BMW S 1000 RR par PRAEM 2016 — Specifications

Imagine a machine capable of flirting with 300 km/h, packed with cutting-edge electronics, yet dressed as if it rolled straight out of the pits at the 1985 Suzuka 8 Hours. That's the somewhat audacious bet the Berneron brothers, Sylvain and Florent, took on under the banner of their PRAEM workshop, in collaboration with BMW Motorrad France. The result? An S 1000 RR that blurs the lines between contemporary race preparation and nostalgia for the golden age of endurance racing.

The foundation is anything but ordinary. The 999 cc inline four-cylinder produces 200 horsepower, housed in a twin-spar aluminum frame that has proven itself on every circuit in the world. The 13:1 compression ratio, the ultra-short 80 x 49.7 mm bore and stroke, the six-speed gearbox: we're talking about a benchmark sportbike, the one that shook up the Superbike hierarchy upon its release. PRAEM barely touches this mechanical package. A titanium exhaust system from Werks USA and a revised engine map are enough to unleash a few extra horsepower. The real work lies elsewhere.

It's in the chassis and aesthetics that the transformation truly comes into its own. Rotobox carbon wheels replace the stock rims, fitted with slick tires in 120/70-17 at the front and 190/55-17 at the rear. Carbon-ceramic discs bite with fearsome efficiency, while the 46 mm inverted fork and mono-shock retain their DDC electronic management. The result on the scales is striking: 184 kg wet, roughly twenty kilos less than the standard version. To get there, every gram was hunted down. Aluminum subframe, titanium hardware, elimination of anything superfluous. You'll also find Staubli quick-connect fittings for refueling, an endurance-type radiator, and adjustable rearsets from the BMW HP catalog. Every detail reveals an obsession with pure riding.

Visually, the bike looks like no other S 1000 RR. The asymmetric front fairing evokes Japanese endurance prototypes, the aluminum tank has been lengthened, and the rear tail section leaves the battery exposed like on period race machines. The paintwork, designed with Derestricted studio, draws on the graphic language of 1970s and 80s competition cars and motorcycles, with a satin finish reminiscent of BMW Art Cars, particularly Alexander Calder's. The contrast between this retro livery and the onboard technology—DTC traction control, racing ABS, launch control—creates a fascinating visual tension.

At 35,000 euros, this BMW S 1000 RR by PRAEM is obviously not aimed at the weekend rider. It speaks to collectors, to enthusiasts of one-off pieces who want to hit the track on an object steeped in both history and modernity. In the lineage of collaborations between BMW and builders like Krugger, Deus Ex Machina, and Blitz Motorcycles, this project proves that high-end customization can coexist with pure performance. One might regret that the series remains limited and that the price tag puts it out of reach for most. But that's precisely what makes it so appealing: a 200-horsepower sportbike that smells of the eighties paddock isn't something you turn down—it's something you admire. And if you're lucky enough to twist the throttle, it's something you never forget.