When you say the word BMW S1000RR to someone, their eyes tend to sparkle and usually, there is a little bit of mumbling and drooling involved.
Say MSport, you know, the one with carbon Fibre wheels – and there’s a bit of a meltdown…
We get it.
Seriously, we do. Just look at this thing! Sure it’s been around for a while since it first arrived in SA and this is certainly not a first scoop test or anything like that – but it was, absolutely, so worth the wait!
We had the bike for a week! When last did that happen with anything BMW?
In that week, we amassed so many speeding fines that we now have to sell the company bakkie.
‘Strue I tell you!
Why you ask?
Well it’s virtually impossible to ride it at the designated speed limits. In first gear, it’s capable of speeds in excess of the national speed limit – and when you’ve hurtled through the quickshifer to top gear – at 8000 RPM she develops this meaty shove, that if you aren’t careful, will put you straight into jail without passing begin.
It’s that quick.
And it’s so good. It makes a mere mortal feel just like that Toprak fella every single time…
Handling is intuitive, the gearbox is butter smooth and the engine… well there’s nothing much to say other than hold on tight.
So – we get it. And we could live with the racy riding position that isn’t actually that bad.
The seat isn’t the softest, but it’s just the right shape. Turn the key and you are treated to a seriously modern TFT Display.
There’s a lot going on in the cockpit, but it’s all organised fairly logically.
The RR comes with BMW’s multi-control wheel on the left-hand switch gear, which is a simple way to scroll through the modes and settings. The interface on the 1000RR is probably one of the easiest out there. The left switch gear is large with lotsa buttons and things that include
cruise control, traction control and even heated grips. Menu toggles and standard light switches are also there.
Start her up and that engine rattles and clangs as it quietly snarls waiting to be unleashed. It sounds aggressive, rough and ready to brawl.
We enjoyed how good this Beemer feels on the road, it’s a case of the muscle backing up the good looks and tech. The electronic suspension makes riding the bike in SA road conditions simple – we just kept a weather eye open for those nasty potholes because we can only imagine how much a replacement a lightweight carbon fibre wheel would be.
The shifter and Auto blip worked perfectly, every time.
Rider modes include Rain, Road, Dynamic and Sport, plus three ‘Pro’ modes. For most of the riding, we left the bike in ‘Dynamic’ mode. Just for a laugh, we selected Sports mode – as you do – and that’s where the bulk of the traffic fines kicked in…
It’s a screamer that delivers excellent power in the low rev range as well as when you open her up. Shiftcam technology is a wonderful thing. Throttle response is seamless and she quickly howls through that Akrapovic pipe up to faster than you can go speeds…
Deceptively fast, there is absolutely nothing boring about riding this bike.
The BMW branded Hayes brakes, as expected are perfectly on point and we only felt the ABS kick in once or twice under some serious stopping.
She is happiest in those long corners that we enjoy out here. Very little comes close to the BMW’s handling, turning and seamless power – this is a race bike and goes exactly where you point it.
Hit a straight long, quiet road. Open the throttle, she lifts her skirts and runs faster than you’ll ever imagine, Just…
Watch out for Traffic Cops.
In a world where manufacturers seem to be aiming at smaller capacity, more manageable motorcycles, it’s great that some manufacturers have not read the rulebook.
This bike came from BMW Motorrad
What does it cost? If you have to ask, you can’t afford one.
But we do, absolutely get it…
Around R465 000.
At your BMW Dealer. Oh yes! We have a bakkie for sale…
