BMW Motorrad unleashes another M motorbike with 2023 M 1000 R

MANILA: The first M Roadster — and the second vehicle in the two-wheel M Motorsport series — are proudly unveiled by BMW Motorrad.

"The M R is the second M model from BMW Motorrad. Based on the current S 1000 R and S 1000 RR, the product substance of the M 1000 R - M R for short - has been tuned to meet the specific requirements of a supersport roadster. The riding dynamics speak for themselves both on the country road and on the track." Ralf Mölleken, Project Manager, BMW Motorrad four-cylinder models stated.

BMW Motorrad launched the M Motorsport motorcycle brand at the tail end of 2018 and has since made M Performance Parts and M Special Equipment available on a variety of BMW models.

Following the M 1000 RR superbike, the new 2023 BMW M 1000 R, or M R for short, is the second M model from BMW Motorrad to mark its world premiere.

The 2023 BMW M R upholds the M brand philosophy of the most powerful letter in the world as BMW Motorrad celebrates the 50th anniversary of BMW M GmbH. M is synonymous with racing success as well as high-performance street BMW models and is targeted at customers with particularly high demands for performance, exclusivity, and individuality.

The new M R provides a dramatic riding experience in the roadster sector formerly reserved for superbikes with an engine output of 205 horsepower, a weight of 438.7 pounds, and suspension technology and aerodynamics optimized for both high-performance street track use.

Powering the 2023 BMW M R is a water-cooled, four-cylinder inline engine from the M RR that produces 205 horsepower at 13,500 rpm (40 horsepower more than the S 1000 R) and 83 lb-ft of torque at 11,000 rpm of torque. The maximum engine speed is now 14,600 rpm as opposed to the S 1000 R's 12,000 rpm.

For instance, there is considerably higher torque and hence more acceleration power available between 10,000 and 12,000 rpm, which is important for both supersports riding and track use.

The new M R's engine begins to excel at 10,000 rpm and offers significantly higher peak power and torque all the way to the redline. A lower secondary gear ratio and a 47-tooth sprocket are also used to increase rear tire traction in all ratios (S 1000 R: 45 teeth). Additionally, the fourth, fifth, and sixth gears now have different gear ratios.

With the aim of generating significantly increased peak power as well as achieving optimum power delivery across the entire rev range relevant for supersports riding on the street and on the track, the intake ducts have also been redesigned as in the M RR. Compared to the S 1000 R, they feature advanced channel geometry and are designed to achieve the best possible flow.

On the intake side, the intake valve timing and lift are adjusted using BMW ShiftCam technology. This is a three-part intake shift camshaft that contains a torque cam and a power cam, each with an ideal cam geometry, positioned on a shift segment for each valve to be actuated.

The BMW ShiftCam on the BMW M R shifts at 9,000 rpm, just like the S 1000 RR. Below 9,000 rpm, shifting is load-dependent, and the torque cam is used when a higher torque is needed.

As before, the cylinder liners integrated into the engine block are polish-slide-honed to reduce friction, and the oil and water pumps are combined into a single compact module. The tubing of the water and oil cooling circuit is reduced to a minimum and designed to be very resistant to falls, in keeping with the spirit of a racing engine.

Across the whole rpm range, the 2023 BMW M R engine is much more potent than the S 1000 R's four-cylinder engine. There has been a noticeable improvement in acceleration and pulling power. The M R accelerates to 124 mph in 7.5 seconds, which is 0.5 seconds faster than the S 1000 R.

With the new M R, a distinction is made between two riding mode worlds: One for street and one for the track. The new M R features four street riding modes "Rain", "Road", "Dynamic" and "Race" as standard, as well as the additional track riding modes "Race Pro 1", "Race Pro 2" and "Race Pro 3".

The latest generation of Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) with six-axis sensor cluster, lean angle sensor and fine adjustment for even more safety and performance when accelerating is standard.

The DTC includes four basic preset settings for the DTC wheelie function as well as the corresponding riding modes of "Rain," "Road," "Dynamic," and "Race." Additionally, fine adjustment (+/- Shift) is possible in the "Race Pro" riding modes. Adjustable DTC wheelies are available. Through the front wheel lift-off detection, it enables wheelies to be inhibited or limited with the goal of achieving maximum acceleration.

Shift Assistant Pro enables upshifting without clutch actuation and thus offers acceleration almost without interrupting traction. It also allows downshifting without clutch or throttle actuation in the load and speed ranges relevant for riding. This allows very fast gear changes and reduces clutch use to a minimum. For use on the track, the conventional shift pattern “first gear down” can be changed in a few simple steps to “first gear up.”

The new M R's substantially greater potential than the S 1000 R is evident in more ways than just its high-performance drivetrain. The exceptional riding dynamics are, in fact, largely the product of consistent development work on the suspension and aerodynamics, with countless test drives on the street, on the track, as well as tests in the BMW Group wind tunnel.

The new M R was given winglets on the front side panels in order to achieve even faster lap times on the track and the best possible riding stability at high speeds. Aerodynamics, along with powertrain and suspension technologies, was a major component in the creation of the M R.

They provide an increase in front wheel load of about 10% at a speed of 136 mph. a downforce of 22 pounds. The downforce produced by the winglets is optimally transmitted by a separate substructure that is hidden from view.

The 2023 BMW M R is the second BMW motorbike to come equipped with the M braking system after the M 1000 RR. It was created directly from the knowledge gathered via the use of the race brakes on factory racing BMW Motorrad bikes in the Superbike World Championship.

The M brake system, which provides maximum performance, pressure point and fade stability, as well as excellent reaction, is the end product of these development efforts. Along with the M emblem, the M brake calipers have a blue anodized coating.

Together with two 320 mm / 12.6-inch brake discs of 5 mm / 0.2-inch thickness and black anodized aluminum brake disc carriers, the brake system equipped with a new radial hand brake pump currently marks the pinnacle of brake development in the field of road-legal systems.

Two brake pad variants are available for different applications. One for road use and another compound from the World Endurance Championship for use on the track. Both brake pad compounds are matched to the ABS Pro functions. At the rear wheel, a single-piston floating caliper in M design, also anodized in blue, together with a 220 mm / 8.7-inch steel brake disc provide deceleration.

Particularly for track riders, the new Brake Slide Assist function is a significant and highly useful improvement. The rider is able to brake drift into curves while maintaining a slide.

Technically speaking, a slip angle — also known as a drift angle — is set by restricting the amount of braking pressure applied to the back wheel with the ABS Pro system and managing the rear wheel slip with the engine drag torque control (MSR).

The rider has a significant impact on the motorcycle's tendency to drift during braking due to his location on the machine and the application of force through the handlebars. Only when the ABS Pro Setting "2" is selected can Brake Slide Assist support the rider during this partially unstable driving condition known as drifting.

Even more than the S 1000 R, the 2023 BMW M R from BMW Motorrad is uncompromisingly designed for aggressive riding, whether on the road or on the track. It has upgraded suspension technology and the most potent engine to date in a dynamic roadster.

The M R represents the very best of what the roadster market has to offer right now. The M R has extremely powerful and compact dimensions that are captivating to look at and dynamic. With its new M winglets, the M R looks exceptional from the front. It is slim, elegant, and incredibly aggressive. The new M R is also instantly recognized as a BMW from the front thanks to the characteristic lights, which are comparable to the kidney grille on BMW cars.

Photos from BMW Motorrad

Also read: First stand-alone BMW Motorrad dealership in Pampanga now open