Take BMW's S1000RR, remove some fairings, give the engine some more low and mid range torque, and you'll pretty much end up with this. It's the , the new naked bike derived from BMW's range-topping superbike.
The character is a bit more brutish than the high-strung RR. Though it uses the same 999 cc four-cylinder engine, it sacrifices 2000 rpm in the name of more torque in the bottom half of the rev range. It produces its maximum power figure of 160 hp at 11,000 rpm and 83 lb-ft of torque at 9250 rpm. These changes are the result of redesigned cylinder heads, new cam profiles and tweaked engine management software.
Thanks to its aluminum-alloy frame, aluminum fuel tank and load-bearing engine, weight has been kept to about 450 lb, which should provide the bike with some relatively sporty handling characteristics. The inverted front fork and dual swingarm suspension systems are fully adjustable, and braking is handled by twin-discs and four pot calipers at the front and a single disc on the back wheel.
The also includes an array of active safety features to keep its rider upright, including Automatic Stability Control and ABS. Settings for these two systems can be switched between "Rain" and "Road" modes, which adjust the power curve and the level of ASC and ABS intervention. Dynamic Traction Control is available as an option, and can be switched between "Dynamic" and Dynamic Pro." This system includes a banking angle sensor, and allows the rider to safely extract even more performance.
With its asymmetrical headlight cluster, styling is similar to that of its racier sibling, but like most naked bikes, its lack of fairings makes it appear as if it isn't trying as hard to be cool. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced, but expect that information to come soon.