All Tests – 2012 BMW S1000RR Test: dreaded and formidable! – S1000RR 2012: it will continue to hurt!

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2012 BMW S1000RR test: dreaded and formidable !

All Tests - 2012 BMW S1000RR Test: dreaded and formidable! - S1000RR 2012: it will continue to hurt!

Japanese manufacturers have long ruled the sportbike segment. But that was before BMW torpedoed the category with its S 1000 RR! And the competition may continue to shake, because the German is still progressing in 2012 ! Test.

S1000RR 2012: it will continue to hurt !

Landed with a crash in the motorcycling landscape at the end of 2009 (read our), the BMW S 1000 RR is probably the motorcycle of which the propeller brand can be the most proud.

Think about it: starting from a blank sheet, the Germans "quite simply" built the new benchmark of the Superbike category … under the nose and beard of the Japanese manufacturers, until now undisputed masters of the sports four-cylinder ( read in particular).

Obviously, this kind of feat has something to arouse some legitimate reasons for satisfaction on the side of Munich. Especially since no one expected BMW at such a level of competitiveness in such a competitive field: from its launch, not content with being the most powerful (193 hp), the S1000RR is also the most sophisticated of sports motorcycles. Not bad, for a manufacturer long confined to the "road-to-daddy" segment !

Inspired by the manufacturer’s experience in Formula 1, its light 4-cylinder (59.8 kg) adopts titanium valves actuated by pawls, variable intake and a "Ride By Wire" type wireless accelerator. But above all, the S1000RR is the first motorcycle to bring together (optional) advanced electronic aids: an ultra light ABS (2.5 kg), traction control informed by a gyroscope (as in MotoGP!), A shifter and four injection maps…

A hell of a performance since to date, some of its rivals only rely on an ABS (Honda CBR1000RR) or selectable "mappings" on the handlebars (Suzuki GSX-R 1000) to seduce the "sportivo-geek" biker, when they are not completely devoid of the slightest "scholarly chip", like the KTM RC8 R (read "The competitors of the S1000RR" on the following pages).

An evo for the favorite SBK of the French !

Two French Superbike championship titles later, the best-selling sports car in France last year (674 registrations) has its first update: like the Japanese sports motorcycles before it, the S1000RR intends to stay on top by evolving frequently. And here again, the contrast is striking with certain models whose development seems frozen since the onset of the crisis….

Unsurprisingly, the S1000RR "2.0" was not however retouched from the tires to the fork crown: BMW Motorrad preferred evolution to revolution. In more "colorful" terms, the Germans have refined their weapon to slice even deeper into the bowels of their adversaries. !

The main technical characteristics are therefore renewed as is: the perimeter aluminum frame has undergone only a few small modifications, the weight remains contained at 204 kg all full (206.5 with ABS) and the 4-cylinder 999 cc line maintains the same power and torque values ​​(193 hp at 13,000 rpm and 112 Nm at 9,750 rpm).

Aesthetically, the same struggle: differentiating a 2011 vintage from a 2012 requires a particularly trained eye! It is hardly if certain stylistic evolutions are noticeable, like the refinement of the openings on the sides, the adoption of grilles on the cover of the airbox or the re-styling of the monogram "RR" and the magnificent tee of forged fork.

On the other hand, the installation of a thinner and more suggestive rear shell – in a word: more successful! – and small side "fins" at the front are immediately obvious. With a fairly classic design – with the exception of the headlights and asymmetrical fairings – the lines shamelessly draw their inspiration from the Japanese style. The set is however sharper in 2012, which reinforces the compactness and its "ready to pounce" aspect. !

Equipped with very nice parts (Brembo radial calipers, inverted 46 mm fork or aluminum swingarm "beefy maousse", in particular), the S1000RR sends a rather flattering image to its owner, who will not regret having spent at least 16 500 € !

Some plastics are a little "cheap" and some cables deserve to be better camouflaged, but on the whole the Behème is carried out with a serious all Germanic that only the absence of lug on the crutch and adjustment of distance of the left lever may fault.

Finally, the complete on-board console (read the "Instrumentation" part of our technical sheet) is brighter, more readable and it adopts new functions. On a circuit for example, the "chrono" function now provides information on its pace every 100 meters (!) And indicates whether the lap time is lower or higher than the previous one..

The "Speedwarning" function also makes its appearance and indicates that a previously defined speed has been exceeded. Practical for long journeys, especially with such a bomb between the legs !

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