VOL. 55 ISSUE 45 NOVEMBER 13, 2018 P45
T
he 2019 BMW S
1000 RR is a big
deal for BMW.
So much so they will be
coming back into factory
level involvement in the
WorldSBK Champion-
ship with Tom Sykes and
Marcus Reiterberger. The
machine they will be using
is a ground- up redesign,
lighter and more powerful
than before with an engine
that utilizes BMW's new
ShiftCam variable valve
technology, which var-
ies the valve timings and
valve strokes on the intake
side. BMW is claiming 20
horsepower at the crank for
U.S. spec (207 horsepower
in Europe) with 83 lb-ft of
torque for a motorcycle with
a claimed 434 pounds of
wet, ready-to-ride weight.
One noticeable absentee
on the spec sheet is BMW
has not implemented a
counter-rotating crankshaft
like what can be found on
the Ducati Panigale V4 S
and V4 R.
The engine has been
used more as a stressed
member of the chassis than
previously, which BMW
says they implemented
"to have the force applied
directly to the engine struc-
ture via the shortest pos-
sible paths." There's also
revised suspension in the
rear in the form of the "Full
Floater Pro kinematics," al-
though BMW didn't divulge
exactly what that is.
You'll get BMW's new
generation Dynamic Damp-
ing Control (DDC) electroni-
cally adjusted suspension
with new valving and a shim
package is available to fine
tune the ride at the track.
As usual with BMWs, you
get every electronic aid un-
der the sun and an up-and-
down quickshifter. Four
riding modes of "Rain,"
"Road," "Dynamic," and
"Race" come as standard,
but proper track riders will
want the additional "Pro
Modes" option that gives an
extra three modes of "Race
Pro 1-3," more options for
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC, ABS and wheelie con-
trol, as well as the throttle
curve (torque adjustment)
and Engine Brake. You also
get Launch Control and a
Pit Lane speed limiter, all
adjusted by the massive
6.5-inch TFT dash.
BMW is also offering the
first optional M Package for
the S 1000 RR in the same
guise as the performance
upgrades you can get with
something like a BMW
M5 automobile. For the S
1000 RR, these include
the BMW Motorsport paint
finish, carbon fiber wheels,
lightweight lithium-ion bat-
tery, chassis kit with rear
ride height adjustment and
swingarm pivot, M Sport
Seat, and the Pro ECU
Mode. CN
1000 RR