S1000RR test ride
- duke63
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S1000RR test ride
Sometimes you feel you have already seen and ridden the peak of development on motorbikes.
Then something new comes along so if they are happy to let you have a test ride then why not?
So with that in mind and the idea of having one more silly mental sportsbike before i get too old, i am on a mission to test ride the 3 new bikes of the year - S1000RR, R1 and the Panigale 1299S. It seems test riding an S1000RR is fairly straight forward and BMW are very keen to let you try one so with that in mind i was booked in for an hour this afternoon in Wolverhampton.
First point to remember is never book a test ride just as the Wolves home match finishes. It took me 20 minutes and all of my old knowledge of Wolverhampton to get out to country roads. I decided on a route i know well out to Shifnal and back.
The bike is the motorsport version with most of the bells and whistles - no forged wheels though. To be honest in town and with traffic it is dead easy to ride and control. The motor has bags of torque and was quite happy picking up from less than 30mph in 5th gear. I had the bike in sport mode initially. Once out in the countryside i opened it up a bit...and my eyeballs nearly got forced back into my brain. Holy shit! this thing is mental. Pulls like a train from way low down and just keeps pulling...and pulling...and pulling. The handling is beautifully balanced, easy to turn in and very stable once on its side.
Once out on the back roads i put it in race mode and the throttle was noticeably sharper without ever being to abrupt. Again overtakes were simple as the bike has power by the bucketload, wherever you are in the rev range. And the brakes for when you come up a bit quick behind a car are just phenomenal, loads of feel and pull the bike up so quick, all the time under compete control. The suspension is the semi active version and the front forks are again so planted and when you haul the bike down from speed the damping is so controlled and keeps the bike straight and perfectly balanced...if there was a complaint it is that the rear shock didn't quite feel so perfect and was a little harsh at times but i guess that could be fiddled with. All too soon i had to make my way back as i was only insured for an hour but again, the bike is so easy to ride, so well balanced and the engine has so much stomp. You really could race this one day and then commute to work on it the next.
If i had one minor complaint it was that the quickshifter ( which i had forgotten all about until about half way round) could be a little abrupt in cutting the load on the engine when pinning the throttle. There was a pronounced jerk as the load i cut. To be honest, my experience of quickshifters is limited to the test rides on the 1199 and 899 Panigales but i don't recollect this happening on them to quite this effect but maybe they did.
All in just a beautiful bike ( in Motorsport colours anyway), its burbles and pops on the over run to give the engine a bit of character and you could use this bike for just about anything, commute, race, trackday or tour. The pegs were a little high for my liking and the steering lock was a little sharp but it was comfortable to ride and so very very easy to ride too.
Now if Frankie could just give me a big discount
Then something new comes along so if they are happy to let you have a test ride then why not?
So with that in mind and the idea of having one more silly mental sportsbike before i get too old, i am on a mission to test ride the 3 new bikes of the year - S1000RR, R1 and the Panigale 1299S. It seems test riding an S1000RR is fairly straight forward and BMW are very keen to let you try one so with that in mind i was booked in for an hour this afternoon in Wolverhampton.
First point to remember is never book a test ride just as the Wolves home match finishes. It took me 20 minutes and all of my old knowledge of Wolverhampton to get out to country roads. I decided on a route i know well out to Shifnal and back.
The bike is the motorsport version with most of the bells and whistles - no forged wheels though. To be honest in town and with traffic it is dead easy to ride and control. The motor has bags of torque and was quite happy picking up from less than 30mph in 5th gear. I had the bike in sport mode initially. Once out in the countryside i opened it up a bit...and my eyeballs nearly got forced back into my brain. Holy shit! this thing is mental. Pulls like a train from way low down and just keeps pulling...and pulling...and pulling. The handling is beautifully balanced, easy to turn in and very stable once on its side.
Once out on the back roads i put it in race mode and the throttle was noticeably sharper without ever being to abrupt. Again overtakes were simple as the bike has power by the bucketload, wherever you are in the rev range. And the brakes for when you come up a bit quick behind a car are just phenomenal, loads of feel and pull the bike up so quick, all the time under compete control. The suspension is the semi active version and the front forks are again so planted and when you haul the bike down from speed the damping is so controlled and keeps the bike straight and perfectly balanced...if there was a complaint it is that the rear shock didn't quite feel so perfect and was a little harsh at times but i guess that could be fiddled with. All too soon i had to make my way back as i was only insured for an hour but again, the bike is so easy to ride, so well balanced and the engine has so much stomp. You really could race this one day and then commute to work on it the next.
If i had one minor complaint it was that the quickshifter ( which i had forgotten all about until about half way round) could be a little abrupt in cutting the load on the engine when pinning the throttle. There was a pronounced jerk as the load i cut. To be honest, my experience of quickshifters is limited to the test rides on the 1199 and 899 Panigales but i don't recollect this happening on them to quite this effect but maybe they did.
All in just a beautiful bike ( in Motorsport colours anyway), its burbles and pops on the over run to give the engine a bit of character and you could use this bike for just about anything, commute, race, trackday or tour. The pegs were a little high for my liking and the steering lock was a little sharp but it was comfortable to ride and so very very easy to ride too.
Now if Frankie could just give me a big discount
- Perkles
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Re: S1000RR test ride
Nice review and a cracking day for it,I've read elsewhere the qs isn't that great
Last edited by Perkles on 18 Apr 2015, 17:54, edited 1 time in total.
- Kwacky
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Re: S1000RR test ride
Good review Duke.
It sounds like the fueling is spot on.
Has that got traction control as well?
It sounds like the fueling is spot on.
Has that got traction control as well?
- duke63
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Re: S1000RR test ride
i forgot to add, when i got back one of the other sales guy's came over and asked me what i thought. I told him it was stupid quick....then he tells me the bike is limited to 9000rpm currently until its properly run in, this bike only had 280 miles on the clock.
Yes it had traction control, three modes and the lean angle thingy, though not quite sure how that works or what use it is.
Yes it had traction control, three modes and the lean angle thingy, though not quite sure how that works or what use it is.
- duke63
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- Blade
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- Blade
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- Frankie
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Re: S1000RR test ride
Mate you know I will do the best I can for you that goes without saying Just me know how you wish to pay The black one looks awesome as well.duke63 wrote:
Now if Frankie could just give me a big discount
- Blade
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- duke63
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Re: S1000RR test ride
I've not ridden the 1299 yet, Blade, but it did have that stupid level of power that the 1199 had probably plus a bit more when its runs in.Blade wrote:Good review Duke.
How did it compare to the 1299 ? And would you buy one ?
- duke63
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Re: S1000RR test ride
I would say so. Its got 30% more power than my Multi.Blade wrote:Do yo think it was quicker than the multi even when limited to 9k Duke ???
- Blade
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Re: S1000RR test ride
That's just nuts as the mulit has a winning wsbk engine from only a few years ago and the s1000rr is a road legal bike restricted to 2/3 revs. Just shows how fast things have come in recent years.
- Frankie
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Re: S1000RR test ride
I could not comment on other dealers, but if I had to do something to Secure an orderBlade wrote:Frankie, are dealers willing to discount the s1000rr ?
- Blade
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- duke63
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Re: S1000RR test ride
If i'm really honest with myself i cant see me straying from my v-twins. As great as the S1000RR is, i just much prefer the way a v-twin feels under acceleration and the sound it makes.
That said, if you wanted a bike that really does do it all ( bar a bit of off-roading) then the S1000RR is probably your perfect bike. I think BMW even do a sizeable tail bag made for the bike which would be perfect for longer tours.
That said, if you wanted a bike that really does do it all ( bar a bit of off-roading) then the S1000RR is probably your perfect bike. I think BMW even do a sizeable tail bag made for the bike which would be perfect for longer tours.
- Blade
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Re: S1000RR test ride
Got to agree Duke the BMW is a very good product that is marketed extremely well with first class support and accessories. Hard to believe the bike only came out 5 years ago really before that BMW bikes were never considered sporty and now there probably the bench mark for the class.
- Blade
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Re: S1000RR test ride
You heading out on a 1299 soon Duke for a comparison ?
Or is the fear of liking it too much too worrying
Or is the fear of liking it too much too worrying
- Blade
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Re: S1000RR test ride
@Frankie. How much is an s1000rr with tc, semi active suspension and forged wheels in Motorsport colours ?
- duke63
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Re: S1000RR test ride
I'll get a test ride when they are a bit quieter at JHP. I know Johnnymack at PB said the 1299 makes a great roadbike and much better than the 1199 in that respect.Blade wrote:You heading out on a 1299 soon Duke for a comparison ?
Or is the fear of liking it too much too worrying
Its a while off before i will be making any decisions yet.
- duke63
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Re: S1000RR test ride
I think he quoted £14,700 for that bike yesterday but that didn't include the forged wheels. Not sure whether they are a benefit cost wise as the S1000 turned quickly anyway.Blade wrote:@Frankie. How much is an s1000rr with tc, semi active suspension and forged wheels in Motorsport colours ?
Interestingly though, when i mentioned that i would not be making any decisions until late summer the salesman actually said he could do a much better deal come winter time. Whilst we all know thats possible, i thought it an unusual line to come out with.