BMW S 600 RR canned

It's official -- BMW is not developing a 600cc sportsbike based on the same architecture as the giant-killing S 1000 RR.

Launched in Australia earlier in 2010, the BMW S 1000 RR has almost single-handedly redefined what a litre-class sportsbike is capable of, it's electronics suite and high output engine two of its drawcards.

As such, interest in a 600cc version of the S 1000 RR that could rival the Honda CBR600RR and Yamaha YZF-R6 has been intense and BMW has consistently been asked the question: When is the S 600 RR coming?

Well, according to BMW Motorrad in Germany, it won't be coming.

"Developing a 600 supersport bike is more or less as expensive as a 1000cc superbike; the production costs aren't very much lower but the retail price would be," reads the official statement from BMW Motorrad's HQ.

"Therefore, trying to recoup development cost for such a project would be much more difficult.

"Now BMW already has developed a successful superbike there are other market sectors for us to concentrate on that offer a better return on investment."

So for the mid-term future at least, we're unlikely to see a BMW S 600 RR. Clearly BMW thinks it cannot turn a profit on a competitive 600cc sportsbike, but as times (and financial situations) change, so will product development...