Lawrence Photographic

I am enjoying my motorcycle but I guess every biker has their eye on the next motorcycle they might like to own.

Check out the BMW S1000 RR Motorcycle on the BMW Website

Mini Review
Last year, I test rode a few sports bikes including the 2016 Honda Fireblade SP and the 2016 Suzuki GSX-R1000. I had also taken out the BMW S1000R SPORT 'roadster' motorcycle which in a couple of words was - "Freaking Phenomenal" and it had to go to the top of my 'desirable' list.

However, before I finally made up my mind, I had to take out the 2017 BMW S1000RR SPORT 'full on' super sports for a spin. This time it was to be a prolonged trip to find out if my back and wrists would stand up to the lean angle on the seat.

The BMW S1000RR has it all including superb low end grunt - you can ride along at 35mph in 6th gear without a problem and on the dual carriageway in 6th gear she will pull away from 50mph to 70mph faster than shit of a shovel and that is seriously fast. If you drop her down through the gears and turn the throttle full on, she will propel you forward like a rocket as you effortlessly gobble up the gears using the gear up-shift (up-shift/downshift) assistant. Going down through the gears using the auto downshift proved just as effortless and the S1000RR gear box was super smooth and slick. There is ample torque at the low, middle and top ranges of the rev' band.

I had the bike in 'Rain Mode' because the salesman set it there and I left it there for the duration of the ride. The stock seat was excellent and the 'full on' sports riding position had me over the front wheel but not as much as some other brands. The riding position (at first) seemed an excellent balance for me as I did not have any pain in my bum, lower back, wrists or shoulder blades.

The handling and feedback you get is truly awesome and with a wet weight of 208kg you can flick it about with ease and thanks to it's low centre of gravity you can feel the fantastic road grip as you lean her down on the corners. Thankfully the ABS brakes are not over the top so you have a great sense of how much brake pressure to apply and if you have to brake in an emergency you better have knee grips on either side of the tank or at least very strong arms and wrists because she has serious stopping power. I especially liked the rear brake which was not sudden and offered me total control with the throttle and clutch for slow manoeuvres. The engine braking was excellent and even in 6th gear, the engine alone will drop the speed very quickly when you ease of the throttle.

The stock exhaust did manage a howl during acceleration and a nice burble when you ease off. I liked the instrument panel and when cruising along, despite it being nearer to my eye line, I could still read it without losing too much of the oncoming view. The controls were well laid out and I had no difficulty using them although the indicator switch had less of a tactile feel than I am used to. I did not get into the (switching on the fly) road mode controls as I had no intention of taking my eyes of the road in front with a £1,500 excess insurance for accidental damage hanging over my head. Rain mode and a 9,000 rev limiter was exhilarating enough but I could not help wondering what she would be like after she was run in?

The S1000RR does have a firm suspension which is very apparent but I did not endure any back or bum pain, even on the rougher roads. On the motorway, even in heavy cross winds at speed, she held straight and true and I did not feel that she would be blown sideways. The bike was a blast on the country roads and so much easier to handle and turn in than my own sports/tourer. The BMW S1000RR, even in rain mode with a 9,000 rev limit (new bike being run in) was very, very, very - it was fast. Lane splitting was not a problem but I admit it took time to get used to the more forward seating position on the bike.

I wish I was 25 years old instead of an old man because what a bike. The salesman had warned me and he was right. However, the prolonged ride did not affect my back, my backside, my wrists or my shoulders - sure there was a little ache for a short while after the test ride and when steady riding in the same position on the motorway but it was the muscles around my throat that were wrecked. It took over a week for the ache to go away and every time I moved my head forward or back, I could feel the sharp pain on both sides of my throat.

So now I have given up on the idea of getting a full on, super sports motorcycle and the BMW S1000R Sport 'roadster' is on the final short list.

I have one more bike to check out before I decide and that is the 2017 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory motorcyle.