CAN-AM SPYDER RT - Cycle Torque

CyCle Torque TesT – Bmw s 1000 rr
TracTion a TracTion
RIDING GEAR: KBC helmet, Spyke
leathers, Alpinestars boots and gloves.
TesT By Chris piCkeTT phoTos By lou marTin
Lion hearted on one hand,
a pussycat on the other.
BMW’S S 1000 RR is one of the most technologically advanced
road bikes ever built. as a sportsbike it has few equals. as a road
bike it may be a little out of its element, as is any of its competition
in that market segment, but it offers a level of safety from its
electronic wizardry that takes the game to a whole new level.
In our January issue we reported on the S 1000 RR world launch
at Portimao in Portugal. Our publisher came away very impressed,
lauding the bike’s virtues on the race track and also the traction
control and ABS.
None of these things are new. Both have been around for a while
now but BMW were pioneers in the technology. To say the company
has got it right with the S 1000 RR is an understatement to say the
least.
I was able to sample BMW’s new superbike at the Australian
launch at Phillip Island, and then on real roads a month later. I won’t
go again into fine detail on the mechanics or electronics, for that you
can read the January issue online at www.cycletorque.com.au where
you’ll not only be able to read the full issue, you’ll also be able to read
the dedicated Emag on the S 1000 RR which has more images and
detail than the printed issue.
Launch time
At the technical briefing on the bike I couldn’t help but be
impressed with BMW’s first effort at such a machine. Did I expect it
to be so technically advanced? Yes. BMW has led the way in so many
areas of motorcycling that anyone with an eye for history would
know the German company would have made sure the bike was
right from the get-go.
The bike looks just like any 1000cc sportbike: slim, aggressive and
with a sporty riding position. As we got the tech injection there were
little things that made you think, ‘this bike is trick’! For example, you
can adjust the suspension damping with the ignition key. There’s not
20-odd clicks on damping control – the S 1000 RR has 10. So each one
actually makes a noticeable difference. And when a cam follower
was passed around I think we were all amazed at how light it was,
weighing an imperceptibly low amount. No wonder the engine likes
to rev.
For our first session we were asked to ride the bike in Rain Mode
which limits the horsepower to 150. Also we should stay in fourth
gear to sample the torque. Yes, it does have plenty of torque. You
could ride the entire track in fourth easily, the bike pulling out of the
hairpin turn four and MG corners without complaint. A few laps like
that and I started using the whole ’box. Sorry I flouted the rules, I
couldn’t help myself. Even with ‘only’ 150hp this jigger is fast.
The bike has four modes: Rain, Sport, Race, Slick. The first three
42 - APRIL 2010 The control centre.
APRIL 2010 - 43