest buzzkill going. Thankfully, there’s a tourer that takes a fair swing at fixing it, one built to cover a serious distance without making you wait at every fuel stop and without skimping on comfort or tech.
Why A Big Tank And Efficient Engine Matter On A Touring Bike
Touring bikes sell on comfort, tech, and power. A plush seat, a TFT display, adaptive cruise and a big engine all look brilliant on a spec sheet, and they matter on a long tour. But none of them answers the question that actually decides the ride: how far can this thing go before it needs a fill-up? That comes down to two things: a big tank and an efficient engine. The tank gives you more fuel to burn, while the engine decides how far every gallon stretches.
You need both. Lose either one and touring gets compromised. A huge tank on a thirsty engine still means a fuel stop every couple of hours, while a frugal engine on a small tank runs dry before the day is over. It sounds simple enough. It isn’t, and the numbers show why.
Harley-Davidson’s Road Glide carries six gallons and is rated at 44 mpg, which works out to about 264 miles, roughly 36 short. Honda’s Gold Wing runs 5.5 gallons and Indian’s Pursuit holds six gallons, though neither brand lists a claimed mpg on its US site. But there’s one rare road-focused tourer that clears the 300-mile mark on a similar-size tank.
The BMW R 1300 RT Attacks The Range Problem From Both Ends
That bike is the BMW R 1300 RT. Here, the Bavarian brand delivers a masterclass in balance. Instead of just slapping a massive, top-heavy gas tank onto a heavyweight cruiser frame and calling it a day, BMW tackled the range equation from both ends. They took their legendary sport-touring platform, seamlessly tucked a sizable 6.3-gallon tank into the fairing, and paired it with a boxer engine that outright refuses to guzzle gas.
The result is a motorcycle that doesn’t just promise long-haul capability on a spec sheet. It delivers it on the asphalt, letting you comfortably ride past the pump while the rest of the pack is pulling off the highway.
At $22,745, The Price Is On The Premium Side
BMW Motorrad USA sets the R 1300 RT’s base MSRP at $22,745, though checking the boxes for Bavaria’s notorious tech packages can easily push that figure north of $31,600. While that undeniably plants its flag in the premium bracket, a hard look at the heavyweight touring landscape reveals a remarkably competitive ask.
You aren’t just paying for extra fuel capacity; you are unlocking a sophisticated suite of German engineering designed to make a 500-mile stint feel like a trip around the block. Stacked against the $40,000-plus price tags dangling from top-tier American baggers, the RT suddenly stops looking like an extravagance and starts looking like the smartest mile-munching weapon on the market.
The 1300cc Boxer Engine Makes The Difference
At the heart of the R 1300 RT sits BMW’s overhauled 1,300cc boxer-twin, pushing out 145 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed gearbox and low-maintenance shaft drive. These numbers might look modest, but what makes the magic is the character of this engine.
The flat-twin layout helps this bike deliver power in a relaxed way rather than with sharp aggression. Instead of demanding high revs and frantic downshifts, the boxer serves up a meaty, broad torque curve right off the bottom, making passing feel easy without making the rider feel rushed. BMW frames the updated boxer as a major part of the bike’s improved rideability and increased efficiency, which is what a touring rider wants to hear.
The RT Goes 300-Plus Miles Before The Fuel Light Comes On
BMW R 1300 RT’s rideability is one thing, but what truly defines the RT is its relentless efficiency—and how BMW actually achieved it. The boxer twin features variable valve timing on the intake valves, balancing low-end torque and usable horsepower with serious fuel economy.
That efficiency transforms the spec sheet into a real-world range. With an official claimed consumption of 48 mpg and a 6.3-gallon fuel tank, the RT delivers a calculable range of roughly 303 miles. You can load down the chassis with the kitchen sink in the form of optional luxury packages, but you are still left with one of the most efficient long-haul drivelines on the market.
To keep rider fatigue in check over multi-hour stints, BMW brought its Automated Shift Assistant (ASA) to the options sheet. The system completely automates both clutch engagement and gear selection, meaning you never have to reach for a left lever again.
The Suspension Setup That Makes 620 Pounds Feel Like 500
To manage its 620-pound wet weight with sport-touring precision, BMW anchored the R 1300 RT around a two-part frame that utilizes the boxer engine as a fully stressed member. Suspension duties are handled by the EVO Telelever front fork and EVO Paralever rear shock. This is paired with Dynamic ESA, which actively adjusts the damping and even the riding attitude depending on conditions, delivering stability without sacrificing comfort.
Braking is handled by 310 mm twin disc brakes at the front with four-piston calipers and a 285mm disc with two-piston calipers at the rear, all supported by BMW’s Integral ABS Pro. The bike runs on 17-inch front and rear wheels.
Radar Cruise, Collision Warning, And Lane Alerts Put It Among The Most Tech-Equipped Tourer In Its Class
It’s a premium flagship from the Bavarian bike maker, so the tech list is exactly what you’d expect. A 10.25-inch TFT display sits at the center of the cockpit, with map navigation and a Connectivity Hub for controlling accessories. Dynamic Cruise Control with a braking function is standard, along with riding modes, traction control, and cornering ABS. Keyless Ride, heated grips, and Dynamic ESA make the daily routine easier.
Then there’s the options sheet, where BMW really flexes. The Riding Assistant brings radar-based Active Cruise Control, Front Collision Warning, and Lane Change Warning, and the Dynamic Suspension Adjustment (DSA) adapts the suspension to the load. The technology is meant to calm a long day, not clutter it, which is exactly what a touring rider wants. Just keep in mind that most of the best kit sits on the options list.
Both the Street Glide and Gold Wing represent the pinnacle of touring, yet when it comes to range, price, and packaging, both fall short. That’s what makes the RT a smart pick: it out-ranges the American flagships and the Gold Wing, undercuts most of them on price, and brings the electronics and shaft-drive convenience that make long days easier, all without needing an oversized tank.
Source: BMW Motorrad
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