In recent years BMW has been bringing the ‘M’ branding more from the car side over to the Motorrad side, starting with the Msport S1000RR. In line with the ‘M’ cars, the Msport package gave the bike more performance parts. Now with the release of the new M1000RR, we see this yet again with BMW’s brand new, road-legal World superbike racer.
BMW’s first M model motorbike takes base from the S1000RR, and increases performance over the current S1000RR Msport package. Initial stats look like a 212hp engine, 192kg weight and a £31,000 price tag.
Want to up your photography game?
BMW says the new M1000RR, uses the same engine as the S1000RR, complete with the Shiftcam, variable valve timing and lift but has been extensively reworked purely for racing. Other improvements come in the way of new forged Mahle pistons, revised combustion chamber, and increased compression ratio, titanium con rods and optimised air intake areas and camshafts. Basically BMW has strengthened the problem areas from the previous S1000RR engine, and reworked it to rev harder, faster and for longer. The clutch is now anti-hopping and has self-reinforcing launch control. Nope, I don’t know either.
A titanium exhaust system saves 3.5kg’s and should help with the engines breathing at higher RPM’s.
The latest bike to get the wing treatment
Much like most brand new superbikes, wings now feature. BMW says the added downforce allows for later braking, and quicker acceleration, without any reduction to top speed. The wings, which were developed both on track and in BMW’s wind tunnel, are manufactured from carbon fibre, and promises to give more front end grip, more driving power and thus achieving faster lap times. Perfect for filtering past traffic on the M6.
Claiming a total of 1.8kg of extra downforce at 100km/h and 16.3kg at 300km/h, which is significant. Of course, adding wings adds drag, so BMW has adjusted the profile of the windscreen to counter this, maintaining its top speed. BMW claims this allowed a semi-professional racer a 0.7-second benefit to lap time. Also BMW claim this machine is 1.6/2.1 seconds slower than the world superbike racer machinery when on matching rubber.
New M brakes
The chassis has had a rework too, starting with the frame of the S1000RR, the M, sees revised forks and shock, updating the geometry slightly to achieve the best possible lap time on track.
Hate riding at night? Check out these tips
New brake calipers grace the M1000RR, and taking experience from the racing pedigree of the superbike race bike S100RR, the new machine has anodised M branded calipers, stopping carbon fibre wheels. Wheels are also optimised for fast wheel changes. Tyres are from Michelin and look like the new Michelin Power Cup 2.
A fancy new bike needs a new fancy dash, and well BMW brings a 6.5inch TFT display with OBD integration which allows datalogging facilities after activation.
“Our standard double R is a sign of real superiority – both in nearseries motor sports and on the road. With the M RR we have
Stephan Loistl, M 1000 RR Overall Vehicle Development
managed to go one better in every single discipline. It is lighter,
faster, simply consistently trimmed for performance – which you
can feel from the first metre. Considering the new product
content and the extremely short development time, I still can’t
believe it myself.”
M1000RR Competition pack
If buying the top end homologation racer wasn’t enough in standard form there is yet more options and upgrades to tick, with the competition pack. Much like the car side, this brings even more options and parts, and yet more price. This pack give access to the data logging software previously mentioned, but also the ‘M’ milled parts package, and the carbon package. This package also includes a silver swingarm which is 220g lighter than the standard, a passenger seat cover and BMW’s new M Endurance chain, which needs no maintenance.
There is no mention of how many numbers will be produced if of course, it is limited. Unlike the HP4 race which was limited to 750 units, there is no mention of batch production, so it looks like this is a full continuous model.
Overall, we knew it was coming. With BMW saying it has no Moto GP plans, it’s the top level of racing in World Superbikes, and with recently updated Ducati V4R and Honda Fireblades made winning races hard. This new model gives the racing side a much-needed boost, with a brand new revised engine and of course wings. Reading the spec sheet does make this sounds like it has been an exercise to A produce a better bike, but also the information PDF makes it sound very racey. All I can say is, the BSB teams will be queing up to purchase them. This should also make the 2021 road racing season very interesting, is a new IOM TT lap recond on the cards at the hands of Peter Hickman?
Let us know your thoughts on Twitter
- Queensferry Moto Routes – A new take on motorcycle touring
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt throughout and after lockdown, it’s to get out more and enjoy what you want to do. This gave Gary and John the idea, of getting bikers together, and showing them the best roads they know, combining that with tours… Read More »Queensferry Moto Routes – A new take on motorcycle touring - The roads are rubbish, but it’s still fun..right?
British roads are terrible, ok correction, the British road surface are terrible. It would be wrong to call the actual roads themselves bad because we are privileged to have some absolute gems stashed around the UK. For me, the issues lie with the state of… Read More »The roads are rubbish, but it’s still fun..right? - New Diablo Rosso 4 Corsa motorcycle tyre!
Pirelli celebrates its 150th birthday, and as part, they are releasing a new line of one of their best selling and performing tyre groups; the Diablo Rosso. The new Diablo Rosso Corsa, sees a higher grip even faster road-focused tyre than the Diablo Rosso 4,… Read More »New Diablo Rosso 4 Corsa motorcycle tyre! - Is Yamaha working on a new sportsbike for 2022?
Over the past few years, with the CV-19 pandemic and spiralling costs, firms want to get the most reward from R&D costs; at first, I thought it was to keep things simple, but it also makes excellent business sense. This process is not new, it’s… Read More »Is Yamaha working on a new sportsbike for 2022? - BeMoto Insurance giving away Panigale V4S!
Motorcycle insurance specialist BeMoto has announced the launch of the new BeLotto competition, to win a Ducati Panigale V4S complete with a full selection of other prizes totalling over £10,000, in this free to enter competition. BeMoto insurance are relatively new, starting in 2015, but… Read More »BeMoto Insurance giving away Panigale V4S!