Worlds are colliding once again as BMW Motorrad has unveiled the M 1000 XR prototype.
Designed to preview the company’s third M model, the prototype is billed as a “long distance sports bike with high long-range capability and supersports riding dynamics.” This is notable as the bike has been designed to perform well on both country roads and the track.
The company didn’t say much about the prototype, but it features a short windscreen and sweptback headlights with integrated daytime running units. They’re joined by M winglets, which provide improved stability, increased downforce, and a “lower wheelie tendency.”
More: BMW Motorrad’s First M Bike Packs 209 HP
We can also see M badging, a fat rear tire, and a “front-wheel-oriented seating position” that “ensures better bike control, especially in supersport mode.” A closer inspection also reveals carbon fiber components and XR decals.
Power is provided by a four-cylinder engine sourced from the S 1000 RR and it features ShiftCam technology. BMW didn’t go into many specifics, but said the mill has been “adapted” for use in the M 1000 XR and has more than 197 hp (147 kW / 200 PS). The company also noted the bike can hit a top speed of around 174 mph (280 km/h).
While BMW is keeping the final numbers under wraps, the S 1000 RR has a 1-liter engine that produces 207 hp (154 kW / 210 PS) and 83 lb-ft (113 Nm) of torque. The company also noted the M 1000 XR will be offered with an M Competition Package, which provides “further weight reduction and even increased riding dynamics.”
On the topic of weight, the bike weighs 492 lbs (223 kg) fully fueled. That’s not much and BMW Motorrad added the model has M brakes and chassis technology “designed equally for high-performance road use, long-distance riding and fast laps on the racetrack.”
A lot of questions remain unanswered, but we’ll learn more details in the second half of this year.
