Customised German model pays tribute to BMW's 1976 200 Miles triumph and inaugural AMA Superbike title
BMW Motorrad presented on the brand’s global website the new BMW R 1300 R Superhooligan, a special version created to mark the 50th anniversary of one of the most emblematic achievements of its trajectory in North American motorcycling. The revelation took place during the Daytona 200 2026 weekend, held between March 5 and 7 in the United States.
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The model celebrates Steve McLaughlin’s victory in the first race of the Superbike category at Daytona, on March 6, 1976, in addition to the title won by Reg Pridmore in the inaugural AMA Superbike championship. That year, both competed with the iconic BMW R 90 S prepared by the Butler & Smith team, cementing BMW’s sporty image in the US market.
Developed by BMW Motorrad Custom Speed Shop, the Superhooligan starts from the base of the BMW R 1300 R, equipped with a 145 hp boxer engine. The project combines historical visual references with current technical solutions, reinterpreting the concept of the almost naked superbikes of the 1970s.
The number 83 stamped on the fairing directly alludes to the winning bike of 1976. Elements such as the numbering fields, the wide handlebars and the colors inspired by the R 90 S reinforce the tribute. Details in blue, a reference to the BMW M 1000 RR, appear on the brake calipers, the aluminum rear subframe and the Wilbers inverted front suspension, lengthened by 30 mm to increase the lean angle.
According to the brand, the configuration allows performance worthy of a superbike, with an estimated top speed of up to 275 km/h. The bike uses a carbon front wheel from the M 1000 RR, carbon fiber components from the BMW and Ilmberger catalog, as well as a polyurethane exhaust with a carbon tip from Akrapovič.
During the celebrations at Daytona, the Superhooligan was displayed alongside the historic original Butler & Smith R 90 S, preserved by BMW Group Classic. Also participating in the tributes were Steve McLaughlin, Reg Pridmore and guests linked to the 1976 season.
