Here it is for those who’s been waiting for it.
The new 2025 RT1300
Chayside
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Cycle Trader lists 209 new 1250RT's available nationwide... but also 497 new 1300GS's ...
Tom
If you're OK with an older bike, the 2018 RT is a ~~ very ~~ nice alternative. 2017/2018, are the best "Wethead" years (i.e. 2014-2018 BMW RT/GS model's are informally called Wetheads, 2005-2009 Hexheads, 2010-2013 Camheads, and 2019-present Shiftcams", fyi). Manual's can still be found for Wetheads on Ebay, or at least, OEM copies, since BMW won't sell them anymore, and hasn't since about 2019-2020. So, manual copies for shiftcam are hard to come by. Find yourself a low mileage 2017/2018 RT (i.e. there was a inter-model transmission upgrade between 2014-2016 and 2017/2018, that makes the later years preferred), try it out for a while, commute the heck out of it, and adjust to something else in a year or so if the Beemer RT's don't do it for you. The BMW GS's ARE quite road/touring capable, by the way. They just have less wind protection, different gearing, and a higher front end rake off the ground because, you know, "dirt happens". 😏 GS owners love them to death, on the street or off-road.
If ya gotta have a 2025 RT, goforit - it's your money and why you work as hard as you do, but I'll bet you'll be in hog heaven on a 2018 RT (well, "hog heaven" without a Harley, anyhow). 😁
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13 Posts
How does the wet clutch work on the RT? My limited exposure to a wet clutch goes way back to a Honda ATC , it had a wet clutch but no actual clutch lever😳 you just shifted.
"Wet Clutch" simple refers to a clutch that is internal and lubricated by engine oil as opposed a clutch that is inbetween the engine and transmission not lubricted at all.
I'd guess that the RT in the video without the clutch lever is an automatic transmission that does not need to disengage the clutch to switch gears or come to a stop. I would hope it is an option and a manual trans is still available.
I'd guess that the RT in the video without the clutch lever is an automatic transmission that does not need to disengage the clutch to switch gears or come to a stop. I would hope it is an option and a manual trans is still available.
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13 Posts
I would hope so as well but something tells me they are going this direction to appease the lowest common denominator 😁 Thanks for clearing that up. I remember some of the ATCs back in the day had wet clutches with no need to do anything but shift. What does BMWs “shift assist” do exactly?
Thanks
Bruce
Berkeley Springs, Wv
Since we're in the R1300 thread, I'm assuming you mean the new ASA coming up. If not, my below statements don't apply.
There's quite a few YouTube videos out on the R1300GS. One guy from Germany with a channel name of "NothingToProve" has a video on ASA. I like his reviews.
Anyway, he has pretty good things to say about ASA. In short, there are two actuators internal to the trans. Your shift lever is nothing but a switch now, no internal connections to the trans. No clutch lever. One actuator is for clutch, other is for shift. The BMW computer does all the clutching and shifting for you. In manual mode, you can click the shifter and it'll shift. Even in auto, you can downshift and the bike will hold that gear until you stop accelerating for about 5 seconds. Then it goes back to auto. Come to a stop, it pulls in the clutch for you. It'll even let you start out in second gear, never stalls.
My take is the first gear shift to second is still a bit harsh. No different than a standard clutch bike. But the rest of the gears feel about the same or better. And very fast shifting.
I was against it when I first heard of it. But now watching probably a dozen YT videos of European reviewers, I'll definitely consider it on my next RT.
I haven't used it or even researched the 2025 R1300 ASA, and you're comments are the most specific that I've seen. However, I have to assume that it'll work much like manual mode shifting on my Fords (2022 F150, 2014 Edge), or "paddle mode" on the Hyundai Sonata we had before that. Yes, you can shift up and down, and yes, that can help some during cornering, more so, for saving brakes on steep grades. However, there's no where NEAR the control in cornering that you have when shifting manually, and using the clutch to "ease" in and out of gear, depending on the momentum of the vehicle. In fact, the biggest problem I have is what I'll call a loss of "state". Absent staring at the tachometer, the engine noise being so muffled, I have no idea at times if the engine is overrevving or lugging while manually shifting. Because of that, the only time I'll use that mode is for manual down shifting on grades, for fear of damaging the automatic transmission.
There's no way to reproduce the control one has with a manual clutch and shift lever, with any type of automatic transmission. Auto trans do some great things, and I love 'em. However, when I really want to get in touch with the road, they are a intolerable liability. You can't do, for example, what you could do with a "four on the floor" in a Corvette, with a Corvette with an automatic transmission. My RT is my "poor man's" Corvette. 😁 When I want to bring it, it's there when I need it.
@pwceng17ine 's Question:
"What does BMWs “shift assist” do exactly?
Shift assist works better upshifting under power, than when downshifting (particularly while going from 2nd to 1st). You basically leave your clutch at home (or put it away for a while on your ride). If you match speed/shift bands correctly, it's buttery smooth. If not, BMW's "Boxer" engine reminds you why they call it that, besides the shape. You'll get a "clunk" and a bit of a jerk. Bottom line, the only time I really use it, is when I'm accelerating while in twisties. It'll downshift fine as well under the same conditions, but again, I like to have more control over where I re-engage the gear while cornering, so I've rarely used it while downshifting.
I definitely have a bias, though, which I've already expressed. Other folks may love the shift-assist under all conditions, up and down through the gears. It's a great compromise, IMHO, and a dang sight better than a clutchless/auto transmission liek ASA (supposedly) is.
Shift assist is an animal totally apart from ASA.
Think Porsche Tiptronic for example, or a BMW M3 or M5, not pickup truck or ordinary sedan. Once you understand how to use it properly, control is quite granular & little different from manual. A lot of dinosaurs won't like it, but so what - it's an option, don't like it, don't buy it.
You can still enjoy manual shifting if that's what you want to do, but with the option to allow the bike to shift for itself, or vice versa.
In my car, I can run up and down the gearbox using paddles using the full rev range as hard as I want, and the actual shift is almost imperceptible; I still have engine braking, can still be aggressive in corners, etc.
For the foreseeable future, I'll bet BMW will sell ASA as an option, gradually switching over so that ASA becomes standard with manual becoming optional.
Computer-made gear changes will be smoother than manual ones, and your passenger will appreciate that. Hill starts will be easier, and no concern about potential stalls. Overall, and disagreeing with Scott's post above - sorry, Scott! - transmission wear and tear will be reduced.
Think Porsche Tiptronic for example, or a BMW M3 or M5, not pickup truck or ordinary sedan. Once you understand how to use it properly, control is quite granular & little different from manual. A lot of dinosaurs won't like it, but so what - it's an option, don't like it, don't buy it.
You can still enjoy manual shifting if that's what you want to do, but with the option to allow the bike to shift for itself, or vice versa.
In my car, I can run up and down the gearbox using paddles using the full rev range as hard as I want, and the actual shift is almost imperceptible; I still have engine braking, can still be aggressive in corners, etc.
For the foreseeable future, I'll bet BMW will sell ASA as an option, gradually switching over so that ASA becomes standard with manual becoming optional.
Computer-made gear changes will be smoother than manual ones, and your passenger will appreciate that. Hill starts will be easier, and no concern about potential stalls. Overall, and disagreeing with Scott's post above - sorry, Scott! - transmission wear and tear will be reduced.
lol, last I heard, "disagreement" and "open discussion" went hand in hand.
Sounds familiar to the Ferrari F360 F1 paddle shifters from back in the early 2000s that I used to drive.
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72 Posts
I feel something is wrong with your bike. I have a 2020, which is the same generation bike, and it cannot be more solid especially at speed. I feel the bike really smooths out at 90+ MPH.
I am eagerly awaiting the 1300 RT. I am only interested because of the ASA. I have owned dozens of bikes over my 54 years. I currently own a Honda NC750x with (auto) DCT. I absolutely love the auto transmission. I will only consider new bikes with an auto.
I'm wondering if it's going to have some "improvements" in suspension, maybe even the auto ride height adjustment.
Considering the GS has the ride height, I don't see why they wouldn't do the same for the RT.
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4 Posts
and better mirrors!!!
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22 Posts
The RT seems to be low enough for a 5'9" rider like me to flat foot. Don't need it to do the camel mount thing.
I agree there must be an issue with that bike. One of the words I would use to describe my 2023RT is rock solid stability even at 200kph which I have achieved on outback highways in Northern Territory. It also maintains incredible stability under heavy braking.
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