00:00Although it's taken until 2024 to see the short-circuit success that BMW have been longing
00:06for, the S1000RR has been a massive hit for road riders since its release, all the way back in 2009.
00:14In fact, the S1000RR doesn't just regularly outsell the rest of its superbike competition,
00:21but it smashes sales out of the ballpark, sometimes selling well over double its best-selling
00:27leader rivals in the UK. For 2025, the S1000RR is about evolution rather than revolution,
00:35with a few tweaks to the motor, that is now €5 plus compliant, a revised aero package,
00:41some additional riding modes, and a quick action throttle.
00:45Adopted from the Homologation Special M1000RR
00:48Although the S1000RR has seen a raft of updates over the years,
00:53the 2025 model still has that same essence of the original model, with a poised and predictable
01:00inline-four motor, a great level of stability and a roomy cockpit that does allow for a little bit
01:06of comfort for longer journeys. Yet with every iteration, it has become a more serious proposition
01:13and the 2025 model takes that a step further with a more aggressive appearance and the sharper,
01:19more direct feeling from the throttle. On track, the RR feels precise, but closer to an extreme
01:26superbike with headlights. Compared to previous generations, the 2025 model is more focused and requires
01:33a little more rider input to muscle it around, but when done so, the rewards are greater.
01:40It's the S1000RR we all love, with some additional spice thrown in for good measure.
01:45Gone are the days of leader superbikes being cramped and small, as the S1000RR is a surprisingly
01:52roomy and a rather large beast to straddle. When equipped with the optional M footrests,
01:581,012 pounds, the rear sets offer a huge amount of adjustability in their positioning,
02:04and the space between the seat and the bars is vast, suiting a larger rider.
02:09The riding triangle isn't too aggressive for a sports bike either, and even at motorway speeds,
02:16the screen offers a reasonable amount of wind protection. The aftermarket heated grips,
02:22260 pounds, are incredibly effective on a cooler day too, offering a good amount of heat,
02:29even with thicker gloves. In terms of its cornering and braking abilities,
02:33the S1000RR is sharper than ever. However, that means that it's incredibly firm on the road,
02:40even in the softer road mode. Although it turns with impressive precision,
02:45the RR's ride quality is on the harsher side of the spectrum, while the brakes are impressively sharp
02:51too, with little intervention from the ABS. However, on track it comes into its own.
02:56The S1000RR is one of, if not the sharpest leader super bikes on sale today, with a chassis and
03:04suspension setup that will swallow anything thrown its way. It feels like a well-sorted track machine
03:11as standard, with incredible poise and precision. The feedback through the suspension and chassis is
03:17truly incredible too, working better the harder it is pushed. BMW's flagship sports bike has always
03:24been known for its smooth, linear engine, and even in its latest, 5 euro plus guys,
03:31it retains that character, for the most part. It's happy to sit a gear or 2,2 high, and will even
03:37sit at motorway speeds without feeling too eager, which is helped by the handy additional of cruise
03:42control, 370 pounds. But because it's so smooth from just a few thousand RPM, you always have to be
03:50mindful of that mammoth power figure as it will achieve license losing speeds without ever even
03:55breaking a sweat. When it's wound up, the RR is deceptively fast and carves through gears with an
04:01almost impossible level of silkiness at the top end. It's seriously composed and is an incredible
04:07asset that will climb into the triple MPH digits with no drama whatsoever. However, for 25, the S1000RR
04:16comes equipped with the M's quick action throttle, reducing the range from 72 degrees to 58 degrees,
04:23and it is quite eager at very single digit speeds, even in the softer engine settings. On the road,
04:29it's very enthusiastic, even in the softer modes, but it's on track where the S1000RR feels most at home.
04:37That 999 cubic centimeters motor eats up straights without a thought and makes an incredible amount of
04:44mechanical grip in the process. The combination of those big wings and impressive electronics also
04:50do a sterling job of getting the RR moving forward while still remaining stable on the power. Although
04:57very early S1000RR suffered a few minor issues, BMW seemed to have addressed those problems and the
05:04dealer service tends to be positive. For the previous generations of S1000RR, owners' reviews show a mixed
05:12bag when it comes to reliability. Some are happy, while others state they've had serious problems,
05:19although with the 2025 model relatively unchanged. We'd like to think that any problems have now been
05:26ironed out. We are also running an S1000RR on our long-term test fleet for 2025, so keep an eye out for
05:34our updates from our deputy editor Carl Stevens' ownership experience. Although the S1000RR sport starts at
05:41just £19,310, that is for the very basic specification, and it doesn't take long for the cost to add up for
05:50additional goodies. For context, Ducati's Panigale V4S costs £29,995. Aprilia's RSV4 Factory 1100 will set you
06:03back £23,859 and Honda's CBR 1000RR. Our Fireblade SP is £23,699, while Bimoda's new KB9 98 Rimini costs
06:18just over £36,000. On the flip side, Kawasaki's ZX-10R is £17,499. Our test bike is equipped with the
06:301,260-pound dynamic package that gives the RR heated grips, cruise control, and dynamic damping
06:38control, the 1,625-million-pound Titan exhaust system, the 435-pounds M billet package levers,
06:48and the 5,010-pounds M package, which includes a host of extras such as carbon wheels, along with
06:55the blue calipers, and the white color scheme. Although this bumps the price up, it is possible
07:00for you to spec your RR to exactly how you want it and leave off what you don't need. As you might
07:06imagine, the 2025 S1000RR comes with all the bells and whistles imaginable on a leader superbike,
07:14alongside a few additional creature comforts too. A 6-axis IMU powers a raft of modes and switchable
07:21rider aids that cover everything from cornering ABS and traction control to launch control and brake
07:27slide assist, and even a pit lane limiter. The electronics are impressively effective. This is
07:34all powered via a 6. 5-inch TFT dash that is relatively easy to use and has Bluetooth connectivity
07:42that will hook up to the free BMW app in order to record your ride and use maps. Heated grips and
07:48cruise control are an extra, but they're both effective systems that add another dimension
07:53to the RR's road-going abilities.
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