VOL. 52 ISSUE 12 MARCH 24, 2015 P53
a matter of minutes, if so de-
sired.
Stability under hard braking
is where the double R shines.
Again, thank the electronics for
this. The ABS keeps the wheels
planted and gripping with very
little rider awareness of the mil-
lisecond signals being transmit-
ted between the front and rear
calipers to maximize braking
efficiency with minimal tire slip-
page. The degree of influence
changes with the ride modes,
with less input in race settings.
The refinements BMW has
managed to imbue the 2015 RR
with contribute to smoothing out
an already sublime motor and
powertrain. The engine modifi-
cations with the advanced elec-
tronics are a great asset. How-
ever, the single most significant
change evident for me is in the
new chassis. Though the former
machine was in no way a slouch
when it came to agility, the new
bike has an even sharper, more
responsive attitude. Turn-in is
crisp, with an exacting and con-
sistent feel at both high- and low-
speed corner entry. But where
the new chassis reveals itself
is in the way the bike changes
direction. In tight sections, the
RR can be picked up and leaned
in the other way effortlessly. This
is most apparent in rapid-fire S-
turns or chicanes and especially
in tight sections with abrupt,
90-plus-degree turns. There's no
need to muscle or manhandle
the RR to raise it up and over
and get it going in the opposite
direction, it just happens with a
kind of controlled fluidity. This
takes less physicality, which
means less fatigue. Again, the
RR's accommodating deport-
ment contributes to an ease
of riding that allows more rider
concentration to be placed on
lines, braking points, and getting
back into the throttle.
The dimensions concerning
alteration with the new chassis
may be slight on paper, but are
highly noticeable in application.
Steering head angle was in-
creased by 0.5-degrees to 66.5
degrees. Swingarm pivot was
lowered 3mm and the wheel-
base was lengthened 15mm to
56.1 inches. The result is an im-
pressive alchemy of responsive
front end and overall stability.
Aiding these changes the han-
dlebars were lengthened 5mm
per side to grant more leverage.
It all adds up to a beautifully
behaved and sublimely handling
machine.
Suspension modifications
have slightly broadened the
range of possible adjustment on
the rear shock, with a 10-click
scale for adjusting compres-
"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 CONTROL. TIMES ARE
CHANGING."
