S1000RR roadtest

sporttourer · 12-12-2009, 08:00 AM

Paul Carruthers tests the RR in issue 48 of Cycle News. Loves everything but the pea green paint job.

jduke · 12-12-2009, 08:41 AM

I agree. The red/white/blue looks great to me, but one on all black might be more than I could resist.

Cambridge K · 12-12-2009, 06:56 PM

http://www.bmw-motorrad.dk/no/no/_teaserpool/media/instruction_manuals/Riders_manual_S1000RR_2010_EN.pdf

Need an Owner's Manual

Dr. Curve · 12-13-2009, 05:42 AM

Thank you Cambridge........we all can enjoy seeing this complete and straight forward Manual. What a bike and how nice to see that 14,200 rev area that is so very useable. The Carruthers feels so strongly about this new unit adds even more to it already growing legend.

Bob Hancock · 12-13-2009, 06:01 AM

From what little I know 2011 will be the year to pick up a new one. By then they'll have made the changes they need to make and will offer the bike in normal colors instead of these goofball deco art color wheels. I wanna sing the ROYGBIV song everytime I see some of these things.

GotRoad? · 12-13-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cambridge K

http://www.bmw-motorrad.dk/no/no/_teaserpool/media/instruction_manuals/Riders_manual_S1000RR_2010_EN.pdf

Need an Owner's Manual

Thanks for the kink. Great reading, even if I don't intend to buy one.

roger albert · 12-13-2009, 08:28 AM

Looks like potentially a good range of suspension adjustments. Of course, just having the knobs on there doesn't mean they actually do much, but it's at least a hope and a chance (because w/o them, you have NO chance) Very cool.

markjenn · 11:21 AM

I'm a sucker for small thoughtful details, and the way the suspension adjusts is one of them. They just put a dial on the adjuster with the numbers 1-10 marked on it! And they're color coded and supposedly you can use the ignition key as an adjuster (although the slots didn't look very key-friendly to me and since the ignition keys cost a fortune, I'd stick with a screwdriver). But the big deal is that you don't have to count clicks or find the notes you misplaced six months ago about what the suspension is currently set at.

- Mark

roger albert · 12-13-2009, 11:28 AM

The only downside is that none of that will work or carry over after a service unless the dealership tech's get the damping rod locknut within about 1/10th of 1 mm of exactly where it was. In my experience, they're never that close, and most often, 10-20 x that much. Will be interesting to see if they have a mechanism that prevents this (unlikely, and not easily conceivable) or just what. These ARE cool details though.

markjenn · 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Hancock

From what little I know 2011 will be the year to pick up a new one. By then they'll have made the changes they need to make and will offer the bike in normal colors instead of these goofball deco art color wheels.

This is usually a good strategy, especially with a first-year BMW. The smart money stays on the sideline for a year or two.

But to present the other side of the coin for the potential early adapters, I must admit I succumbed to temptation and got one of the first 1998 R1s and it was a superb bike. I now think that it ended up being by far the most charismatic and interesting bike of the entire R1 line. Each successive year they softened it a bit and added styling tweaks and BNG that did not do the bike any favors. That first year bike was simple, aggressive, and clean. And I had absolutely no trouble at all from the bike - it ran like a train. (Of course, it was a Yamaha, not a BMW.)

Likewise, I have a very early serial number CBX in my garage. The later bikes may be more refined, or tour better, or they may have solved some minor technical issue with them, but it is a great bike and I'm glad I have an early one. And its been reliable too.

Another consideration is that I would bet they'll raise prices pretty dramatically in the 2nd year if the bike is a hit and it appears it might be. I recall the 2000 RC51 was a pretty big hit and the next year the price shot up a cool $1000 (10%). I predict the 2011 S1000RR will have a $14,995 base price. There is just no way BMW can continue to sell R1200R's for $13K and the S1000RR for $13,800.

And there is always the "I could be dead in a year", "Life's short, eat dessert first" approach. I did the smart thing and held off buying a big-screen HD TV until a month ago, but now that I have it, I can't believe I waited this long.

Yes, I'm rationalizing....

- Mark

John Lyon · 12-13-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjenn

I'm a sucker for small thoughtful details, and the way the suspension adjusts is one of them. They just put a dial on the adjuster with the numbers 1-10 marked on it!

Given the reported capabilities of this bike, I wish they made it go to 11 or 12.

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

Mark has valid points about the buying of the bike.

The older I get, buying decisions are becoming "If not now, then when?" And the "When" may never come. One of the benefits of aging is that you might have the income level, or the savings to enjoy things that were once subject to rationalization "but what if?" The other side of the argument is that should you buy the fastest BMW motorcycle made when reflexes and agility are decreasing? And/or should you get it sooner, or later? Just look at the comback athletes - who don't.

Money comes and goes; but time waits for no man.

Deans BMW · 12-13-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Mark has valid points about the buying of the bike.

The older I get, buying decisions are becoming "If not now, then when?" And the "When" may never come. One of the benefits of aging is that you might have the income level, or the savings to enjoy things that were once subject to rationalization "but what if?" The other side of the argument is that should you buy the fastest BMW motorcycle made when reflexes and agility are decreasing? And/or should you get it sooner, or later? Just look at the comback athletes - who don't.

Money comes and goes; but time waits for no man.

Excellent point, I'll be 67 in March and was talking with my increadable wife the other day about is it stupid to buy this bike, her answer was, well when you are 70, will you look back and say "I wish I had". mine will arrive at San Jose in Feb.

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

did you guys notice the pillion seat has straps for a bag! system cases must be in the works!

Deans BMW · 12-13-2009, 01:11 PM

And a touring windshield and barbacks and...............

roger albert · 12-13-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Lyon

Given the reported capabilities of this bike, I wish they made it go to 11 or 12.

Ha!

If we could then just dial the cylinders down to 2 or 3, I'd be on it.

Dr. Curve · 12-13-2009, 04:56 PM

Just pull the plug on one cylinder Roger.......it will still have more power than anything you own now. Get one if thats all that is holding you back.