The BMW R1100RT was first released in 1996 as a successor to the R100RT, receiving extensive modifications to the full fairing and engine. The displacement increased from 971 to 1,085cc, and its power increased to 90 hp.
It was a touring motorcycle set in motion by a horizontally opposed twin-cylinder boxer engine and was produced at BMW's Spandau plant in Berlin alongside similar models, like the R1100R, R1100GS, and R1100RS. All versions of the R1100 family were powered by identical engines but with different engine tunes, chassis details, and trim levels.
In 1999, the German motorcycle manufacturer released the BMW R1100RT, a touring machine in its fourth consecutive production year, featuring the same specifications as previous models without significant modifications.
The bike's aesthetic department was complemented by standard fittings, such as three-spoke aluminum wheels, a full fairing, a windscreen, a two-piece dual seat with a passenger grab rail, side-mounted panniers, a top box, and a single-sided swingarm.
In the performance department, the 1999 BMW R1100RT had installed a 1,085cc four-stroke air/oil-cooled two-cylinder boxer engine underneath its fuel tank, boasting an output power of 90 hp at 7,250 rpm and 94 Nm (69 lb-ft) torque at 5,500 rpm.
A five-speed manual transmission with a dry single-plate clutch redirected the power from the engine to the rear end via a final shaft drive, launching the motorcycle to 203 kph (126 mph).