It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that the BMW S1000RR is among the most revolutionary motorcycles made in the 21st century. It was BMW Motorrad’s first attempt of creating a litre-class superbike and what a debut it had in 2009. The S1000RR upstaged its long established rivals and took everyone by surprise. It was given three minor updates over its almost decade-long run and the fact that it still remains among the best superbikes on sale, speaks volumes of BMW’s engineering prowess. With competition stepping up the game, the Bavarian two-wheeler giant is also gearing-up to bring about yet another disruption with the next-generation S1000RR. We had seen images of the test mule few months back, and now, patent images of the upcoming motorcycle have emerged online.
With the 2019 BMW S1000RR, the German brand is taking a new design direction. Gone are the controversial asymmetric ‘winking’ headlights, which have been replaced with conventional dual-projector units. However, the gill-like outlet vents have been carried forward. The new litre-class offering looks more compact than its predecessor with fewer body panels and a stubbier exhaust muffler. Since the 2019 S1000RR is an all-new motorcycle, the powerplant has been overhauled, which can be confirmed from the different engine case.
Reports also suggest that the new engine will feature a counter rotating crankshaft as seen on the new Panigale V4.The racing-inspired technology helps in reducing power-wheelies under hard acceleration and also reduces gyroscopic forces created by the wheels, resulting in more agility and easier handling. It’s also speculated that BMW might equip the upcoming superbike with variable valve technology.
The existing motorcycle produces close to 200hp and it’s likely that the next-generation bike will have even more power. According to reports, the 2019 BMW S1000RR could also be the first production motorcycle to meet the Euro-V emission norms, which will come into effect from 2020.
Another major change is the new frame. The main chassis is still a twin-spar aluminium frame, but the subframe is a trellis unit. The swingarm unit has been braced from below rather than the top, as seen on most MotoGP bikes. Manufacturers try to avoid under-slung swingarm bracing because of space constraints due to the bulky exhaust systems on production motorcycles.
Given the comprehensive updates the motorcycle has received, the 2019 S100RR looks ready to reclaim its crown as the best superbike in its segment. The upcoming litre-class offering is likely to make its global debut at the INTERMOT motorcycle show in Germany, later this year.
Ved Janve
Dinshaw Magol
