1996 BMW R 1100 RT

1996 BMW R 1100 RT sat at the top of BMW's touring range, the flagship for riders who wanted serious distance covered in comfort rather than outright sport performance. This is a bike built around the Telelever front end and a big, torquey boxer twin that pulls smoothly from low RPM, making it feel unhurried even when you're covering long autobahn miles or twisty alpine roads with luggage loaded. The fairing and windscreen do real work at speed, and the riding position favors upright comfort over aggression, which is exactly what buyers wanted from a bike in this class. The 1996 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year — buyers comparing it to a 1995 example should focus on mileage, service history, and condition rather than spec differences. Owners tend to be experienced riders, often stepping down from larger adventure-touring machines or up from smaller BMWs, who want a proven shaft-drive tourer for real mileage rather than garage display. Collector interest remains moderate, driven mostly by riders who actually use these bikes rather than speculators.