BMW 2012 BMW S1000RR Hypersport Comparison
Where those Hyperbikes glide across the pavement absorbing bumps and
potholes with ease, the BMW’s suspension translates every inch of the
pavement directly to the rider. A great quality for sure on the
racetrack or your favorite back road, however on most other surfaces it
can be overwhelming and make it less comfortable for longer rides. While
acceptable for its class, the front fairing and windscreen aren’t even
close to being effective at shielding the rider from wind on the
highway, which again compromises the comfort quotient.
At freeway speeds the level of engine vibration can’t be deemed bad,
it’s more significant than the other bikes plus the mirrors don’t offer
as clear of what’s behind. However it’s not all negative, as the German
bike is the only machine to offer electronic heated hand grips as an
option straight from the factory—a big plus when riding in cooler
weather. The digital instrument display is easy to read but lacks a fuel
gauge.
At the drag strip the BMW proves to be a much more difficult motorcycle to launch. Its smaller wheelbase (2.3 inches shorter than the Japanese bikes), higher center of gravity, and snappy top-end biased powerband make it very tricky to get moving as the bike wants to wheelie the entire way down the road in the lower three gears. True, the S10000RR we tested employs wheelie control but it doesn’t offer the correct calibration for it to be really useful in an advanced rider’s hands. So we left it off for the test.
Even still the Beemer shot off to 60 mph in 3.12 seconds putting it
ahead of the Suzuki but behind the Ninja. It continued on through the
quarter-mile in a time of 10.25 seconds at a speed of 147.1 mph. One
particular feature that works in its favor is its optional electronic
Gear Shift Assist. This allows for immediate upshifts by simply applying
upward pressure on the gear shift lever which saves fractions of a
second over a manual set-up. Another plus is the copious amount of feel
available from the cable-actuated clutch, though it definitely isn’t as
durable as the set-ups on the bigger bikes as cable tension had to be
adjusted after each run.
Although it doesn’t fit the standard definition of a Hyperbike the S1000RR is such a well-rounded motorcycle that it’s easily competitive in the class. It’s got the acceleration plus the agility and handling that the bigger bikes could only dream of. Problem is it is nowhere near as comfortable to ride for extended periods of time. Plus, even with its fantastic rider safety aids including ABS, traction control and adjustable engine power modes, it still demands a lot of attention from its rider. Not only that but it is the most expensive bike in the test. However if none of those things bother you and you’re concerned only about speed the BMW will be hard to pass up.
video:
At the drag strip the BMW proves to be a much more difficult motorcycle to launch. Its smaller wheelbase (2.3 inches shorter than the Japanese bikes), higher center of gravity, and snappy top-end biased powerband make it very tricky to get moving as the bike wants to wheelie the entire way down the road in the lower three gears. True, the S10000RR we tested employs wheelie control but it doesn’t offer the correct calibration for it to be really useful in an advanced rider’s hands. So we left it off for the test.
Even still the Beemer shot off to 60 mph in 3.12 seconds putting it
ahead of the Suzuki but behind the Ninja. It continued on through the
quarter-mile in a time of 10.25 seconds at a speed of 147.1 mph. One
particular feature that works in its favor is its optional electronic
Gear Shift Assist. This allows for immediate upshifts by simply applying
upward pressure on the gear shift lever which saves fractions of a
second over a manual set-up. Another plus is the copious amount of feel
available from the cable-actuated clutch, though it definitely isn’t as
durable as the set-ups on the bigger bikes as cable tension had to be
adjusted after each run.Although it doesn’t fit the standard definition of a Hyperbike the S1000RR is such a well-rounded motorcycle that it’s easily competitive in the class. It’s got the acceleration plus the agility and handling that the bigger bikes could only dream of. Problem is it is nowhere near as comfortable to ride for extended periods of time. Plus, even with its fantastic rider safety aids including ABS, traction control and adjustable engine power modes, it still demands a lot of attention from its rider. Not only that but it is the most expensive bike in the test. However if none of those things bother you and you’re concerned only about speed the BMW will be hard to pass up.
video:
