BMW’s New Beast Promises More Punch Than American Cruisers

As much as horsepower matters, there’s just no denying torque is what you need for a serious giggle-worthy ride. Modern-day liter naked bikes rarely focus on this aspect, as most of them feature inline-four engines that average under 80 pound-feet of torque at over 8,000 RPM. But what if we told you there was a modern-day naked with more torque than several American cruisers? We’re talking about BMW’s latest creation: the R 1300 R.

The BMW R 1300 R Has Over 105 Pound-Feet Of Torque From Its Boxer Engine

Compared to the outgoing R 1250 R, the biggest change here is the engine. Out goes the 1,254cc boxer mill and in comes the new 1,300cc flat-twin boxer from the R 1300 GS. The engine features a high compression ratio (13.3:1), ShiftCam, and part liquid-cooling to produce 145 horsepower and 110 pound-feet.

That torque figure is one of the highest in the liter-class naked segment, even more than the bonkers KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo. Not just that, the number is higher than the Indian Scout, Harley-Davidson Sportster S, and the Indian Chief. Meanwhile, all the power reaches the wheel via a six-speed, shaft-driven transmission to enable a top speed of “over 120 miles per hour”.

A simple electronics package helps you manage all the grunt. It is accessible via a large TFT instrument cluster, and includes:

• Rain, Road, and Eco ride modes
• Cornering ABS
• Traction control
• Engine brake control
• Linked brakes

New Chassis And Design Make The New R 1300 R An Upgrade Over The R 1250 R

Like the engine, the underpinnings are a step-up from the R 1250 R, too. A new pressed sheet metal chassis takes over as the centerpiece, joined by a cast aluminum subframe. This is topped with 47 mm upside-down forks and a paralever rear suspension, both ready for the optional electronic adjustment module sold separately.

A closer look also reveals new 17-inch wheels, said to be 3.1 pounds lighter over the previous generation. Interestingly, though, the entire bike still weighs the same (527 pounds) as the 1250 model. A bit surprising, we know. However, with a low seat height (30.9 inches), the package still appears quite accessible for all.

Last but not least is the new design, and a lot has changed over the aging R 1250 R. Up top, there’s a new, sharp LED headlight, flanked by new radiator shrouds. This is followed by a sculpted, more flowy fuel tank shape that blends into the broad two-piece saddle. The tail is new, too, and keeps up with the overall sleeker design. There are four trims/colors, namely:

• Snapper Rocks Blue
• Exclusive (Racing Blue Metallic)
• Performance (Light White with bar-end mirrors)
• Option 719 Kilauea (Blackstorm Metallic with bar-end mirrors)

BMW Has Priced The R 1300 R At $16,595

Given the changes, the R 1300 R has a sizable price hike over the R 1250 R. It starts from $16,595, which makes it $1,250 pricier than the outgoing bike. More importantly, it also costs more than BMW’s two other nakeds: the R 12 nineT and the S 1000 R. What makes matters worse is that a lot of the fancy equipment is optional for the R 1300 R.

So if you gather them up and choose a color other than Snapper Rocks Blue, the price climbs to over $20,000. That is dangerously close to the base MSRP of the flagship: the BMW M 1000 R. So if you want something sporty or powerful, we can’t help but suggest other BMWs. But if usable performance and boxer charm tickle your fancy, nothing comes close to the new 1300 R.

2026 BMW R 1300 R Specifications