BMW introduced this roadster nameplate for the 2019 model year, replacing the earlier 1200cc boxer roadster as part of a broader R 1250 family update. The launch marked the arrival of BMW’s larger 1,254 cc boxer twin with ShiftCam variable valve timing, a technical step that gave the model a stronger midrange and a more refined character while keeping the classic air-/liquid-cooled boxer layout and shaft drive that define BMW’s R-series roadsters.
From the start, the model was positioned as BMW’s upright, everyday boxer roadster: sporty enough for back-road riding, but also aimed at comfortable commuting and longer mixed-use rides. The original 2019 launch was followed by periodic equipment and trim updates, including revised standard features and option packages in later model years. BMW’s own model-year and press materials show the nameplate continuing into at least the 2025 model year, so it should be treated as an ongoing production model rather than a discontinued one.
In BMW Motorrad’s lineup, this model has served as the naked-roadster counterpart to the sport-touring R 1250 RS and the touring-oriented R 1250 RT. Its appeal has centered less on outright specification changes and more on the combination of boxer-engine character, upright ergonomics, and a traditional BMW roadster identity that traces back through earlier R-series naked bikes.