BMW Invades Superbike Market, Unveils S1000RR
It's been a heckuva few months for BMW; they've acquired dirt legend Husqvarna, introduced the lustworthy HP2 Sport, and now they're officially in the superbike game with their all-new S1000RR. Aprilia and KTM (not to mention Honda, Suzuki, and the other usual suspects) will now have to share the limelight with BMW's über superbike, which is seen here in preliminary form with copious carbon fiber bodywork.
The S1000RR will compete in World Superbike racing, and BMW plans to build 1,000 specimens for public consumption before January, 2010. Mechanical details are sketchy, but its traction control-managed 1,000cc 4-cylinder powerplant is complemented with a twin-spar aluminum chassis, conventional inverted telescopic fork, and chain drive.
If this supersport is everything it appears to be, it should signal a sea change for the way Beemers are perceived in the sportbike world. Are you looking forward to yet another player in the superbike market, or should BMW stick to its tried and true domain of enduro and touring models? Post a thought by clicking "comments."
Photo © BMW
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Comments
Bring it on…very cool! I see only 2 problems and one is strictly personal taste.
1 - Wait till 2010? Too bad…
2 - Accepting that are no logos or identification on the bike, you could pass it right now and think …”That’s a nice Honda / Yamaha / Suzuki / Kawasaki ….I wonder where they got the body work?”
Anyone remember the “UJM” catch all class of bikes…they all looked, sounded, behaved and cost the same. That where we are now with the Japanese litre & 600 sport bikes….they’re all the same. Sure, everyone has their gimmick and 1 year this brand will dominate and next year that brands turn comes along (unless it’s a GSXR1000). That my friends, is why I think, while it is probably going to be a very nice bike, BMW has a history of not conforming to anyone else’s cookie cutter. I think they may have lost sight of that with this bike.
That is also why I love V-Twins and despite many years with (and on) Honda, I am an out of the closet Ducati nut.
Pete,
BMW claims the non-Telelever front suspension was due to the need for compactness, but I’m a bit surprised it didn’t make it in… where do you think the headlights will go? Maybe recessed LEDs inside the front air inlet? This MUST be an early version…
Basem
No doubt it’s very early pre-production…it may not even be a runner. Head lights?….if it stays like it is, it will have to be similar to the ‘Busa…which I think is one of the major ‘ugly’ points…kinda like the 999 too…
If they intend to race it, I bet the front suspension stays conventional so the tuners and performance parts houses can work with it. Does Ohlins (for instance) have anything on the go for Telelever? Are they willing to make that investment for one marque…and probably a limited number at that?
let’s all watch how she runs..
About time.
It’ll be fun to watch Aprilia, KTM and BMW in the mix in addition to the Big Four Japanese and Ducati.
WSB might be the premier motorcycle racing series
in the world since MotoGP has got so expensive such that 18 bikes on the grid is considered “good”.
Ohlins is either wholly or largely owned by Yamaha these days. Not sure the likelihood of them making developing equipment for a single marque.
Besides, it seems at the national and international level of racing, the primitive telescopic fork is still the most effective, highly developed and dominant front suspension.
The more manufacturers in WSBK the better! Comparing MGP to WSBK is not really a viable exercise. WSBK based on production machines is far more fun to watch and until this year maybe, a lot more competitive
MGP has evolved (de-evolved?) into primarily a very expensive technological test bed…the racing is almost secondary…if Rossi has his way that may turn around.
Case in point…this is the 1st time in over 30 years KR is not in it!
Possibly the single biggest influence in MC racing ever can not afford to race the premier class. I hope enough people in a position to rectify the situation realize the significance of that.
Look at MC development over the last 25 years…what are the only components that have not progressed at the same rate (pardon the pun) as the rest of the package…?? Suspension.
Sure there’s been advancements, but not at the rate of the rest of the bike.
I thought we saw an article a very recently that Ohlins bought back 90%+ of their shares from YMC??
You’re right. I did a search and it looks like Ohlins bought itself back from Yamaha back in December.
Yamaha ownership didn’t seem to impede Ohlins too much. Ohlins is the suspension chosen by many rival (i.e., non-Yamaha) factories.
Perhaps independence will provide even more opportunities for them up to explore alternative technologies. Like that 2wd motorcycle concept they had going several years ago.
It seems that most of the ‘lesser’ bike builders are now planning to enter into World Superbikes with rumours that KTM with their RC8, MV, Bimota and Moto Morini are all looking at teams for next year.
About time!!!
Great!
Now…
Saying that MGB has de-evolved..come on… give me a break! Expensive, yes but it’s the best (riders, machines) and it’s best!
Frank…I stand by what I said, and I agree with you. Rossi is the best rider the sport has ever seen and the bikes are the best the sport has ever created - but - the “racing” is almost gone. It’s all about the tires and the trick TC that works this weekend and not next, and the new valve train.
F1 pulled TC…now they’re finding out can drive one of those things.
Put Stoner, or Pedrosa or Lorenzo on a pre TC 990…they’d be in the weeds in 5 laps…and they’re very good riders - just not THAT good. We already know who can ride 250hp with their right hand instead of a little black box.
Some might say the ‘old guard’ can’t handle technology - I disagree. I guarantee you or I could turn better lap times on a new 800 than a 3 year old 990. Which one is harder to ride demanding a far greater skill level instead of a dependence on electronics.?
That’s also one of the reasons WSBK is better racing…it’s still about the rider to a far greater degree.
Let’s hope the FIM has the stones to follow the FIA before MGP prices itself in to extinction.