Loved your analysis. I happily toured on my K1600 GTL, but my wife told me the passenger seat perched her too high and she felt unsafe, and wanted me to switch to a Goldwing. I test rode a 1250 RT and it was great, except I found it too uncomfortable to scrunch my 6-5 self on it, especially my knees. After a while I found a used 21 DCT Tour and we both thought it was great, and I would keep my GTL for solo trips. I later sold my GTL because the GW turned out to be a fantastic bike and overall a slightly better motorcycle.

You do know the BMW R 1250 RT is a common cop bike? Thats why no one waving at you. 😀

For your information, your seats are down. Just thought you should know. - 530e

I’m 53 you have to learn how to ride a sport bike. If your wrest hurt. That because you are holding your self up with your arms. If you are riding it right. Your wrest shouldn’t hurt. Now your lower back knees hips. That a total different story.

Have a 530e Touring as well on a 24 plate. Best car I've ever driven.

I had followed your videos prior to buying my new 2024 R1250RT this past March. The RT has been my aspirational bike since I was able to demo one around 5 years ago. I watched the refreshed model go through some teething issues in lots of KZbin videos by owners such as yourself. Seems to me that the exhaust valve issues are a casualty of UK winter roads. I live in South Dakota in the US, so my bike gets put away from around November to March. I don't ride as soon as the salt is put on the roads, so I suspect I may not experience that issue. I've done 5,300 miles this first season and so far I have loved it. I would definitely choose the Goldwing if I wanted to own a cruiser, though. I'm a bit fat, and the GW cockpit felt more cramped than I thought it would. Not a dealbreaker, but I do have much more space on the RT. I want to ride more aggressively than cruisers are capable of at this time, so the RT is the best option for my use case. The only recurring RT issue that has been annoying is when the ACC error pops up and you cannot use electronic cruise control until you turn off ACC. It's been in twice for that and the dealer cannot seem to figure it out. However, it seems like this is a very widespread issue that BMW doesn't actually have a fix for at this time. I will patiently wait for a firmware fix or an updated part number to have replaced under warranty. This issue comes and goes, with seemingly no rhyme or reason. I used my old Pixel 5 to try out the ConnectedRide app because I wasn't too keen on using my primary phone for this as it really hamstrings your phone while this app is running. Absolutely AWFUL solution for nav/connectivity to the bike. I work in IT, application support specifically, and BMW has no business doing this. They ought to license Apple Carplay and Android auto. Now I'm doing what I've done with all of my bikes, which is to mount my phone using my QuadLock setup. Much better. Thanks for documenting your experience with your BMW. I hope they are watching, because your experience was not acceptable. Coming from a place of customer service, I feel they let you down, sir.

Is this REALLY even a question? 1 is a corvette 1 is a Cadillac

Which i4 is it? Edrive40 or Edrive35? It's pointless doing a video on a cars range and not stated which model?

Great analysis!

I have bmw 530e 2018. Worst car in my life. Never ever bmw anymore. Real fuel consumption when battery is flat 19mpg. 19!!!! Not 50. Not 60. 19 mpg. Just on engine. Full battery last 15 miles. That is real. Don't tell people fairytales about economy.

Thanks for the video , helpful. How do you find the suspension? I’m looking at the m sport which has 19 inch alloys and not sure whether it’s going to be too firm a ride. Do these cars have an upgrade suspension available? Have you got 18s there? Cheers

OUTRAGOUS- imagine this happening at high speed - I would not trust it unless I had done the repair myself , and that is in many cases is impossible as BMW in many ways stop you with all the technology that is on the bike . SELL , SELL SELL .... while it works

Has the battery range reduced since you got it due to the cold weather or is the battery starting to deteriorate? Would be surprised if they are deteriorating that quickly.

If only the USA could get the 530e in a wagon form. “Shut up and take my money.”

Just test ridden a 2019 which was fine until I stopped for a break. Went to start it and pull away but found the brakes were locked on. Turned it off and restarted it and it was fine but your experiences have got me wondering if it will happen again. Seems to be a brake servo fault no one talks about on these. Not experienced it with my GSA nor my 1200RS, which has been totally dependable and without issues. You've got me thinking now. If it did it once, would it do it again and leave me potentially stranded? Be interested in this brake issue on 2019 to 2021 models which seem to be affected. 2022 onwards bikes from what I've experienced as a blood biker, have very few issues except for ocassional glitches with the TFT not working properly and with frequent failures of the exhaust flapper valve. That is easily sortable though with an eliminator device. It's the brake issues that concern me.

You can buy an eliminator which connects to the canbus cable connection to the servo then disconnect the cables. No warning codes and flapper valve remains open. No need for new headers👍

Excellent description. What differences do you find for RT? I have an RT and am considering the same exchange.

My colleague has the 530e M Sport, it’s an 68 plate, now done 130k miles and he says it drives the same as when he first got it. Loves it.

This is the base model, only does about 200 miles which no one wants. Good on you for trying to live with it, I watched your other videos, sounded like some fun road trips 😊. You’ve been there, you’ve owned one, so have a valid opinion. It was your story. I’ve ordered an i4, the mid spec one (40] so happy to see if I can get it to be around the 280 mile range.

Speak up

After 11 Harleys, buying my first 2024 Goldwing Non Tour DCT next week.

Excuse my ignorance…. But the model you have, can you fix up/attach the rear top case and seat. Or you have to opt for the touring model

What year is this. Looking for a 530e 2020. Thanks. Looks quality

how is it now in 2024

I went the exact opposite way you did. 2018 Wing to a 2021 RT. Very happy with the switch.

I want one😍😍😍

just get it all powder coated.. they will take it then

You’re lucky. I have the same One and I faced the same problem driving at 100 km/h. I made a terrible accident ……

Blimey, I thought the bmw was supposed to be easier to clean than the Wing.Those spokes make cleaning very awkward! As you told me,you must have a very easy life to put up with all that faffing about .😂😂Richard Cottingham

Would a table lift be even better and easier to use?

Don't believe your mpg. Your car shows nearly full but only 290 mile range. That works out about 30 mpg😮😮

Tried the Goldwing. Scraped the pegs on a couple occasions without riding aggressively. I thought the bags were too small, and the fuel tank is a bit small also. I think if all I did was interstate, the GW would be a decent choice, though I think I would prefer a K1600. The RT checks a lot more boxes, and can dance like a sport bike in the twisty's.

Great review. I have a 2018 Gold Wing, about 15,000 miles per year. I get over 50mpg on every trip, mostly riding 2-up fully loaded and I don't ride slow. Just returned from 7,200 mile trip and got 51.8 mpg. You were a little critical of Gold Wing performance due to weight, reasonable for sure, suggest you put it in Sport mode. It becomes a very quick and responsive bike if you want that feel. For me the RT is just too top heavy. (I sold my K1600 after one trip as it is insanely top heavy). The CG is much higher on the RT than the Gold Wing, especially 2-up and/or loaded. My friend with his RT is on tip-toes at a stop light. Like everything with motorcycles, it's personal choice and as long as we all love our bikes...perfect. Thanks Again.

I got neck ache now🤣🤣

Thank you. I respect your judgement. Goldwing it is.

You're comparing tourers, but not with the right bikes. An important part of a motorcycle is Motor, in terms of performance, character and behavior.. With this in mind, you can.. but you shouldn't compare the GW with any other bike on the market, because it as not direct competition. Just motor. There's no other 6 cil. boxer engine. In refinement, you'd struggle to find other motorcycle as good as the last generation GW.

Good grief. Was this the best you can do? Pathetic.

Drunk!

You fallen over 😂

Thanks for your nice genuine real life i4 battery range

For that price range Motorcycle the centre stand should be included. WTF is with the nickel and dime-ing Honda ??

Wow what a noob. Sounds like you do short journeys and use the heating a lot! .

The design of it can't cope with the hostility of the environment it has to work in. I've copper-slipped mine three times, which works for a few months. I've now bought a cheat device for the sensor and will remove the actuator - Ikg weight saving apparently.

I’m 77 years old now. I sold my Ducati 900 Supersport about 8 years ago. Broke my heart to do that. The only consolation is that it went to a good home.

let go of the 2018 Sport Glide for a 2022 1250 RT. No comparison, the HD is just crude, rude, heavy, and ancient technology. The BMW just carves up turn here in the Western USA with all the mountain and canyon roads to ride out west. Superior riding experience with the RT and top box.

Gorgeous bike. Personally I think it looks so much better than the Tour version.

Part of keeping a bike is the ritual of cleaning! Quite theraputic ! Have a Goldwing myself ! Never seen a problem but one golden rule is do not use a high presure jet washer with foaming agent. Few years ago had a GS with gold wheels

The Wing has a range of 275 miles and you can fit a 55 litre top box to the bagger for three hundred pounds.The wing is also easier to clean !! Richard Cottingham.

The gold wing is the most superior machine ever made by Honda, I own a 1986 Honda gold wing interstate GL1200. I bought it with original 28,000 miles. I absolutely love it, it is the best motorcycle I have ever owned. I used to own a Honda VTX 1800, another amazing machine. However,the gold wing is way smoother, in fact it is the smoothest machine I have ever owned, you could literally travel the world and have no issues at all, as long as you are ontop of your basic maintenance, you could see 400,000 miles easily on a gold wing before it needs a rebuild, then after you rebuild the entire engine, its good for another 400,000 miles. That is how good the mathematics and engineering that went into the gold wing.

Only issue i do have with my 2019 wing is im not 100% happy with the paint or clearcoat thickness as it feels soft, but my paint has held up and still looks new(thank you honda polish) My wheels still look new ,seems like your powder coating and rust might be due to heavey exposure to salt air and water but thats just a guess. Im 100% still happy with my bike, also there is a guy who hasca goldwing he calls war horse that he has over 100k miles and does not have these issue as well like you stated..well good luch with your next bike.