BMW R 1300 R specifications, dimensions and price
BMW · Roadster
The BMW R 1300 R is BMW's 1,300cc boxer roadster, rated at 145 hp and 110 lb-ft with a 30.9 in unladen seat. It weighs 527 lb road-ready fully fueled, has a 4.5 gal tank and a claw-shifted six-speed gearbox, and BMW prices it at $16,695 plus $995 destination.
BMW R 1300 R
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2026 |
| Class | Roadster |
| Engine | Air/liquid-cooled four-stroke flat twin engine with double overhead and chain driven camshafts (BMW ShiftCam) |
| Displacement | 1300cc |
| Bore x stroke | 106.5x73 mm |
| Compression ratio | 13.3:1 |
| Fuel system | Electronic intake pipe injection / digital engine management system with throttle-by-wire |
| Transmission | Claw-shifted 6-speed gearbox |
| Final drive | Cardan shaft drive |
| Front suspension | Upside-down telescopic fork |
| Front suspension travel | 5.5 in |
| Rear suspension travel | 5.1 in |
| Front brake | Twin disc brake, diameter 310 mm, 4-piston radial brake caliper |
| Rear brake | Single disc brake, diameter 285 mm, 2-piston floating caliper |
| Front tire | 120/70 ZR17 |
| Rear tire | 190/55 ZR17 |
| Seat height | 30.9 in (unladen) |
| Wet weight (road ready, fully fueled) | 527 lb |
| Wheelbase | 59.5 in |
| Trail | 5 in (castor) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 gal |
| Rated output | 145 hp |
| Rated output (at rpm) | 7,750 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 110 lb-ft |
| Maximum torque (at rpm) | 6,500 rpm |
| Maximum speed | over 120 mph |
| Steering head angle | 62.5° |
| ABS | BMW Motorrad Full Integral ABS Pro (fully integral braking function, lean angle optimized) |
| Clutch | Multiplate clutch in oil bath, slipper clutch, hydraulically operated |
| Frame | Two-part frame consisting of main frame, bolted rear frame, and load-bearing engine |
| Wheels | Aluminum cast wheels |
| Permitted total weight | 1,014 lb |
| Payload | 487 lb |
| Starting MSRP | $16,695 |
| Destination charge | $995 |
1000PS says riders who enjoy touring, savoring country roads and value comfort, stability and quality engineering will find great satisfaction in the R 1300 R. It cites 145 hp, 149 Nm of torque and a weight of 239 kg, and says its true strength lies in the complete package: a commanding engine, stable handling and a mature, composed character.
The article also says that with a ready-to-ride weight of 239 kg the R 1300 R is not a lightweight and that is apparent, and that a seat height of 810 mm, optionally adjustable from 785 to 840 mm, makes it readily accessible to many riders.
Rider Magazine says the roadster is upgraded with a more powerful engine, a better-handling chassis and electronic aids.
BMW lists an upside-down telescopic fork with 5.5 in of travel, an EVO Paralever rear with a cast aluminum single-sided swingarm, twin 310 mm front discs with four-piston radial calipers and a 285 mm rear disc. Tires are 120/70 ZR17 and 190/55 ZR17, the wheelbase is 59.5 in, torque peaks at 110 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm, and the top speed is over 120 mph.
The 30.9 in unladen seat is 0.2 in lower than the R 1300 RS's.
R 1300 R against its neighbors
At $16,695 it costs $6,100 more than Triumph's Street Triple 765 at $10,595, which weighs 417 lb, 110 lb less than the BMW. It costs $400 less than the R 1300 RS at $17,095 and $5,950 less than the R 1300 RT at $22,645. Triumph's Rocket 3 Storm at $26,695 is the other big roadster, and Triumph's Speed 400 at $5,495 the small one.
The BMW's weight is the tradeoff for its power and comfort.
The R 1300 R against the other R 1300 bikes
BMW’s R, RS and RT road models share the 1,300cc boxer. Of those three, the R has the lowest listed weight and base price. It weighs 527 lb road-ready against 540 lb for the RS, 620 lb for the RT and 523 lb for the GS, costs $16,695 against $17,095, $22,645 and $20,395, and has the lowest seat, 30.9 in against 31.1, 32.2 and 33.4 in.
Its 59.5 in wheelbase is 0.22 in shorter than the RS's. The 4.5 gal tank is shared with the RS. The R, RS and RT are rated at 145 hp, and the long-term test measured 134 bhp on a GS.
The R has less bodywork and lower listed weight than the RS and RT; the adventure-oriented GS’s listed weight is lower still.
Choosing between the R and the RS
The RS costs $400 more, weighs 13 lb more and adds the fairing that makes it a sport-tourer. Its listed top speed is 149 mph against the R's stated over 120 mph. The R's advantage is the price, the 30.9 in seat and the lower weight.
The RS's is wind protection at highway speeds. If most of your riding is short trips and country roads, the R is enough. If you cross states on the highway, the $400 is well spent.
R 1300 R against the Street Triple 765 and Rocket 3 Storm
Triumph's Street Triple 765 is the lighter, cheaper roadster. The Rocket 3 Storm is the larger, more expensive one.
BMW R 1300 R — specification referenceBMW builds four road bikes on the 1,300cc boxer. The R is the lightest and cheapest. It weighs 527 lb road-ready against 540 lb for the RS, 620 lb for the RT and 523 lb for the GS, costs $16,695 against $17,095, $22,645 and $20,395, and has the lowest seat, 30.9 in against 31.1, 32.2 and 33.4 in. Its 59.5 in wheelbase is 0.22 in shorter than the RS's.
The 4.5 gal tank is shared with the RS. The R, RS and RT are rated at 145 hp, and the long-term test measured 134 bhp on a GS. The R is the naked bike with the least bodywork and the least weight to carry.
BMW rates the 1,300cc boxer at 145 hp and 110 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm, and 1000PS cites 149 Nm. The bike weighs 239 kg ready to ride.
BMW lists 30.9 in unladen, and 1000PS says the seat is 810 mm, optionally adjustable from 785 to 840 mm. So it is accessible to many riders.
A boxer roadster with fewer touring assumptions
The R 1300 R's 30.9-inch unladen saddle and 4.5-gallon tank describe the roadster rather than the RT touring arrangement. Someone familiar with the larger-faired bike should try the R's bar reach and exposure at road speed before treating the shared boxer as the whole ownership experience. A different screen or seat can change that experience, so identify the actual fitted parts.
At a $16,695 starting figure, the R is $400 below the RS in these listings. That is a useful base-price comparison, while packages, luggage and delivery can change the final gap. Obtain equivalent written offers rather than comparing a bare starting price with an optioned demonstration motorcycle.
The front and rear tires are 120/70 ZR17 and 190/55 ZR17. They share rim diameter but have different widths and profiles. Check those complete designations when pricing replacements or inspecting a used bike with aftermarket wheels. Stock geometry and tire specifications are more useful references than a seller's description of a custom look.
A screen addition is a separate equipment decision
If the unfaired R is attractive but wind protection is a concern, identify the exact screen and mounting kit proposed. Ask how it affects the rider's view and clearance around the bars. Do not assume a small accessory reproduces the RS fairing or RT touring bodywork. A test on a correctly equipped demonstration bike can answer that question more directly than comparing photographs.
Price the intended screen, installation and any luggage mounts alongside the R's offer, so the roadster remains a deliberate choice of arrangement.
Identify the roadster's installed options
Write down the seat, suspension and luggage-mount configuration supplied with the R. A reference price cannot identify those options, and a photograph may show equipment that is not part of the offer. Compare the machine's equipment list with what is physically installed and ask about any missing original pieces.
Keeping that information with the service records will also help a workshop select the correct parts later. The roadster should be evaluated as the actual offered configuration rather than an assumed base bike or a pictured demonstration model.