The Touring Bike That’s A Budget Alternative To A BMW R 1300 RT
Sport-touring bikes occupy a sweet spot in motorcycling — capable enough for a spirited canyon run, comfortable enough to eat up interstate miles day after day. The BMW R 1300 RT sits near the top of that category, and for good reason: its distinctive boxer engine, telelever and paralever suspension, and shaft final drive make for a genuinely special package. But that pedigree comes at a price. With a base MSRP pushing well past $20,000 — and the sky as the limit once you start ticking option boxes — the RT is out of reach for a lot of riders. The good news? You can get surprisingly close to that experience without the sticker shock. Here’s how.
The Right Ingredients For Sport-Touring Fun
There are a few key ingredients for a capable sport-touring bike, and the R 1300 RT checks many of these boxes. First, you need sporty underpinnings without going overboard — think sports bike-sized wheels and dual front disc brakes. The ergonomics follow the same brief, since the sport-tourer needs to walk the fine line between having clip-ons and still being upright enough to handle long highway stints comfortably.
Then there’s the engine. It needs enough grunt to let you sit at 80 mph without breaking a sweat, while still delivering the punch required for high-speed passes. Finally, luggage and features play a key role. There should be at least a pair of hard, waterproof saddlebags as standard, alongside modern essentials like a TFT display with phone connectivity and a solid suite of electronic rider aids.
The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ Is The Budget R 1300 RT Alternative
If you want everything the R 1300 RT offers but at a friendlier price point, the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ is the answer. It comes in thousands of dollars less than the BMW’s base MSRP — a gap wide enough to cover a full season of fuel, gear, and accessories. Shopping a prior model year can stretch those savings even further.
What’s the catch, you ask? Well, there isn’t really one. The GT+ matches the RT’s equipment to a meaningful extent, and whatever’s missing can be addressed with the money you save. In fact, it actually justifies the “sport” touring moniker better than the RT. That’s because the GSX-S has genuine liter-class sportbike pedigree underneath, while the BMW is essentially based on the R 1300 GS adventure bike.
The Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX Comes Close, Too
Built with a similar recipe is the Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX. It can serve as a great affordable alternative to the R 1300 RT, thanks to its punchy engine, sporty aesthetics, and likable features. It undercuts the GT+ on price as well. There is a catch, though. You don’t get any luggage as standard, and peak power trails the RT’s by a notable margin. So by the time you add saddlebags and address the performance gap, you’re already spending closer to Suzuki money.
A Gixxer-Derived Four-Pot Engine Serves Duty On The GSX-S1000GT+
The R 1300 RT spoils you with its 1,300cc boxer engine, first seen on the latest GS. That unique layout uses variable valve timing to produce 145 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque, with the power concentrated in the lower reaches of the rev range. As impressive as that is, the Suzuki actually has more peak power on offer. You get a GSX-R1000R-based inline-four engine with a retuned delivery for stronger low-RPM punch. The result is 150 horsepower and 78 pound-feet of torque, with around 70 pound-feet of that available from as low as 5,000 RPM.
Fuel Efficiency Is Around 40 Miles Per Gallon
Thanks to that tractability, Suzuki claims a fuel consumption figure of 6.14 liters per 100 kilometers — roughly 39 miles per US gallon — which is respectable for a liter-class engine. You’ll want to keep a light wrist and work the six-speed gearbox smoothly to achieve those numbers. Push harder, and the GT+ will reward you with a top speed just north of 155 mph.
The Aluminum Chassis Comes From A Superbike, Too
The superbike-derived engine sits inside a superbike-derived chassis. It’s a twin-spar aluminum frame paired with a trellis subframe, and Suzuki also claims the aluminum swingarm is carried over directly from the GSX-R1000. Suspension duties are handled by 43 mm inverted forks and a monoshock, both sourced from KYB. Each end offers rebound, compression, and preload adjustment so you can dial in the ride for long-haul comfort.
Brembo Brakes Bring The Stopping Power
Braking hardware is equally serious: twin 310 mm floating disc brakes up front are gripped by Brembo monobloc calipers, while a 240 mm rear disc uses a Nissin caliper. All three rotors are housed within 17-inch TRP six-spoke cast-aluminum wheels, wrapped in road-biased Dunlop RoadSport tires.
Weighs Way Less Than The R 1300 RT
All that aluminum pays dividends on the scale. The GSX-S1000GT+ tips in at 498 pounds fully fueled (without saddlebags) — a substantial 122 pounds lighter than the R 1300 RT. A lower seat height and tighter wheelbase make it easier to manage in traffic and at low speeds, too. The BMW does hold an edge with a larger fuel tank, however. Key dimensions for both bikes are laid out in the table below.
|
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ |
BMW R 1300 RT |
|
|
Wheelbase |
57.5 inches |
59 inches |
|
Seat height |
31.9 inches |
32.3 inches |
|
Weight |
498 pounds |
620 pounds |
|
Tank capacity |
5 gallons |
6.3 gallons |
The GSX-S1000GT+ Doesn’t Go Overboard With Features
The R 1300 RT has a lot of modern-day features, and the GSX-S1000GT+ sits a step below it in this regard. But the Suzuki gets the touring essentials right. You get a large TFT instrument cluster with two brightness modes, LED shift lights, and smartphone connectivity. The latter enables turn-by-turn navigation and phone controls, and lets you monitor bike telemetry through the MySPIN app.
The display also provides access to the rider aids. There are five traction control settings, three ride modes, a two-way quickshifter, and cruise control. The Suzuki Easy Start System and Low RPM Assist System add further convenience, as does the onboard USB port. The lockable saddlebags offer a combined 36 liters of storage. And if you want to build on the package, Suzuki offers a range of optional accessories, including:
- Touring screen ($299.95)
- Heated grips ($499.95)
- Styled seat ($189.95)
Sources: Suzuki Motorcycles
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