Is BMW building a new sporty adventure bike?

BMW may be giving the R1200GS, the bike it has produced for years and the best seller in its class, a sibling better suited to road riding. According to Motor Cyclist, it is preparing to build a new sporty adventure bike on the S1000 superbike platform, aiming for a model faster than rivals such as the Ducati Multistrada and Aprilia Caponord. Although there has been no official announcement, the spy photo above reveals a four-cylinder engine taken from the S1000R, radial-mount Brembo calipers, an upside-down fork, chain final drive and 17-inch road wheels and tyres.

are-you-the-2015-bmw-s1000f-76847-7.jpg Like its rivals, this motorcycle will most likely be packed with electronics. Our expectations include riding modes that can be changed on the move, active suspension, traction control, adjustable ABS and a 160 HP engine. After all, all it needs to do to succeed in this segment is build a motorcycle as good as the Multistrada, or better.

There is a strong possibility that this bike shares its frame with the S1000R. At the rear, we can see the early stages of a new design intended to provide both passenger comfort and touring-friendly carrying capacity. Up front, the most obvious changes include a fairly tall, probably adjustable windscreen for wind protection and a beak-like nose. Looking at the front fork, we notice the longer fork legs.

It looks as though 2015 will be lively, and BMW fans may finally be getting a fast adventure bike.