Supernakeds are one of motorcycling’s pinup categories these days. With full-on superbikes largely out of fashion, it’s up to these near (and sometimes over) 200bhp hooligans to grab the headlines and win the hearts of adrenaline fuelled bikers around the world.
That’s been reflected by the number of updated supernakeds introduced for 2025, with a new Ducati Streetfighter V4, KTM 1390 Super Duke R and Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS among the big name European models all landing in showrooms.
Yamaha’s bonkers MT-10, once the class defining bike, flies the flag for Japan but now looks a little tame (though it’s definitely not) with a ‘mere’ 165bhp and it is joined in the ‘cooking’ in-line four stakes by another Euro contender, in the form of the updated-for-2025, 170bhp, BMW S 1000 R, which we recently had an opportunity to sample around the Almeria circuit in southern Spain.
Unusually for one of the driest and warmest locations in Europe, we were greeted with heavy rain. The thought of riding a 170bhp supernaked in heavy rain on standard Bridgestone S22 rubber might not appeal to trackday fiends but the S 1000 R is a road bike and has a specific Rain mode, making this a perfectly valid test of the BMW’s mettle.
I needn't have worried. In Rain mode, power and torque are reduced, throttle response is softer than a labrador puppy and rider aids are set to near maximum. I even had the heated grips set to maximum as I lapped the circuit! With standing water everywhere, the treacherous track surface highlighted just how easy the new S 1000 R is to ride. With all its sharper edges rounded off by Rain mode and a peak of just 100bhp, I could simply plot a route around the puddles and work out my line.
Even in the wet, handling was easy and forgiving. I had excellent feedback via the dynamic Marzocchi suspension, while the standard Bridgestone S22s were full of feel and finding grip. As my confidence grew and the pace increased, the lean-sensitive traction control began to intervene, but the real work was being done by the outstanding lean-sensitive ABS and Brembo brakes.
Every lap I braked later and later without troubling them. I felt a mild pulsing on the lever, just enough to know the ABS is doing the work, but there was no drama as I pushed my braking point ever closer to the turn.
It really is amazing what the best sports bikes will let you get away with these days. Despite a total soaking, I came into the pits with a smile on my face and a new perception of how late you can brake on a sopping wet surface.
I also knew that, on track, Rain mode was a little too restrictive, especially once some heat was coaxed into the Bridgestones. So, for the next session I keyed in Road mode, which gives full power and lower levels of rider aid intervention, while putting the electronic suspension into a road setting.
The jump from Rain to Road is obvious. There's a startling slap-in-the face step up in power, and now the S 1000 R was motoring on the back straight. Up against the top tier 200bhp supernakeds, the S 1000 R's 170bhp may appear a little underwhelming on paper but, trust me, at the end of Almeria’s 1km long straight, it was travelling… still accelerating as I attempted to scrunch up below the brutal wall of air trying to rip my head off my shoulders.
Incidentally, if 170bhp just isn’t enough, BMW’s M 1000 R remains in the range and gets some small updates for 2025. It packs a staggering 210bhp, putting it right up there with the Streetfighter V4 at the top of the power charts.
But today we’re with the S and, in the chaos of noise and speed, I’m unsure if I could feel the 5bhp power hike. You would need the calmer waters of a back-to-back test against the previous generation model to clarify, but the 2025 bike's shorter gearing and quicker throttle response has certainly added excitement.
An updated and even quicker (but only optional) Shift Assistant Pro quickshifter only adds to the intensity. As the track became drier, the S 1000 R's energy and sense of urgency dared me to get on the power sooner and sooner until, once again, the advanced rider aids took over.
BMW says the updated S 1000 R has a dry weight of just 177kg and weighs in at 199kg fully fuelled, as long as you've splashed out for the M package and its choice of either carbon or forged wheels. The steering is certainly light and there's a fresh responsiveness to the way the bike changes direction too. It's easy to ride but sharper as well, not unlike a 600cc supersport machine.
The electronically controlled Dynamic suspension hasn't the mid-corner vagueness of some systems. Instead, great feedback allows you to explore the levels of grip in relative safety. In Road mode, the damping rates are a bit soft for the track, but that softness also gives confidence and made the Bridgestones work harder, generating heat and grip.
In damp conditions, the blend of electronics, geometry, tyres and chassis set up delivered a hugely enjoyable ride. I loved the easy-going way it made speed. And guess what? Despite the absence of enormous aero wings (which are a feature on the M 1000 R), stability was also excellent.
By the time we finally had an almost dry track, the S 1000 R in Dynamic mode was a different animal to the Rain mode bike I rode at the start of the day. It is still easy to ride, but amped up to 11. The power is strong, the 999cc inline-four loves to rev, and that super-slick shifter allows you to explore all the revs.
The gearbox and shift are exceptional; you can back-shift, even at high rpm, without any disturbance in the driveline, which makes it feel like a race bike, albeit one without a fairing. On the back straight, I got behind the wide ‘bars and just soaked up the wailing drama of the (once again, optional) titanium Akrapovic silencer. It’s sold as a road-legal modification but still adds welcome extra bark.
As the pace got hotter, the standout feature of the updated S 1000 R was the rider aids, which have been tweaked and optimised to work with the extra power, shorter gearing and quick action throttle of this latest model. The lean-sensitive TC allows, indeed encourages, manageable power slides in second and third gear. These aren’t the result of God like riding skills, rather the confidence-inspiring electronics making it happen.
Despite its road-going focus, we only had an opportunity to sample the BMW on track. From experience, we know the S 1000 R is an excellent road bike, and the updates to the 2025 bike should translate well. The throttle now has less travel, but this does not mean it’s snappy as the fuelling is as measured as before.
The shorter gearing and slight increase in power should give it a little more kick in day-to-day riding and the class-leading dash and switchgear, which make all the rider aids usable in the real world, are as intuitive as any. Add optional heated grips, cruise control and perhaps the low sports screen, and every indication is that it will be as versatile as ever.
To conclude, the updated S 1000 R's motor may lack the Top Trumps winning stats of some of the competition, but 170bhp is more than enough for anyone. It is beyond quick, and how much more do you want from a naked bike, anyway? The chassis and rider aids allow you to make full use of the power, too. On track, you can use it all; nothing goes to waste.
The updated rider aids are among the best on the market. We were able to trim the bike precisely to allow us to tiptoe around in awful, low-grip conditions and then to put in a few hot laps in near perfect conditions. The rider aids – and Dynamic suspension, as tested – are versatile, easy to operate and work exceptionally well.
The easy-going nature of the lighter and more agile chassis compliments the engine and rider aids. A naked superbike should not be this easy to ride fast in mixed conditions with so much rider confidence. Meanwhile, the finish and detailing are premium and help justify the price.
But while its build quality is high and the BMW brand is as aspirational as ever, that price can’t be ignored. The base bike is £13,760 (17,100 Euros in Ireland) but in typical BMW style, most of the desirable bits cost extra. The Sport (Comfort and Dynamic) package edges the price up to £15,740 and our test bike, with even more added extras is £17,695. Even BMW's own, more exclusive, M 1000 R, complete with 210bhp, is only £2500 more expensive than our test bike despite a wide range of track developed modifications.
That said, Triumph’s semi-active Öhlins-equipped Speed Triple 1200 RS comes in at a similar £17,495 and is perhaps its closest rival. Suddenly, BMW's pricing looks better. Ducati’s updated Streetfighter V4S, the most powerful bike in class, is £24,995, making the Beemer look like a bargain.
But Honda’s new Hornet 1000 SP is under £10,000, albeit with 'just' 155bhp, more weight and a more basic specification. Yamaha have also cut the price of the MT-10 recently, meaning it shouldn’t be, erm, discounted if you’re in the market for this kind of bike. At £12,320 (at the time of writing) the Yamaha also offers an awful lot of bike for the money.
The popularity of supernakeds mean it's a crowded and exciting market, with something for riders of all tastes and budgets. BMW’s offerings certainly have plenty to bring to the party, with the small updates for 2025 making a good bike even better.
2025 BMW S 1000 R specifications
Price: From £13,760
Engine: 999cc four-cylinder, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, liquid cooled
Power: 170bhp (125kW) @ 11,000rpm
Torque: 114Nm @ 9,250rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual, quickshifter (up and down), chain drive
Frame: Bridge type cast aluminium
Suspension: (F) 45mm USD forks with rebound and compression damping adjustment (R) preload, compression and rebound adjustable single shock absorber.
Wheels: Cast aluminium, (F) 17” x 3.5”/ (R) 17” x 6”
Tyres: Bridgestone S22 (F) 120/70 x 17 (R) 190/55 x 17
Brakes: (F) 320mm disc, Brembo four-piston radial caliper, (R) 220mm disc, single-piston caliper. Cornering ABS
Weight: 199kg (with fuel)
Wheelbase: 1,447mm
Seat height: 830mm
Fuel tank: 16.5 litres
Fuel consumption: 46.2mpg (claimed)
Warranty: 36 months unlimited mileage
Contact: https://www.bmw-motorrad.com
Words: Adam Child
Pictures: BMW/Jamie Morris
