Road test of BMWS 1000 R 2025 A trip on epi

Our tester's opinion on the S 1000 R from 2025

The roadster is more than just a category of motorcycle. It's the original perception, the very essence of symbiotic movement between man and machine. It's the essence of the raw sensations now available in many different forms.

As in any ecosystem, predators are on the prowl. Above them, super-predators like the S 1000 R dominate the debate and the roads they submit to.

Eye bite

It starts even before you get the hang of it. This cool, Gers morning leads the more chilly among us to seek out two vital items: coffee and heated grips. Both are optional on the BMW, but they'll be with us just the same. Yes! The sun's rays brighten up the "spicy" colors of our test model - this blue and yellow-green suits it to perfection - while the 4-cylinder's rapid rasp flies away in the exhaust mist.
With its new look, finally worthy of its aggressive nature, the S 1000 R 2025 wants to make your legs shake. Much more by its strength than by the cold. A snake would have less effect, while the embrasure of its eyes emphasizes the photons of discord.

This new style also includes a little "R" badge inside the fake air intake. Yes, fake, because the flow is sucked in through ducts behind the optical compartment. Rest assured, this doesn't prevent the engine from breathing deeply.
The bike's assembly is serious, the quality well present, and although its Germanic charm is colder than Italian or British productions, this roadster exudes enough emotion to arouse the senses of the arsouille.

Sport-iate

He's so sure of himself! It shows in every angle of his body. This is none other than an extremely close variant of the sporty S 1000 RR. As you settle into the saddle, you immediately feel the kinship, with a very similar "leg grip". Fortunately, less bent legs and the use of handlebars instead of wrist straps promise less fatigue and strain. But the ergonomics are undeniably sporty, with an incisive stance that encourages the rider to remain almost as tense as she is. It's an authentic streetfighter, guaranteeing the same level of comfort.

It's still in the city that you can best appreciate a machine's rough edges - especially when it's been designed to be a powder-keg, not a back-alley stroller. Well, no surprises there, as it sulks gently at not being able to express itself. The adaptive suspension (optional) ensures that the scars of the road are only moderately felt, and the smoothness of the controls, especially the clutch, means that you can get through the city without too much jarring. But with the front end pressed down and the engine constantly chirping with impatience, both the bike and its rider soon feel cramped. We've got to get out of here, and fast!

Circuit blood

So, the départementales seem like a deliverance, the nationales like a spicy appetizer. But you have to keep a cool head and take into account one established fact. This bike has such a healthy, hearty 4-cylinder that it can quickly take you out of the legal limits - and out of the limits altogether. The greed of a rhythm adapted to its size can only be conceived on roads where you can really get the sauce going.

Because once you've felt the thrust of the German boiler, it's hard to resign yourself to riding cool. Very supple and already present at low revs, it uses its very linear force to push hard at 6,000 rpm, then adds a layer of muscle up to 8,000 rpm, and then some more, as if the steak were only getting thicker. With a throttle that transmits your instructions perfectly and without a moment's delay, the S 1000 R takes every straight line in a sprint, with nothing to slow it down. Too bad its linearity is defined more as efficient than emotional. Even if the power lifts your heart and zygomatic muscles, it lacks that personality trait that makes one machine more endearing than another.

But this "rationality" contributes to a rapid confidence-building process, with this overflowing yet almost "considerate" potato. Mind you, it's 170 hp all the same. With electronics that regulate quite a few things. Which means you can get to the bends very quickly when you get the boiler going. So, you can play around, let off the throttle, have fun looking for trajectories and a nice pull out of corners, but always bear in mind that this is a bomb that lives in the aluminum perimeter frame. Yes, this applies to all fire pumps. But some of them intimidate you so quickly that you naturally calm down. The BMW is less emotional, almost serene, while the numbers go wild. All things considered, of course.

Plotting the goal

The driving force is backed up by a shifter that's delightful to use, allowing you to waltz between gears without a second thought, or even a second thought. This S 1000 R can also count on a highly efficient chassis, neutral and homogeneous in every phase of riding. The front naturally engages on demand, and the rest follows, with the road cut through both the eyes and the wheels. Surprising, since the bike's aggressive aura suggests a more nervous, engaged, lively road profile, when in fact it's very dynamic but not excessive.
The intelligent suspension works discreetly on judiciously restrained hydraulics, without sacrificing too much comfort, sporty though it may be.

Finger on the trigger

As I drove through a small village, I caught a fleeting glimpse of a Renault Spider in a dealership showroom. Back in the '90s, this car was the talk of the town, cracking 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds. The S 1000 R is capable, in the same timeframe, of leaping from a standstill to ...... 200 km/h. With such acceleration potential, the brakes have to be excellent; at the very least. The Brembo M4.32 radial calipers do a great job, with a nice, progressive bite and plenty of deceleration force. Fingertip feel (yes, one finger is enough) allows you to very precisely dose the force to be applied. But, with a machine of this caliber, we would have liked a more incisive attack, with Brembo Stylema for example.

Choosing your trump cards

The average fuel consumption for this short ride was 6.7 liters / 100 km. A figure to be put into perspective, as always, given the "jerky" pace of the outing. In any case, with so many watts and the BMW crest on the hull.
The large 6.5" color TFT display is easy to read. It offers a choice of different display styles, most of which let you know the angle of the bend, braking force, DTC intervention level, active driving mode, gear engaged, speed, tire pressure and, of course, a tachometer in pride of place. The latter urges you not to open the throttle like a pig while the engine is heating up, thanks to a lowered red zone that shifts as the temperature rises.

Alas, with my schedule, I didn't have the opportunity to test the multiple settings of the electronic landing gear. After appreciating their discreet interventions, I'm thinking about the work they must do when the day is punctuated by crazy cavalcades. As standard, the S 1000 R is equipped with engine torque regulation (very useful during hard or dirty braking), three riding modes, traction control and cornering ABS. Other modules and, above all, adjustable assistances can only be unlocked with options. Some of these, like the Pro shifter and heated grips, seem to me to be a good idea. As for the rest...... I'm an old fart who checks his tires regularly, likes to put the key in the ignition and is somewhat reluctant to spend time in the menus. Which is by no means to say that there's nothing interesting in the catalog. On the other hand, you'll quickly go from 16,900 euros (base price) to... a lot more. How much more can the S 1000 R cost when fully loaded? Almost double.

More than extra efficiency, the BMW S 1000 R 2025 finally has the face of its performance. This roadster combines power and ease, with enviable safety and rigor. Its handling is precise and consistent, and its balance makes it a road weapon of choice. All that's left is a lack of emotion that's not prohibitive, a tiered price tag and a crime-pushing side that's hard to resist.