Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/484201
2015 BMW S 1000 RR FIRST RIDE P54 sion and rebound. Front forks are inverted cartridge units with hefty 46mm stanchions. Borrow- ing from the HP4 is the Dynamic Damping Control (DDC). The system provides automatic electronic damping to self-adjust the shock and fork to prevailing riding conditions, such as rapid direction changes or bumps in the riding surface. The system aids traction in all aspects—brak- ing, cornering, and accelerating. Electronic signals feed off damp- er piston speed, spring travel, throttle valve setting and brake lever pressure to automatically compensate suspension to best suit the situation. To achieve this, the damper adjustment valves react in less than 10 milliseconds. If we're going to talk visceral, then we need to talk sound. The S 1000 RR delivers a gut- tural growl down low that spins up quickly into a sophisticated and mechanically syncopated language with the blip of the throttle. It's what BMW does best; spin a lot of beautiful inter- nal workings into a symphony of engineering. The dash is a complex, yet well laid out information board that holds a phenomenal amount of information. In addition to the standard elements such as speed, ride mode, settings for DTC, ABS and DDC, the comput- er tracks lean angle (left/right), deceleration rate, maximum de- celeration rate achieved, intake air temp, average speed and fuel consumption, range, trip meters and total mileage. There's more. For track day application there's lap time and distance, specific speeds, info recall for individual laps, number of gear changes per lap and average throttle posi- tion, total laps, and most impor- tantly—best lap. In the midst of all the race circuit applications and pedigree, the S 1000 RR man- ages to include something else in its technological canon; cruise control–a production superbike first. Perhaps it's this one ele- ment that stands as a reminder that despite the competition- focused brawn and sophisticated persona of the double R, at heart it's a motorcycle intended to pro- vide the ardent sport enthusiast with a bike that delivers on virtu- ally every aspect of performance, coupled with the highest degree of safety. The BMW S 1000 RR has been such a significant player in the liter bike category since it was first introduced, it is indeed almost hard to believe it's only been six years on since the bike first broke cover. CN SPECIFICATIONS 2015 BMW S 1000 RR MSRP: ......................................... $15,500 Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse DOHC inline four, 4-valves per cylinder Displacement: ................................. 999cc Bore x stroke : ................80.0 x 49.7mm Compression ratio: ..........................13.0:1 Induction: ..............................BMS-KP EFI, single-valve 48mm throttle bodies, dual injectors per cylinder Emissions: .................. Closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter Horsepower: ........199 hp. at 13,500 rpm Torque: .................83 lb-ft at 10,500 rpm Transmission: .. 6-speed, constant mesh Final drive: ........................Chain 17T/46T Frame: .............. Aluminum bridge frame, engine stressed member Front suspension: ............. 46mm upside- down telescopic fork, spring pre-load, adjustable for bump and rebound SA DDC: electronically adjustable damping Rear suspension: ......................Aluminum double-strut swingarm with central spring strut, spring pre-load, adjust- able for bump and rebound SA DDC: electronically adjustable damping Front wheel travel:........................4.72 in. Rear wheel travel:.........................4.72 in. Front brake: .Floating 320mm twin disc, radial 4-piston fixed calipers, ABS Rear brake: ............. Single 220mm disc, single-piston, floating caliper, ABS Front Tire: ..... 120/70ZR-17 Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP Rear Tire: ......190/55ZR-17 Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP Rake/trail: ..............23.5 degrees/3.8 in. Wheelbase: .................................... 56.1 in. Seat height: ................................... 32.1 in. Fuel Capacity: ................................4.6 gal. Claimed dry weight: ...................... 449 lb. "STABILITY UNDER HARD BRAKING IS WHERE THE DOUBLE R SHINES. AGAIN, THANK THE ELECTRONICS FOR THIS."