BMW S1000RR Group Test [motorcyclenews.com]

[UFO]

In our world first group test we pit the BMW S1000RR against the class-leading Yamaha R1, Honda's revised-for-2010 Fireblade, the brutal Kawasaki ZX-10R and the Suzuki GSX-R1000. Watch the video for action from the test in the South of France...

[R Doug]

Wow, it looks like BMW got it right on its first try.  That's impressive given the bikes it went up against.  

One of these days, I want to own a proper liter bike.  Sadly the Beemer does not appeal to me.  I'm not sure why either.  I would lean more towards an Italian bike like the 1098 or the RSV4.  

However, the price of the S1000RR is amazingly good.  If I were shopping in the same price range, I would most likely lean towards an R1.  

Now, if Triumph made a Daytona 1050...  

[atadaskew]

Did they mention why no Aprilia RSV4 in the test?

[DogBoy]

Did they mention why no Aprilia RSV4 in the test?

Because it sucks.  

[kevin_stevens]

Did they mention why no Aprilia RSV4 in the test?

Because they were doing the liter bikes.  They didn't have a Ducati in there, either.  Guess they don't think the BMW looks like a Duc.  

KeS

[DogBoy]

Because they were doing the liter bikes.  They didn't have a Ducati in there, either.  Guess they don't think the BMW looks like a Duc.  

KeS

Yeah, the RSV4 is only 999.6 cc. Not a liter bike.    



I think they were just comparing the inline-4 cylinders. Don't know why the RSV4 wasn't included. Doesn't make any sense.

[st ryder]

Wow, it looks like BMW got it right on its first try.  That's impressive given the bikes it went up against.  ...

I'm sure it's a great I-4 superbike, but I can't help but wonder, how much of the rider's impressions were effected by the seductive power of the roundel.   If I was in the market, I think I'd rather own a BMW as opposed to something more generic like anything from the big 4. I wonder how the same riders would feel about it if pitted against bikes that aren't as generic like Ducati, and the KTM and the Aprilia and the Benelli superbikes?

[R Doug]

Did they mention why no Aprilia RSV4 in the test?

My guess is all of the other bikes in the test were all around the same price as the S1000RR.  Plus all bikes are I-4s.  

The S1000RR starts at $13,800 while the R1 is $13,290; the GSXR comes in around $13,000; and the Honda (thought TBA), I'm sure will come in around the same price at the Beemer.

Meanwhile, the RSV4 starts at $16,000.  The 1198 starts at $16,500.  And, the RC8 is $19,500.

[miles]

I'm sure it's a great I-4 superbike, but I can't help but wonder, how much of the rider's impressions were effected by the seductive power of the roundel.

Let's see....

It is faster than the others, stops better than the others, handles better than all but the Honda, and has traction control, which none of the others have.

Yep- no doubt about it.  The only reason they like it is because of the exclusivity of it being a BMW.

[tomek]

MCN=National Enquirer   I can`t believe anyone takes those jokers seriously.

Is BMW really that good ? We don`t know that yet.

[kevin_stevens]

MCN=National Enquirer   I can`t believe anyone takes those jokers seriously.

Is BMW really that good ? We don`t know that yet.

There's a difference between their news and rumors and their actual test data.  I don't have any reason to doubt their speed and dyno measurements.

KeS

[tomek]

There is more to the bike,especially liter bike,then speed and dyno  data.You can`t ride spec sheet.
R1s and M1s  typically have one of the slowest speed traps yet Yamaha pretty much won it all in 2009.AMA being the only exception.

I have serious doubts about skills of those wankers.I reserve my judgment till dudes from,let`s say, Sport Rider, RRW and Canet or Czernicky from CW test those things.

There is a story about one of those idiot trash talkers crashing his brains out while desperately trying to get close to Ulrich (RRW) lap times during one of the bike intros.

I have no respect for MCN whatsoever.

BTW,dyno  http://www.motorcycledaily.com/16december09_bmw_s1000r_dyno.htm ,   this looks  rather peaky,torque raising sharply all the way to 11000 rpm ,you are going from 125 hp at 9000rpm to about 165 hp at 11000rpm.
This bike better have good electronics,natural torque curve looks very difficult to ride at 100%.

[miles]

BTW,dyno  http://www.motorcycledaily.com/16december09_bmw_s1000r_dyno.htm ,   this looks  rather peaky,torque raising sharply all the way to 11000 rpm ,you are going from 125 hp at 9000rpm to about 165 hp at 11000rpm.
This bike better have good electronics,natural torque curve looks very difficult to ride at 100%.

I guess I don't read the chart the same way you do.  To me it looks amazingly smooth and even, leading to great useability.  Besides the big hole in the HP at 6k (I assume for smog reasons) that's the most linear dyno chart I have ever sen for a production bike.



And yes, I agree that the guys at MCN are tools, and yes I agree that performance isn't solely about the spec sheet... but every review so far has been raving about the bike.  Every one.

[kevin_stevens]

There is more to the bike,especially liter bike,then speed and dyno  data.You can`t ride spec sheet.
R1s and M1s  typically have one of the slowest speed traps yet Yamaha pretty much won it all in 2009.AMA being the only exception.

I have serious doubts about skills of those wankers.I reserve my judgment till dudes from,let`s say, Sport Rider, RRW and Canet or Czernicky from CW test those things.

There is a story about one of those idiot trash talkers crashing his brains out while desperately trying to get close to Ulrich (RRW) lap times during one of the bike intros.

I have no respect for MCN whatsoever.

BTW,dyno  http://www.motorcycledaily.com/16december09_bmw_s1000r_dyno.htm ,   this looks  rather peaky,torque raising sharply all the way to 11000 rpm ,you are going from 125 hp at 9000rpm to about 165 hp at 11000rpm.
This bike better have good electronics,natural torque curve looks very difficult to ride at 100%.

You don't seem to have reserved your judgement.

KeS

[topanga]

 but every review so far has been raving about the bike.  Every one.

Exactly, not everyone who has tested this bike is a moron, and it's been pretty universal that it's a very serious contender. BMW has suddenly built 2 bikes that I will consider owning, this one and the k1300s.

[atadaskew]

Aprilia has gotta be bummed about the BMW.
Basically stole their thunder because no matter how good it is, I'd say the majority of people determine what sport bike to buy by the spec sheets..

[tomek]

I guess I don't read the chart the same way you do.  To me it looks amazingly smooth and even, leading to great useability.  Besides the big hole in the HP at 6k (I assume for smog reasons) that's the most linear dyno chart I have ever sen for a production bike.

Torque curve is pretty much straight line from 6k to 11k,but it is RAISING  all the time.Torque is about 84NM at 7000rpm and goes up to about 105 at 10000.That is 25 % gain.Pretty significant.
6k hole is non issue , you won`t spend much time there,at least not on the race track.This bike revs to 14 k,no reason to be in lower half of the powerband.
On powerful bike like 1000cc machine you need fairly wide plateau of constant/failing torque.It is much easier to control wheel spin that way.
Let`s say you are coming out of mid/slow speed 2nd gear corner at 7-8 k rpm and rear brakes traction,once that happens motor will pull  ( or spin the tire) even stronger because,in case of BMW,you are on the part of steeply raising torque.
This is what I meant when I said this powerband looks very difficult to ride and electronics better be very good.




   

[miles]

Aprilia has gotta be bummed about the BMW.
Basically stole their thunder because no matter how good it is, I'd say the majority of people determine what sport bike to buy by the spec sheets..

Well, their mistake for opting for that antiquated engine architecture.

[atadaskew]

Well, their mistake for opting for that antiquated engine architecture.

From ashonbikes:

That BMW will haunt it though. The German bike is not only faster at the top end, its handling is even more natural and easy, and if you’re going for the RSV4 R because it saves you money over the Factory, then why not save some more dollars again and go for the German bike

[Mr Sunshine]

Let`s say you are coming out of mid/slow speed 2nd gear corner at 7-8 k rpm and rear brakes traction,once that happens motor will pull  ( or spin the tire) even stronger because,in case of BMW,you are on the part of steeply raising torque.
This is what I meant when I said this powerband looks very difficult to ride and electronics better be very good.

Funny thing...if you are coming out of a 2nd gear corner at those RPM's you should have been in 1st.  Why? For the exact reason you mentioned....it makes it so the tire can only spin for so long before it hits the rev limiter which acts as a reasonable amount of traction control.

But this bike has some very advanced electronics which will help tone this bike down.