BMW R1200 RT vs Harley Davidson Street Glide

The HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE is one of the oldest Harley Davidson motorcycles in production. First released in 1984, and came with a 1,377cc engine that can offer 50 hp of horsepower. Since then, the recent Street Glide models have gone through several changes. The main changes were made to the design, technology, engine size, and overall performance. In 2007, the significant changes made to the Street Glide included being fitted with a 1,584 cc engine with a six-speed transmission system, standard cruise control as a standard option, and other improvements to performance. The current Street Glide has different variants as well, including the CVO Street Glide, the Street Glide Special, the Street Glide ST, and the Street Glide Standard.

In 2005, BMW Motorrad launched the first R1200 RT as a sport-touring motorcycle. The R1200 RT is the successor to the R1150 RT. Over time, BMW upgraded the R1200 RT, with the last R1200 RT being released in 2018. It was then replaced with the R1250 RT, which had better features, a bigger engine, and improved overall performance. The BMW R1200 series has variants as well, including the R1200 GS (Adventure motorcycle), the R1200 R (Naked motorcycle), and the R1200 ST (Sport Touring). All of these motorcycles have the same engine size but different chassis, designs, and performances.

The HARLEY STREET GLIDE is a classic touring motorcycle with a large, classic-looking front FAIRING with a round headlight and a small windshield. It also comes with pre-equipped CRASH BARS, a passenger seat, floorboards, and HARD SADDLEBAGS. The recent Street Glide model has traditional-looking front and rear fenders, with the overall design and riding style inspired by previous Street Glide models. It has front dual disc brakes and a single rear disc brake. At the front is a 41.3 mm telescopic fork with a wheel travel of 117 mm (4.6 in). Meanwhile, at the rear, it has dual air-adjustable shocks with a wheel travel of 51 mm (2 in).

The BMW R1200 RT is a sporty-looking touring motorcycle with a large front fairing with a large windshield fitted around a large V-shaped headlight. It has pre-installed hard SADDLEBAGS and a carrier to attach a trunk that can be bought separately. The BMW R1200 RT has a single exhaust only. The whole motorcycle has a colored plastic body with parts like the suspensions, exhaust, engine, rims, and HANDLEBARS covered in chrome. It has a 37 mm Tele-lever central spring strut at the front with a wheel travel of 120 mm (4.7 in). Meanwhile, at the rear is a single pre-load hydraulically adjustable mono-shock with a wheel travel of 136 mm (5.4 in). At the front are dual 320 mm disc brakes with a 120/70 ZR17 size tire. At the rear, there is a single 276 mm disc brake with a 180/55 ZR17 size tire.

The Harley Davidson Street Glide is powered by a 107 cubic inches (1,753 cc) Milwaukee-Eight, air-cooled V-Twin engine with a compression ratio of 10:1. This engine is powerful enough to offer a torque of 150.5 Nm @ 3,250 rpm and a horsepower of 93 hp @ 5,020 rpm. Built with a bore size of 100 mm (3.94 in) and a stroke size of 111.25 mm (4.38 in), the six-speed transmission is controlled by a low-maintenance belt drive system. This engine has a fuel economy of 43 MPG (18.2 km/l), uses an electronic sequential port fuel injection system, and has a fuel tank capacity of 6 gal (22.7 L).

The BMW R1200 RT is powered by 71.4 cubic inches (1,170 cc), air/liquid-cooled, the flat-twin engine is also known as a boxer engine with a compression ratio of 12.5:1. This engine is capable enough to offer a torque of 125 Nm @ 6,500 rpm and a horsepower of 125 hp @ 7,750 rpm. Designed with a bore size of 101 mm (3.97 in) and a stroke size of 73 mm (2.87 in). The R1200 RT comes with a shaft drive train system that is also maintenance-free and works well with the six-speed transmission system. With a fuel tank capacity of 6.6 gal (25 L), is equipped with electronic fuel injection and a 52 mm throttle valve, and offers a fuel mileage of 46 MPG (19.5 km/l).

The Harley Davidson Street Glide is considered one of the best American-made touring motorcycles because of its comfort and classical design. The Street Glide is a heavyweight motorcycle with a wet weight of 376 kg. It offers an easy riding position with a seat height of 662.94 mm (26.1 in), a trail size of 170 mm (6.7 in), and a rake angle of 26°. The Street Glide’s large dimensions make it a large, bulky touring motorcycle that is difficult for novice riders to handle. The forward-mounted floorboards keep the rider’s legs relaxed and ensure a comfortable seating position.

The BMW R1200 RT is a touring or sport-touring motorcycle because of its sporty look and touring motorcycle features. The R1200 RT’s wide front reduces air drag and also protects the rider’s head from wind, debris, and rain. It has mid-mounted footrests that allow smooth handling when navigating a motorcycle over rough terrain. The R1200 RT is slightly heavy than most middleweight touring motorcycles with a weight of 276 kg. The R1200 RT has an ideal riding position for taller and heavyweight riders with an adjustable seat height that can range between 31.5 to 32.5 inches, an overall height of 1,416 mm (55.7 in), a trail size of 4.6 inches, and a rake angle of 26.4°.

Yes, a motorcycle with a 1200 cc engine can handle a long highway trip. For example, the BMW R1200 RT has a powerful enough engine capable of producing a decent amount of torque and horsepower to ensure a comfortable ride.

The Street Glide has a bigger engine and is capable of producing more torque, while the R1200 RT has a smaller engine but is capable of producing more horsepower. Therefore, the BMW R1200 RT is faster than the Street Glide. The R1200 RT has a bigger fuel tank and slightly better fuel economy than the Street Glide. The R1200 RT is also more lightweight than the Street Glide. The Street Glide is a classic-looking touring motorcycle, while the R1200 RT is a sport-touring motorcycle with a sporty look and a streamlined shape.

Both are heavyweight motorcycles with large and powerful engines. For a beginner, it is best to get a less expensive, lightweight motorcycle with a smaller engine and easy handling. The BMW R1200 RT and the Harley Davidson Street Glide are expensive and heavyweight. However, between these two, the BMW R1200 RT is a better option for beginners because of its low weight and smaller engine size.

The BMW R1200 RT is not exactly discontinued since a newer R1250 RT model with a better engine, performance, and extra features was introduced in 2019. To be precise, the BMW R1200 RT was replaced with a newer model.

Both the BMW R1200 RT and the Harley Street Glide are good touring motorcycles. Deciding which motorcycle is better depends on the rider’s personal preferences. The BMW R1200 RT is equipped with a more modern design and features, while the Street Glide is a classical touring motorcycle equipped with the required features. Both have pre-equipped saddlebags and a large front fairing with a small windshield. Although they are both touring motorcycles, neither of them has a trunk. However, both are pre-equipped with an infotainment system to make motorcycle rides more fun.