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/900508
BMW HP4 RACE VS. BMW S 1000 RR COMPARISON TEST P102 The S 1000 RR struggles in the stability department by compari- son. Put too much input into its chassis and the bike starts to feel unnerving, wallowing as it fights to settle down. Likewise, suspension com- ponents on each bike feel like they've come from two sepa- rate worlds. And they have. It's important to remember that the S 1000 RR is built to be a street bike; comfortable for daily riding, but aggressive enough to handle spirited days on the track or in the canyons. That said, baseline suspension settings are soft, the front and rear bits often blowing through their travel under heavy loads such as hard braking or acceleration. The racing-spec Ohlins bits on the HP4 are stiff, but not so much as to make the ride harsh. The fork and shock both provide ample amounts of feel and support, especially as lap times begin dropping. Find- ing a fault in the HP4's setup is a hard task. It's funny how the HP4 Race's brakes are extremely easy to use; you'd think that superbike-spec Brembo monoblocs would want to throw you over the handlebars every chance they got. Instead, the initial bite is gentle, and stop- ping force builds in a very linear fashion. It's not uncommon to use the same brake markers as you would on the S 1000 RR be- cause, even with the extra speed from the superbike engine, the outright power of the brakes will stop you on a dime. WHAT A BIKE For years, BMW's S 1000 RR has sat near the pointy end of the liter- bike spectrum. New bikes have come. Old bikes have gone. But through a solid chassis and mon- ster power, the S 1000 RR always stayed. A true force to be reck- oned with, and one most of us will never really get to push within 20 percent of its full potential. But then there's the HP4 Race. And sure, it's obvious that this latest iteration of "BMW best" was going to push its little brother to the side. But could we really have expected the gap to be this much? We probably should have. BMW has poured its very best resources and a lot of time into creating the carbon-dressed HP4 Race, and in the end created a motorcycle that's not only a work of art, but a demon on the race- track. If you can find the chance to ride one—and get past drooling over the eye-candy bolted all over it—you'd probably agree that it's the best track bike money can buy. It's a monster, and yet some- how forgiving and fun. Would I buy one? In a heart- beat. That is of course if I could somehow scrounge together enough money for the $78,000 price tag. The BMW HP4 is the next best thing to a full-factory superbike, and the ultimate track weapon. A sum more than its parts, and an absolute steal if you consider what you're getting for the money—performance-wise. No need to mention the adren- aline rush that comes with. CN S P E C I F I C A T I O N S BMW S 1000 RR ($23,990)/ BMW HP4 RACE ($78,000) ENGINE: ....................Liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline 4-cylinder engine, 4 valves per cylinder, double overhead camshafts DISPLACEMENT: ................................ 999cc BORE X STROKE: ....................80 x 49.7mm COMPRESSION RATIO: .............13:1 / 13.9:1 CLUTCH:................... Wet multi-plate / Wet multi-plate, anti-hopping TRANSMISSION: ..............................6-speed CHASSIS: .....Aluminum bridge-type frame with load-bearing engine / Carbon fiber, monocoque RTM frame w/adjustable steering head angle FRONT SUSPENSION: ........ 46mm inverted fork, fully adjustable / Ohlins, FGR 300 Superbike World Cup, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION:.................Monoshock, fully adjustable / Aluminum underslung double-sided swingarm, Ohlins TTX36 GP single shock, fully adjustable FRONT BRAKE: .................................320mm dual floating discs, radially-mounted dual monobloc Brembo four-piston calipers, ABS as standard / Brembo Racing twin disc, 320mm, 4-piston REAR BRAKE:.......................... 220mm disc, single-piston caliper, ABS as standard / Brembo Racing single disc, 220mm, 4-piston Superbike World Cup fixed FRONT TIRE: ... 120/70 ZR 17 / 120/70 ZR 17 Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slick SC2 REAR TIRE: 190/55 ZR 17 / 200/60 ZR 17 Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slick SC2 SEAT HEIGHT: ..32.1-33.5 in. / 32.1-33.3 in FUEL CAPACITY:................................ 4.6 gal WEIGHT: ... 439 lbs. (curb, claimed) / 322 lbs. (dry)