R 1100 RT

2001 BMW R 1100 RT Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

At the heart of the 2001 BMW R 1100 RT touring motorcycle, BMW pairs a 1085 cc (66.2 cu in) air-cooled two cylinder boxer, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 90 HP (65.7 kW) at 7,250 rpm while maximum torque reaches 95 Nm (70.1 lb-ft) at 5,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 82.9 HP per liter and a 1,750 rpm working window between peak torque (5,500 rpm) and peak power (7,250 rpm), the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the R 1100 RT measures 282 kg (622 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.32 HP/kg (3.13 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 780 mm (30.7 in) seat height — offering a neutral standover height that accommodates most average-inseam riders without sacrificing cornering clearance, combined with a 1,485 mm (58.5 in) wheelbase engineered for balanced agility and highway composure. The 25-liter (6.6 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 196 km/h (122 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's BMW archive, this model family spans 6 indexed model years from 1996 to 2001, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.