Cav's S1000RR Review

[Cav]

I've been meaning to do this for a while now .. my take on a modified 194bhp (at the wheel) Gen 2 BMW S1000RR

To start you off - here's an image of said bike. Personally I really like it, it's tasteful and actually discreet amongst all the garish yellow and near-neon blue bikes parked everywhere.

Talking you through some of the mods, the bike has a TTX36 rear shock, NIX30 cartridges, Brembo RCS19 + Brembo M4 calipers running EBC GPFAX pads and the bike produced a staggering 194bhp at the wheel - there's also a Translogic quickshifter to make the most of all of that goodness! there's a feast of aftermarket ergonomic parts such as the taller comfort seat for the owner who is over 6ft tall.

Sitting on the stationary BMW it feels bigger than my ZX6R, probably down to the larger seat but also in terms of reach to the bars. I found the steering to be very heavy when stationary but the moment you start moving it becomes VERY light but fluid - I'm not used to this with my ZX6R.

Exit pit lane, half throttle is quick, popping 2nd gear throughto 3rd and it pops on the quickshifter. Tip it into turn one and I feel like I'm gliding - the owner is significantly heavier than myself and I was expecting the bike to feel very harsh but this was not the case. Turns 1-3 can be taken as one long turn and it feels sublime on this thing. Down to 1st for turn 3 then short shift for the left hander turn 4 onto the back straight - I'm only rolling on and using half the revs shifting through to 4th and it feels like it gains torque in every gear. This thing is a rocket.

Now - I went out in Novice group for this session (I had been riding in fast group myself) so I did promise Claire at NoLimits that I wouldn't go mental and I stayed true to my word.

A couple of laps in I started to press on the brakes more and I wasn't impressed. A LOT of lever pressure was required and all of a sudden the bike felt very heavy. IMO, the brake pads were the weak point in the system - they felt exactly the same as the EBC HH I tried before. Also, his brake discs were warped badly and I later found out they're original... 6000 miles (5000 miles on circuit).

Half way through the session the track become nearly empty and I saw the opportunity to increase the pace - I was lapping around 2m20 and decided to do some 2m08 laps (10 seconds slower than fast group). The POWER .... It isn't rampant like the 600, more an unrelenting shove up your spine as you cling on and keep throwing gears at it. I was pinned in 5th gear through the last corner at Portimao, the back end was lighting up and a friend confirmed I was leaving darkies onto the start/finish straight, over the crest and the front wheel lifts - AT 150mph !!! Into 6th and I keep it pinned to the gantry. A quick check and I see over 180mph - F*CK ME !!!!!!

The confidence I had in that bike to get me through every corner and ping me out the other side was phenomenal - it really was. It's partly the reason I bought myself some Ohlins...

So how did it leave me feeling? Do I want to trade in my 600 for a 1000? Mmm... No. No I don't because I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoy ragging every inch of life out of my 600. The bike is phenomenal and far superior to mine and I guess that maybe I like to be at one with the bike, this bike was better than me.

Would I go faster on a 1000? I'm certain I would. If this BMW was my bike I would easily have gone 3-5 seconds faster than on my ZX6R and I'd have been doing 1m53s.

Am I glad I rode it? Oh yes.. I really appreciated the opportunity and I'm very happy to say I did it !!

[Kwacky]

They certainly seem to be the bike of choice for the proper fast track day regulars

[D41]

Good write-up. Enjoyed that.

[Cav]

You say that, Kwacky but R1s were the weapon of choice when I was there. There were 7 in our garage I think. 3 BMWs then a variety of everything else.

It's a very very capable bike that did absolutely nothing wrong but I'm not sure what stood out to me to be honest - the power will become boring after a while, it always does

[D41]

A 600 motor allows you to explore a bike's potential. A 1000 motor allows you to explore your own potential.

[duke63]

The current litre sportsbikes are fantastic pieces of technology.

But i don't see how most of us can use anywhere near the power they produce, certainly on the road anyway.

Its interesting that most journalists seem to say the V4 Panigale is hard work on the track and most of them claim other bikes to be quicker......until a full on racer gets hold of one and says it IS the fastest bike for them. Michael Rutter has proved as much in the PB tests and i think James Haydon has said the same.
It just shows that to get the most out of these bikes you need exceptional racer skills, being a fast trackday rider or journalist isn't enough.

[Cav]

So this is what I have been thinking about, Duke.. I'm half decent on a bike and could probably end up mid pack in club racing, however, the BMW I rode is 7 years and 2 generations old and I wouldn't have been getting everything out of it in my first Euro trip that's for sure. - although I do feel I could get everything out of this bike (within my own comfort zone of not crashing).

The BMW feels like a better handling 2012 GSXR1000 with some more go-juice and that bike is certainly something I could beast in not much time.

The latest crop of superbikes really are something else. Riding in fast group I would be gaining on 1299s, R1s and ZX10Rs punching out of the corners and not all of them would be losing me down the straights. This isn't because my bike's incredible, it's because their bikes are too much for them.

Their bike is making their laptime quick, they themselves are not.

[Rossgo]

Great write up Cav. Really enjoyed reading that. Looks and sounds lile a weapon to be honest!

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Cav]

Here's a clip of my mate riding his S1000RR at the end of day 1. I make a guest appearance at 9 minutes between Turns 1 & 2

Believe me when I say he isn't giving it the beans yet he still sees 170mph

[video]https://youtu.be/5k6HexDWkEc?t=499[/video]

[Cav]

My mate who owns the bike has just had the engine and gearbox rebuilt by Phil Crowley.. just got this dyno sheet back.

I've never ridden a bike and then seen it's dyno curve but let me tell you this - it rides exactly how it looks on that piece of paper. No drama. No messing. Just incredibly smooth and capable.

Also, no wonder I struggled with the torque, it has peak torque at roughly corner exit revs!! Its peak torque is double mine and mine is much higher in the rev range than when I'm exiting a corner.. mental.

[Cav]

Just realised you can't see the numbers clearly on here.

More than 194bhp @13,250RPM
More than 84ftlb @10,500RPM (but usable all the way from 7k)

[kiwikrasher]

That’s some sexy lines on that graph!

High torque on corner exit is a great feeling, I love it on the Multi, though I’m guessing this is next level

[Cav]

That’s some sexy lines on that graph!

High torque on corner exit is a great feeling, I love it on the Multi, though I’m guessing this is next level

I'd be guessing at what the multi feels like but it is very simply 'offputting' coming from the ZX6R..

It's the easiest bike in the world to ride at 80-90% of the quickest times on my ninja but without tank grips and the footpegs setup for me it just tries to eject me off the back of the bike.

[StMarks]

Here's a clip of my mate riding his S1000RR at the end of day 1. I make a guest appearance at 9 minutes between Turns 1 & 2
9[/video]

Cracking lines you're laying down there Cav.

[Cav]

Here's a clip of my mate riding his S1000RR at the end of day 1. I make a guest appearance at 9 minutes between Turns 1 & 2
9[/video]

Cracking lines you're laying down there Cav.

Thanks mate.. I look a lot smoother than I felt though haha

[Perkles]

didnt realise youve ridden one on track ,hopefully next year if I feel up to it I might do a euro track day on mine

[Cav]

Yes mate. I've probably said it all up above but essentially it's an incredibly capable and torquey machine.

It's a shame the brakes were done on this one as I couldn't load the front tyre to start pushing on just a little bit.

The grip is phenomenal - I didn't see the electronics flicker once even when the rear wheel was spinning in 5th and the shock was squatting in the last corner at Porto.

I think even a Gen 2 is more bike than anyone needs and so few people will get close to the limit of this thing

[Perkles]

Yes mate. I've probably said it all up above but essentially it's an incredibly capable and torquey machine.

It's a shame the brakes were done on this one as I couldn't load the front tyre to start pushing on just a little bit.

The grip is phenomenal - I didn't see the electronics flicker once even when the rear wheel was spinning in 5th and the shock was squatting in the last corner at Porto.

I think even a Gen 2 is more bike than anyone needs and so few people will get close to the limit of this thing

who cares if your getting to the limit as long as it makes you smile !
what traction control mode was it running on ?

[Cav]

Yeah definitely! I'm meaning it in a good way.. it should be all the bike you ever need

I think it may have been in Slick mode but I can't guarantee it. Traction Control didn't get in the way that's for sure.