BMW Superbike streetlegal spyshots

[Bob Hancock]

Mine weighs 474 with 1/4 fuel. What have you done to lighten yours?

[AZ-J]

Dry weight of an R1200S is 419 lbs. Take out the cat and the cross pipe, I figure that is more than a five lb loss. I have a full Remus system. What did you add to get 474 lbs, besides oil?

[Bob Hancock]

Originally Posted by AZ-J

Dry weight of an R1200S is 419 lbs. Take out the cat and the cross pipe, I figure that is more than a five lb loss. I have a full Remus system. What did you add to get 474 lbs, besides oil?

I actually weighed my bike....as I do all of them. It has Remus headers and stock cans with 1/4 tankof fuel ready to go. No tricks....just wanted to know what the thing actually weighs as the factories are notoriously optimistic. Matter of fact I think that dry weight is no fluids at all....no battery, 5.5" wheel...etc....not trustworthy imho.

[AZ-J]

Hmmm. Next time I go past a truck stop, I'll see if I can get mine weighed.

[Bob Hancock]

Jordan, all I did was weigh one wheel at a time on a digital bathroom scale. Just make sure the bike is sitting solidly on the other tire. It also gives you an idea of the basic balance of the bike. I have yet to have a bike that was even close to advertised figures over the years. 419, btw, is really light. A 900SS Ducati I had weighed that with gas and it was amazing how easy it was to push around. Pounds matter. 450 lbs real weight is nothing to sneeze at if it has 180 rwhp.

[AZ-Twin]

Originally Posted by Bob Hancock

Jordan, all I did was weigh one wheel at a time on a digital bathroom scale. Just make sure the bike is sitting solidly on the other tire. It also gives you an idea of the basic balance of the bike. I have yet to have a bike that was even close to advertised figures over the years. 419, btw, is really light. A 900SS Ducati I had weighed that with gas and it was amazing how easy it was to push around. Pounds matter. 450 lbs real weight is nothing to sneeze at if it has 180 rwhp.

That is the same method I used Bob.

BMW R1200S 480LBS
Ducati M900 425LBS
Suzuki DR650 354LBS

The tanks were at various levels of fill, and I think I had the tail bag on the Suzuki (tools & fix-a-flat). BMW had stock Exhaust at the time.

[AZ-J]

I can't ride high COG bikes, I have a bad shoulder. That 450 lbs of weight is higher up than an R1200S, too.

[zx9rmal]

I believe the 450 lb. figure for the S1000RR is "ready to ride" weight, i.e., WET. All the R12S tests that I've read show measured wet weight in the 480's. 419 lbs. wet (or even without fuel) is impossible without SERIOUS mods.

[Mad Otter]

Xaus interview:
Ruben Xaus was on hand at the Birmingham NEC Motorcycle show recently to unveil the new Superbike racer to his British fans, and we caught up with him to find out more about the entire BMW WSB project, and his 2009 machine, the S1000RR.

"BMW in WSB next year will be very interesting for everyone because it is a big factory and they have big potential to produce a really good bike. The new bike has been born from nothing; we have no data base from 2008, so it is different for us. But having ridden it in Valencia the base is, really, in a good place. We have a lot to do still with the electronics systems and mapping, but that is something for the technicians more than the riders. As a rider I can say the chassis is good, the bike is good, agility, handling and everything is really nice. It is also comfortable to ride and I am happy about it. We have no goals right away. My team-mate Troy is good so all of this together can be a very positive package."

Xaus also spoke about the overall importance of a factory like BMW coming into WSB racing. "A brand like BMW, based in Europe, is a very serious, strict company. I like this mentality. As a rider, I always give 100% and I know that I have someone behind me that gives 100% too. BMW will show a lot in world Superbike because they have a good mentality, strong, and they have shown in Formula 1 that if they want they can."

Insert photo of crestfallen BMW FAITHFUL here complete with suspenders, bow tie, and glasses...LOL

[Mad Otter]

Troy Corser after Valencia testing:

"I am a bit surprised really because I didn’t think I would feel as comfortable on the bike as I did. The base is very good and although there is a lot of work to be done, I feel very positive about our prospects. Even though I have had just two days on the bike, I feel it is my bike and I wasn’t expecting that so soon. I’m happy with the progress we made over the two days and now the team have now got a lot of info and telemetry data to work with for the next test. The communication is very good and there have been no problems except that I got hit by a bird towards the end of the test. It happened between turn one and two and it hit me just under the throat, above my chest protector, and it was a pretty heavy hit. It ruined my lap and it didn’t do the bird any good either!"

Insert another befuddled BMW FAITHFUL pic here...

[IvanTT]

Originally Posted by SergioK

I'm hoping to make it... though it will probably be on Sunday.

Trying to Get Tuna and Jose intersted for Sunday too

[RC51DRAG]

I never weigh my bikes since the most important factor to me is power/weight ratio and useability over a lower wet weight or highest hp rating alone. The R12S might come in a few pounds lighter. This is something I doubt will prove true in the final reckoning given the current wet weight of the Japanese I4; even if this proves true the R12S will be significantly underpowered compared to the S1000RR, Italian, and Japanese superbikes.

In terms of useability the average rider's abilities will not benefit from the power/weight advantage the S1000RR will have but it will be the superior performance model in the BMW line up, no doubt. Even current 600 I4 will leave the R12S behind, rider skill being equal.

I'll still hold out for another season before buying another road bike. If the S1000RR comes in at a good price I'll likely buy it - having BMW's first WSC entrant is appealing. But by then the R12S will be even more discounted and ignored and likely end up in my garage as I prefer twins over everything else. For my needs and riding ability the R12S is sportbike enough.

[HugoVW]

The race is on in Kyalami :
1. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) – 1’42”936
2. Ben Spies (Yamaha) – 1’43”028
3. Riuichi Kiyonari (Honda) – 1’43”069
4. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) – 1’43”298
5. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) – 1’43”355
6. Troy Corser (BMW) – 1’43”652
7. Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) – 1’43”868
8. Shinya Nakano (Aprilia) – 1’43”994
9. Ruben Xaus (BMW) – 1’44”348
10. Jonathan Rea (Honda) – 1’44”496
11. Andrew Pitt (Honda) – 1’44”908 (WK Supersport)
12. Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) – 1’45”029 (WK Supersport)
13. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) – 1’46”544
14. Carlos Checa (Honda) – 1’46”583
15. Tom Sykes (Yamaha) – 1’46”780

And look at how quick those CBR600RR's are(!!) on 11 and 12

[MrK]

Originally Posted by HugoVW

The race is on in Kyalami :
1. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) – 1’42”936
2. Ben Spies (Yamaha) – 1’43”028
3. Riuichi Kiyonari (Honda) – 1’43”069
4. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) – 1’43”298
5. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) – 1’43”355
6. Troy Corser (BMW) – 1’43”652
7. Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) – 1’43”868
8. Shinya Nakano (Aprilia) – 1’43”994
9. Ruben Xaus (BMW) – 1’44”348
10. Jonathan Rea (Honda) – 1’44”496
11. Andrew Pitt (Honda) – 1’44”908 (WK Supersport)
12. Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) – 1’45”029 (WK Supersport)
13. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) – 1’46”544
14. Carlos Checa (Honda) – 1’46”583
15. Tom Sykes (Yamaha) – 1’46”780

And look at how quick those CBR600RR's are(!!) on 11 and 12

Ahhh So nice to see those three letters in there!!!

[signit98]

What, "CBR" ?