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The BMW S 1000 R is a very capable naked sportbike that doubles as a daily commuter and full-on hooligan bike.

BMW is a German marque that enthralls motorcycling enthusiasts with its offerings that cater to a wide spectrum of people. The motorcycles like the legendary BMW R1250GS and the BMW K1600 GT are also some of the best-selling motorcycles in the respective segment. In the naked heavyweight segment, BMW has the mighty 2022 BMW S 1000 R, which is offered for sale at a base MSRP of $14,545.

This motorcycle is carried forward from the 2021 version and sees no major changes. The motorcycle received some major upgrades in 2021 in the form of more electronics wizardry, a revised motor derived from the S 1000 RR, and minor suspension and chassis changes. All of this made it an exceptional motorcycle in the crowded segment which consists of the motorcycles like the Triumph Street Triple RS and the Yamaha MT-10. Here are ten reasons that make the BMW S 1000 R a motorcycle that every enthusiast should know about.

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The 999cc liquid-cooled inline-4 motor in the S 1000 R is taken directly from the 2022 S 1000 RR and is slightly detuned to create more torque. This motor puts out 165 hp and 84 lb-ft of torque, which is about 40 hp lower than the S 10000 RR. Even though the performance is down on paper due to the exclusion of ShiftCam, it is still one of the fastest accelerating naked out there and has an impressive low-end grunt on offer too.

The peak horsepower and torque of the 2022 S 1000 R are delivered at a lower rev range, and that is going to tremendously improve the tractability of this inline-4 motor. That makes the city riding quite a breeze, too. Even the mid-range and top-end performances are intoxicating. The motor sounds fantastic as well.

What makes the 2022 BMW S 1000 R quite enjoyable to ride is due to the easy accessibility of performance. The initial three gears of the motorcycle are very well spread out, with the first and second being adequately short. This aids in city drivability and the motorcycle doesn't need too many gearshifts in the urban condition.

However, the fourth, fifth, and sixth gears of the S 1000 R are quite tall, and the motorcycle could cruise through the freeways with the engine note well under control. As a result, the rider and the pillion wouldn't experience too much stress and fatigue, unlike the Yamaha MT-10. The gearshifts are slick, and the clutch is reasonably light in operation too.

The suspension setup of the 2022 BMW S 1000 R remains identical to the outgoing 2021 model, and that is a good thing. Coming with the 45 mm fully adjustable USD fork at the front, the front end feels sharp and accurate. The rear end gets a mono-shock system, which is also fully adjustable. With the rear set to the hardest setting, the S 1000 R corners with extreme composure.

The mid-corner direction changes are quite easy too, which can be partly due to the rigid aluminum bridge-type chassis and the extreme weight reduction the motorcycle has undergone last year. With a low center of gravity due to the lower positioning of the engine, the S 1000 R feels more fun to ride around the corners than the MT-10 and the Street Triple RS.

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Like the 2021 model, the 2022 BMW S 1000 R offers exceptional braking performance. The front end gets the radial 4-piston caliper with 320 mm dual disc, and the rear comes with a single-piston floating caliper with 220 mm disc. Both the front and rear get the cornering ABS functionality as standard too.

A slight grab of the front brake lever helps the rider to understand the surreal braking performance on offer from this naked motorcycle. The brakes have a sharp initial bite and the braking progression is similar to the S 1000 RR. The front-end dive is minimal too. Even the rear brakes offer top-notch bite, progression, and minimal fade under hard use.

Though the BMW S 1000 R comes with a suspension setup that is on the slightly firmer side, the ride quality is not as bad as the rivals of the heavyweight naked motorcycle segment. The front end absorbs most of the irregularities on the road with ease, and only the sharpest of the bumps get transmitted to the handlebar.

In comparison, the KTM 890 Duke R and the Triumph Street Triple RS have a much stiffer setup. With the rear Öhlins suspension setup, if you set it to the softest setting, the ride quality is very pleasant. The suspension also doesn't offer a wallowy ride quality as the speeds climb, which is mainly due to the slight edge of stiffness even at the softest setting.

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Since this is one of the most premium products of the BMW motorcycle lineup, this German motorcycle manufacturer hasn't skimped on the features and tech on offer. As standard, the 2022 BMW S 1000 R comes with full LED lighting, three ride modes, six-axis IMU (including ABS Pro and DTC), TFT digital display, and an adjustable handlebar.

Apart from that, a long list of optional equipment can be added to the list too. The S 1000 R can be stacked with the features like the dynamic damper control, ride modes pro, shift assist pro, headlight pro, keyless ride, TPMS, M package, M carbon and forged wheels, M lightweight battery, and many more. Optional accessories like the rear bags, carbon trim panel components, billet parts, etc can be had too.

Be it the S 1000 RR or the R 1250 RT, BMW has always had the best digital instrument cluster for the price. When it comes to the 2022 BMW S 1000 R, the same DNA is carried forward. The 6.5" TFT display offered with this naked machine is one of the brightest and punchiest displays we have ever seen in a production motorcycle.

The interface is top-notch too, and the cluster can be accessed through the tactile buttons placed on the handlebar. There are no lags and stutters, and hence it feels like a polished system that you generally see in a car. Along with that, the system offers Bluetooth connectivity as standard, and that offers navigation, music, phone calls, and message information displayed on the screen.

The design of the 2022 BMW S 1000 R sees no changes from the 2021 model, and that is one area where the motorcycling enthusiasts would have mixed opinions. The S 1000 R is definitely a good-looking motorcycle from the sides and rear, however, when looked at from the front, it doesn't have the same imposing attitude as some of its rivals.

The culprit for this is the bland-looking headlight of the BMW S 1000 R, which makes it look less premium. However, the rest of the design looks quite good. The golden USD fork outer tubes, wide section front and rear tires, golden header, and exposed chassis bits contribute to the manliness of this motorcycle. The massive fuel tank with minor fairings also adds to the character.

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The BMW S 1000 R is much superior to the likes of the Triumph Street Triple RS and the Yamaha MT-10 when it comes to the build quality, and that shows the moment you lay hands on the motorcycle. Every panel in here is fitted with utmost precision and hence there are no panel gaps and rattling. The paint quality is superb as well.

All the touchpoints of the motorcycle, including the handlebar, levers, switchgear, and many more feels built to last and that helps the S 1000 R stand out from the sea of Japanese motorcycles out there. The handlebar, footpegs, bar grips, and many are rubber mounted and that helps in eliminating vibrations entirely.

Many of the BMW motorcycles have been known to be quite problematic as the years pass by. With the owners reporting problems related to the electronics and cooling system, they didn't have the best of reputation in the motorcycling world. On the contrary, the BMW S 1000 R owners are quite happy with the motorcycle.

None of the owners in the BMW forums have reported any major issues with the motorcycle and have only done regular servicing, which is quite good to know. What is further encouraging is that BMW also provides a standard 3 years or 36,000 miles of warranty with the S 1000 R, and that takes care of all the problems in the initial years of ownership. This inline-4 motor runs fairly cool, and the cooling system is also quite beefed up, especially in comparison to the older model years.

Mohith is our in-house motorcycle mechanic and automotive geek. He loves riding and driving at the limits, and you would frequently notice him on racetracks at the weekends. Mohith is someone who would redline anything that comes with a motor - even our office lawnmower. He often does cross-country road trips in his trusted 300ZX and you could find him riding his CB750 quite often through the streets of Pasadena as well as on the Moore Motorsports racetrack.