iehawk
Well-known member
From www.bmwplanetpower.com, Nate Kern's blog after a session on the S1000 RR:
July 10, 2009 - Heartland Park Raceway in Topeka, Kansas hosted an great trackday with the help of Engle Motors of Kansas City, MO.
The heat was in the lower 90’s and the heat the new BMW S1000RR brought down the front straight was even higher! Heartland Parks roadcourse offers challenges riders will face in the real world of riding. The blind hill into Alpha (Turn 1), decreasing radius turns, and off camber corners have each rider yesterday experiencing all of these aspects. The only difference between riders was experience levels and various brands of motorcycles being ridden.
Now that I have the newer version of the previously awesome S1000RR I first tested and rode, I did not realize the amazement that was getting ready to set in. Setting a decent baseline in cold tire pressure based off of the air temp I set out to see how the track was before everyone else did. The track was built very well as it has withstood some harsh winters. Instantly I have that same feeing as the first time I rode the bike, contRRol. Just a solid, refined, and forgiving. I can’t believe a conventional sportbike could have the traits that other BMW motorcycles before it has.
With Sachs suspension components and tastefully red anodized adjusters all over, the ride can be tailored anytime. Each time the clutch is released it breeds a sense of contRRol that any level of rider will be able to feel. It truly does set itself apart from any other sportbike I have ridden. Not solely on technology, but refinement.
It is so simple. A push of the “mode” button and instantly the throttle response is noticed. So here you have one motorcycle being ridden and each mode physically brings you the needed contRRol!
Modes:
Rain - As I looked up the track and released the clutch, instantly giving it throttle, the most linear and subtle forward propulsion I ever felt. The throttle was actually 50% and it came on at much lower rate. Awesome! Well after a fewe laps I could not help but smile knowing that this setting, leaned all the way over on a small part of he tire, really does make up for a riders lack of throttle control. Knee on the ground you can twist the throttle with nowhere near the consequences! Once upright and the power delivery meets what it being asked, you are off the corner, upright, and the so smoothly does the transition of 193 crank HP reduced to 150 in Rain Mode get you going. Another rider following commented on how he could hear the throttle being opened and not see the bike change geometry front or rear.
Sport - After sharing my amazement with the riders of just how ANYONE could ride this bike due to the Rain setting and graduate to the Sport setting, the comment was made “No need to sell and move up huh?!” Sport Mode offers the more of the same, but the throttle sensitivity is still linear, but comes on sooner. Still amazed at how the bike almost knows how to deliver the power when it is on a larger part of the tire. Meaning, you roll on at any lean and it allows you to concentrate on everything else without having to grip the bars with extra pressure waiting for some unforeseen feedback. SO tame the loft of the front wheel when at higher rpm’s. Its like its planted on the ground, but you know the front wheel is barley touching. Again, back in the paddock I kept coming in with a bigger grin. The eagerness was building amongst other riders to see it first hand.
Race - This mode was not used as much in the two separate trackdays riding it. Why? Because Sport is just so darn fun due to not having to worry about throttle control. There is an awesome gratification though when Race Mode is on and you can get that throttle response you asked for, BUT without the light switch feeling. I have never ridden litre sportbike that has a throttle response so tame, but so real! Race Mode was instantly noticed by other riders by the shear drive out of a corner. The short stroke coupled with the fast revving RPM’s were all just such a rush knowing the bike is not upset in doing so. So stable. Man I just cant stop smiling.
So there you have the 3 sportbikes you are buying in one single purchase. The 4th mode has not been unleashed. Knowing that it is not any difference than the throttle response with Race Mode on, my cup is full!
Thank you to all the riders that took time to come over and ask questions and sit on the new BMW S1000RR. Your facial expressions standing the bike up from its sidestand said enough about what you thought!
Yeah I know, its very light!
July 10, 2009 - Heartland Park Raceway in Topeka, Kansas hosted an great trackday with the help of Engle Motors of Kansas City, MO.
The heat was in the lower 90’s and the heat the new BMW S1000RR brought down the front straight was even higher! Heartland Parks roadcourse offers challenges riders will face in the real world of riding. The blind hill into Alpha (Turn 1), decreasing radius turns, and off camber corners have each rider yesterday experiencing all of these aspects. The only difference between riders was experience levels and various brands of motorcycles being ridden.
Now that I have the newer version of the previously awesome S1000RR I first tested and rode, I did not realize the amazement that was getting ready to set in. Setting a decent baseline in cold tire pressure based off of the air temp I set out to see how the track was before everyone else did. The track was built very well as it has withstood some harsh winters. Instantly I have that same feeing as the first time I rode the bike, contRRol. Just a solid, refined, and forgiving. I can’t believe a conventional sportbike could have the traits that other BMW motorcycles before it has.
With Sachs suspension components and tastefully red anodized adjusters all over, the ride can be tailored anytime. Each time the clutch is released it breeds a sense of contRRol that any level of rider will be able to feel. It truly does set itself apart from any other sportbike I have ridden. Not solely on technology, but refinement.
It is so simple. A push of the “mode” button and instantly the throttle response is noticed. So here you have one motorcycle being ridden and each mode physically brings you the needed contRRol!
Modes:
Rain - As I looked up the track and released the clutch, instantly giving it throttle, the most linear and subtle forward propulsion I ever felt. The throttle was actually 50% and it came on at much lower rate. Awesome! Well after a fewe laps I could not help but smile knowing that this setting, leaned all the way over on a small part of he tire, really does make up for a riders lack of throttle control. Knee on the ground you can twist the throttle with nowhere near the consequences! Once upright and the power delivery meets what it being asked, you are off the corner, upright, and the so smoothly does the transition of 193 crank HP reduced to 150 in Rain Mode get you going. Another rider following commented on how he could hear the throttle being opened and not see the bike change geometry front or rear.
Sport - After sharing my amazement with the riders of just how ANYONE could ride this bike due to the Rain setting and graduate to the Sport setting, the comment was made “No need to sell and move up huh?!” Sport Mode offers the more of the same, but the throttle sensitivity is still linear, but comes on sooner. Still amazed at how the bike almost knows how to deliver the power when it is on a larger part of the tire. Meaning, you roll on at any lean and it allows you to concentrate on everything else without having to grip the bars with extra pressure waiting for some unforeseen feedback. SO tame the loft of the front wheel when at higher rpm’s. Its like its planted on the ground, but you know the front wheel is barley touching. Again, back in the paddock I kept coming in with a bigger grin. The eagerness was building amongst other riders to see it first hand.
Race - This mode was not used as much in the two separate trackdays riding it. Why? Because Sport is just so darn fun due to not having to worry about throttle control. There is an awesome gratification though when Race Mode is on and you can get that throttle response you asked for, BUT without the light switch feeling. I have never ridden litre sportbike that has a throttle response so tame, but so real! Race Mode was instantly noticed by other riders by the shear drive out of a corner. The short stroke coupled with the fast revving RPM’s were all just such a rush knowing the bike is not upset in doing so. So stable. Man I just cant stop smiling.
So there you have the 3 sportbikes you are buying in one single purchase. The 4th mode has not been unleashed. Knowing that it is not any difference than the throttle response with Race Mode on, my cup is full!
Thank you to all the riders that took time to come over and ask questions and sit on the new BMW S1000RR. Your facial expressions standing the bike up from its sidestand said enough about what you thought!
Yeah I know, its very light!
![images[5].jpg](/forums/data/attachments/75/75825-8795cb2281b06392e3aefae8517e1c55.jpg)