BMW S1000RR Test Ride

Took a test ride on a BMW S1000RR over the weekend. Didn't mean to. It just happened. A friend of mine had a test ride booked on a GS1200, so I popped along with the intention of just following him round for a bit of a bimble. Purposely didn't take the paper part of my licence…but the dealer forced me out on their demonstrator. B’stards!

Bit of a walk around first. I had parked my current bike (2008 R1) next to it in the car park. The S1000RR is 600 small. Incredibly compact and very sharp. I think the R1 is a good looking bike, but the S1000RR makes it look dated and a bit blobby. It looks a good 10% bigger everywhere. The demo bike had an Akrapovic pipe, HP rearsets and levers (made by Gilles) and gear assist (quick shifter – more about this later). Very tasty. Sitting astride the bike it is small. Perfect for me at 5’8”. Feels very much like my CBR600RR I had previously. The view from the saddle is very nice too. The top yoke is beautifully machined and the clocks clear and concise. The clocks also display which gear you are in. I liked this.

Started the bike up and the dealer (Bahn Stormer – Alton) ran me through the controls. Pretty much the same as the R1 with the addition of some “electronics”. Button on the left clip on that controlled the DTC (traction control). Think I’ll leave that one alone…and a mode button on the right clip on toggling between rain, sport and race. Started off in sport mode. It also comes with heated grips!!!! There is a real quality feel to the look and construction of the bike. The parts that you interface with – handlebars, rearsets, saddle all seem perfectly judged for a rider of my size.

The dealer told me that the S1000RR would be a lot faster than my R1. I was thinking that was a slight exaggeration. I didn’t think it would be a LOT faster, but Christ on a bike…the engine is immense. But this bike isn’t all about the engine, epic as it is.

The connection of the throttle to the back wheel is direct and immediate. The R1 feels as though it is connected with elastic. Wind the throttle on and the engine takes time to spool up. Once up to 10k rpm and that’s when all hell breaks loose. It’s all alive then with everything working together. Before that the R1 is a bit flat. You could never call it slow, but it does feel cumbersome at low speed and low revs. With the Bee Em you feed in what you need on the throttle and the back wheel responds immediately. It’s not sharp or abrupt, just perfectly connected and easy to modulate the power. If you want to go slow, the Bee Em will do slow. Well fuelled and more than happy to cruise at low revs. No recalcitrance or fluffiness from a partial to fully open throttle…just glorious drive. That was in Sport mode. Half way through the ride I changed to race. Sharpens up the throttle and apparently backs off the DTC a bit…not that I was giving it anywhere near enough to tell.

The suspension is brilliant. Feels firm and absolutely planted, but despite the firmness it is supple and compliant on the bumps encountered on a “B” road blast. There’s no crashiness or harsh feedback like on the R1. It is completely planted in a corner. Speaking of which, getting it into a corner is just a gentle push on either clip on. My 600RR was like this. The R1 needs a real push to get it into a corner. The handling on the S1000RR flatters. You will feel like a better rider within a mile. I guarantee it.

Brakes. Never felt anything better. Awesome power and initial bite, but great feedback at the lever. Serious, SERIOUS stopping power and you need this. Got the bike onto a quiet stretch of dual carriage way and nailed it. First, second, third…..all with the use of the quick shifter. Throttle to the stop and bang up the ‘box. I think “bang” is the wrong word. The change of gear is imperceptible. Just continuous drive. Absolutely fantastic. On the brakes, dead stable with little dive on the front.

I love this bike. I have never ridden anything better. It is the best bike I have ever ridden by some margin. It is immensely powerful, but not scary or unmanageable. Despite the power, this bike is not defined by its engine or headline power figures. It’s the whole package. The suspension, handling, brakes, throttle. It is small and lithe, but also comfortable. Not just comfortable for a sportsbike, but comfortable full stop.

So…yes please Mr. BMW. Don’t mind what colour. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Scoobs

Took a test ride on a BMW S1000RR over the weekend. Didn't mean to. It just happened. A friend of mine had a test ride booked on a GS1200, so I popped along with the intention of just following him round for a bit of a bimble. Purposely didn't take the paper part of my licence…but the dealer forced me out on their demonstrator. B’stards!
...
Started the bike up and the dealer (Bahn Stormer – Alton)

They have a history of this. Did the same to Baron Von Grumble. Who is also now riding a shiny new s1000.

Originally Posted by ClunkintheUK

They have a history of this. Did the same to Baron Von Grumble. Who is also now riding a shiny new s1000.

Easiest job in the world - Bahn Stormer salesman.

Bike sells itself.

I wander if they'd hire a jaded city boy.

I like your review. Good job. A lot of other pro reviews are similar but its good to hear what a real biker thinks on a forum. However, I wonder if that compactness wouldn't be suited to a taller rider - say 6' 2"+.

Also, with a bike that good you can afford to be hypercritical because any little niggles are unlikely to change a buyer's mind. But you MUST have found 1 or 2 things that weren't excellent?

Originally Posted by Runako

But you MUST have found 1 or 2 things that weren't excellent?

The indicator switch. It doesn't slide left and right. It is like a micro switch so you can't properly tell if you have activated it or not without looking at the dash.

The side stand hasn't got a peg on it to hook down with your boot meaning you have to bend down and flick it down with your hand.

I guess with more time there may be other stuff, but in the time I had it that was the only things that I can think of. Minor niggles only. I didn't ever think if I was spending £14k on a bike then you would have thought BWM would have done "X" or "Y". It was totally worth the cash.

Really interesting read, thanks.

Just can't imagine spending £14k on a bike, that's mental money eh!

[Fallout]

Interesting thoughts Scoobs. The power and handling definitely seems to give this sensible chap enough confidence to hunt down a 'Busa.

[PyroUK]

Yeah thanks Scoobs, it's not like I wanted one enough without that sublimely written review!!

They could use that as a sales script! Suggest it to them and ask for a commission!

And Fallout...

JEEEEEEEEEZUS!

Darwin Award nominees all round in that one! I can't say for sure as the quality was somewhat lessened by the Mach 1 speeds but I think not a single one of those was wearing decent leathers! That being said if any one of them crashed it wouldn't have made a difference!

Seriously considering picking one of these up second hand next year!