BMW

BMW Concept RR previews future superbikes

By Ben Purvis

As a rule of thumb when BMW applies the name 'Concept' to a show bike it really means it's an accurate preview of an upcoming production model - while if the company uses the term 'Vision' it means it's a flight of fancy that's unlikely to see the light of day. So the new Concept RR that was revealed at the Villa d'Este concours at Lake Como in May is, to all intents, a look at the next-generation S 1000 RR and M 1000 RR models. 

Markus Flasch, head of BMW Motorrad, was pretty clear about that, too, saying: "Never before has BMW Motorrad provided such an early glimpse into a future generation of the RR models. The BMW Motorrad Concept RR is a true masterpiece of our development team, both technically and in terms of design language. Guided and inspired by the BMW Motorrad factory superbike M 1000 RR, (the bike that factory rider Toprak Razgatlioglu won the FIM World Superbike Championship in 2024), the Concept RR offers a true firework of superlatives for both street and track use. 

"The transfer from racing to road has never been shown more clearly. It represents BMW Motorrad's leadership claim to offer the highest engineering level and maximum performance in this segment."

It's not the most radical of concept bikes, carrying over substantial elements from the existing S and M 1000 RR bikes, including the essentially same 999 cc four-cylinder engine. The concept uses the full-on WSBK-spec version, with 230 hp, but of course the production model will be toned down a fraction to meet emissions rules. It also uses the same main frame structure as today's models.

The big departures are in the materials, including a carbon-fibre swingarm, and the aerodynamics, which give the bike a sleeker style than the aerodynamically-efficient but bulbous M 1000 RR currently racing in WSBK. Without revealing many details, BMW says that the airflow has been optimised through the bike as well as over its surfaces, allowing it to use smaller winglets than the current model.

With the existing S 1000 RR and M 1000 RR having been updated for the 2025 model year, with revised styling and mechanical specs, it's unlikely that the new look previewed on the Concept RR will reach showrooms before the 2027 model year.