While every motorcycle deserves to be treated with maturity and respect, certain motorcycles simply demand more than others. Even before you have a chance to swing a leg over the BMW K1300S, it commands your utmost attention. Much like its closest competitors, the Suzuki GSX-R 1300 Hayabusa and Kawasaki ZX14, one’s mindset before straddling BMW’s new steed and hitting the open road can mean the difference between overwhelming gratification and immediate incarceration.

A menacing look, even when standing still. (Photo: BMW)

After a quick once-over of the updated features of the bike from BMW Motorad’s Rob Dexter, he assured me that the bike can be intimidating but doesn’t take long to warm up to. “It may seem like too much bike now, but after 30 minutes, you’ll want to buy one yourself.” He was right. He was also spot-on when he warned me about Ontario’s draconian new ‘Street Racing’ legislation, stating “It doesn’t take much more than a flick of the wrist to break the law on this one.” Sure enough, not two hours after picking the bike up, I was standing on the side of Highway 10 north of Shelbourne with one of Ontario’s finest writing me up a ticket with more decimal places than I had deposited into my bank account last month. While the friendly officer was empathetic to my situation, citing that such a bike would be nearly impossible not to speed on, “The law is the law.” He then thanked me for being a law abiding citizen by pulling over as soon as the cherries started flashing. He put it best by saying, “If you had attempted to make a run for it, I wouldn’t have been able to catch you,” as he gave the bike an envious up and down.

With the ticket in my pocket and my tail between my legs, I continued up to Sauble Beach for the weekend - this time with my eyes dropping down to the speedometer much more often than before. Unlike many bikes where you feel as though you are riding faster than you actually are, the K1300S effortlessly sucks in asphalt without any indication that you may be breaking the law. The combination of low wind buffeting, Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA), and a powerplant that feels as commanding, smooth and linear as an airliner means that the K1300S is better suited to the Autobahn than the strictly regulated roads of Ontario, or any other province or State for that matter. Luckily the ESA system (available for $850) can be adjusted to ‘Comfort’ mode to accommodate our sorely neglected road surfaces. The available ‘Sport’ mode is a welcome addition, useful for more spirited riding or trackday shenanigans.

A full, easy to read instrument panel, with a variety of switches to control things like the electrical adjustable suspension. (Photo: BMW)