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Video: BMW M 1000 R
You knew BMW also builds bikes, right? So does its M division as it turns out – as Rory has been finding out
Words by: Dan Trent
Published on 24 August 2023 | 0 min read
As you probably know, Auto Trader has a dedicated bikes channel for all things two-wheeled . So, what is Rory doing here moonlighting on BMW Motorrad’s latest wild child, the M 1000 R?
Well, while you might think of BMW as an automotive brand it actually built its first motorbike 100 years ago back in 1923, a whole 10 years before it got into building cars. These may now represent the bulk of its business but, suffice to say, bikes are still the emotional heart of the brand.
Well, while you might think of BMW as an automotive brand it actually built its first motorbike 100 years ago back in 1923, a whole 10 years before it got into building cars. These may now represent the bulk of its business but, suffice to say, bikes are still the emotional heart of the brand.
Enter BMW’s M division, which itself celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. While best known for cars like the M2, M3, M4 it has, more recently, joined forces with the bike department. The M 1000 R you see here is the second product of this partnership. And as spectacular as you could hope for from a dream team of this standing.
As Rory finds out, just as it does with the cars the M division takes an already amazing base product and then adds its own blend of high-performance fairy dust. On four wheels that means more macho looks, more power and track-focused tech like configurable suspension and sophisticated driver modes. And it’s the same here. In this case we have the S 1000 R ‘hyper naked’ (itself derived from the World Superbike Championship inspired S 1000 RR ) with the power increased from 165 horsepower to a seriously scary sounding 210 horsepower. OK, there are M cars with around three times that. And they have … a few more luxuries. But they also weigh as much as 10 times more than the bike. Do the maths, as the saying goes…
As Rory finds out, just as it does with the cars the M division takes an already amazing base product and then adds its own blend of high-performance fairy dust. On four wheels that means more macho looks, more power and track-focused tech like configurable suspension and sophisticated driver modes. And it’s the same here. In this case we have the S 1000 R ‘hyper naked’ (itself derived from the World Superbike Championship inspired S 1000 RR ) with the power increased from 165 horsepower to a seriously scary sounding 210 horsepower. OK, there are M cars with around three times that. And they have … a few more luxuries. But they also weigh as much as 10 times more than the bike. Do the maths, as the saying goes…
A good job the M engineers don’t just know how to add power – they also know how to tame it. Which, as Rory finds out, is no bad thing on a bike as potent as this. As such tech BMW drivers are all familiar with from their cars like variable traction control, configurable modes and even relative luxuries like cruise control are all here. Just reimagined for a life on two wheels.
So, hold on tight and join Rory for one hell of a ride! Expect to see him back on four wheels in due course as well. But, however many you roll on, if you enjoyed this video make sure you let him know in the comments, hit like and, if you haven’t already, subscribe for more!
So, hold on tight and join Rory for one hell of a ride! Expect to see him back on four wheels in due course as well. But, however many you roll on, if you enjoyed this video make sure you let him know in the comments, hit like and, if you haven’t already, subscribe for more!
