2019 bikesales Bike of the Year: BMW S 1000 RR M Sport

Name: 2019 bikesales Bike of the Year: BMW S 1000 RR M Sport
Brand: BMW

Brutal performance in a razor-sharp chassis equals sports bike paradise

Sports bikes are not the volume sellers they once were, but there's no doubt that excitement is still palpable when there's a new model released, or in the case of the BMW S 1000 RR a complete ground-up redesign.

Masses of jaw-dropping horsepower delivered in a taut and streamlined chassis still gets the juices flowing like nothing else, and in that context the S 1000 RR M Sport – the pinnacle of BMW's sports family – arrived at the 2019 Bikesales Bike of the Year starting gates with plenty of anticipation.

This author had to wait a while to sample the Motorsport-liveried M Sport – our Bike Rotation System, which each judge swaps to the next model in alphabetical order, doesn't allow for queue jumping! – but the switch came at just the right time as we hit a set of twisties en route to our BOTY base in Bright.

That's not to say that staid open roads causes undue angst for riders aboard the $33,536 (plus ORC) M Sport, as the ergonomic triangle doesn't deliver a massive hit on the wrists, and the flatter and wider handlebars than the previous model are also a boon. As is cruise control…

However, bends are where the 207hp/113Nm Bavarian juggernaut is most at home, delivering magnificent high-speed stability and incredible levels of grip from the Metzeler Racetec rubber.

Mind you, the old S 1000 RR felt like a glorious piece of kit as well, and a road ride – even one at a fair clip – definitely doesn't get to the bottom of the wholesale changes that BMW has implemented on the new S 1000 RR family.

That's why we sent Isle of Man hero Cameron Donald to the world launch of the S 1000 RR M Sport in Portugal, and he came back raving about the new 'flex frame', the Marzocchi semi-active fork (or Dynamic Damping Control) and the updated 'ShiftCam' variable valve timing engine with a more linear power curve.

BMW has done wonders with ShiftCam across its four- and twin-cylinder applications in 2019, and the M Sport is no different. And the wide torque curve – over 100Nm from 5500-14,500rpm – is sensational, which for some of the BOTY judges not completely at ease with the withering top-end of an inline four still provided more than enough midrange firepower. And the bi-directional quickshifter is as good as it gets.

The S 1000 RR M Sport has five riding modes, starting with Rain and ending in Pro, with the traction control and ABS shackles progressively loosened as the intensity rises.

At the top end of the freneticism ladder, in Pro mode, there's a dedicated button on the left-hand switch block to adjust traction control on the fly, while the TFT dash can also be configured to factor in lean angles and lap times, as well as more prominence for rpm over speed.

Race Pro also allows fine tuning of suspension, as well as throttle and engine inputs.

With a kerb weight of 193.5kg, the M Sport was the lightest of the BOTY brigade by some margin (no surprises there) but it's not just the featherweight aspect of the machine that impresses: it's how all those kilograms are shaped and molded to make it such a scalpel.

The steering is superb, and has such accuracy. Remember how Shane Warne used to land his leg spinners in the same spot ball after ball? It's the same principle on the Beemer: you can just about steer it with your mind, and it tracks and then completes turns with an amazing degree of dexterity.

Not one of the BOTY judges had any issues with cornering... and at the highest level Tom Sykes showed what the machine was capable of in the 2019 Superbike World Championship with a number of podiums in its debut year.

As the top-spec S 1000 R, the M Sport also has carbon wheels and a special seat and battery, and the machine also has heated handgrips and provision for a reverse gearshift pattern for road-racing aspirants.

The S 1000 RR M Sport certainly kept the BOTY flames burning bright. Sure, not everyone felt as one with a machine with so much horsepower and stiffness, but that comes with the territory and its consistently high marks among our judges underlined just how incredible this motorcycle is.

Brutal performance, but with mod cons, too. BMW has all bases covered.

Specs: 2019 BMW S 1000 RR M Sport

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, 16-valve inline four-cylinder
Capacity: 999cc
Bore x stroke: 80mm x 49.7mm
Compression ratio: 13.3:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 207hp (152kW) at 13,500rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 113Nm at 11,000rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Clutch: Wet
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Cast aluminium bridge-type frame with engine used a stressed member
Front suspension: 45mm upside-down fork, fully adjustable, 120mm travel
Rear suspension: Horizontal monoshock, fully adjustable, 117mm travel
Front brakes: Dual 320mm discs with Hayes four-piston calipers, ABS
Rear brake: 220mm disc with single-piston floating caliper, ABS
Tyres: Bridgestone S21 – 120/70-17 front, 190/55-17 rear

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 193.5kg
Seat height: 824mm
Wheelbase: 1441mm
Fuel capacity: 16.5 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $33,536 ride away
Colours: Motorsport (red/white/blue)
Bike supplied by: BMW Australia
Warranty: 36 months/unlimited kilometres

2019 bikesales Bike of the Year: BMW S 1000 RR M Sport

Specs: 2019 BMW S 1000 RR M Sport

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