News, reviews and articles about BMW bikes on the ‘net

[Arne Rohde]

#18418

Superbike comparisons are apparently the theme of the month. The British magazine Bike has a track and road comparison test of 5 superbikes in the July 2015 issue, including the BMW S1000RR, Kawasaki H2 (turbo), Ducati 1299 Panigale, Yamaha R1 and Honda CBR1000RR. Unfortunately the review is not available online. Their track tester and tame racing rider is James Haydon, ex GP, WSB and BSB racer.Fastest lap time was the R1, 0.01s ahead of the BMW.One of the reviewers summed up the BMW on road test: "Even if you think the bike's ugly, a test ride will sell it to you. It gives the confidence of the Fireblade [Honda] but with a better engine, suspension and gearshift. And more modern dash, and a better noise. It feels like BMW took a Fireblade and gave it Viagra."

[Arne Rohde]

#18419

The BMW S1000RR is not the only bike tested in the July 2015 issue of British magazine Bike. There is a short first ride of the new R1200RS, and a lengthy test of the new S1000XR. The verdict on the S1000XR: One of those bikes that makes you question how any road rider could want anything else. Blindingly fast, comfortable and practical with a quietly brilliant array of electronics, the XR is one of BMW's finest. No wonder there's already a waiting list to buy one. 5 stars.

[Arne Rohde]

#18420

Motocycle.com has a second ride review of the BMW S1000RR, written by Sean Alexander. This is part of a build-up to yet another superbike comparison test.

2015 BMW S1000RR Second Ride ReviewA Quick Blast on a Quicker Bike

Overall score was 88.75/100Read the full review at: http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bmw/2015-bmw-s1000rr-second-ride-review.html

[Arne Rohde]

#18421

A review of the S1000XR by John Burns has just been posted on motorcycle.com.

2015 BMW S1000XR First Ride Review

BMW’s new “Adventure Sport” is furiously fast, 5-star comfortable and electronically unsinkable

"The highs:Best appearance ever by a Four-cylinder in an Adventure roleFeels really light and nimbleThe electronic aids are approaching seamlessnessThe sighs:Encourages you to go faster than your talent alone would allowThe Base price must be a joke, since BMW apparently produces no base modelsWe’ll have to invoke the mercy rule if BMW keeps beating up on its competitors this way"Continue reading the review at: http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bmw/2015-bmw-s1000xr-first-ride-review.htmlAs I've mentioned elsewhere this is the only bike in BMW's current program that could possibly entice me away from my old F650GS. If only the price was more wallet-friendly. It should arrive in NZ in August or September, with prices starting at about $30,000.

[peter.trub]

#18422

More an upright Tourer than an adventure bike in my humble opinion. Not enough suspension travel for a start off plus that muffler wont last long under the bike like that. Might be ok on a graded metal road but I wouldn't throw it where the current GS range go.

[Anonymous]

#18423

More an upright Tourer than an adventure bike in my humble opinion. Not enough suspension travel for a start off plus that muffler wont last long under the bike like that. Might be ok on a graded metal road but I wouldn't throw it where the current GS range go.

I don't think that's really in any doubt is it? Aimed fair and square at the Duc Multistrada.This vid (and his maniacal laughter) should sell it if you didn't want one already: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKksfzmJSVwNot for me though... I can get into plenty of trouble with 2/3 of the power, and I like getting 700km+ from a tank  ;D

[Arne Rohde]

#18424

Another first ride review from a US online magazine, Ultimate Motorcycling. This one is from the owner of a Ducati Multistrada 1200, Ron Lieback, so comparisons between the two are presumably inevitable. His main gripe seems to be that the bike was so new it still had the 9000rpm rev limiter engaged.

2016 BMW S1000XR Review | Debut Ride Test

2016 BMW S1000XR Test – Ultimate Ducati Mutlistrada Killer?

"After my debut 140-mile ride around Ontario’s Muskoka region, I found few negatives with the S1000XR. BMW’s entry into the world of “Adventure Sport” provides a versatile platform, one that can get you comfortably around town or a weeklong tour. If some light gravel or fire-roads come along, don’t worry – the S1000XR is more than capable."Read the rest of the review at: https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/07/03/2016-bmw-s1000xr-review-debut-ride-test/I'm sure the S1000XR can take me to all the same places that the F650GS has taken me in the 7+ years that I've owned it. Which is limited to formed roads, although some of them you could wonder when they were formed. For real off-road adventure I don't rely on it, preferring a much smaller bike, four wheels, or two legs. Obviously I don't need the power of the XR, but since when has recreational motorcycling been restricted to need or to logic?

[Arne Rohde]

#18425

BMW has released details of model updates for the coming 2016 model year. Mainly they are cosmetic updates (paint colours), but there are a few specification changes such as ABS Pro on more models. There's also a new (pictured) R1200GS Triple Black variant in, surprise surprise, black!! Most bizarre option is probably the ones for the R NineT: "Hand-brushed naked/exposed aluminium fuel tank with smoothed welding seams" and "Hand-brushed naked/exposed aluminium fuel tank with visible welding seams".Read the press release and see all the photos including those of welded tank seams at: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/pressDetail.html?title=bmw-motorrad-model-facelift-measures-for-model-year-2016-special-model-bmw-r-1200-gs-tripleblack-abs&outputChannelId=6&id=T0224489EN&left_menu_item=node__6629Or go to: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/startpage.htmland click on the press release item of interest.

[Arne Rohde]

#18426

Yet another American motorcycle writer, Greg Drevenstedt, has been to Ontario for a ride on the new S1000XR and has written about it on the RiderMagazine web site. Again there are the obligatory references to the Multistrada. It seems his particular bike had worse vibrations than the ones used in the other reviews.

2016 BMW S 1000 XR | First Ride Review

"BMW says the S 1000 XR is designed for “those who want the dynamic performance of a sport machine, the versatility of an adventure bike and the comfort of a touring motorcycle.” That’s what street-oriented adventure bikes, or crossovers, are all about: a sportbike engine tuned for the street; an upright riding position, low-effort handling and extra suspension travel; and enough features and wind protection for extended travel. The Premium-equipped XR covers all of the bases, and should give the Ducati Multistrada 1200 DVT some serious competition."Read the full report at: http://www.ridermagazine.com/top-stories/2016-bmw-s-1000-xr-first-ride-review.htm/(Why would anyone name their bike after the Deep Vein Thrombosis that you might suffer from if you ride it for too long at a time?)

[Arne Rohde]

#18427

More BMW reviews in the August 2015 paper version of the UK magazine Bike, which is also available as an iPad app (at a cost, of course). There are two comparison reviews. The first is between 4 naked superbikes: Aprilia Tuono 1100, BMW S1000R, Kawasaki Z1000, and Suzuki GSX-S1000. The verdict (in part): "It would be easy to skim-read this test, flick straight to the verdict page, see the BMW S1000R wins - which it does - and assume shallow testers prefer the bike with the most gadgets. Wrong. Replace this fancy Sport model with the entry-level S1000R and it would still win. Easily. Forget the semi-active suspension, the quickshifter and the smarter rider aids for a moment. The BMW still has the best engine, the nicest riding position and the sharpest brakes. It still has the ability to feel at home doing any kind of riding, from daily grind to weekend blast or annual tour. ... The S1000R combines everything great about the other three. It has the civility, manners and stealthy side of the GSX-S1000. It can offer the snappy, instant response of the Z1000. And it has the sporting credentials and trackday potential of the Tuono. The BMW is the best - and best-value - supernaked you can buy."The second comparison test is between 4 BMW boxer-engined bikes: R1200RT, R1200R, R1200RS, and R1200GS. And a huge surprise, it's a BMW that wins! And another BMW that comes last. Actually with their point scoring system using 4 riders and two pillions to deliver a verdict it's the GS that wins, followed by the RS, with the RT and R in third and fourth.

[Arne Rohde]

#18428

Motorcycle.com has a first ride review of the new R1200RS, written by John Burns. The bikes were ridden in Ontario, on the same trip as the S1000XR reviewed by the same rider.

2015 BMW R1200RS First Ride Review

"+ HighsYo, it’s the Harley-Davidson of Deutschland (but besser)One of motorcycling’s all-time great engines; maintain it yourselfNo-stress, smooth operator– SighsNot the prettiest RS everInstrumentation is a bit busy and small of digitThe new S1000XR is calling our name…"Read the full review at: http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bmw/2015-bmw-r1200rs-first-ride-review.html

[Arne Rohde]

#18429

Motorcycle.com has now published the street comparison in its 6-way shootout. The track comparison pointer can be found earlier in this thread, with the third installment with the final verdict due in about a week.

2015 Six-Way Superbike Street Shootout + Video

And the winner by a hanging chad is...

To read which bike won by a hanging chad read the street comparison at: http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2015-six-way-superbike-street-shootout-video(Hint: it wasn't Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha or Ducati, but the Aprilia came very close.)

[Arne Rohde]

#18430

Alan Cathcart has interviewed BMW Motorrad CEO/President Stephan Schaller in an interesting article on the Ultimate Motorcycling web site.

BMW Motorrad CEO Stephan Schaller | Behind the Curtain Q&A

Among the subjects covered are the future of electric motorbikes, manufacturing arrangements in India and China, Brazil as the fourth largest export market, and an upcoming middleweight twin-cylinder design.Read the full interview at: https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/07/14/bmw-motorrad-ceo-president-stephan-schaller-behind-the-curtain-qa/

[Arne Rohde]

#18431

Ultimate Motorcycling's Ron Lieback has been testing the latest version of the BMW S1000RR. Apparently it finds favour with him, a self-confessed V-twin guy, even making him feel safe at 180 mph.

2015 BMW S 1000 RR Test | Feeling Safe at 180mph

His closing thoughts: "From a track standpoint, 1998 AMA 250 Champion Roland Sands who rode with me at COTA, said it best—the RR provides “absolute speed with absolutely no drama.” I concur; when a bike is this good, it allows riders to remain completely focused—something vital to not only quicker lap times, but also safety both on and off the track. The previous generation was quite good, but things only got better for the 2015 BMW S 1000 RR, which is essentially a perfected platform."Read the full story at: https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/07/16/2015-bmw-s-1000-rr-test-feeling-safe-at-180mph/

[Arne Rohde]

#18432

Rider online magazine has a comparison between three European naked bikes, the Aprilia Tuono, BMW S1000R and KTM Super Duke R, written by Greg Drevenstedt.Rider Comparo: 2015 Aprilia Tuono V4 R APRC ABS, 2015 BMW S 1000 R, 2015 KTM 1290 Super Duke REach bike has advantages and disadvantages compared to the others, but the conclusion was: "BMW’s S 1000 R is the complete package, giving up little to the KTM in terms of comfort, offering performance on par with the Aprilia and delivering the best value. Fully kitted out with the Sport and Dynamic packages, our test bike’s $15,060 as-tested price is just $561 more than the Tuono but $2,339 less than the Super Duke, and it includes cruise control and semi-active suspension that aren’t available on the others. When it comes to civilized performance, the BMW S 1000 R is as good as it gets."Read the full article, see the dyno figures and the photos at: http://www.ridermagazine.com/road-tests/rider-comparo-2015-aprilia-tuono-v4-r-aprc-abs-2015-bmw-s-1000-r-2015-ktm-1290-super-duke-r.htm/

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