Bike Files: BMW S 1000 RR

They laughed when BMW said they’d make a superbike. They’re not laughing now!

So how did the BMW S 1000 RR come about?

Funny you should ask! It’s fair to say that 20 years ago BMW had a very staid image. Sure they made some fast motorcycles, but bikes like the K1300R and R1100S were very left field and Teutonic in their approach. The S 1000 RR was the model that would change the brand’s image. It went straight for the mainstream, a 1000cc inline four superbike in the vein of Honda’s Fireblade and Yamaha’s YZF-R1. The job it played in changing the image of BMW Motorrad should not be underestimated.

How was the S 1000 RR received?

It’s fair to say many people laughed when they heard BMW was building a superbike. Cynics used to joke that BMW would give it heated grips (a common feature on the brand’s touring bikes) and the irony was that they were indeed an option, something completely unheard of on a pure sports bike.

The asymmetric styling was distinctive and not to everyone’s tastes, but the S 1000 RR soon won people over when it was ridden. With a claimed 190bhp, it was at the top of the class when it came to power output, while the electronic aids were well ahead of their time. The first S 1000 RR had four riding modes and traction control. Only Kawasaki’s ZX-10R Ninja was adopting such technology and the two were considered the category leaders.

The current generation S 1000 RR makes 210bhp, has a 188mph top speed and comes loaded with the latest electronics… and it still has heated grips as an optional extra!

Has it been successful?

As a production bike the BMW S 1000 RR has always been well received and has fared well in journalist group tests. BMW’s racing programme has been less consistent though. A high profile World Superbike campaign was announced alongside the bike’s launch in 2009, but it would take until 2012 before it would win a race and become a title contender.

More recently, Toprak Razgatlioglu has been dominating WorldSBK, while Peter Hickman and Davey Todd have won Isle of Man TTs, although that’s been on the M 1000 RR rather than the S 1000 RR.

So what’s the difference between the BMW S 1000 RR and the M 1000 RR?

The ‘M’ stands for Motorsport, and the M 1000 RR has been developed by BMW’s Motorsport division to make it even more track focussed. The engine is largely the same on the two bikes (although gearing is a little different) but the lighter M comes lathered in carbon fibre bits and has a more focussed chassis and riding position. It’s not significantly different to the S, but those small modifications all add up on the race track.

Is it the best superbike money can buy?

Aprilia, Ducati and Honda might disagree, but BMW is right up there in the superbike category. While the M 1000 RR is pricey and exclusive, the cooking S looks like good value, offering pretty much all the performance for just over half the money.

Should I buy a BMW S 1000 RR?

If you’re in the market for a 200+bhp superbike it should certainly be under consideration. Superbikes, like supercars, may be hugely impractical but you can’t deny their performance is awesome.

What’s the BMW S 1000 RR like to ride?

Extreme! Superbikes have fallen out of favour in recent years, in part because they’re just too much for the road. On the track is where these motorcycles thrive and even in standard trim the S 1000 RR is epic. The chassis is razor sharp and those electronics are imperious when it comes to taming all that power. Little details like the MotoGP style aerodynamic wings are all aimed at shaving tenths of a lap time. And they look cool too!

But sports bikes are too uncomfortable and impractical, right?

This is exactly why people are turning away from sportsbikes. The riding position puts weight on the wrists, making it pretty uncomfortable, and there’s not much accommodation for luggage or a passenger. To be fair, the S 1000 RR is less uncomfortable than most sportsbikes but BMW recognise this and also make the S 1000 R and S 1000 XR around the same engine and platform.

The R is a naked roadster with an upright riding position, while the XR is a ‘crossover’ with a tall adventure bike stance. With more comfort and very similar performance, they’re proving more popular with today’s buyers.