BMW M1000R and S1000R (2025) – Technical Review

If eyes are the windows to the soul, then a motorcycle’s headlights are the key to its character – and it’s been shown again and again that twin lights mimicking the eyes of a person or animal can instantly give a bike a recognisable face that makes it more appealing than a single-lamped alternative.

While there’s no doubting the classic appeal of a big, round single lamp, efforts to modernise the single-headlight look often result in a generic look that fails to stand out from the crowd, and that’s perhaps an argument that can be levelled at the BMW S1000R since the second-generation model debuted in 2021. The original model, launched in 2014 with twin lights, wouldn’t be called pretty – it followed BMW’s longstanding tradition of a lopsided look and while asymmetry can be appealing, here the result was more ‘Patrick Moore’s monocle’ than ‘Roger Moore’s raised eyebrow’ – but it was immediately distinctive. The 2021-on version that replaced, along with the M1000R that joined it the following year, swapped to a single light, and despite a family resemblance to the R1250R the result wasn’t as instantly recognisable.

Now, for 2025, the S1000R and M1000R get a new look with twin headlights to create a ‘face’ instead of the cyclops style, along with a range of other revisions.

Pros & Cons

2025 BMW M1000R and S1000R - Price

With a starting price of £13,760 the 2025 S1000R is £660 more than the previous model but bearing in mind its extra power and other improvements that seems like a bit of a bargain.

The S1000R Sport, which comes with more standard equipment, starts at £15,765, a rise of only £130 over the 2024 model. The range-topping M1000R, complete with the more powerful, Shiftcam engine from the S1000RR superbike, is £19,990 for 2025, a rise of just £120 over the previous iteration.

The colours are defined by which version you get. The base S1000R comes only in metallic black, while the Sport arrives in a rather Suzuki-ish blue-and-yellow combination. Add the ‘M Package’ to the Sport model and the colours switch to BMW’s traditional white with M Motorsport graphics. The M1000R, meanwhile, arrives in the same white with M Motorsport colour, plus a new matte aluminium, while the M Competition option pack – which carries a hefty price tag of its own and includes carbon add-on including new wheels – brings the black-with-M-Motorsport colour scheme.

2025 BMW M1000R and S1000R - Engine & Performance

The S1000RR-derived 999cc four-cylinder engine is the same essential design as on the previous iterations of the bike but the S1000R gets some significant changes to bring extra power and Euro5+ compatibility for 2025.

Those updates include a new design for the intake ports and revised ECU mapping and bring a power rise from 162hp to over 167hp (121kW to 125kW), still peaking at the same 11,000rpm as before. They’re combined with a new, shorter final drive ratio with an extra tooth on the rear sprocket, up from 45 to 46 while the front sprocket stays the same at 17 teeth to lower the overall gearing and improve acceleration even though torque is unchanged at 84lbft (114Nm) at 9250rpm.

The bike also gets the same shorter-throw throttle that’s come to the S1000RR and M1000RR superbikes for 2025, reducing the twistgrip’s rotation from 72 degrees to 58 degrees in pursuit of shaper response and better rider comfort.

The M1000R doesn’t get engine changes, but since it already benefits from the ShiftCam variable valve timing and lift system of the S1000RR superbike, pushing peak power to 206.5bhp (154kW) at 13,750rpm, it’s already at an advantage. The M1000R’s max torque is a fraction down on the S1000R’s, peaking at 83.3lbft (113Nm) and needing 11,000rpm to get there, but it has shorter gearing still thanks to a 47-tooth rear sprocket to compensate.

2025 BMW M1000R and S1000R - Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

While the chassis, brakes and suspension are direct carry-overs from the previous model – as is most of the bodywork apart from the new nose cowl and headlights – electronic improvements promise to benefit the handling prowess of both the M and S models for 2025.

The S1000R in particular gets updates including a new electronically-controlled ‘MSR’ engine braking control system to prevent rear wheel lock up when the throttle is closed or you shift down. Rather than simply relying on a slipper clutch, the system detects when the rear wheel starts to slow too much and automatically opens the throttles a fraction to mitigate it. The system has four modes – rain, road, dynamic and dynamic pro – to align with the bike’s riding modes.

Both the S1000R and the M1000R also get revised traction control systems, borrowing strategies from BMW’s superbike models and working in harmony with the new short-throw throttle.

2025 BMW M1000R and S1000R - Comfort & Economy

With no changes to the riding positions or rear bodywork the 2025 S1000R and M1000R are going to be identical to their predecessors when it comes to comfort, and when we rode those machines we came away impressed with the levels of adjustability and resulting ability to accommodate riders of varying sizes and shapes.

As before, you can add heated grips and cruise control with the M package, and the dash is an impressive 6.5-inch TFT.

BMW claims no changes to economy despite the revised gearing of the S1000R, with that model turning in a WMTC-tested 45.6mpg and the M1000R managing 44.1mpg under the same conditions.

Paired to the same 16.5 litre tank as before, the result should be a range of 165 miles for the S1000R and 160 miles for the M1000R.

2025 BMW M1000R and S1000R - Equipment

While most of the equipment of the previous-gen S1000R and M1000R is carried over unchanged to the new models, there are a couple of tweaks for the 2025 machines.

Both, of course, get the new twin headlights and nose design, which borrow elements from the S1000RR and M1000RR superbikes and promise improved illumination.

On the standard S1000R, other updates include a shorter licence plate holder than before, mirroring the existing design used on the M1000R, while a more practical improvement is the addition of an under-seat USB-C charging socket. Beyond that, BMW has added its ‘Emergency E-Call’ system that automatically contacts a BMW call centre if the bike detects an accident.

2025 BMW M1000R and S1000R - Rivals

There’s a huge array of four-cylinder, superbike-derived roadsters on the market and the S1000R and M1000R range manages to cover a wide spectrum thanks to a broad range of prices. Key competitors have to be Ducati’s Streetfigther V4 and KTM’s 1390 Super Duke R, plus Triumph’s Speed Triple 1200 RS. More leftfield options include the Aprilia Tuono V4, and you might even be tempted to save a few thousand and opt for Honda’s new CB1000 Hornet SP.

Ducati Streetfighter V4 | Price: £21,595

Read more

Power/Torque

208bhp / 90.7lb-ft

Weight

195kg

Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS | Price: £15,795

Read more

Power/Torque

177.5bhp / 92.2lb-ft

Weight

198kg

Honda CB1000 Hornet SP | Price: £9999

Read more

Power/Torque

155bhp / 78.9lb-ft

Weight

212kg

2025 BMW M1000R and S1000R - Verdict

Once we’ve ridden these two super nakeds, we’ll give a full and detailed verdict.

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2025 BMW M1000R and S1000R - Technical Specification

What is MCIA Secured?

MCIA Secured gives bike buyers the chance to see just how much work a manufacturer has put into making their new investment as resistant to theft as possible.

As we all know, the more security you use, the less chance there is of your bike being stolen. In fact, based on research by Bennetts, using a disc lock makes your machine three times less likely to be stolen, while heavy duty kit can make it less likely to be stolen than a car. For reviews of the best security products, click here.

MCIA Secured gives motorcycles a rating out of five stars (three stars for bikes of 125cc or less), based on the following being fitted to a new bike as standard:

• A steering lock that meets the UNECE 62 standard

• An ignition immobiliser system

• A vehicle marking system

• An alarm system

• A vehicle tracking system with subscription

The higher the star rating, the better the security, so always ask your dealer what rating your bike has and compare it to other machines on your shortlist.