BMW's M Sport Division has been a name reserved for four-wheeled madness and never has it made anything else. However, things have changed and the Bavarian marque has now given the blokes at M a go at two-wheelers.
Dubbed the M 1000 RR (or M RR for short), it's the first-ever BMW motorcycle to wear a designated M badge. Considering the folks from Bavaria received many criticisms for the controversial G80-gen M3s and M4s, this is one way to redeem themselves shall we say. Essentially, the M 1000 RR is an S 1000 RR on steroids.
BMW Motorrad didn’t hold back and now with the “M” treatment, this motorbike is an excuse for sheer madness. The S 1000 has seen a diet cut and enough increase in ponies to justify the M 1000 RR’s price tag.
At $32,900, the M 1000 RR costs nearly twice as much as its non-M-bred cousin. Has the ‘M’ division nailed the best of on-track performance? Or is it all mouth and no trousers? Here’s our take on BMWs first ‘M’ motorcycle.
BMW S 1000 RR: A Brief
While the folks at BMW Motorrad are good with the idea of two-wheeled motoring, it was high time they decided to give the aging S 1000 an upgrade. Presto, after the so-called 10-year development period, BMW has finally given the S 1000 a proper refresh. Although that’s not to say the pre-facelift was any bad. It was largely becoming a sore thumb in an otherwise modern lineup of Supersports.
The new S 1000 RR had to one-up its predecessor. Outperforming a seriously good piece of kit has remained a dilemma since the inception of motorcycles and the S RR is no exception. Engineers at BMW had to work their pants off to get the new S 1000 improved. That goes to show how monumentally capable the old S 1000 RR was. Executives were at a level where they wanted the new S 1000 to be at least a second quicker than its predecessor.
So, the new one sticks to the basics of more power, less weight, and better aerodynamics. Also, the asymmetrical lights are a thing of the past and now fancies an aggressive symmetry overall. Frankly, we like it, but a good chunk of S 1000 fans don’t. Fret not, for there are other aspects to reconsider your thoughts. Power and torque have improved and now the S 1000 RR has 205 horsepower and 83 lb-ft of torque from an engine that’s narrower and lighter. Also, the folks at BMW managed to shave off 25 lbs off the previous S 1000 RR making the new flagship a serious bit of kit.
What Did BMW's M Division Do To The S 1000 RR
Small but significant changes are the key takeaway here. Improvements done to the overall package have resulted in noticeable gains in performance. Basically, the core ethos of the M program was to reduce weight and increase power. Weight savings are courtesy of lighter two-ring forged pistons, titanium con rods, machined intake ports, and lighter, slimmer rocker arms, and a titanium exhaust system.
Complementing these are a host of carbon-fiber add-ons that include standard CF rims and an optional package that gets you lightweight composite bits around the bike. Thanks to the revised internals, the M 1000 RR makes 212 horsepower and gets a taller redline at 15,100 rpm instead of the S 1000 RR’s 14,600.
Aerodynamics has also seen noticeable improvements. Much like the Ducati Panigale V4, BMW’s M division gave the M 1000 RR carbon fiber winglets and a unique windscreen that generate up to 35.9 pounds of downforce at 189 MPH. Also new are bespoke suspension tuning and revised braking. Overall, the reworked M 1000 RR is an even sharper tool than its non-M sibling.
How Does It Stack Up Against The Rest Of the Lot
If it’s an outright comparison between the Panigale V4 R and the M RR, it’s a tough call. Because both of these are extremely expensive pieces of engineering, mere mortals are out of the judging panel. For those who can afford to pay, we’d advise having to look at your needs. If it’s a no-nonsense tracker you’re looking for, the V4 R is undoubtedly the king. However, that’s not to say the M RR is any slouch, its breadth of abilities is simply staggering.
Because it’s still based on the S 1000 RR, you don’t miss out on things like heated grips, hill-start control, and ABS Pro settings. Even the most experienced track junkies will prefer to kick back and relax on a stretch of highway. That’s where the BMW’s strengths lie. The sheer duality on offer with a relatively cheaper price tag than its Italian counterpart makes the M 1000 RR our choice. That said, you won’t be disappointed with either.
Sources: BMW, theDrive, YouTube