by Victor Castaneda Jr
Since the introduction of the S1000RR, there have been many accolades, many comparisons and technical breakdowns. I’m not going to cover here what so many before me have already covered.
It’s obvious that his motorcycle handles and goes like no other but what is remarkable to me is how easy it is to ride. I was, for lack of a better term, a little apprehensive about riding this bike. With it’s light weight and starship-like horsepower (Ludicrous Speed from Spaceballs comes to mind), I thought the S1000RR would require a lot of commitment and throttle control to handle in everyday use. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to modulate the throttle at lower speeds, in “Race” mode! Parking lot maneuvers are so much easier than say, on a Ducati.
Don’t get me wrong, a lot of smoothness is required to operate this motorcycle efficiently but with all that horsepower, being ham-fisted could be fatal. There were many improvements to the electronics package over the original model. I would be happy if what they only gave me is what I get in “Rain” mode with only 100 horsepower. The other modes give you full horsepower but differ in how quickly the electronic nannies kick in.
The riding position was excellent for it’s intent. It’s a well thought out compromise of being “in” the bike like a Ducati 999 and “on top” like a Triumph Daytona 675. The pegs were high and back giving lots of ground clearance without being overly so. A short reach to the bar was welcome along with the best factory installed seat I have ever tried. With plenty of room to slide back and forth, it is narrow at the front to easily allow you to tuck your knees in tight to the fuel tank while progressively getting wider to the rear to give your backside the support it needs while not inhibiting side to side movement. It also features a nice flat shape with the right amount of padding.
Also improved for 2012 is the chassis geometry. BMW was quite successful at giving you a smooth compliant ride without sacrificing feel for what’s going on underneath you. The S1000RR is easy to flick back and forth but is steady once turned in. The Brembo braking system is what I’ve come to expect, hard initial bite with a progressive feel as you squeeze harder. Make sure you squeeze with only one finger though. These brakes are powerful!
Amazing that a bike like this is really not affected by crosswinds. This morning was pretty windy with little effect. I just tucked in low behind the fairing and railed through the high winds.
All in all the 2012 BMW S1000RR is a very livable bike for every day use with an addicting rush of power. My main complaint was the color of my tester. It looks like something from an early ‘70’s Ford Mustang. I’ll take mine in “M” White/Blue/Red, thank you.
Special thanks go out to Steve Bittner and Go AZ/BMW Motorcycles of Scottsdale, Arizona for providing me with the test bike.
