BMW’s M acronym is well known in the automotive world, and anyone who sees it knows that it stands for performance. The German brand introduced the M1000RR to its range of supersport bikes in 2021, as the basis for the World Superbike championship, making it the first motorcycle ever to bear the M. Now, at the end of 2022, the German brand has presented the world with the first naked bike equipped with this coveted letter. And it was on Spanish roads – and with a short trip to the Almeria circuit – that we tried to put this hypernaked’s full potential to the test.

Following the post-pandemic lockdown pattern, BMW presented the M1000R online last October, reserving the end of the year for its international presentation. We Portuguese didn’t have to travel many kilometers to see it, as the presentation took place in Spain, and we’re grateful for that, as well as for the fantastic roads we were able to ride with this naked bike. And the pages that follow are too few to describe the beautiful work that the German brand has done in designing this bike. But it’s not all roses, there’s no silver lining and no bike is perfect. So let’s find out what we can expect from this M1000R.

HEALTHY HEART

Numbers are very important to most users these days, and more than 200 hp are always welcome on any bike. Even so, a naked bike with this power doesn’t come along every day. BMW has opted to equip the M1000R with the same 210 hp in-line 4-cylinder engine that powers the S1000RR, with a few changes to the electronics. And if that seems like a lot of power to tame, fear not. The familiar linearity of four-cylinder engines is very much present in this block, and until the ShiftCam system kicks in at 8,000 rpm, you almost forget that you have a couple of hundred horses to tame. This allows the M1000R to be very well-behaved and pleasant to ride in cities and on highways where we ride at a more moderate pace, without protesting too much at low revs and high gears at low speeds. On the open road, however, things change a little. To be honest, when the ShiftCam variable intake system fully kicks in, that’s when we think it’s reasonable to shift gears, but if we let the M1000R breathe freely, we really notice a huge difference in the way the power is delivered, and this naked’s engine seems to have no end. However, it retains its docile side, but with the addition of some rebelliousness and willingness to express itself in the form of power and an incredible sound from the exhaust system. This engine demonstrated an excellent ability to rev up without much apparent effort – even complying with the strict EURO5 standards – while stretching to an incredible 14,600 rpm. Under normal conditions, on the public highway, it will be almost impossible to exploit the entire rev range, but it’s there, ready to be used on a track day or on a long highway in Germany.

WINGS NOT TO FLY

On the day the BMW M1000R was launched, something stood out in the pictures more than anything else. The aerodynamic appendages, or front wings, were the main focus of attention due to their apparent enormity and exaggerated size. But let me tell you. In person, it’s not annoying and even gives this bike a very aggressive and different look. Even so, more important than its looks is its function. At 220 km/h these M Winglets provide a downforce of 11 kg, offering greater stability to the front wheel and the whole assembly, something that was especially noticeable during the 4 laps we did on the Almeria circuit. On the long straights, the M1000R’s enormous desire to lift the front wheel was noticeable, but this desire was countered not only by the electronics, but also by the front wings. When braking, their intervention was also noticeable, allowing the front to make greater contact with the asphalt and consequently increasing the stability of the whole. And of course, to the hardware, BMW has added excellent software, with cutting-edge technology that is totally in tune with all the components installed on the bike. A beautiful 6.5″ TFT color display with excellent visibility (allows you to control 5 different riding modes) DTC – or dynamic traction control – brake slide assist, anti-wheelie control, among many other functions, in order to customize all the electronic aids to our liking.

Cruise control and heated grips are also standard equipment on this M1000R, but there is one specific feature that blew our minds. The quickShift, or as BMW calls it, the PRO gearshift assistant. There is little or nothing to fault with this equipment. The smoothness in any rev range is abysmal. Really. We felt that no matter how much we wanted to, we would never be able to shift gears as smoothly as this system does on this naked bike. And that, on twisting mountain roads like the ones we enjoyed in Almeria – as well as on the circuit – only adds to the pleasure of riding this bike.

REFINED CYCLING

One thing’s for sure, the BMW M1000R isn’t just a bike to ride straight down long straights, exploiting its 210 hp. Quite the opposite. Its lack of aerodynamic protection, being a bike in the naked category, is one of the limiting factors and its handling demands more than long straights. The electronically regulated suspension offers an excellent compromise between comfort and sportiness, and is clearly more geared towards the sporty side. Road reading, especially from the front wheel, is extremely precise and gives you impressive confidence when attacking corners. A wide handlebar and an ergonomic riding position, in which you position yourself very close to the front wheel for greater awareness of what’s going on, also contribute to this. Even so, in urban environments, with rougher sidewalks, we felt that the M1000R handled very well when it came to absorbing bumps and irregularities, with a less positive note for the seat, which although not hard, could have been a little wider, which would have helped on longer journeys. As for the brakes, we don’t see any state-of-the-art Brembo pumps, but rather the acronym M marked on huge blue pumps at the front. An M that could stand for “a lot”. Very powerful, very precise and very reliable. The only guarantee given by BMW engineers was that the development was not done with Brembo, but that the end result could not have been more satisfactory, and we know that it has Nissin’s hand in it. In any situation, the braking system is very gradual and precise, but also very powerful right from the initial “bite”.

M WELL APPLIED

M is the acronym that has defined performance for years at the German brand, as mentioned above. And equipping a bike with such a strong reference could have been a problem, but BMW clearly took the risk and proved up to the challenge. The BMW M1000R is everything we would expect from a hypernaked. Aggressive in its lines, powerful in every possible way, radical, but at the same time an easy and “owner-friendly” bike when you want to keep the German beast asleep. The German brand has managed to deliver enormous versatility in a single bike without losing the qualities that are characteristic of the letter M. And although it’s not perfect, it’s hard to find anything to criticize in this bike. Perhaps that’s why its price isn’t within everyone’s reach, but it left a smile on the face of everyone who tested it.

O conteúdo Review – BMW M1000R – M…agnificent aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.