| MODEL | BMW R 850RT 1996 - 1999 |
| Year | 1996 - 1999 |
| Engine Type | Four stroke, two-cylinder, horizontally-opposed Boxer, 4 valves per cylinder |
| Displacement / Capacity | 848 cc / 51.7 cu in |
| Bore X Stroke | 87.5 x 70.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.3:1 |
| Cooling System | Air/oil-cooled |
| Max Power | 52 kW / 70 hp @ 7000 rpm |
| Max Torque | 77 Nm / 7.85 kgf-m / 56.8 ft-lb @ 5500 rpm |
| Ignition | Electronic, Bosch Motronic MA 2.4 |
| Induction | Electronic fuel injection, Bosch Motronic |
| Start System | Electric |
| TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
| Lubrication | Wet sump |
| Gear Box | 5 Speed |
| Clutch | Single-plate dry clutch, hydraulically operated |
| Final Drive | Shaft |
| CHASSIS SPECS | |
| Frame | Three-section composite frame (front and rear sections), engine as load-bearing member |
| Front Suspension | BMW Telelever, 35 mm stanchion, central strut, adjustable rebound damping, 120 mm / 4.7 in travel |
| Rear Suspension | Die-cast aluminium single-sided swingarm with BMW Paralever, central strut, hydraulic preload adjuster, adjustable rebound damping, 135 mm / 5.3 in travel |
| Front Brakes | 2 x 305 mm discs, 4-piston calipers |
| Rear Brakes | Single 276 mm disc, 2-piston caliper |
| DIMENSION SPECS | |
| Overall Length | 2230 mm / 87.8 in |
| Overall Width | 898 mm / 35.4 in |
| Overall Height | — |
| Seat Height | — |
| Wheelbase | 1485 mm / 58.5 in |
| Ground Clearance | — |
| Dry Weight | — |
| Wet Weight | 282 kg / 621 lbs |
| WHEEL SPECS | |
| Front Tyre | 120/70 ZR17 |
| Rear Tyre | 160/60 ZR18 |
| FUEL SYSTEM | |
| Fuel Capacity | 25 Litres / 6.6 US gal |
| Fuel Consumption | 6.3 L/100 km / 15.9 km/l / 37.4 US mpg |
| Top Speed | 186.2 km/h / 115.7 mph |
The R 850 RT put the smaller 848 cc four-valve boxer into the full-fairing R 1100 RT touring package, with the large adjustable screen and integrated luggage. It was aimed largely at police and fleet buyers and at riders who wanted the RT comfort with lower running costs, and it lost some of the 1100s urge in exchange.
