s1000rr and s1000r impressions.

[spareparts]

blade7 said:

spareparts said:

The RR and R are fast bikes. But they just don't do it for me. The RR is boringly fast. As memorable as Valium, but an effective tool for going quickly.

As BMW's first race rep I don't think they were ever going to be anything else. Interestingly though I see you have/had a 997 turbo, your impressions of the RR sum up exactly my feelings about that car, not a dig at you or the car but until it was going silly fast it just felt dull.

My choice of cars is a good comparison: I had a fully caged, tuned, and track prepped 911GT3 - it was fast, visceral, and exciting - because it was a race rep - hence the GT3 moniker as the 'road and track racer'. The 997Turbo is not a race rep - it is still fast but purposefully trades the race noise and visceral experience for comfort and luxury. It does not excite in the same way as the GT3 does, but it is immensely capable.

As you say, the S1000RR is a race rep. But instead it behaves more like the 997Turbo, instead of the viscerally raw GT3.
Ironically, the HP4 has all the race decals, but adds heated grips and even more electronic safety aids than any other BMW bike.

In comparison, Ducati's race reps (any of the 996/998/999/1098/1199 R models), trades comfort and mod cons for more power, less weight, and a far more visceral ride. All the R engines were modified in some way from their standard models for more power/less inertia/etc. Consistent with the same ethos as what the GT3 stands for compared to their normal road versions.

[blade7]

I came very close to buying a brand new 1198S but when I thought about it I decided it just wasn't worth nearly twice as much as a faster jap 1000. I can understand people wanting something new after 4 years, but the Beemer isn't just fast, it stops and goes around corners properly too, that's what I look for first, followed by the price. As for bike and car comparisons maybe the GT3 compares to a Ducati and the BMW in slick mode with DTC off, a GT2.

Edited by blade7 on Thursday 30th October 22:59

[spareparts]

blade7 said:

I came very close to buying a brand new 1198S but when I thought about it I decided it just wasn't worth nearly twice as much as a faster jap 1000. I can understand people wanting something new after 4 years, but the Beemer isn't just fast, it stops and goes around corners properly too, that's what I look for first, followed by the price. As for bike and car comparisons maybe the GT3 compares to a Ducati and the BMW in slick mode with DTC off, a GT2.

Edited by blade7 on Thursday 30th October 22:59

If you are a good enough rider to ride a Jap1000 faster than a 1198 on the public road (ie, full throttle to the limiter), then kudos - you may as well be racing the TT. In 100% of fast road give and take conditions, the 1198 has a significantly stronger low + midrange that allows you to make smoother progress. The rest is just Top Trumps.

[blade7]

spareparts said:

If you are a good enough rider to ride a Jap1000 faster than a 1198 on the public road (ie, full throttle to the limiter), then kudos - you may as well be racing the TT. In 100% of fast road give and take conditions, the 1198 has a significantly stronger low + midrange that allows you to make smoother progress. The rest is just Top Trumps.

When I was thinking about buying the 1198 I had a K6 1000, I don't think the twin had significantly more low+mid range than that. My K6 was getting a bit tired so I bought the BMW for it's brakes, power and traction control, in that order. I found I could ride it fast, easier than the Suzuki. That doesn't make me a racer it just means the bike is better.

[Jewelly_Boy]

A good fast bike will always be easy to ride, which generally means you can push harder without too much effort, obviously until a certain point.

For the road you want instant power without the need for redlining it so a V-Twin like a 1098/1198 etc is perfect, more punchy than a Big Bang R1(I've owned both).

2015 will certainly be track focused for me personally so the BMW1000RR is a serious candidate depending on the New R1 which is revealed in 4 days time.

For the Road, you want fun, you want wild, so big punchy twins or a 2004 Zx-10R, even an original 1998 TLS!

[spareparts]

blade7 said:

When I was thinking about buying the 1198 I had a K6 1000, I don't think the twin had significantly more low+mid range than that. My K6 was getting a bit tired so I bought the BMW for it's brakes, power and traction control, in that order. I found I could ride it fast, easier than the Suzuki. That doesn't make me a racer it just means the bike is better.

Ah, the K6 Many fond memories of that. But the 1198 is stronger. I've done a roll on drag against my old tuned one, and through all the gears the 1198 pulls ahead up to around 170mph. Understand your choice for the RR though as it is a significantly fresher bike than the K6 in all depts. But I still find the RR boring, whereas the K6 was a joy to ride with that brilliant motor and chassis.

[Planter]

I had an R, for a day a couple months back. (See previous thread of mine). And I loved it, I was shocked at the capability of the bike and the power was useable from low down. I tried it on a motorway and at about 90+ the buffeting was getting bad, however, this was expected. But on the twisties, the riding position was inspiring.

Its a bike I am seriously looking at for next year.

[Chipchap]

spareparts said:

Ah, the K6 Many fond memories of that. But the 1198 is stronger. I've done a roll on drag against my old tuned one, and through all the gears the 1198 pulls ahead up to around 170mph. Understand your choice for the RR though as it is a significantly fresher bike than the K6 in all depts. But I still find the RR boring, whereas the K6 was a joy to ride with that brilliant motor and chassis.

I can verify this as I saw it all in my mirrors, well until I was too far ahead anyway.

[3DP]

Chipchap said:

spareparts said:

Ah, the K6 Many fond memories of that. But the 1198 is stronger. I've done a roll on drag against my old tuned one, and through all the gears the 1198 pulls ahead up to around 170mph. Understand your choice for the RR though as it is a significantly fresher bike than the K6 in all depts. But I still find the RR boring, whereas the K6 was a joy to ride with that brilliant motor and chassis.

I can verify this as I saw it all in my mirrors, well until I was too far ahead anyway.

Haha! 1100cc IL4 is cheating.

My 1198 is significantly faster in the bottom and mid-range than my 04 R1. 2nd gear above 4000rpm, it's lifting the front. It also feels a lot more grunty in the mid-range than a 2012 Fireblade that was my previous benchmark for midrange heaven.

I agree with Spareparts S1000RR comments - especially as the mid-range of the 2013 model I tried was not as good as a Fireblade, but I think on the road, ease of use is more important than relative grunt for point to point times. The Blade does this through being sublime - the S1000RR through being benign and covering your a*se with electronics.

Ultimately though, I'd rather arrive a few seconds later on a balls out run with a bigger smile on my face from the bike's character.

With all these bikes, rider is of course the biggest factor as all have an excess of performance, so you have to measure your riding style against what a bike offers and what you want out of bike, so there's no single right answer.

I do find the S1000R an attractive proposition though - thanks for the mini review OP!

[Walter Sobchak]

blade7 said:

When I was thinking about buying the 1198 I had a K6 1000, I don't think the twin had significantly more low+mid range than that. My K6 was getting a bit tired so I bought the BMW for it's brakes, power and traction control, in that order. I found I could ride it fast, easier than the Suzuki. That doesn't make me a racer it just means the bike is better.

I found my S1000RR very much like a Fireblade with more power, in that it was easy to get on and ride fast straight away, it made you feel confident and at home on it from the minute you get on it.

[spareparts]

Chipchap said:

spareparts said:

Ah, the K6 Many fond memories of that. But the 1198 is stronger. I've done a roll on drag against my old tuned one, and through all the gears the 1198 pulls ahead up to around 170mph. Understand your choice for the RR though as it is a significantly fresher bike than the K6 in all depts. But I still find the RR boring, whereas the K6 was a joy to ride with that brilliant motor and chassis.

I can verify this as I saw it all in my mirrors, well until I was too far ahead anyway.

LOL! Kick a man down whilst he's on his 'wet map'
I notice that the challenge to try that same drag using my 'Dry map' has been ignored with fear and trembling... (oh, and since then, with the minor addition of a properly healthy engine again )

[Chipchap]

spareparts said:

LOL! Kick a man down whilst he's on his 'wet map'
I notice that the challenge to try that same drag using my 'Dry map' has been ignored with fear and trembling... (oh, and since then, with the minor addition of a properly healthy engine again )

I think I have a live one here fella's look how the rod is bending !

[spareparts]

Chipchap said:

spareparts said:

LOL! Kick a man down whilst he's on his 'wet map'
I notice that the challenge to try that same drag using my 'Dry map' has been ignored with fear and trembling... (oh, and since then, with the minor addition of a properly healthy engine again )

I think I have a live one here fella's look how the rod is bending !

The fish are hungry and want to play! When is dyno day mister?

[chibbard]

Walter Sobchak said:

I found my S1000RR very much like a Fireblade with more power, in that it was easy to get on and ride fast straight away, it made you feel confident and at home on it from the minute you get on it.

Spot on, I had a Fireblade before moving to an HP4 and would agree. Also, I like to know that my bike isn't likely to leave me stranded somewhere, which is why I didn't go down the Ducati route and as for the being bland/dull comments (well each to their own !!). I'm happy !!

[Tim85]

chibbard said:

Spot on, I had a Fireblade before moving to an HP4 and would agree. Also, I like to know that my bike isn't likely to leave me stranded somewhere, which is why I didn't go down the Ducati route and as for the being bland/dull comments (well each to their own !!). I'm happy !!

This sums it up really.
Were in a lucky situation where we are spoilt for choice in the performance car/bike market. There really is something for all tastes.
To say the s1000rr is anything but an exceptional sportsbike is silly. It's obviously proved it's self in popularity /racing/pub figures and every other situation. Different strokes for different folks and all that

The point of this thread wasn't to bad mouth any brand or bike. I always thought I was a die hard inline 4 man and at the moment in my mind the rr is the pinnacle of machines available and I expected and wanted to love it and buy one. Having had the big bang for a short time I'm in love with the engine characteristics and maybe it's time I tried out a more modern v twin. I'm just scared as all that vibration usually turns those 'twinners' or 'twinks' as I like to call them a bit weird...

I do like the image above of two really rich guys debating which is worse a 911 turbo or gt3. What a first world arguement ha.

[Chipchap]

Tim85 said:

This sums it up really. I do like the image above of two really rich guys debating which is worse a 911 turbo or gt3. What a first world arguement ha.

Rich is a relative term methinks. Spareparts is actually a fairly humble and modest man who lives a normal life. Yes he does have a nice car and one or two nice bikes but he is not what I would call rich, except perhaps in ways other than money. He is a man that I like and admire for his family values and work ethic. He & I know really wealthy people who struggle to decide between their Zonda or Desmoseidici for a play day. Neither of us are in that league.

To some I may seem "Rich" but I can assure that I am far from it. I am fortunate that I have a choice of IL4 and V-Twin superbikes in my garage and a wonderful woman in my life that never stops me indulging in those pleasures. Both she & I work full time and choose to live the way we do but we are far from rich, just a normal couple.

Whinge over

Big Al

[spareparts]

Tim85 said:

Were in a lucky situation where we are spoilt for choice in the performance car/bike market. There really is something for all tastes.
To say the s1000rr is anything but an exceptional sportsbike is silly. It's obviously proved it's self in popularity /racing/pub figures and every other situation. Different strokes for different folks and all that

The point of this thread wasn't to bad mouth any brand or bike. I always thought I was a die hard inline 4 man and at the moment in my mind the rr is the pinnacle of machines available and I expected and wanted to love it and buy one. Having had the big bang for a short time I'm in love with the engine characteristics and maybe it's time I tried out a more modern v twin. I'm just scared as all that vibration usually turns those 'twinners' or 'twinks' as I like to call them a bit weird...

I do like the image above of two really rich guys debating which is worse a 911 turbo or gt3. What a first world arguement ha.

Hey, we're all lucky to have a choice of some superb bikes out there. I don't think there are any _bad_ bikes made at the moment by manufacturers... technology R&D has leveled the playing field quite a bit. No one has said the RR is a bad bike... it's just not a particularly endearing bike to ride imho, that is all. As 3DP said, being the fastest is not the reason we buy bikes. The title of this thread is 'S1000RR and S1000R impressions'. A few here are just sharing their 'impression' of those very bikes, and it's easier to discuss them in relation to other bikes owned. The car comparisons were simply an analogy used.

[jhoneyball]

Done a lot of miles this summer on R and some on RR. And outside I now have K1300S