BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: In-Depth Road Test, Review, Pros, Cons, and Everything You Need to Know
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: In-Depth Road Test, Review, Pros, Cons, and Everything You Need to Know
Is the BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025 the Ultimate Sport Tourer? Our Full Review
Looking for an in-depth BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025 review? This article provides a comprehensive road test of the new BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025, covering its strengths, weaknesses, common issues, performance, top speed, and our expert opinions. Get all the real facts you need before making a decision.
Key Information & Related Articles:
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025 Road Test Review: Pros, Cons, Problems, Performance, Top Speed, Opinions – Everything You (Really) Need to Know
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025 Top Speed Recorded
BMW R 1300 RS Problems and Defects Reported by Owners
The Tested Motorcycle:
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025 Performance Version: Price starting from €22,540
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: Build Quality Review
The BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025 continues to set an absolute benchmark for overall build quality, which is truly excellent and unmatched by its competitors.
You'll find thick, perfectly bolted plastics and flawless assembly of every component: wiring, plastic parts, paintwork, footpegs, controls, top-tier electronic instrumentation, brakes, cardan shaft, and other premium solutions. Everything is perfect, or almost perfect...
Despite the high price, the controls and instrumentation are classic BMW, lacking backlighting and Android Auto or Apple CarPlay integration.
Furthermore, it's worth noting that some steel body parts have been replaced. The spoiler and the central tank trim are now made of plastic for the spoiler and a synthetic covering for the central tank trim. This raises concerns about their long-term durability in daily use.
Additionally, some accessories, like side panniers or radar, are not available on the "Performance" version.
Otherwise, the bike is well-crafted and undeniably appealing, with everything meticulously finished.
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: Ergonomics and Riding Comfort Review
The riding position is that of a perfect road-going sportbike, with a forward-leaning posture and noticeable, but not excessive, load on the arms.
Compared to its predecessors, you're more inclined forward, resulting in a sportier position that can be more tiring on long journeys.
The standard windscreen isn't highly protective either. While height-adjustable, it offers good protection at legal speeds but less so beyond, especially for taller or larger riders.
For the passenger, the position is good but undoubtedly sporty, with a less comfortable seat than before and stiffer suspension that filters less road imperfections.
Aerodynamic protection is adequate for a sportbike, but less so for a touring motorcycle, though it remains one of the best sport tourers on the market.
Compared to the R 1250 RS, there's been a slight shift away from balance in favor of dynamic performance. This means less aerodynamic protection, a harder seat, and a more forward-biased riding position.
This is excellent for those seeking greater sporting performance, but not ideal if you also intend to use the bike for touring, especially since this particular Performance version doesn't allow for side panniers.
It's also worth noting the heat radiating from the engine during city riding, a common characteristic of all Euro5+ engines.
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: Suspension Review
Our test bike was equipped with the new Dynamic Suspension Adjustment (DSA) system, standard on the Performance version. This allows you to set the suspension to "Road" or "Dynamic" modes. You can also personalize the fork and shock absorber settings, while the electronic management automatically adapts to the selected engine maps. On this Performance version, the suspension also has increased travel and a stiffer calibration.
This setup increases ground clearance in corners and enhances the sporty riding dynamics – a unique feature of this Performance version.
In "Auto" mode, the electronic control unit automatically adjusts the rear suspension preload based on the load: with or without a passenger, rider weight, luggage, etc. This keeps the bike constantly level, greatly benefiting riding dynamics, which remain unaffected by passengers or luggage.
Furthermore, the suspension calibration is further adjusted based on the selected engine map: Rain, Road, Dynamic, Dynamic Pro (all standard only in the Performance version). This allows the calibration to vary from medium-soft to rigid, making it impossible not to find an ideal setting for your needs or road conditions.
If in the past, fussy riders might have found the suspension still not stiff enough or lacking hydraulic damping, the level has now risen significantly to satisfy even the fastest riders. Only on the track would the calibration still be considered soft for the very fastest, but we're talking about very, very high levels of performance. They don't have the same calibration as a BMW S 1000 RR, but they are definitely a significant step forward in terms of sportiness compared to the past.
The fork dives less under abrupt braking, and the shock absorber is much less affected by load variations, compressing less on corner exits and always remaining very controlled. At least on open roads, they are almost perfect; it's hard to do better.
Compared to the past, they also allow for greater personalization in calibration, but as always, the fastest riders will likely choose the stiffest settings. On the other hand, you'll now feel road imperfections more, even with the most comfortable settings – the only drawback for those who use the bike for touring.
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: Braking and Traction Control Review
The braking system is powerful and modulated like a sportbike's, perfect in all conditions. The ABS and traction control intervention are excellent, and more importantly, braking is incredibly easy to manage even in panic situations: grab the brakes, and the bike will stop in very short distances. Overall, the braking is competitive in absolute terms, only partially penalized by the bike's weight; otherwise, it's excellent. From a sporty perspective, we would have preferred more options to adjust the ABS, traction control, and anti-wheelie intervention.
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: Engine Performance and Top Speed Review
The BMW Boxer 1300 engine is a paragon of smoothness. In sixth gear, you can cruise at 60 km/h without issues, then open the throttle and find yourself past 200 km/h... The 2025 version hasn't altered the character already known from the R 1300 GS.
The BMW R 1300 RS Performance showcases excellent low-to-mid-range torque and more than ample high-end pull. The 1300 boxer revs higher more decisively than before, though it might feel slightly less responsive at lower RPMs compared to the 1250. Now, you need to rev it higher; previously, you could be fast by exploiting the lower end of the tachometer. Now, you'll be fast by exploiting the upper end. On the other hand, the bike as a whole is much faster in sporty riding.
The 1300 pulls strongly up to the redline, but those who only use the low revs won't notice significant differences compared to the 1250. The short gearing also improves overall performance, and the top speed of 240 km/h is reached with extreme ease, more so than in the past, and can even be slightly exceeded under ideal conditions.
The various engine maps are well-differentiated, though we would have preferred more aggression in the Dynamic Pro map. It's a perfect engine for this type of bike; the only drawback is a not-very-engaging sound.
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: Gearbox Issues and Functionality Review
The new BMW R 1300 GS gearbox has seen both progress and some regression. The low-rpm snags that plagued the previous gearbox have been eliminated; you can now shift at any RPM, and the gearbox no longer "grinds" in lower gears at low RPMs as it did in the past.
On the other hand, it's now slightly rougher and less fluid in operation, but faster and more precise, with less shift lever travel. It's an almost perfect gearbox for sporty use, sufficiently fast and precise. In slow and touring use, it's slightly stiff and noisy.
Overall, it's not a Japanese-smooth gearbox, but for sporty use, it seems improved compared to the past, and no worse than its predecessor for touring. Overall, it's adequate, though one might expect more given the bike's cost. However, during the entire test, it never gave any problems; it was always precise and fast. It's not a "buttery" smooth gearbox, but it works excellently, though it requires decisive input. It's more of a track bike gearbox than a sport touring one; that's its flaw.
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: Riding Dynamics, Handling, Stability, and Safety Review
The BMW R 1300 RS Performance remains one of the easiest and safest motorcycles to ride. Despite the stiffer suspension and new frame, the bike stays "planted" even at 240 km/h, to the point where you could ride it with one hand.
It's stable and secure at top speed, though it requires more careful riding on uneven surfaces, even if the electronic suspension performs admirably. Safety is also excellent in strong crosswinds or when following trucks, a level of security rarely found in competitors.
But the real difference lies in its behavior on winding roads, because the bike is now much faster in corner entry, more precise, and quicker in changes of direction. It leans into corners effortlessly, without forcing or making its weight felt. It's fast, incredibly easy, and always intuitive.
It can maintain very high speeds on twisty roads, with average cornering speeds unsuspected for a bike of its size. It now remains very competitive even on very fast routes. It still lacks a higher top speed, from a sporting perspective, of course—the only flaw of a bike that also aspires to be very sporty. From a "Performance" version, we would have expected a greater result.
Equally excellent is its behavior on mountain roads: fast in hairpins, fast in tight corners, always easy, intuitive, and extremely quick. It's also suitable for city use, but it remains a "wasted" bike for urban commuting, just as it's underutilized for exclusive touring, two areas where the previous 1250 was superior in terms of ease of riding and comfort.
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: Fuel Consumption Review
In our test, we observed an average fuel consumption of approximately 20 km/liter. This can reach up to 24 km/liter when riding gently, while pushing the engine hard will drop it to 15 km/liter. These are still excellent values.
BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025: Conclusions, Pros, and Cons
The BMW R 1300 RS Performance 2025 has confirmed its excellent dynamic and qualitative attributes. It's a sportier, faster bike with greater performance than its predecessor. On the other hand, some comfort and ease of riding have been sacrificed.
Overall, the performance is superior to the previous model, both in terms of engine and chassis. The only aspect that hasn't improved is the top speed. Now, the market will decide. Those who wanted a sportier RS will find the new R 1300 RS Performance to be an almost perfect bike. For everyone else, it will be necessary to carefully evaluate the purchase, considering all the pros and cons that the new technical choices have brought to the bike.
It remains a unique and high-quality motorcycle, of which there are few on the market. With all the possible customizations, you can best adapt the bike to your riding style and usage needs. The only real drawbacks are the high price, high running costs, and a sound more akin to a scooter than a sporty twin-cylinder maxi.
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