BMW S 1000 R 2018 — Specifications

When BMW decided to strip the S 1000 RR of its fairings to create a roadster, no one really knew what would come out of Munich. What emerged was the BMW S 1000 R, a naked bike that quickly established itself as one of the most formidable references in the segment. The 2018 version takes this reasoning even further, taking advantage of the transition to Euro4 standards to gain power where others have suffered amputations.

The design has not undergone a revolution, and this is a deliberate decision. BMW has adjusted some side panels, reworked the passenger seat, and above all equipped this evolution with a titanium Akrapovic exhaust with carbon fiber accents under the HP label. Bulky and prominent, it significantly alters the lines and above all the sound of the engine, which gains depth. Fundamentally, the silhouette remains recognizable among all others: asymmetrical, taut, with that contained aggression that has characterized the BMW S 1000 R since its inception.

Under this hood of steel and aluminum, the 999 cc inline four-cylinder engine inherited from the RR now delivers 165 horsepower at 11,000 rpm, five more than the previous generation. Torque peaks at 114 Nm at 9,250 rpm, a slight decrease on paper, with no perceptible consequence in the saddle. What strikes you during the BMW S 1000 R test is the engine's real versatility: supple and exploitable in the intermediate revs to manage an urban or quiet national route, it transforms into a punishing machine past 7,000 rpm. The machine weighs 205 kg fully fueled, two kilograms less than before, and this gain counts when talking about an engine capable of flirting with 250 km/h. The announced consumption of 6.7 liters per 100 km and a 17.5-liter tank allow you to consider correct stages without forced stops.

The chassis, a composite bridge aluminum frame with a partially load-bearing engine, also comes from the RR lineage. BMW has reworked the rear section for weight reduction and precision, with a revised aluminum dual-sided swingarm. The 46 mm adjustable inverted fork, combined with the adjustable single shock absorber, forms a solid base. While the DDC option with pilot damping automates all these settings, the standard equipment is already honest. The Brembo braking system with four-piston calipers at the front does the job, but facing a KTM 1290 Super Duke R equipped with Brembo M50 calipers or an Aprilia Tuono V4 RR, BMW shows a delay here that will need to be addressed one day.

On the electronics side, Race ABS and ASC traction control are standard, with Road and Rain riding modes. To access the real arsenal, you have to pay for the Pro pack: Dynamic mode, User configurable mode, ABS Pro active in corners, launch control, DTC and a programmable speed limiter. It's generous but paid for, where some competitors include more as standard. The BMW S 1000 R opinion on forums regularly points out this point. The quick-shift Pro shifter, also an option, allows gear changes without a clutch in both directions. Practical for riders who want to get the most out of these 165 horsepower without losing a millisecond.

For 14,300 euros at launch, the BMW S 1000 R 2018 positions itself as a serious proposition for the experienced rider who wants a machine usable on a daily basis without giving up the intensity of committed weekends. Neither a tourer nor a pure track bike, it targets the driver who accepts the compromise on the condition that the sporting register remains fully accessible. This is the case. The right hand has the last word, and it doesn't need to be reminded of what the machine is capable of. It is both its main appeal and its only real warning.