- R1300R gets same engine as R1300 GS
- Changes to design and riding triangle
- Could be launched in NZ and AUS in the next few months
BMW Motorrad have taken the silk cloth off the new, 2025 R1300 R for global markets. The motorcycle is expected to make its way to New Zealand and Australia in the coming months.
Now, the R1300 R is a replacement for the R1250R, which was introduced in 2019, and comes with major updates to set it apart from the latter. First up is the 1300cc boxer-twin engine derived from the R1300 GS family. This unit produces 143.5bhp at 7750rpm and 110Nm at 6500rpm. While BMW already has a litre-class naked in the form of the S1000R, the R1300R serves a different purpose and is aimed at better city rideability and longer rides with a punchy low-end torque.
That said, BMW have made the bike more aggressive than before with a revised riding posture with handlebars that have been pushed forward and rear-set pegs. “Aggressive and dynamic, the new R1300R makes its intentions clear: dynamic riding on winding country roads,” BMW Motorrad’s Head of Design, Alexander Buckan said. “Accordingly, the ergonomics have also been designed to be significantly more active and front-wheel-oriented.”
The handlebars can be rotated by 180 degrees if required, moving them 10mm away for an even sportier position. As standard, the seat height is set at 785mm while the accessory catalogue seat can push that up to 810mm. Now in terms of features, the BMW R1300 R gets three riding modes- Rain, Road and Edo. The optional Dynamic and Dynamic Pro modes further include cornering ABS and an MSR function to prevent rear wheel lockups. Other than this, the frame and chassis has also been revised with a new die-cast aluminium frame with around 200kg of load carrying capacity.
Since it is uses a GS-derived motor, power to the rear wheel is sent via a shaft drive on the right side of the single-sided swingarm. It rides on upside-down forks, unlike the GS and a monoshock. You also have the option of the Dynamic Suspension Adjustment for spring stiffness based on the selected mode and rider inputs.
Now, the competition for the new BMW R1300R is the Triumph Speed Twin 1200. The brand is offering the motorcycle in a higher-spec SE version as well as the semi-automatic ASA gearbox.
