The most powerful ‘Hyper Naked’: BMW unveils its new flagship model, the M1000 RS

At BMW, ‘RS’ stands for ‘Rennsport’. In the high-volume R1300 range, the RS variant is the fully faired sister model to the naked bike, the R1300 R. It is the sports tourer in the BMW range and is therefore suitably road-oriented. With the M1000 range, the Bavarians are taking the opposite approach and taking the already sporty M1000 R a step further: the result is 218 PS and a top speed of 283 km/h; it is now called the M1000 RS.

It is said to be the most powerful ‘hyper-naked’ and is propelled forwards by the familiar 999 cubic centimetre inline-four engine. BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch wants the M1000 RS – which is limited to 1,000 units – to be seen as a ‘clear statement’. The technical basis is the M1000 R with the M Competition package. This means the use of lightweight materials in abundance – carbon fibre bodywork and trim parts, as well as a titanium exhaust, come as standard, as do carbon fibre rims. The design and technical approach are also evident in the fuel tank – it is made of brushed aluminium.

The Bavarian bike thus weighs 196 kilograms without fuel. The materials drive the price up: this bit of fun costs 40,000 euros in Germany. Prices for Austria and Switzerland are not yet available, but are likely to be slightly higher. The rear section, including the frame, is taken from its fully faired sister model, the M1000 RR, and this is accompanied by a seat mounted 2 centimetres higher than on the ‘R’. The seat is upholstered in Alcantara and, together with new footrests, is designed to provide a more front-wheel-oriented riding position.

The package is accentuated by minimalist graphics – giving the M1000 RS a correspondingly sombre look. It appears set to be the spectacular finale for BMW’s current four-cylinder range. CEO Markus Flasch officially hinted in Milan at the start of production for the next generation of its four-cylinder superbike. SPEEDWEEK.com readers have already been able to catch a glimpse of it here. As is customary, the new RR is likely to be followed once again by a new generation of the naked four-cylinder.