BMW S 1000 R - Searing Stripped-Down Supersport
Bike India|May 2017

It was in Almeria in southern Spain that we rode the updated BMW S 1000 R. It rained so heavily during this first ride that the roads soon turned into veritable rivulets. Frankly, we could not have asked for better conditions to appreciate how this good motorcycle has become even better in all respects.

Roland Brown
BMW S 1000 R - Searing Stripped-Down Supersport

MORE POWER, LESS weight, better electronics. That sounds like a pretty good recipe for any modern superbike’s revamp, especially when the original model is as good as the S 1000 R. The stripped-down, high-barred machine based on BMW’s super-sports S 1000 RR blew the super-naked division apart on its launch in 2014, with a blend of searing four-cylinder performance, light and agile chassis, sophisticated electronics and competitive price.

Three years later, the S 1000 R gets its first major update, gaining a revised chassis and electronic system as well as the engine-related changes required by Euro 4 emission legislation. The 999-cc, 16-valve powerplant remains mechanically unchanged but intake mods and a new exhaust with titanium Akrapovic silencer comply with the regulations while also adding five horsepower to offer a maximum of 165 PS at 11,000 rpm.

The carbon-fibre capped silencer contributes to a subtly updated look, as does the R-bike’s slightly slimmer front section due to cut-down bodywork. The frame is also new, made from four aluminium sections welded together as before, but the main front section reworked along the lines of the S 1000 RR’s, and the rear made lighter. Weighing 205 kg with its 17.5-litre tank full, the new R-model has a two-kg advantage over its predecessor.

Some minor mods are apparent after you’ve thrown a leg over the seat, too, though you’d probably have to be an S 1000 R owner to spot them. The instrument console is angled more steeply, to reduce glare, and a redesigned top triple clamp holds a one-piece handlebar that is now rubber mounted to counter vibration. The slim pillion seat is also reshaped.

This story is from the May 2017 edition of Bike India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2017 edition of Bike India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BIKE INDIAView All
Will Ducati Dominate MotoGP In 2024?
Bike India

Will Ducati Dominate MotoGP In 2024?

Ducati dominated MotoGP in 2023 in toto and, despite new concession rules to help its rivals catch up, it is difficult to see anyone knocking the Italian factory off the top spot in 2024, however hard they try

time-read
10+ mins  |
February 2024
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Bike India

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450

ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER ITS launch, the new Royal Enfield Himalayan won the coveted Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) 2024 award.

time-read
1 min  |
February 2024
Royal Enfield Bullet 350
Bike India

Royal Enfield Bullet 350

IT HAS BEEN A FEW WEEKS SINCE I started riding the Royal Enfield Bullet 350, one of the latest entrants into our long-term test fleet.

time-read
1 min  |
February 2024
'I prefer to take the risk, even though it may not be a success'
Bike India

'I prefer to take the risk, even though it may not be a success'

Six-time MotoGP king Marc Márquez tells us, inter alia, why he quit Honda to race an indie-team Ducati in 2024, why the Ducati is MotoGP's best bike, and why he would not wish his recent injuries on anyone

time-read
8 mins  |
February 2024
Ricky Brabec Wins Second Dakar Title
Bike India

Ricky Brabec Wins Second Dakar Title

Harith Noah becomes the first Indian to win a Dakar Rally class. Hero MotoSports Team Rally become the first Indian team to get on the overall podium and Monster Energy Honda Team gets three riders among the top four of the general classification.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
The Ultimate Hypersport Tyre
Bike India

The Ultimate Hypersport Tyre

The all-new Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 builds on the highly acclaimed S22, an all-round sports bike tyre. The S23 is designed to excel on both road and track and in all conditions. Although we tested it on the sun-kissed Kyalami racetrack in South Africa, Bridgestone claim it will be equally at home on normal wet roads we encounter each day in some parts of the world

time-read
6 mins  |
February 2024
Timely and Tidy Update
Bike India

Timely and Tidy Update

Bajaj revived the name \"Chetak\" after a 15-year gap in 2020 with the launch of the new Chetak in electric avatar. The scooter got a mid-life update for 2024 and we rode it to find out how it feels

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2024
Guns Blazing
Bike India

Guns Blazing

The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 is a bobber based on the Super Meteor 650. We had an opportunity to spend some time astride it to explore its capabilities

time-read
4 mins  |
February 2024
REVIVAL OF A LEGEND
Bike India

REVIVAL OF A LEGEND

The Jawa 350 has been revived, this time with a 334-cc motor along with some other changes. We recently got to test the motorcycle in Bhuj to bring you our first impression

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2024
Slick Commute
Bike India

Slick Commute

Launched at Hero World 2024, the Xtreme 125R is a sporty commuter that brings the fight to the highly competitive 125-cc segment. We got to experience the motorcycle for a short duration at Hero MotoCorp's test-track at CIT in Jaipur

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024