BMW Trademarks Hint at M Versions of S1000RR, S1000XR and R1250GS

Last fall, BMW introduced a line of upgrades and accessories for the S1000RR, under the company’s M performance brand. BMW may be planning to expand that concept with a line of high performance M models, as the company has filed trademark applications for M 1000 RR, M 1000 XR and M 1300 GS.

For the uninitiated, BMW M (formerly BMW Motorsport) is a subsidiary that produces higher-performance versions of several of the company’s car models. The BMW M4, for example, is the higher-spec version of a BMW 4-series. The three trademark applications, filed June 18 in Germany, could therefore translate to higher-spec versions of the S 1000 RR, S 1000 XR and R 1250GS.

Typically, the first letter in BMW’s motorcycles indicates the engine type. “R” represented BMW’s boxer Twin models, “G” for Singles, “F” for parallel-Twins, and “K” (and eventually “S”) for inline engines of four or more cylinders. In the case of these new trademark filings, however, BMW may be bending the rules for motorcycles and bank on the strength of its M brand for higher performance models.

So, what can we expect from these M models? The S1000RR’s M package and optional M equipment provide the obvious examples. The package includes a special paint job, carbon fiber wheels, a lighter weight battery, a sportier seat, a chassis kit with adjustable rear ride height and adjustable swingarm pivot, plus a Pro ride mode. An M1000RR would just be a natural extension of this M package, a street-legal HP4, perhaps. The M1000XR would receive similar upgrades, creating a more premium ex-works S1000XR.

The M1300GS requires a bit more examination. BMW hasn’t used 1300 in a motorcycle name since the K1300R and K1300GT, but there has never been a K1300GS adventure bike. The more likely answer is an M-branded R1250GS, with the number rounded up to a nice even 1300. It may also hint at a larger displacement upgrade, though that might not be likely as Boxer’s 1254cc displacement is still relatively new.

As with all trademark filings, there is no indication on how soon BMW may reveal what it has planned for these M-branded motorcycle names. Given the the esteem BMW holds for its M brand, we’re expecting something big.