ABOUT BMW We can’t lie; the pipe is expensive carrying a price tag of nearly
$2000. But for that money you get one of the highest quality exhaust
systems available. When viewed up close, the attention to detail is
exquisite. Every weld is precise and the finish of each component seems
to help justify its lofty price. On the scales the pipe weighed 13.1
pounds less than stock unit which in turn reduces the Beemer’s fully
fueled curb weight to 437 pounds
BMW rocked the sportbike and high-performance motorcycle world last year
with the release of the 2010 BMW S1000RR. This two wheeled missile went
on to win both the shootouts in its rookie year. BMW’s first true Superbike had our heads
spinning with the cannonball-like hit of its Inline-Four engine and
advanced electronics package that made it easier to command whether
you’re blasting.
In our stationary sound tests the R-77 delivers a significantly louder
exhaust note with our sound meter registering 88 decibels, six points
above stock. At half of maximum rpm (7000) the difference wasn’t quite
as big only cranking out two more decibels than stock (100).
Around the racetrack are where the handling improvements are most
notable but we also like the way the bike rode on the street. The back
end of the bike felt much higher than before but within a few turns we
were comfortable with its new attitude. Yank on the twist grip and the
rear end squats more predictably than before. It doesn’t just squat,
spin and rebound like it did when it was stock. It feels like the rear
tire bites into the pavement harder. This allows the rider much greater
control when modulating power slides off corners.
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.
