BMW’s Stunning Yet Affordable New Roadster Is a Speed Demon’s Dream Come True

The just-announced 2026 R 1300 R offers spellbinding power and acceleration at a surprisingly reasonable price.

Published April 14, 2025

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Updated April 15, 2025

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On a Pinarello Dogma F-reviewing trip to Italy’s Veneto region last summer, I desperately wanted to sneak in a jaunt through the countryside on another Italian stallion, the Ducati Monster.

Alas, such a bike proved harder to rent than I hoped, so I “settled” for a BMW F900R — and was pleasantly surprised to find this quick and nimble roadster was beyond qualified to slake my thirst for two-wheeled bliss.

2026 bmw r 1300 r full — Along with muscular yet somehow sleek looks, the R 1300 R presents a potent blend of performance and price.

That unforgettable experience has me especially excited about the latest announcement from the iconic German motoring brand: the decidedly more powerful 2026 R 1300 R.

The bike boasts a bevy of compelling features at a sub-$17,000 base price that is equally jaw-dropping. Let’s take a closer look.

Sturm und Drang with a saddle

The specs of this bike alone are enough to get any red-blooded moto lover throttling the air with excitement.

At the heart of it all is an air/liquid-cooled 1,300cc boxer engine that delivers a stirring 145 horsepower and 110 lb-ft of torque, on par with the groundbreaking adventure bike from which it is derived, the GP100-worthy R 1300 GS.

2026 bmw r 1300 r action — The R 1300 R’s 110 lb-ft of torque should leave four-wheeled cagers — and most other motos — in the dust.

Sending torque to the rear wheel via the brand’s Cardan shaft drive, this roadster can go from 0-60 mph in just 3.25, a level of pickup in the neighborhood of what electric motos produce.

Enabling you to swiftly move through the gears during that time is BMW’s Automatic shift assistant, a borderline automatic quickshifter.

To help you stay upright through the twisties — and bumpies — the bike also boast a new upside-down telecscopic fork and EVO Paralever II rear suspension, plus optional Dynamic Suspension Adjustment or Sports suspension setup via the Style Performance package.

2026 bmw r 1300 r duo — The Option 719 Kilauea (left) and Exclusive (right) design variants of the bike are equally striking.

It’s worth noting that there are three variants of the R 1300 R beyond the base model: Exclusive, Performance and Option 719 Kilauea, with accordant jumps in price, of course.

While the pure and simple spirit of a naked bike like this one is what draws the eye, it packs loads of high-end electronics as well.

2025 bmw r 1300 r kickstand — Note: All images are of the European version of the bike — hence that billboard of a license plate.

Tech highlights include a 6.5-inch full-color TFT screen, BMW Motorrad Fully Integral ABS Pro, Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Riding Assistant featuring Active Cruise Control (ACC), Frontal Collision Warning (FCW) and five built-in riding modes: Rain, Eco, Road, Dynamic, and Dynamic Pro.

No matter how analog you may be, that kinda stuff could come in handy in the Italian countryside — or wherever you choose to ride this beautiful beast.