BMW’s S1000 R naked bike gets several improvements for 2021, but more horsepower isn’t one of them.
BMW updated its naked bike this fall, after giving it a pass in 2019. As expected, it gets the same engine as the S1000 XR adventure bike, a liquid-cooled inline four. It makes 165 horsepower at 11,000 rpm, and 84 pound-feet of torque at 9,250 rpm–same as the outgoing S1000 R model, pretty much. It’s based on the S1000 RR superbike, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have the Shiftcam top end, with variable valve timing. It’s got taller ratios in gears 4-6, a revised slip/assist clutch, adjustable engine braking control, and BMW’s re-jigged the engine to make its peak power faster (which is what all the cool OEMs are doing these days, it seems, instead of chasing top-end horsepower).
The chassis sees a new beam frame, lifted from the S1000 RR; it’s supposed to be lighter and more rigid than the outgoing model, more narrow where the rider sits, and with more weight towards the front now. The under-braced swingarm also comes off the S1000 RR. The wheels are lighter than the previous model’s, but pay extra, and you can upgrade to forged alloy rims or even carbon-fibre rims for more weight savings. BMW sells these wheels as part of its “M” performance package. The base model gets fully-adjustable 45mm forks, but paying extra gets BMW’s DDC (Dynamic Damping Control) system up front, with electro-trickery managing the suspension’s adjustments in real time. This is managed via the bike’s riding modes selection.
As always, there’s a wide range of electronic rider aids you can add to the bike as well, at extra cost (BMW loves to up-sell these days). The bike comes with a six-axis IMU as stock, with leaning-sensitive ABS, traction control, LED lighting, a 6.5-inch TFT dash, three riding modes (Road, Rain, Dynamic)—all familiar from the S1000 RR. Pay extra, though, and you can get the new Dynamic Pro riding mode (with a Power Wheelie function!), along with several other upgrades to the electronic safety systems.
The S1000 R weighs a claimed 199 kilograms at the curb now, more than 4 kg under the outgoing model. Pricing in the US is unknown ; pricing starts at $16,500 in Canada.