Spin on RR....

[Mirage_ZA]

So today I took it for a spin. Although not really interested, I had to ride it after all the write up.
Ok, it is proper superbike. All the hype about power power power....it is strong but not scary strong. I was on the limiter in first 3 gears, I can bet that it was not faster than my K7 GSXR (which has -1 front sprocket, Akra pipe and K&N filters). Turn in was a bit slower that I expected. Great brakes. I didn't like heat on the left hand side, my left leg was properly cooked in traffic. The rest, about seating, wind protection etc is rather dependant on size of rider, hence I shall not comment about that. However, there is something special about this machine. Traction control. I always try to slide the rear on any bike, just to get the feel for traction so I know how far to play...with RR it feels like flat rear tyre, it just gets to move ever so slightly and that's it ! No backfire, on/off fueling - just one smoooth and gentle moooove of the rear. This machine is so so so forgiving. Unlike other superbikes, it won't chew and spit you out if you misbehave - it will talk to you first and assist you instead. I have to say - bike lost to a degree fear and respect factor but made it so safer and, in most riding conditions - faster. Which is the idea with superbikes. Well done BMW.

[SHIVA]

neat write up... thanks

[Mirage_ZA]

Thanks boss

[Tr0jan]

I myself went for a ride on Saturday because of interest (no haste, but curious).

Like Alex said, the electronic aids remove most of the scariness of the bike, because you can do what you want and will not receive a hiding. The wind protection of 200+ sucks big time,and im a small fellow. (Think the K spoilt me )

If you do not look down, you would think your riding a fireblade... I would have preferred more low down power, but then again, just buy a K.


Ill need a longer ride than 30 mins to give a proper opinion, and will do so when the time comes. But so far, not convinced to part with the K yet, but its a brilliant bike none the less.

[Bernardo]

.. If you do not look down, you would think your riding a fireblade... I would have preferred more low down power, but then again, just buy a K....

I think is exactly the reason for what the BMW designers made the best bikes in both categories... the best hypersport and the best superbike..

[GeeBee]

Thanks Alex for the brief and nice summary.
I'm in particular intrigued by your comment about the heat on the left side of the bike. From the way the engine and radiator have been designed I'm not really sure if the engine itself has areas that would generate more heat on the left side. What we all know is that there is an assymetric design of the venting holes left vs right. Do you think that has more to do with it? Curious to hear your assessment.

[Mirage_ZA]

I don't think that it runs hotter than other bikes (coolant temperature was 97C) but fan (or two, don't know how many RR has) was on and rather loud. In town, I was mostly in 1st gear, launching on traffic lights and doing power wheelies. Not sure about "unlocking" of slick mode, I could scroll into any mode. Rain and Sport can be ignored, Race and Slick make RR perform. It is by design, I am sure and in racing it doesn't really matter but as commuter, specially in hot climate, it may be an issue. I noticed that some posters mentioned strong midrange....in my view, RR starts to happen only over 10K rpm. I like that, similar to Suzuki I had. Honda being linear for instance, although fast, feels flat. I like superbikes that are Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde in character. Looking back - I just don't see how I could ride RR slow....it begs for abuse

[Mirage_ZA]

Thanks Alex for the brief and nice summary.
I'm in particular intrigued by your comment about the heat on the left side of the bike. From the way the engine and radiator have been designed I'm not really sure if the engine itself has areas that would generate more heat on the left side. What we all know is that there is an assymetric design of the venting holes left vs right. Do you think that has more to do with it? Curious to hear your assessment.

I have checked - fan is on the left.

[GeeBee]

guilty by suspicion

[Mirage_ZA]

To add....rode it on the track today. That is actually place where this bike belongs. Where you brake so hard your wrists hurt, where you hang on for dear life on acceleration, lap after lap. I didn't time, it was friends bike, but granted, turn 3 at Zwarkops Race Track in Pretoria...easily my fastest run ever. I repeat, though, you have to rev it, 11K rpm +

[Bernardo]

Hi Alex

A question of spin...

What is the tires pressure you use?

Yesterday, talking with some liter bikes friends, told me that they uses 28Lb front and 33 Lb. rear when cold, after warm, decreases the pressure to 28/30...

Thanks

[Mirage_ZA]

Hi Alex

A question of spin...

What is the tires pressure you use?

Yesterday, talking with some liter bikes friends, told me that they uses 28Lb front and 33 Lb. rear when cold, after warm, decreases the pressure to 28/30...

Thanks

I would have to check Berbardo, I took it for few laps only, don't know what pressure he was running.

[dazoo]

Thats the wrong way round - tyre pressures increase when warm.

[Bernardo]

Hi Dazoo,

Y know that... thanks to Boyle Mariotte! (or Charles) "The volume of a perfect gas is inversely proportional to the absolute pressure at constant temperature."

For this reason they decreases pressure (deflates) the tires when hot to obtain almost same results, and compensate the variation of the tire performance (tyre softening ) ..

Repeat, I can't check that but these guys are riding too fast...

[buttMD]

I rode the RR a couple weeks ago-I had high expectations and the bike exceeded most of those. My dealer took me out on a 45 minute loop here in the local wine country and the bike saw 50 or so posted 25 turns, so a pretty tight course. With the rev limiter set at 9000, the bike was not as quick as my S, and never had that grunt the S has that feels like you were rear-ended on acceleration-but so effortless to ride fast! Rain mode was very strange-big time delay in throttle response. I kept it in Race the rest of the way and quickly got the feel for powering very early in corner exits. We have a lot of tar snakes here and several times the bike had to adjust to traction variations in the same corner and it did so without any doubts. I agree that I wished for a bit more rear slide at times, perhaps a little higher pressure, no idea what they were running but again with the 9 grand limit, I was only into roughly 2/3rds of the bike's power. Turn in was very neutral and required very little counter-steer to maintain my line-I felt like I could take my hands off the bars at any time. Brakes were superb. I wished I could have run the bike in Slick mode for a full overview. Seating position was surprising relaxed-I am 6'1" and I didn't feel scrunched. Needs a throttle lock for long straight commutes though so one could ride 'no hands' though-hand weight on the bars was too much. I didn't feel any uncomfortable heat, but it was a cool day (50s) so hard to tell if there was too much anywhere. The coolest part of the ride though was when this (Lambo) Diablo that we had passed earlier on the freeway came up alongside to check out the bike! I high sided my S a few years ago on a track day and broke my pelvis, so after I get my S back on the road (broken rod) the RR will be my next bike for obvious (traction control) reasons. I was surprised at the insurance quote as well-about $1500/year.

[Child in Time (RIP)]

So today I took it for a spin. Although not really interested, I had to ride it after all the write up.
Ok, it is proper superbike. All the hype about power power power....it is strong but not scary strong. I was on the limiter in first 3 gears, I can bet that it was not faster than my K7 GSXR (which has -1 front sprocket, Akra pipe and K&N filters). Turn in was a bit slower that I expected. Great brakes. I didn't like heat on the left hand side, my left leg was properly cooked in traffic. The rest, about seating, wind protection etc is rather dependant on size of rider, hence I shall not comment about that. However, there is something special about this machine. Traction control. I always try to slide the rear on any bike, just to get the feel for traction so I know how far to play...with RR it feels like flat rear tyre, it just gets to move ever so slightly and that's it ! No backfire, on/off fueling - just one smoooth and gentle moooove of the rear. This machine is so so so forgiving. Unlike other superbikes, it won't chew and spit you out if you misbehave - it will talk to you first and assist you instead. I have to say - bike lost to a degree fear and respect factor but made it so safer and, in most riding conditions - faster. Which is the idea with superbikes. Well done BMW.

Hi, you mention that you don't think the S 1000 RR is any faster than your K7 GSXR.

Will your K7 GSXR do a 1/4 mile at 156.1 mph ?

Sport Rider Magazine tested 5 different Liter bikes and that was the speed at the Drag Strip for the stock S 1000 RR.

Also in the June issue of ROADRACING WORLD they did a 7 bike shootout and the S 1000 RR was picked best overall and on a Dynojet 250ix produced 184.75 RWHP.

Second closest was the Kawasaki ZX-10R at 164.18 RWHP.

Dolph

[buttMD]

Double Eagle
Was your ride limited to 9 grand like mine? That could explain why your GSXR felt quicker. On my spec paperwork for the RR, 9 grand looks to be about 120 hp and with a tad more weight, that puts your GSXR at a higher power/weight ratio than a (9 grand) limited RR, doesn't it? I don't think there can be any debate that a factory set up RR is quicker whereas a demo bike is probably not.

[Child in Time (RIP)]

Double Eagle
Was your ride limited to 9 grand like mine? That could explain why your GSXR felt quicker. On my spec paperwork for the RR, 9 grand looks to be about 120 hp and with a tad more weight, that puts your GSXR at a higher power/weight ratio than a (9 grand) limited RR, doesn't it? I don't think there can be any debate that a factory set up RR is quicker whereas a demo bike is probably not.

Duh ???

I don't have a GSXR .

I don't know what you thought I said.

Dolph

[Mirage_ZA]

Hi, you mention that you don't think the S 1000 RR is any faster than your K7 GSXR.
Will your K7 GSXR do a 1/4 mile at 156.1 mph ?

Dolph

Hi Dolph,

My Suzuki had -1 sprocket in the front (better acceleration, lower top speed) and that does make a difference.

[Child in Time (RIP)]

Hi, you mention that you don't think the S 1000 RR is any faster than your K7 GSXR.
Will your K7 GSXR do a 1/4 mile at 156.1 mph ?

Dolph

Hi Dolph,

My Suzuki had -1 sprocket in the front (better acceleration, lower top speed) and that does make a difference.

What you are saying is that your Suzuki had one tooth less on the front sprocket.

That will generally give a bike quicker acceleration but limits it's speed on the top end because it essentially reduces the gear ratio.

I understand where you are coming from now.

It's usually better for the inter workings of the bike to run one tooth less on the back sprocket due to wear issues.

Dolph

[Mirage_ZA]

My top was around 270 (vs. 300) - so in practical terms, it made no difference. Regarding wear, you are right but I got sprocket for free and it took like 5 minutes to have it replaced (by a friend who made a "donation"). It was difficulult for me to say no

[dazoo]

It's usually better for the inter workings of the bike to run one tooth less on the back sprocket due to wear issues

Do you mean when you drop a tooth on the front you drop a tooth on the back as well? I hadn't heard that before - it is going to reduce the effect of dropping a tooth on the front by about 1/3.