| FIRST RIDE |
Refined
Roadster
2026 BMW R 1300 R
There’ s something deeply satisfying about threading a proper naked bike through Germany’ s rolling landscape, with alpine- fresh air filling your helmet, a boxer’ s mechanical concerto playing beneath you, and every bend seemingly custom- designed to make you a more confident pilot. BMW Motorrad’ s R 1300 R was born and bred in the foothills of the Alps, and the latest iteration of Bavaria’ s twin- cylinder roadster blends refinement, urgency, and a decidedly addictive character.
The R 1300 R is technological progress in tangible form. Its boxer engine configuration has been in BMW’ s lineup since the R 32 debuted at the Berlin Motor Show in 1923. The R 32’ s 494cc boxer made 8.5 hp, and the bike had a top speed of 60 mph. More than a century later, the R 1300 R’ s boxer has more than twice the displacement and makes 17 times as much horsepower. It’ s also equipped with Shift- Cam variable valve timing, IMU- enabled performance and safety features, and radar- based adaptive cruise control
By KEN ENGELMAN Photos courtesy BMW MOTORRAD
10 / JUNE 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM