2019 BMW S 1000 RR First Look—There were very few motorcycles of recent memory that made a splash quite like the original S 1000 RR back in 2010. That OG Beemer ushered in the new generation of rider electronics, making it the first truly digital superbike—a scene we as riders have now become accustomed to.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR First Look
The S 1000 RR stayed largely the same ever since, save for minor updates here and there. That’s nine years for one bike, a huge time in modern superbike terms.
Now, we have the latest incarnation of the German’s superbike story. The 2019 BMW S 1000 RR is a big deal for BMW. So much so they will be coming back into factory level involvement in the WorldSBK Championship with Tom Sykes and Marcus Reiterberger. The machine they will be using is a ground-up redesign, lighter and more powerful than before with a motor that utilizes BMW’s new ShiftCam variable valve technology which varies the valve timings and valve strokes on the intake side. BMW is claiming 205 hp at the crank for in U.S. spec (207 hp in Europe) with 83 lb-ft of torque for a motorcycle with a claimed 434 lb of wet, ready-to-ride weight.
One noticeable absentee on the spec sheet is BMW has not implemented a counter-rotating crankshaft like what can be found on the Ducati Panigale V4 S and V4 R.
The motor has been used more as a stressed member of the chassis than previously, which BMW says they implemented “to have the force applied directly to the engine structure via the shortest possible paths.” There’s also revised suspension in the rear in the form of the “Full Floater Pro kinematics”, although BMW didn’t divulge exactly what that is, the system is designed to give better feel and increased traction under at the back end under all riding conditions.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR First Look
You’ll get BMW’s new generation Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) electronically-adjusted suspension with new valving and a shim package is available to fine tune the ride at the track.
As usual with BMWs, you get every electronic aid under the sun with the new S 1000 RR in a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit, traction control, ABS, wheelie control, hill start assist, and an up and down quick shifter. Four riding modes of “Rain”, “Road”, “Dynamic” and “Race” come as standard, but proper track riders will want the additional “Pro Modes” option that gives an extra three modes of “Race Pro 1-3”, more options for Dynamic Traction Control DTC, ABS and wheelie control, as well as the throttle curve (torque adjustment) and Engine Brake. You also get Launch Control and a Pit Lane speed limiter, all adjusted by the massive 6.5 inch TFT dash.
BMW is also offering the first optional M Package for the S 1000 RR in the same guise as the performance upgrades you can get with something like a BMW M5 automobile. For the S 1000 RR, these include the BMW Motorsport paint finish, carbon fiber wheels, lightweight lithium-ion battery, chassis kit with rear ride height adjustment and swingarm pivot, M Sport Seat, and the Pro ECU Mode.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR First Look
- 8.8 lb lighter, newly developed four-cylinder in-line engine with BMW ShiftCam Technology for variation of valve timings and valve strokes on the intake side.
- Increased output and torque: 207 hp (in the USA it’s 205 hp) at 13 500 rpm and 83 ft-lb at 11 000 rpm.
- At least 73 lb-ft of torque from 5500 to 14,500 rpm.
- Effort-saving, linear torque curve: further improved ride-ability and controllability due to increased torque in the lower and medium engine speed range.
- Newly developed suspension featuring Flex Frame, with the engine taking on more of a load-bearing function.
- Significantly improved ergonomics due to Flex Frame.
- Refined suspension geometry for further improved handling, increased traction and crystal-clear feedback in the threshold range.
- Further developed electronic damping adaptation Dynamic Damping Control DDC with new valve generation as an optional equipment item.
- New rear wheel suspension weighing 300 g less than before with Full Floater Pro kinematics.
- Weight reduction of 24–31 lb to 434 lb when fully fueled (DIN unladen) and 426.5 lb with M Package.
- New exhaust system weighing some 2.8 lb less, with a front silencer.
- New 6-axis sensor cluster.
- Further developed Dynamic Traction Control DTC as standard
- DTC Wheelie Function as standard.
- Adjustable (+/- shift) DTC Wheelie Function as an optional equipment item.
- Engine brake function, adjustable.
- ABS Pro for increased safety when braking, also in banking position, as standard.
- New riding modes “Rain”, “Road”, “Dynamic” and “Race” as standard and “Pro Modes” option with three additional configurable modes “Race Pro 1-3” for optimum individual adaptation to conditions.
- Launch Control for perfect starts comes with “Pro Modes” option.
- Pit Lane Limiter for precise pit lane speeds also included with the “Pro Modes” option.
- Shift Assistant Pro for fast up and downshifting without the clutch, standard.
- Shift pattern can easily be reversed.
- Electronic cruise control as an ex-works option.
- New instrument panel with a 6.5-inch screen offering excellent readability and featuring a Pure Ride screen as well as three Core screens.
