BMW has unveiled the 2021 model of the S 1000 R and it gets a major makeover along with some other key changes.
The BMW S 1000 R tops the naked superbike chart in the German manufacturer’s lineup and has always been a stripped-down version of the S 1000 RR. Since BMW treated us with the new S 1000 RR back in 2019, we have been waiting for its naked counterpart and it has finally happened.
Firstly, the new S 1000 R bids adieu to the old styling, which is a bummer because the previous-gen model was definitely more aggressive aesthetically. The new model doesn’t look half bad, though, and looks similar to the smaller G 310 R now.
A full LED headlamp replaces the previous asymmetrical headlamps, and it gets a horizontal LED DRL for company too. BMW also reworked the fairings and belly pan to give the bike a more striking appearance.
The tail section also sees a revision, and it is like its faired counterpart. Personally, I loved the older tail section of the S 1000s and the new one is a tad too vanilla for my liking.
Coming to other updates, the BMW S 1000 R also borrows the chassis and instrument cluster from the S 1000 RR. The new Flex Frame along with other weight reduction measures have resulted in a total weight loss of around 6 kgs. The new chassis also results in improved ergonomics.
The frame reduces the bike’s width in the area of the knee contact area, thereby making it more roomy. BMW also says that the handlebar is adjustable to meet the rider’s needs and comes with two settings that push the bar forward by a third of an inch which is a good thing.
Under all this is the same 999cc inline-4 motor, which is now Euro-5 compliant. The power output has remained the same at 165 BHP and around 114 Nm of torque. But, BMW says that the motor has a better midrange punch now, as the torque comes in much earlier than before.
As we mentioned earlier, the instrument cluster sees an update too and comes from the new S 1000 RR too. With the 6.5-inch TFT, the electronics have also improved drastically. The bike now gets a 6-axis IMU which controls its standard anti-wheelie function, ABS Pro with cornering capability, and dynamic traction control.
There are now three modes to play with instead of two and an optional Dynamic Pro mode as well, which includes launch control, engine braking control, wheelie control, etc. with various levels of adjustability. Other features include optional adaptive turning light, M, Carbon, and Milled Parts packages, navigation, quick-shifter, and more.
We expect BMW to launch this in India soon after it starts reaching international dealerships and definitely with a price bump. All in all, the new BMW S 1000 R sounds very promising now, even though it might not look as aggressive as before.
2021 BMW S 1000 R
- BMW has unveiled the 2021 S 1000 R with fresh updates
- It gets a new styling, electronics package and a new 6.5-inch TFT display
- The power output has remained unchanged, but the bike packs more punch, according to BMW
