BMW HP4 RACE
FULL TEST
P102
HP4 RACE at Portugal's Esto-
ril GP circuit, outside Lisbon.
Except, even with an identical
engine, Jordi's BMW Superbike
is heavier than the carbon-
framed HP4 RACE I rode, which
scales an amazing 321 pounds
dry, or 376 pounds track-ready
with its 4.6-gallon aluminum fuel
tank fully fueled—compared to
the racer's 370 pounds with oil/
water, but no fuel.
Key elements in that weight
saving are the CF frame, sub-
frame and wheels, for the chas-
a Black Magic revival of the HP4
high-end street bike introduced
in 2012 and sold for three short
years, before it was replaced in
2015 by the current-generation
S 1000 RR. But in addition,
the track-focused HP4 RACE
is powered instead by a more
powerful 215-bhp version of the
S 1000 RR Superbike race mo-
tor used by Jordi Torres to lead
Race 2 at the Misano round of
the 2017 World Superbike series
for so many laps just four days
before I was invited to ride the
sis, in which the four-cylinder
inline engine is integrated as a
load-bearing element, scales a
mere 171 pounds complete with
bulkhead partitions and metal
inserts, which are bonded into
it at the manufacturing stage
for long-term durability. That's
a huge 8.8 pounds lighter than
the S 1000 RR's cast aluminum
chassis, and the CF frame is
moreover a one-piece hollow
monocoque construction made
from a single piece of mate-
rial, and thus has no seams, no
joints, and no neuralgic weak
points, such as individually
bonded or bolted-on compo-
nents. Yet according to Christian
Gonschor, it does indeed have a
degree of controlled flex engi-
neered in at the design stage,
to deliver the critical responsive-
ness and dynamic feedback
that an over-stiff chassis doesn't
convey.
The self-supporting CF seat
subframe is also made via RTM,
and is adjustable for three dif-
ferent heights varying in 15mm
increments from 816mm to
846mm, while the milled alumin-
ium footrests are also eight-way
adjustable for position. You can't
not get comfortable in it. The CF
wheels are 30% lighter than con-
ventional forged aluminum ones,
Ultra lightweight materials reduce
weight to an amazing 322 pounds
dry, including carbon fiber twin-spar
hollow monocoque frame, wheels,
mudguards, bodywork and covers.
It pays to rev the BMW engine
out to the limiter, because
there's definitely more power
available up high.
