BMW R 1300 RS specifications, dimensions and price
BMW · Sport touring
The BMW R 1300 RS is BMW's 1,300cc boxer sport-touring bike, rated at 145 hp and 110 lb-ft with a top speed of 149 mph. It weighs 540 lb road-ready fully fueled, 13 lb more than the R 1300 R, and has a 31.1 in unladen seat and a 4.5 gal tank. BMW prices it at $17,095 plus $995 destination.
BMW R 1300 RS
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2026 |
| Class | Sport touring |
| Displacement | 1300cc |
| Bore x stroke | 106.5x73 mm |
| Compression ratio | 13.3:1 |
| Fuel system | Electronic intake pipe injection / digital engine management system with throttle-by-wire |
| Transmission | Claw-shifted 6-speed gearbox |
| Final drive | Cardan shaft drive |
| Front suspension | Upside-down telescopic fork |
| Front suspension travel | 5.5 in |
| Rear suspension travel | 5.1 in |
| Front brake | Twin disc brake, diameter 310 mm, 4-piston radial brake caliper |
| Rear brake | Single disc brake, diameter 285 mm, 2-piston floating caliper |
| Front tire | 120/70 ZR17 |
| Rear tire | 190/55 ZR17 |
| Seat height | 31.1 in (unladen) |
| Wet weight (road ready, fully fueled) | 540 lb |
| Wheelbase | 59.72 in |
| Trail | 4.82 in (castor) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 gal |
| Rated output | 145 hp |
| Rated output (at rpm) | 7,750 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 110 lb-ft |
| Maximum torque (at rpm) | 6,500 rpm |
| Maximum speed | 149 mph |
| Steering head angle | 62° |
| ABS | BMW Motorrad Full Integral ABS Pro (fully integral braking function, lean angle optimized) |
| Clutch | Multiplate clutch in oil bath, slipper clutch, hydraulically operated |
| Frame | Two-part frame consisting of main frame, bolted rear frame, and load-bearing engine |
| Wheels | Aluminum cast wheels |
| Permitted total weight | 1,014 lb |
| Payload | 474 lb |
| Starting MSRP | $17,095 |
| Destination charge | $995 |
Where owners talk about it
BMW lists the same 5.5 in upside-down fork, EVO Paralever swingarm, twin 310 mm front discs and 285 mm rear disc as the R 1300 R, with 120/70 ZR17 and 190/55 ZR17 tires.
The RS has a 59.72 in wheelbase, 0.22 in longer than the R's 59.5 in, a 31.1 in seat 0.2 in higher than the R's, and a top speed of 149 mph against the R's stated over 120 mph. The tank is 4.5 gal.
RS against the sport-tourers
At $17,095 the RS costs $3,096 more than Kawasaki's Ninja 1100SX at $13,999 and $2,496 more than Suzuki's GSX-S1000GT+ at $14,599, and $4,496 more than Yamaha's Tracer 9 at $12,599. It weighs 540 lb against 518.2 lb, 498 lb and 483 lb. Yamaha's FJR1300ES weighs 642 lb.
The BMW's price and weight are higher, and its engine is the biggest at 1,300cc and 145 hp.
Where the RS sits between the R and the RT
The RS is the middle of BMW's road-going boxer range. It costs $17,095, $400 more than the R and $5,550 less than the RT, and it weighs 540 lb, 13 lb more than the R and 80 lb less than the RT. It has a 31.1 in seat, a 4.5 gal tank against the RT's 6.3 gal, and a top speed of 149 mph.
Its 5.5 in of front travel is the same as the R's and less than the RT's 5.8 in. Choose the RS if you want sport-tourer bodywork without the RT's mass, and the RT if luggage capacity and a large tank matter more than agility.
Equipment and range in numbers
The RS carries 4.5 US gallons against the RT’s 6.3 US gallons. The 1.8-gallon difference is fuel capacity, not a confirmed range difference; compare measured consumption for the actual riding conditions. Check the options included in a price quote before comparing touring equipment.
- Equal peak output does not establish equal acceleration
- The RS also changes bodywork, weight and geometry. Check the options list before comparing prices, because BMW's touring equipment is sold as packages.
R 1300 RS against the Ninja 1100SX and GSX-S1000GT+
Kawasaki's Ninja 1100SX and Suzuki's GSX-S1000GT+ are the closest sport-touring rivals, both cheaper.
BMW R 1300 RS — specification referenceBMW’s April 2025 US launch document lists optional comfort handlebars positioned higher and closer to the rider than the standard bars. Its optional cases hold 26 and 29 liters; an optional topcase adds 39 liters. Check which luggage and handlebar configuration is included in the actual motorcycle’s price.
The R1300 Forums site has sections for problems, issues and things to share with BMW, ride-out meetups and news threads about the R 1300 RS's technology and power. It is the place to check a specific symptom before paying for a diagnosis on a used bike. Forum threads reflect the number of owners and not the failure rate, so read them for symptoms and fixes, not for how often something happens.
The RS shares the R 1300 family's twin 310 mm front discs with four-piston radial calipers, 285 mm rear disc and 120/70 and 190/55 ZR17 tires. At 4.5 gal and a typical 40 to 50 mpg for a 1,300cc twin, the tank gives roughly 180 to 225 miles between fill-ups, which is enough for a day's ride but shorter than the RT's 6.3 gal.
The 145 hp and 110 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm are the same across the family. So the RS is not quicker than the R, only better protected. Check the options list before comparing prices, because BMW's touring equipment is sold as packages.
BMW lists a top speed of 149 mph and 145 hp with 110 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm from the 1,300cc boxer.
BMW lists 540 lb road-ready fully fueled, 13 lb more than the R 1300 R. The seat is 31.1 in unladen and the tank holds 4.5 gal.
Sport-touring bodywork with the boxer engine
The RS is the sport-touring arrangement among the road-going R 1300 models. Its 31.1-inch unladen seat and 59.72-inch wheelbase differ from the R's 30.9 and 59.5 inches. Those small catalog differences cannot capture the reach to the bars or the effect of the fairing. Try the riding position and check which seat is actually fitted.
The 4.5-gallon tank matches the R's listed capacity, whereas the RT lists 6.3 gallons. Decide whether the RS's riding arrangement and wind protection meet the trip requirements before choosing by tank size. A longer touring range needs a consumption assumption and reserve, not merely the largest capacity in the comparison.
At $17,095, the RS base figure is $400 above the R's $16,695. Compare equivalent equipment in the written offers, particularly where packages or suspension options are involved. A photograph of an optioned demonstration bike cannot establish what a base-price offer includes. Check luggage and mounting equipment separately if carrying bags is part of the intended use.
The screen and wrist position belong in the comparison
For an RS fitting, settle into the riding position with both hands resting naturally on the grips. Check whether the wrists are being used to support the torso and whether the levers can be reached without shifting the hands. Then look at the view over and through the fitted screen. A touring intention does not make any particular bar reach comfortable.
If accessory risers are proposed, establish their approved fitment and cable clearance before pricing them as a solution. The correct choice may be a different factory riding arrangement.
Preserve the actual chassis setup in the records
Record the fitted tires, seat and suspension equipment when buying an RS. These details help explain its feel during a later comparison and identify the right replacement parts. If a previous owner changed the setup, obtain the standard parts and adjustment information where available.
A catalog wheelbase or seat measurement describes a factory configuration; it cannot document the state of an individual used motorcycle after modifications. That distinction is useful when assessing an advertisement claiming a more comfortable touring position.
Other models in this reference: BMW R 1300 RT, BMW R 18.