2014 BMW S 1000 R: The New Roadster King?

Nov 13, 2013  by RoadRUNNER

The BMW S 1000 RR sportbike has certainly made a name for itself since its introduction in 2008. The German challenger in a market segment traditionally dominated by the Japanese and Italians has established itself as one of (if not the) best all around liter-bikes available. It’s no surprise, then, that BMW would come up with a naked, street fighter version of its quickest model. And here it is, the 2014 S 1000 R. Let’s get this out of the way first, yes it has been “detuned for torque,” but what were you going to do with 193 horsepower anyway? The result of the detuning efforts are 160 horsepower and 83 pound feet of torque (about seven more than the S 1000 RR) and a redline that comes 2,000 RPM sooner for the 999cc inline-four.

Of course the S 1000 R comes with the obligatory alphabet soup of electronic safety systems like ABS, ASC, DTC, etc., with some additional electronic goodies on the options list. The bike’s frame and suspension setup are nearly identical to those of the sportbike, with minor adjustments in the geometry to make it a roadster. At 456 pounds with a full tank of gas, the bike is surprisingly heavy considering its origins, though it’s competitive with other bikes in its class. Stylistically, this “naked” version still seems to be wearing some “clothes” with side fairings reminiscent of shark gills similar to those on the RR though smaller. Overall, the aggressive styling, potent motor, and proven chassis should make the S 1000 R a compelling, high-performance motorcycle with ergonomics you can live with everyday. Price and availability have yet to be announced.