The BMW K1300S, The Fastest German Around

The BMW K 1300 S with 175 horsepower on tap, the BMW K1300S is one of the most powerful motorcycle BMW has built. The K1300S is near 8 horsepower up on the previous K1200S, with torque up by 10 N.m. The engine capacity boost has come via a 1mm increase in bore and 5.3mm increase in stroke.

Redline on the BMW K1300S is 11,000rpm – 1750rpm past peak power – but prodigious torque means that the red zone need rarely be approached. In fact, 70 percent of max torque is available from just 3000rpm.

The engine is a liquid-cooled, 16-valve, DOHC, in-line four-cylinder power-plant with a displacement of 1293cc. The bore is 80mm and stroke 64.3mm and BMW have set the compression ratio for this engine to 13:1. The BMW K1300S is standard equipped with a manual 6-speed gearbox, but optional a quick-shift is possible. The final power transmission to the rear wheel is by shaft-drive.

The BMW K1300S with 228kg is a bit heavy for what BMW calls a sportsbike, but when measured against other sports-tourers in the 1300cc category it's a class leader. With its heavily slanted engine, the BMW K1300S has a low center of gravity, masking what appears on the surface to be a bulky and lengthly motorcycle.

For just over 1 million Thai Baht you get switchblade ABS, a on-board computer that makes sense, flat rear tire, and probably the most powerful motorcycle in town. For BMW fitted options you can select ESA II, Quick-Shift, Traction-Pack comprising ASC and RDC, luggage grid, and at no-cost 30mm lower seat. Tri-color paint adds an additional 50,000 Thai Baht.

ASC is BMW's Automatic Stability Control that uses the ABS sensors to determine if the rear wheel is spinning. The engine management system then takes over to reduce power accordingly. The RDC component (sometimes also called TPC) of the Traction Pack is a tire pressure monitoring system with dashboard readout.