Pictures of a supposedly naked version of the BMW S1000RR have surfaced on MotoRevue, as the motorcycle was caught testing at BMW’s proving grounds by spy photographers. Showing an S1000RR-esque motorcycle with a half-fairing, the motorcycle would be just the second addition to BMW’s true sports bike line, after the S1000RR itself of course.

Expected to be a detuned version of the superbike variant, we can expect horsepower north 160hp, flat bars, and improved ergos from such a design experiment (in order to compete with the Aprilia Tuono V4 R and Ducati Streetfighter 848), though there is some reason to give pause about what these photos actually mean.

While the “spy shots” look convincing enough, the timing seems a bit off as the S1000RR is begging for an update in the 2013 model year. With no real precedent to be had from BMW on how it would handle a naked version of its superbike, you have to wonder if zie Germans would introduce a streetfighter model based on the previous generation superbike, and release that next-generation superbike all at the same time.

This is of course assuming that the “BMW S1000SR” or “BMW S1000RS” as some are calling it, is a 2013 model year motorcycle, though since the photos show a fairly polished-out bike, we would tend to think that this is something we would see at Intermot or EICMA later this year.

We do know that with the success of the S1000RR, BMW has been keen, though cautious, about following the sport bike a bit further. Time is going to have to tell on this one. More photos available via France’s MotoRevue magazine.

Source: MotoRevue