BMW M 1000 R specifications, dimensions and price

BMW M 1000 R

Motorcycle News fleet review says performance was never going to be an issue. But that the handling was unaffected by a tail pack sitting high on the seat unit. It says that unlike a more focused superbike you can easily and comfortably pootle on the M 1000 R, making it a perfectly acceptable commuter, and that the spec sheet weight of 199 kg was confirmed at 202.4 kg on the scales with the tank full.

The tester had run a Kawasaki ZX-10R on the fleet and found it focused, and wanted to find out whether the BMW is the perfect blend of superbike performance and usability. RevZilla says the fueling is good, the brakes are sharp and powerful, the seat is fairly narrow but nicely padded, the steering is light and the rider triangle is agreeable even for a six-foot-two rider.

BMW lists a 45 mm upside-down fork with electronic DDC Dynamic Damping Control, twin 300 mm front discs with four-piston fixed calipers and a 220 mm rear disc, a 57.28 in wheelbase and 3.84 in of trail. The seat is 32.6 in unladen, the road-ready weight is 438.7 lb, and peak torque of 83 lb-ft comes at 11,100 rpm.

M 1000 R against the nakeds

At $22,695 it costs $12,100 more than Triumph's Street Triple 765 at $10,595, which weighs 417 lb, 21.7 lb less. Triumph's Rocket 3 Storm is $26,695. Against BMW's own M 1000 RR at $35,395, the naked bike costs $12,700 less and weighs 10.7 lb more.

It offers the same 205 hp engine with a comfortable position, and is the M bike that can be used every day.

How the M 1000 R differs from the M 1000 RR

The two M bikes share the 999cc engine, its 205 hp and 83 lb-ft, and the Shiftcam intake, and they differ in chassis and equipment.

The M 1000 R has a 32.6 in seat against 34.0 in, a 57.28 in wheelbase against 57.4 in, 300 mm front discs against the RR's 320 mm M discs and a single-piston rear caliper against the M's two-piston one, and it uses DDC electronic suspension where the RR has a manually adjustable fork. It weighs 438.7 lb against 428 lb and costs $22,695 against $35,395.

Its top speed is listed at 174 mph against 189 mph. The R is the cheaper, more upright choice with most of the engine.

What the weight and seat mean for daily use

The cited test reports 202.4 kg measured with a full tank against the 199 kg specification it quotes. Those two figures differ by 3.4 kg; compare the stated measurement conditions before treating them as equivalent.

So commuting is fine but a long day needs fuel stops. Its 200/55 ZR17 rear tire is a wide, specialized size, so budget for tires.

Against its rivals

The M 1000 R costs $22,695, $2,720 more than the S 1000 RR at $19,975 and $12,700 less than the M 1000 RR at $35,395. Kawasaki's supercharged Z H2 costs $21,999 and weighs 531.4 lb curb. So the BMW is $696 dearer and about 93 lb lighter at 438.7 lb road ready, though the weight bases differ.

The 32.6 in seat is 0.1 in lower than the S 1000 RR's, and the 4.3 gal tank is shared with it. A rider who wants BMW's electronics without the superbike position should look here.

Ask which packages the bike has, because BMW's M-branded parts are often sold as options and change the price. Check the tires and the brake pads, since a 999cc roadster with this power wears them quickly. A used M 1000 R may have been tracked, so look for signs of a crash and ask for the service record.

Sit on it to judge the 32.6 in seat, and ride it in each riding mode to see how the electronics change the throttle. Ask about the warranty transfer on a used bike.

A 999cc roadster with this power costs more to insure and to keep in tires than a middleweight, so get an insurance quote first. BMW lists a $1,095 destination charge on top of the $22,695 price, which brings the figure before tax and options to about $23,790. M-branded parts and packages are sold as options, so ask the dealer for an itemized quote.

Service intervals and valve checks on the four-cylinder are more expensive than on the F-series twins. So ask what the dealer charges for the first two services.

Riding position and use

The M 1000 R is a roadster. So there is no fairing to shelter the rider, and wind blast at motorway speeds is significant. Its 32.6 in seat and upright bars make it easier to live with than the M 1000 RR's 34.0 in superbike position, but a rider who commutes long distances should still sit on it first.

The 4.3 gal tank gives a short range at a hard pace, and a used bike should come with proof of oil changes and a check of the chain, since the power wears them quickly.

M 1000 R against the Street Triple 765 and M 1000 RR

Triumph's Street Triple 765 is the lighter and much cheaper naked rival, and BMW's own M 1000 RR is the faired sibling.