The BMW R1100RT is a BMW

touring motorcycle A touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle designed for touring. Although almost any motorcycle can be used for this purpose, manufacturers have developed specific models designed to address the particular needs of these riders. Touring motorc ...

with a horizontally-opposed twin-cylinder

boxer engine A flat engine is a piston engine where the cylinders are located on either side of a central crankshaft. Flat engines are also known as horizontally opposed engines, however this is distinct from the less common opposed-piston engine design, ...

. It was built from 1996 to 2001 in the BMW Berlin plant in

Spandau Spandau () is the westernmost of the 12 boroughs () of Berlin, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and extending along the western bank of the Havel. It is the smallest borough by population, but the fourth largest by land ...

, together with several sister models of similar design, including the R1100R, R1100GS and R1100RS, with almost identical engines but different engine tunes, trim levels and chassis details.

General

The R1100RT was released in 1996 as a successor to the

R100RT R1, R.I., R01 or R-1 may refer to: Military equipment * R-1 tank, a Romanian tank from World War II * R-1 (missile), a post World War II Russian rocket * AEG R.I, a 1918 German super-heavy bomber design * DFW R.I, a 1916 German prototype bomber ...

. In addition to extensive changes to the full fairing, the engine power was increased significantly from 44 to 66 kW (60 to 90 hp), and the capacity increased from 971 cc to 1085 cc. It has a bore of 99 mm, a stroke of 70.5 mm, and a

compression ratio The compression ratio is the ratio between the volume of the cylinder and combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine at their maximum and minimum values. A fundamental specification for such engines, it is measured two ways: the stati ...

of 10.7:1. Top speed is 211 km/h, and the time to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h is 3.9 seconds. The bike comes standard with an

anti-lock braking system An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a safety anti-skid braking system used on aircraft and on land vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. ABS operates by preventing the wheels from locking up during braking, thereby maintaini ...

and a regulated three-way

catalytic converter A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction. Catalytic converters are usually ...

. The chassis is constructed in three parts and consists of front and rear frame and a co-supporting ligands motor-gear unit. The suspension was formed on the front by a

Telelever BMW's motorcycle history began in 1921 when the company commenced manufacturing engines for other companies. BMW's own motorcycles—sold under the BMW Motorrad brand—began in 1923 with the BMW R 32, which was powered by a flat-twin engine (a ...

and the rear via a

Paralever BMW's motorcycle history began in 1921 when the company commenced manufacturing engines for other companies. BMW's own motorcycles—sold under the BMW Motorrad brand—began in 1923 with the BMW R 32, which was powered by a flat-twin engine (a ...

swingarm. The fuel tank holds 25.2 litres (6.6 gallons), 6 litres (1.5 gallons) reserve. The average

fuel consumption A fuel is any material that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases energy as thermal energy or to be used for work. The concept was originally applied solely to those materials capable of releasing chemical energy but ...

is 3.9 litres per 100 km (~60mpg) at a speed of 86 km/h (~55mph) or 4.7 litres (50mpg) at 120 km/h (75mph). The manufacturer recommends the use of

petrol Gasoline (; ) or petrol (; ) (see ) is a transparent, petroleum-derived flammable liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in most spark-ignited internal combustion engines (also known as petrol engines). It consists mostly of organic co ...

with a knock resistance of at least 95 RON / 91

octane Octane is a hydrocarbon and an alkane with the chemical formula , and the condensed structural formula . Octane has many structural isomers that differ by the amount and location of branching in the carbon chain. One of these isomers, 2,2,4-Tri ...

. The front

tyres A tire (American English) or tyre (British English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a Rim (wheel), wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide Traction (engineering), t ...

have the dimensions 120/70 ZR 17 and rear 160/60 ZR 18. The bike weighs 285 kg (628lbs) in running order and has a maximum additional

payload Payload is the object or the entity which is being carried by an aircraft or launch vehicle. Sometimes payload also refers to the carrying capacity of an aircraft or launch vehicle, usually measured in terms of weight. Depending on the nature of ...

of 205 kg (452 lb). In 2001, the R1100RT was superseded by the R1150RT. Touring motorcycles with comparable equipment and motor characteristics are the Honda Pan-European, the

Honda Gold Wing The Honda Gold Wing is a series of touring motorcycles manufactured by Honda. Gold Wings feature shaft drive and a flat engine. Mooted by press in September 1974 as "The world's biggest motor cycle manufacturer's first attack on the over-750cc ...

and the Triumph Trophy 1200.

References

* {{BMW motorcycles

R1100RT R11, R-11, Meaning R11 - Rhyll Anthony, R11.ID Automobiles * BMW R 11, a German motorcycle * R-11 Refueler a military truck of the United States Air Force * Renault 11, a French family car Vessels * , a submarine of the Royal Navy * , a des ...

Motorcycles powered by flat engines Shaft drive motorcycles Motorcycles introduced in 1996 Sport touring motorcycles Touring motorcycles