BMW M 1000 RR guns for Ducati with more power, less weight, added winglets

BMW’s famed M Performance division has officially made the transition from four to two wheels with the unveiling of the all-new BMW M 1000 RR race-bred sportsbike.

The first time the ‘M’ sub-division has been used as a BMW Motorrad model in its own right, the BMW M 1000 RR will slot above the S 1000 RR in its sportsbike line-up and boast more power, less weight and new tech to hone its skills on both the race track and on the road.

Aimed directly at the Ducati Panigale V4 R and the recently launched Honda CBR1000RR-R, the BMW M 1000 RR boasts an upgraded four-cylinder ShiftCam engine that ups the power output to 212bhp and increases RPM by 500.

Combined with a reduction in kerbweight to 192kg the BMW M 1000 RR is aimed more squarely at the seasoned track day enthusiast and customer racing teams.

Indeed, the BMW M 1000 RR has created specifically to boost BMW’s fortunes on the race track after the current generation S 1000 RR - introduced in 2019 - quickly found itself towards the back of the power stakes against Ducati, Kawasaki and the new Honda.

As well as increased power, the BMW M 1000 RR’s party piece is the introduction of winglets to improve downforce and cornering stability.  The tiered winglets are more elaborate than those currently seen on the Ducati Panigale V4 R, with BMW claiming they have been developed after painstaking windtunnel development.

Under the skin the BMW M 1000 RR now boasts shorter pistons, adapted combustion chambers, altered cam profiles, increased compression ratio and reprofiled intake ports. Race Pro electronics debut on the M 1000 RR allowing you to tweak the throttle response, engine braking and power delivery, as well as feature rain, road, dynamic, race and race pro1-3 riding modes.

The BMW M 1000 RR will go on sale priced at £30,935, undercutting the Ducati Panigale V4 R by almost £4000.