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BMW Motorrad has taken the wraps off the new M 1000 RR, a homologation special motorcycle that is based on the BMW S 1000 RR superbike.
First BMW M division motorcycle
999cc engine develops 212hp at 14,500rpm and 113Nm at 11,000rpm
Kerb weight is 192kg, lighter than stock S 1000 RR by 5kg
The new BMW M 1000 RR is the first motorcycle to roll out of the company's hallowed M-division, a dedicated facility that for the longest time has been making high performance variants of BMW's cars. The M 1000 RR is a homologation special, designed to meet FIM WSBK specifications and is road-legal as well.
What are the BMW M 1000 RR design changes?
As we've said earlier, the BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR is based on the sleek and angry-faced S 1000 RR, and hence shares most of the body panels.
The most obvious difference between the two motorcycles are the new carbon fibre winglets. BMW calls them M-winglets and these have been tested and developed using BMW Group's wind tunnel and on a race track. The winglets provide a maximum aerodynamic downforce of 16.3kg at 186mph or 299kph.
One advantage of the downforce generated by the winglets is that it helps reduce the tendency to wheelie under hard acceleration, that in turn minimises the intervention of traction control. The winglets also help pin the front wheel down into the tarmac during hard braking and improve stability in corners.
Besides the wings, the paintwork gives the M 1000 RR a distinct appearance with the characteristic BMW M colours slathered across the bodywork.
The M1000RR also gets a new, taller windscreen that BMW claims reduces wind resistance and helps the rider tuck in neatly.
In terms of equipment the motorcycle's 6.5-inch TFT screen has a special starting animation with an M logo. It also gets an OBD interface that can be used with an activation code for the M GPS data logger and M GPS laptrigger, available with the Performance pack. More on that later.
M 1000 RR gets more power
The engineers at the BMW M-division have infused their magic into the standard S 1000 RR inline-four engine by making some interesting changes. However, the ShiftCam technology with variable valve timing and lift has been retained, albeit with shorter intake funnels to improve top end performance. Is this related to air intake or the valve train?
The BMW M 1000 RR's 999cc engine uses new 2-ring forged pistons and each piston is lighter by 12g. The titanium connecting rods are 2mm longer and lighter, each weighing a mere 85g. BMW has also employed slimmer and 6 per cent lighter rocker arms, revised the intake port geometry, used titanium valves on the exhaust side and raised the compression ratio to 13.5:1. All of these changes result in a 5hp increase in power over the S 1000 RR and a redline that's pushed to 15,100rpm from 14,600rpm on the S 1000's engine.
The specs stand at 212hp at 14,500rpm and 113Nm at 11,000rpm. More importantly, the M engine produces more power than the S, between 6,000rpm and 15,100rpm; particularly relevant for the race track. The gearing too has been altered by adding one tooth on the rear sprocket, to increase the total count to 46 teeth.
This along with the lighter Akrapovic titanium full system exhaust, that helps shave 3.7 kg off the total weight, contribute to improved performance.
How fast is the BMW M 1000 RR?
The result of all those changes to the engine is 0.2s faster time to get to 100kph from standstill while the 200kph barrier is breached 0.4s quicker than the S 1000 RR. It may not seem like a lot in the real world but on a racetrack, mere tenths could be the difference between a good or bad result.
What about the electronics suite?
The M 1000 RR, expectedly, is kitted with a vast array of electronic aids. For starters, there are five ride modes, Rain, Road, Dynamic, Race and Race Pro. The 'Race Pro' has three levels that allow tuning of the IMU-based traction control and wheelie control settings as well as the engine brake settings.
The motorcycle also gets launch control, bi-directional quickshifter, Hill Start Pro and a pit lane speed limiter as standard.
What about the M 1000 RR chassis?
Along with improving the engine, the engineers have also tweaked the chassis to enhance the handling.
The BMW M 1000 RR's chassis is based on the S 1000 RR's, with the frame made of aluminium. The steering geometry has been optimised, with a flatter steering head angle at 66.4 degrees and reduced fork offset, by 3mm to 26.5mm. Besides this, the wheelbase has also been increased from 1441mm to 1457mm, achieved by employing a longer swingarm. The pivot point of the swingarm can be adjusted in keeping with the need to alter the geometry to suit a particular race track.
While that takes care of one aspect of the chassis, BMW also went on a mission to shave as much weight at possible. The M 1000 RR tips the scales at 192kg (kerb) only and that's mainly because of the lighter exhaust and standard M carbon wheels that are 1.7kg lighter than the aluminium ones on the S 1000 RR. Regular Pro model also gets carbon wheels
The brakes have been developed in association with Nissin and the calipers are finished in an M-divison specific blue paint. These calipers are lighter and bite on to thicker discs than those on the S 1000 RR.
With the changes made to the chassis and the lighter weight, BMW claims improved performance, drivability and agility around a racetrack.
M performance package
For those who want more than what the new M 1000 RR offers in standard trim, the M competition package provides a vast range of components to kit out the motorcycle.
The list includes the M GPS laptrigger software and the corresponding activation code, M milled parts package, the M carbon package as well as a 220 g lighter swing arm. You also get BMW's new DLC-coated, maintenance-free M-Endurance chain while the passenger package includes a tail-hump cover. The cost of the M-performance package is a whopping Rs 3.82 lakh.
Price and competition
With all the exotic components and extra performance on offer, BMW Motorrad has managed to price the M 1000 RR quite well. In international markets, the M 1000 RR is priced at £31,000 (Rs 28.86 lakh) which is nearly double the price of the standard S 1000 RR sells at a base £15,590 (Rs 15 lakh)
That said the BMW M 1000 RR is much cheaper than the Ducati Panigale V4R that sells at £ 35,141 or (Rs 32.89 lakh), its direct, homologation special rival.
Whether BMW Motorrad launches the M 1000 RR in India remains to be seen.
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