You Have To Watch and Hear BMW’s Concept Superbike Howl

Could we be looking at the next-generation S 1000 RR?

Photo by: BMW AG.

By: Enrico Punsalang

Jul 28, 2025 at 8:30am ET

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We’ve already talked about the BMW Concept RR in a previous article, where we dove into the tech, design, and what it could mean for the next wave of superbikes from Bavaria. But as with most concepts, no matter how pretty the press photos are, nothing beats seeing one in the metal.

Better yet? Seeing—and hearing—it in motion. And that’s exactly what happened at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Instead of just sitting pretty on a pedestal, the Concept RR actually ran up the hill. And it wasn’t some anonymous test rider aboard it either. It was none other than BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch himself. That’s a statement if we’ve ever seen one.

And speaking of statements: the sound. The Concept RR doesn’t purr. It screams. Whatever exhaust they bolted onto that inline-four, straight pipe or otherwise, it’s one of the angriest-sounding bikes I’ve heard in a long time. It’s louder than most aftermarket setups, and it gives off a pure, raw WSBK vibe.

A few things stood out in the clip beyond the noise. The bike was clearly set up with a GP shift pattern, which usually hints at track-focused intentions. It also had working lights, which suggests BMW could be testing the waters for a street-legal version. That aligns with what we’ve already confirmed: the Concept RR is powered by the same water-cooled inline-four from the WorldSBK-winning M 1000 RR, making over 230 hp. It also packs race-spec electronics like advanced traction control, engine braking, and power delivery tuning straight from the M bike.

Photos by: BMW AG.

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Could this be a glimpse of the next-gen S 1000 RR? It’s entirely possible. The current model’s been around since 2019, and with the pace of progress in the superbike world, a refresh could be around the corner. What we saw at Goodwood isn’t just a concept—it’s a rolling, screaming hint that BMW isn’t done redefining what a literbike can be.

Stay tuned. If this thing really hits production, the superbike segment’s about to get a whole lot louder.