W
e were expecting this
to come for the 2020
model year, but it's
better late than never. BMW's
premium naked bike, the S 1000
R, is getting the makeover treat-
ment for 2021, although it's more
a case of evolution rather than
revolution for one of the original
naked bike bad boys.
It's mainly about weight saving
for the new S 1000 R. Claimed
power and torque is the same as
the 2020 model at 162 horse-
power at 11,000 rpm and 84 lb-ft
of torque at 9250 rpm, although
fourth, fifth and sixth gears have
been made taller to reduce
engine noise, fuel consumption
and the always notorious engine
vibrations from a BMW 1000cc
superbike motor.
BMW says 90 percent of the
available torque is on tap from
5500 to 11,000 rpm, although
the motor still doesn't get the
ShiftCam system that sits on
the sister S 1000 RR superbike.
There's a significant weight drop
of over 10 pounds (claimed), with
the wet weight now a claimed
439 pounds. There's also a BMW
M-Package available for the S
1000 R, which drops weight a
further potential 10.5 pounds with
the fitment of either carbon fiber
or forged alloy wheels.
The chassis has been re-
worked and is based on the latest
S 1000 RR superbike with slightly
sharper steering geometry, and
the brakes and suspension are
also swiped off the superbike.
LED lights abound front and
rear, and you can also have the
BMW adaptive steering headlight
as an option. That's just one of
the plethora of options at your
disposal with the 1000 R. It comes
with a six-axis IMU as standard,
along with ABS Pro, Dynamic
Traction Control and the brilliant
6.5-inch TFT dash. There are
three riding modes of Rain, Road
and Dynamic as standard, with
Riding Modes Pro and Dynamic
Pro mode including adjustable
wheelie control, engine brake and
engine drag torque control (MSR)
as well as Launch Control, Pitlane
Limiter and Hillstart Control Pro as
ex-works options. The BMW Shift
Assist Pro (quick shifter), is an ex-
works extra.
Availability and price have yet
to be announced. CN
2021 BMW S 1000 R
F I R ST LO O KS
P46
2021 BMW
