VOL. 52 ISSUE 12 MARCH 24, 2015 P51
calibration in seven plus/minus
levels to maximize safety and
performance under hard accel-
eration. The optional "Pro" mode
features launch control and a
programmable pit-lane speed
limiter. This one add-on takes
you into fantasyland, producing
an intermittent, popping rasp
sound reminiscent of a MotoGP
bike as you cruise down pit lane.
Go ahead and pretend.
Over the past decade there's
been a major shift in enthusiasts
accepting these various rider
aids. Less and less you hear
riders pontificating about how
they can brake better unassisted
as opposed to using ABS. The
same is now true of traction con-
trol. Times are changing. The
reality is that modern electron-
ics are being developed at the
top level of racing because the
world's best riders understand
it makes managing the power
output of modern engines more
practical, efficient, and safe.
These advances are finding their
way down to production ma-
chines because they work, and
because they make riding safer.
That's not a bad thing.
With regard to the S 1000 RR
all of this results in a machine
that can get you around a circuit
at impressive speeds, at severe
lean angles, braking hard at
speed, without any drama. For
me, the entire track day unfolded
with decent laps and not a single
moment (translation of "mo-
ment:" that horrible feeling when
you realize your talent has been
consumed by a clash between
overzealous aspiration and the
reality of actually remaining on
pavement, leading to an off-track
excursion). All these references
to track performance do in fact
have relevance in the real world,
because the technology that
provides stability and ride-ability
on the track lend themselves to
a motorcycle that is safer to ride
the street.
The RR is laden with an anti-
A good deal of
speed without the
drama. That's the
best way to sum
up the new BMW S
1000 RR.
