BMW S 1000 R 2024 — Specifications

Imagine a Superbike four-cylinder stripped of its fairings, five kilograms lighter than the previous generation, then unleashed in the muscular roadster category with 165 horsepower at 11,000 rpm. That's what the 2024 BMW S 1000 R is in its rawest definition. This Bavarian naked has never pretended to play the card of absolute excess, where machines like the KTM Super Duke R or the Aprilia Tuono Factory push their sliders into the red zone of reason. Munich chose a different terrain: that of controlled, dense, usable power, where the 113.8 Nm of torque at 9,250 rpm does its work without boasting.

This inline four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 999 cc, borrowed from the S 1000 RR but without the Shiftcam variable valve timing system, compensates for this absence with a gain in compactness and a compression ratio increased to 12.5:1. The engine runs more cleanly at mid-range speeds, consumes better, and the six-speed gearbox has been reconfigured with three longer top gears to civilize long journeys. All this is housed in a perimeter aluminum frame also inherited from the RR, a structure that relies more on the engine block to gain rigidity without sacrificing weight. With a weight of 199 kg fully fueled, the motorcycle remains above the most nervous Italian roadsters, but its power-to-weight ratio more than compensates on the road.

The geometry has been reworked seriously: rake reduced to 24 degrees, trail brought to 96.3 mm, wheelbase lengthened to 1,450 mm. The 45 mm inverted fork with 120 mm of travel and the rear monoshock can optionally receive DDC, the semi-active damping that adjusts its settings in 10 milliseconds according to the selected riding mode. The Brembo brakes, two 320 mm discs with radial four-piston calipers at the front, are among the best in this category. ABS Pro comes standard, which is good news for fans of BMW S 1000 R tests in wet conditions.

The electronics have undergone substantial upgrades. Three standard riding modes including Dynamic, an inertial measurement unit with six axes, DTC replacing the old ASC, and active cornering ABS. The quickshifter remains an option, which is frustrating when you know that the Yamaha MT-09 or the Ducati Monster 937 include it as standard in a much lower price. At 16,490 euros for the base version, the price of the BMW S 1000 R can increase severely as soon as you start ticking the boxes in the catalog, with a Pro pack at an additional 3,000 euros to access advanced piloting modes, MSR, DBC and automatic HSC. The BMW S 1000 R forum is full of discussions on this subject.

This roadster is aimed at an experienced rider, capable of managing 165 horsepower in a naked handlebar, but who also wants a versatile machine on open roads, not just a track tool in disguise. Those looking for a used BMW S 1000 R will find the 2017, 2018, 2019 or 2021 generations at more accessible prices, all mechanically sound. The 2024 version progresses on every measurable point without revolutionizing the machine's DNA. This is its strength and, depending on the buyer, perhaps also its limit.