“Flip that’s pretty.” Those were our mutterings as we wandered into BMW Motorrad East Rand the other day.
“That one’s ours”, they said, ‘And you are welcome to take it for a ride. So we did just that.
For 2025, BMW went back to the drawing board for its latest sport-touring machine, the R 1300 RS. This R1300RS is the Motorsport model. It boasts little extra bits and bobs like that gorgeous Akarapovic pipe, a racy paint job, shorty levers and a trick rear sets. The party piece for Boxer engine lovers is the big-bore 1300cc donk.
This ones monster 1300 Boxer engine is complimented with a gorgeously crafted Akarapovic.
Beneath its familiar fairing is an all-new chassis, a sharper stance, and more power than the predecessors.
At the heart of the matter is a completely new steel sheet-metal main frame, thats bolted to a new die-cast aluminium rear frame that replaces the old tubular steel setup.
The goal? A stiffer, lighter foundation.
Up front, a new 47 mm upside-down telescopic fork takes care of the wheel guidance, while the rear suspension gets BMW’s reworked Evo Paralever system. The connection between the suspension and frame is now significantly stiffer, complemented by a continuous swingarm quick-release axle for easy wheel changes.
New 17-inch hollow-spoke cast aluminium wheels shave 1.4 kg off the unsprung weigh. Braking power comes courtesy of twin front discs with radially mounted four-piston calipers and a single rear disc with a two-piston floating caliper, all managed by BMW’s Motorrad ABS Pro.
The newly designed LED headlight gives the new 1300 a fierce, sporty look, backed by dedicated LED units for the daytime running and side lights.
Tech-wise, the RS doesn’t skimp. It now comes standard with Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC), complete with a braking function.
At the heart of the matter is BMW’s latest 1,300 cc boxer engine that pushes 145 horsepower. That’s up from 136 hp by the R 1250 RS, and you can feel it.
That powerhouse is mated to a six-speed gearbox complete with shift assist and a beefy shaft drive that delivers power to the rear wheel.
For some reason, the BMW RS range is often overlooked by the consumer. We think that to ignore this model in the BMW lineup is a mistake and we’ll try to tell you why. Ok we wont even try – it’s easy to explain:
If you want fast?
These bikes have always been fast and this one boasts more torque than the predecessor, so it’s even more fun on urban streets and the freeways. The big 1300 mill just gives that slight vibration when you blip her at the lights, it’s so very cool.
That gorgeous pipe rumbles along quietly and she accelerates as hard as you can open the throttle.
Quickshifter. Yes it works well, but compared to most other bikes, the boxer quickshifter always feels a bit rough with a firm “clunk” as you engage the gears. It’s a Boxer trait and a part of the bikes big personality.
This one has a gorgeous colour scheme. The beautifully upholstered seat is seriously cool.
You want comfortable?
Well, we’d ride this before the RR every day because in terms of ergonomics, BMW has nailed it! You don’t perch like a pretzel, there’s no serious weight on your wrists and it’s made for people with legs that are of a normal length. The seat is narrow and comfortable and the screen offers all the protection that you need from the elements. Even on the slow, traffic laden streets, we did not notice any uncomfortable heat from the engine.
For urban commuting the bike is perfectly comfortable and easy to live with, so to work and back instead of driving your M3, you’ll be happy every time you swing a leg over.
On the open roads is where this bike really shines, did we mention fast, comfortable and all that and so much fun through the corners. The bike feels light and tracks the corners beautifully. Go and find those flowing roads, we guarantee that you’ll enjoy every second.
Heading out for a weekend around Sabie? This one is hard to beat, but be aware that the new fuel tank is smaller than the 1250’s. 17 litres, but BMW says that improved fuel economy compensates for that.
So – more power, less weight, and an even sharper edge. It’s a sport-tourer built not just to travel fast, but to feel fast. We do like it rather a lot.
And just look at it! Gorgeous huh!
This one priced at R368k
