- BMW Motorrad Custom Speed Shop transforms the R 1300 R into a Superhooligan racing motorcycle
- Tribute to Steve McLaughlin’s victory and Reg Pridmore’s AMA Superbike title in 1976
- Brand ambassador Nate Kern races the machine in the Super Hooligan series
Exactly 50 years ago, BMW Motorrad made racing history at Daytona. On March 6, 1976, Steve McLaughlin won the Daytona 200 on a BMW R 90 S in a photo finish ahead of his teammate Reg Pridmore. Pridmore went on to secure the title of the very first AMA Superbike Champion at the end of the season. To mark the round anniversary of this double success, BMW Motorrad is now unveiling a very special custom bike at this year’s edition of the legendary race from March 5 to 7, 2026: the BMW R 1300 R Superhooligan.
From the Custom Speed Shop to the Race Track
Behind the project is a small group of employees from the BMW Motorrad Custom Speed Shop. Under the direction of Philipp Ludwig, Katrin Torge, vehicle designer Andreas Martin, color and graphic designer Theresa Stukenbrock, and prototype builders Paul Summerer and Thomas Becker built the motorcycle. The standard BMW R 1300 R with its 145 hp (107 kW) boxer engine serves as the basis.
The design deliberately draws on the aesthetics of the nearly unfaired superbikes of the 1970s. Number plates, a wide handlebar, and the design language of a naked superbike define the appearance. The number 83 is no coincidence but a direct reference to McLaughlin’s machine at the time. The Superhooligan also bridges the gap to the past in terms of color: components such as the front fender and tank side panels feature the classic color scheme of the 1976 BMW R 90 S.
High-End Technology for Up to 275 km/h
The dynamic ambition of the custom roadster is evident in the component selection. The Wilbers upside-down fork is fully adjustable and has been extended by 30 mm for greater lean angle clearance. The Wilbers shock absorber is also fully adjustable. The front wheel comes from the BMW M 1000 RR program and is made of carbon, which reduces weight and is intended to improve handling. Additional carbon components come from both the BMW Motorrad accessories range and Ilmberger Carbon Parts.
The braking system relies on the blue brake calipers from the BMW M 1000 RR. This blue appears as a recurring color theme on the aluminum subframe, the fork stanchions, and the shock absorber spring. Fully adjustable hand levers from Advik, CNC-machined BMW Motorrad footpegs, and a titanium exhaust system with carbon end silencer from Akrapovič complete the package. Top speed is said to reach up to 275 km/h.
The Story Behind the Anniversary
The roots of the Superhooligan trace back to 1976, when the AMA Superbike Series was first held as a national U.S. championship. BMW importer Butler & Smith recognized the new series as the perfect stage for the sporting qualities of the R 90 S and assembled a professional racing team. Udo Gietl was hired as chief mechanic and engine tuner, while Todd Schuster took care of chassis optimization.
Gietl, born in 1940, had left Germany after World War II and emigrated to Florida. The electrical engineer and passionate motocross rider worked for NASA and on Polaris submarines, among other things, before joining Butler & Smith. He established his reputation as a first-class BMW technician when two BMW R 69 S machines he had prepared took first and second place at the 5-hour race in Danville in 1969. In the following years, Gietl built racing machines based on the BMW R 75/5 and eventually turned his attention to the R 90 S.
With Reg Pridmore, who was himself a BMW dealer in Santa Barbara at the time, Steve McLaughlin, and Gary Fisher, Butler & Smith fielded a strong trio of riders. McLaughlin decided the race on March 6, 1976, in a photo finish. He overtook his teammate Pridmore in the final meters, snatching what had seemed like a sure victory. Gary Fisher, who had led the race for several laps, had previously retired with a gearbox failure. A triple victory for BMW was thus narrowly denied. At the end of the season, Reg Pridmore crowned the success story by becoming the first AMA Superbike Champion.
Reunion of the Protagonists at Daytona
For the 50th anniversary, the key figures from back then are gathering once again at Daytona. Daytona winner Steve McLaughlin, AMA Superbike Champion Reg Pridmore, Gary Fisher’s daughters Heidi and Kimberly, as well as Udo Gietl and numerous guests of honor will be on site. There, they will encounter the new R 1300 R Superhooligan and the original victorious R 90 S racing machine from 1976. The latter was provided by BMW Group Classic from the BMW Museum and specially prepared in their in-house racing workshop for the Daytona 200 event.
BMW Motorrad brand ambassador Nate Kern will also race the R 1300 R Superhooligan in competition. He will compete in the Mission Foods Super Hooligan series presented by Roland Sands, which is held as part of MotoAmerica in the supporting program of the Daytona 200.
What Does This Mean for Me as a Motorcyclist?
The R 1300 R Superhooligan is not a production model and will not be available for purchase. Nevertheless, the project demonstrates the direction BMW Motorrad can take when its engineers and designers are not bound by production numbers and homologation requirements. The boxer engine of the R 1300 R with its 145 hp (107 kW) sits in a radically stripped-down package with carbon wheels, Wilbers suspension, and Akrapovič exhaust. This makes clear just how much potential lies within the platform. Anyone who has an R 1300 R in their garage gets a concrete impression of what would be possible with the right accessories. Many of the installed components, such as the carbon parts from Ilmberger, the Akrapovič exhaust system, or the M brake calipers, are actually freely available. The Superhooligan is therefore less of an unattainable show bike and more of an inspiration with a realistic parts catalog.
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