BMW is marking the 50th anniversary of its racing division with a special edition of its M 1000 RR flagship sport bike with special badging and extra bling.
I'm more of the "I didn't know BMW made cars until I passed one" crowd myself, but I do realize that there's a deep well of affection in some quarters for the performance and, in some cases, exclusivity of BMW's M car models. BMW Motorrad is trying to capitalize on that. In recent years, BMW shifted from its HP designation for its high-performance, exclusive motorcycle models to the same M designation it uses on the parent company's cars.

The M 1000 RR debuted in 2020 and was the first motorcycle to use BMW's M designation. The M 1000 RR already comes loaded with performance features aimed at both the street and the track. There's everything from cruise control and heated grips to a pitlane speed limiter and launch control. It also has seven riding modes and multiple electronic riding aids. The 50 Years ///M Package adds the exclusive Sao Paulo Yellow paint, anniversary badges, M GPS Lap Timer trigger software, the carbon package that uses carbon fiber for the fenders and some fairing panels, and the M Billet Pack with billet aluminum pieces, among other add-ons.

BMW Motorsport GmbH was founded in 1972 to consolidate BMW's racing efforts. Since then, BMW has found success in everything from Formula One to the Paris-Dakar Rally to winning the first AMA Superbike Championship in 1976.
The M 1000 RR 50 Years M package should be available from dealers later this year and the U.S. price is $36,995.

| 2022 BMW M 1000 RR 50 Years | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $36,995 |
| Engine | 999 cc, liquid-cooled, inline four-cylinder with four valves per cylinder |
|
Transmission, final drive |
Six-speed, chain |
| Claimed horsepower | 205 @ 13,000 rpm |
| Claimed torque | 83 foot-pounds @ 11,000 rpm |
| Frame | Aluminum bridge-type |
| Front suspension | 45 mm inverted fork, adjustable for preload, rebound and compression damping; 4.7 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | Single shock adjustable for preload, rebound and compression damping; 4.6 inches of travel |
| Front brake | Dual four-piston calipers, 320 mm discs with ABS |
| Rear brake | Two-piston caliper, 220 mm disc with ABS |
| Rake, trail | 23.6 degrees, 3.9 inches |
| Wheelbase | 57.4 inches |
| Seat height | 32.8 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 4.4 gallons |
| Tires | 120/70ZR17 front, 200/55ZR17 rear |
| Claimed weight | 423 pounds wet |
| Available | Third quarter 2022 |
| Warranty | 36 months or 36,000 miles |
| More info | bmwmotorcycles.com |