Yes, the 2018 BMW S 1000 R is the “seductive” (as in “naked’) version of the king of superbikes BMW S 1000 RR, but I felt like I was living in the world of the movie, Real Steel.
In 2020, human boxers are replaced by robots. But as with any competitive sport, what started out as a simple idea soon became a venture for large corporations hell-bent to win at all costs. This stratagem meant that the boxing robots became more and more sophisticated and robots of yesterdays were cast aside.
But as the story went along (as with any underdog feel-good movie), the protagonist’s son found a low-tech sparring bot that he soon named “Atom.” A sparring bot, like real-life sparring partners in boxing meant he had to suffer being bashed around by the superstar boxer on his (the superstar) way to bling, spinners, and er… ladies.
On the other hand, Atom the sparring bot was a stripped-down machine, meant only to fulfill its one intended role.
The S 1000 R was first released in 2014 to complement BMW Motorrad’s inline-Four sportbike lineup, which was headed by the rip-roaring S 1000 RR superbike.
You could say that the S 1000 R is the stripped-down version of the S 1000 RR, fair enough, as there are many shared components, but BMW intended the former to be a “roadster” for the streets.
For starters, the engine is tuned for more low- to mid-range torque (as if the S 1000 RR’s tune isn’t torquey), making it useful for road riding. The R’s 160 bhp arrives at 11,000 RPM and 112 Nm torque at 9,250 RPM, while the RR’s 199 bhp is found at 13,500 RPM and 113 Nm torque at 10,500 RPM.
Secondly, this version we tested was in its basic configuration, hence it had Rain and Road ride modes only, no Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) electronic suspension. However, Race ABS and Automatic Stability Control (ASC), as well as shift assistant (quickshifter) and cruise control are standard.
First thing you’d notice is the ergonomics, of course. The wide tapered handlebar is set low but in a position that didn’t required you to stretch like a rubber band. My back and torso felt relaxed as I lowered myself into the seat with a satisfying sigh…
Typical of the S-series inline-Four engine, the powerplant idles with a symphony of its parts that produce forward motion. A soft tap on the gear lever engaged first gear while the clutch took up the power in a linear fashion.
Opening up the throttle past the halfway point predictably produced a forward thrust that turns your frown into an ear-to-ear grin. It pulls hard, oh yeah, but it doesn’t scare you like how some open-class naked sportbikes would.
We’ve ridden all bikes in the market that are equipped with quickshifters but BMW’s “shift assistant” still rules, if not technically then emotionally. Each shift was taken care of swiftly and more importantly, accurately without a harsh jolt. But it’s that signature “pop” from the exhaust that’ll get you. It soon became so addictive that you’d find yourself short-shifting through the gearbox just to enjoy the moment.
Oh yes, the shift assistant works for downshifts too. The engine doesn’t blip hard when you drop it down a cog but the engine’s electronics worked well in tandem with the slipper clutch to deliver jerk-free engagement without needing you to touch the clutch lever.
Forward motion was eerily linear, and the S 1000 R picked up speed so effortlessly that the only indication of speed is when you start to fly past traffic like someone had hit the pause button to freeze the world around you.
For more entertainment (or kicks), slow down to 60 km/h in sixth gear, then slam open the throttle. Some bikes we’ve ridden would judder like a Proton Saga taxi at this point. Instead, the S 1000 R seemed to create NOS from the air it sucked in and blasted forward. I BS you not. If you hold on to that throttle for a few more seconds, you’d be doing more than 200 km/h. Remember, 60 to 200 km/h in just a few seconds.
If going straight was impressive, you’d be fully sold when you hit the corners.
Heading down into the sharp right off-bridge from MEX to Bukit Jalil, the bike’s suspension had the tyres dig hard into the road. As soon as the front tyre pushed a little it was time to get back on the gas.
Cornering on the S 1000 R yielded its own sense of addiction: Starting from braking, the Brembos bit hard to a one fingered pull! The engine blipped itself during downshift “vroom,” “vroom.” Next, the wide handlebar translated my steering effort into leaning over instantly. Fourthly, the engine’s back torque (engine braking) was smoothly balanced to provide a smooth rolling speed in mid-corner. The exhaust gave a loud “POP” as I reached the apex and it was at this moment when the front tyre started to push, signaling throttle on. The bike responded to the continuous throttle action and started to stand up naturally. Soon, we blasted cleanly away from the corner while the left foot hooked another gear, and another, and another while relishing the accompanying pops and howl of the engine.
Instant gratification. You don’t even need to buy flowers, chocolates, expensive jewelry and a candlelit dinner for it.
It wasn’t just about going fast on the S 1000 R, otherwise there’s no point to BMW turning the S 1000 RR into this roadster.
The daily commute became fun since the bike had it all: Acceleration, brakes, light steering, agility and comfort (for a naked sportbike). It was also frugal on fuel if you ride at a sensible pace. The new S 1000 R exhibited a more gracious attitude in traffic, although it did feel like I was pressing the fast forward button on and off when I upped my aggression.
In all truth, the S 1000 R has become my favourite BMW S-series model. As much as I love the march of technology in motorcycles, I don’t mind having less of it. Furthermore, the S 1000 R’s limits are more easily attainable, especially for those who don’t ride regularly at the track. No, that didn’t mean you’ll outgrow it, instead you may accept it as the bike’s charming side and appreciate the fact that you’re a good rider on a good bike, instead of having a good bike but unsure if you’re a good rider.
I’m not knocking on the S 1000 RR and S 1000 XR but the R is also more practical for everyday use especially for someone with short legs like me.
Anything that I didn’t like? Yes, of course. The signature S 1000 buzz is there but you’ll get used to it.
In closing, the protagonist took that low-tech, stripped-down sparring robot which they found in the junkyard all the way to the top to meet the champion robot. The protagonist’s robot so nearly beat the super-advanced champion, by taking advantage of the latter’s technological advantages when they turned out to be disadvantages.
Hey, everyone loves an underdog. Just like the 2018 BMW S 1000 R.
2018 BMW S 1000 R |
|
| ENGINE | |
| ENGINE TYPE | 4-stroke, DOHC, liquid-cooled, inline-Four |
| DISPLACEMENT | 999 cc |
| BORE x STROKE | 80.0 mm x 49.7 mm |
| POWER | 160 hp (118kW) @ 11,000 RPM |
| TORQUE | 112 Nm @ 9,250 RPM |
| COMPRESSION RATIO | 12.0:1 |
| TRANSMISSION | Constant mesh, 6-speed with straight-cut gears |
| FUEL SYSTEM | Electronic fuel injection with ride-by-wire throttle |
| CLUTCH | Multiple-plate wet clutch, anti-hopping, cable-operated |
| CHASSIS | |
| FRAME | Aluminium composite bridge frame, partially self-supporting engine |
| FRONT SUSPENSION | Upside-down telescopic ø 46 mm forks, adjustable for compression and rebound damping |
| REAR SUSPENSION | Monoshock, adjustable for rebound damping |
| SUSPENSION TRAVEL FRONT/REAR | 120mm / 120 mm |
| FRONT BRAKE | 2 X Radially-mounted 4-piston Brembo calipers, ø 320 mm floating discs |
| REAR BRAKE | 1 X Single-piston caliper, ø 220 mm brake disc |
| ABS | BMW Motorrad Race ABS |
| TIRES FRONT/REAR | 120/70 ZR-17; 190/55 ZR-17 |
| STEERING HEAD ANGLE | 24.6o |
| TRAIL | 98.5 mm |
| WHEEL BASE | 1,439 mm |
| SEAT HEIGHT | 814 mm |
| FUEL TANK CAPACITY | 17.5 litres |
| WEIGHT (READY TO RIDE) | 207 kg |
Let’s get one thing straight. People buy, own, adore superbikes for their super sexy looks, balls-off-the-wall performance, and the crowds they gather every time they’re parked in a public area or blasting down the front straight in Sepang. There are many to choose from in the Malaysian market today and the one that remains to be one of the most popular has to be the BMW S 1000 RR. (more…)
As the results of the second-quarter sales start filtering through from manufacturers, BMW Motorrad is the latest to show a decline due to a soft world motorcycle market. It’s very a surprising news considering that they have been enjoying record sales for the last 7 years.
BMW reported a total of 51,117 motorcycles sold worldwide, compared to the 52,753 units sold during Q2 last year, marking a 3.1% decline. Correspondingly, it translates 5.8% decline in revenue (€658 million) and 6.8% drop in profits before tax (€174 million).
This also works out to a 1.6% decline by unit volume with only 86,975 motorcycles and scooters sold to customers. As such, revenue dropped by 10.1% (€1,182 million) and a 23.7% decrease in profit (€196 million).
With the European Union being BMW’s largest market, which accounts up to 60 % of their sales, the manufacturer’s sales was dragged down by that very market by 7.9%. This is the biggest contributor to the overall sales decline.
However, if analyzed by countries, their sales was down by 18.8% in their home country of Germany, followed by -5% in Italy and -4% in France. Fortunately, there were modest gains in other European countries such as Spain with a 1.3% increase.
One big surprise however, was BMW Motorrad’s gain in the United States, given the soft motorcycle market there these days. BMW Motorrad USA reported a 3.1% increase on the first six months of the year. The gain upswing was in no doubt due to BMW’s new models, including the BMW K 1600 Grand America and updated middleweight GS. And while the ultra-exotic and ultra-limited S 1000 RR HP4 Race doesn’t help with the bottom line, 14 have been confirmed to be sold in there.
BMW Motorrad plans to launch nine new models this year (although we don’t know how many of those will be introduced in Malaysia) and they’ll most probably turn the sales figures around for the 8th record-breaking year. Would you dare to bet otherwise?
The BMW RT (Reise-Tourer or travel tourer) has had a long history, starting from the first R 100 RT in 1978 to this latest 2018 R 1200 RT. So, yes, it’s the RT’s 40th anniversary this year. By the way, the R 100 RT was the touring variant of the first fully-faired production motorcycle, the R 100 RS, which singlehandedly launched the sport-touring segment.
Please click on the link below to know more.
The current lineage of the R 1200 RT, however, began in 2014 with the introduction of the wasser-head (liquid-cooled) Boxer; and instead of just stuffing the new engine into an old bike, BMW redesigned the RT wholesale (side-by-side with the new R 1200 GS). New seats, seating position, fairing, instrumentation, and frame were fitted or updated.
It was also at this time when BMW added options such as Dynamic ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment), Shift Assist Pro (for both up- and downshifts), central locking system for the luggage and storage compartments, low and high seats cruise control, and keyless ignition (from 2015).
There were further updates to the R 1200 RT in 2017, albeit minor. BMW fitted a judder damper to the transmission’s output shaft, along with a revised selector drum actuator, transmission shafts and transmission shaft bearings (the R 1200 GS received these updates, too).
Other standard features include ABS Pro, heated grips and seats, ASC (Automatic Stability Control), Riding Modes (Road/Rain), Stepless Adjustable Power Windshield, On-board Computer Pro, height adjustable rider’s seat, LED signal lamps, LED taillamp, besides others.
Styling wise, there’s no mistaking the R 1200 RT for any other motorcycle. The large front section carries the large headlamp cluster which consists of the central low-beam flanked by a pair of massive high-beam projectors; who are themselves ringed by BMW’s signature LED halo-rings.
The rest of the body panels are sharp and consist of “panels” to deflect around the occupants. BMW routes the hot air from the split radiators through cleverly designed holes on each side away from the rider. Other smaller bodywork panels hide the rear parts of the engine and rear shock.
The handlebars are fixed in just the right position as you reach out for them. This is where the fun starts.
The 1170cc flat-twin fired up with that signature Boxer vroom and settled down to a drone with just a touch of vibration to let you know it’s alive. Give a blip and the Boxer vrooms, accompanied by a slight twitch to the right.
Pressing the INFO button scrolls through all the menus to setup the bike, including ESA preload (rider, rider with luggage, two-up), ESA damping settings (Soft, Normal, Hard), travel information (tyre pressure, fuel consumption, fuel range, etc.), audio, and many more. The rider uses the Multi Controller wheel to pick and confirm the sub-items.
The button next to it is for adjusting the windshield’s height. The windshield will lower itself automatically to its lowest position when you kill the engine and raises itself automatically to your last setting when the bike starts to roll. Lovely. The windshield provided a wonderfully turbulence-free zone around the torso and I could hear the stereo clearly at high speeds (depending on helmet).
For a peace of mind, I pressed the remote storage locking switch to lock the panniers and the storage compartments in front of the handlebars, regardless if I had left the panniers’ unlocked. An audible mechanical whirr and a symbol of a key on suitcase lit up in the instrument panel as confirmation. This is brilliant as in case you forgot to lock the storage.
First gear still engaged with the familiar clack. Slip out the light clutch lever and you’re under way on a stream of smooth, smooth torque. The bike pushed forward quickly but very, very smoothly and the new shifter mechanisms worked as the gearshift was light, smooth and noiseless. Coupled with the aerodynamics, you wouldn’t notice the acceleration until you glance down to find yourself riding at 130 km/h or beyond.
I was apprehensive at first when I approached cars on either side at the traffic lights, but I soon learned that there’s ample space to fit the wide front end through; and once the “head” got clear, the rest of the bike followed through. Plus, the RT has such an imposing presence that almost any vehicle gave space. Otherwise, I’d follow the vehicle for a short distance and use the engine’s torque to pass when the opportunity presented itself.
What’s the hurry, anyway?
I’ve got a great sound system to listen to and plenty of settings to entertain myself with. Additionally, everyone stared at me in admiration (read: awe), especially when the design looks this good and painted in this new Mars Red Metallic and Slate Metallic Matte scheme. They scanned the bike from the front to the rear, up and down and craned their necks to peek at the impressive instrument cluster.
Again, when it’s time to get going, the R 1200 RT got going without delay. Vrooom, and you’ve pulled clear even in top gear. We’ve rode the bike to its top speed which was beyond ahem, 200 km/h while sitting straight up! No turbulence, not headshake, no weaving. Amazing.
It was the handling which helped with urban riding. This is where the DNA of the R 1200 GS and R 1200 R shone through. The bike was light on its feet without feeling nervous, so you could confidently flick it around as you shoot into spaces in traffic, relying on the engine’s torque for a quick boost and the superb brakes to slow you down. The front brakes are linked to the rear’s ad the bike entire bike squats down when you clamp down hard on them, eliminating crazy wiggles and wobbles.
A soft tap on the handlebar was enough to change the bike’s direction, despite the “touring” 26.4o rake, 116 mm trail, 1485 mm wheelbase and 276 kg wet weight. It almost made no sense how well the R 1200 RT handled given its spec sheet figures. In fact, it was very much like riding a scooter. Make that a much better handling and braking, and stable scooter. I’ve never felt tired even after riding through the morning and evening rush hour traffic along Jalan Tun Razak.
No wonder many law-enforcement agencies around the world use the BMW R 1200 RT!
But there’s no mistaking the RT’s natural habitat. Out on Karak Highway, apart from the feedback in your hands and bum, you might as well think you’re riding in a BMW 7-Series. Sure, the Dynamic ESA returned hard kicks when hitting sharp bumps, but it performed well nonetheless. It gives you more time to admire the countryside as you ride relaxed – even at high speeds.
It wasn’t just about going straight either, for the RT could turn and burn, too. Of course, not as fast as a sportbike, but I could surely hang with most sport-tourers. The only way you could get it totally wrong is to bottle it up and panic. Have confidence in the front-end and you’d be rewarded with peg-scratching cornering everytime.
The R 1200 RT also performed remarkably well up Genting Highlands. The test bike was fitted with Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT sport-touring tyres and they gripped even over wet roads and loose dirt. A late-night ride up demonstrated the high-beam headlamps’ power in cutting a swath of light through the fog.
What’s a touring bike if it can’t carry luggage, right? Worry not. Those panniers could accommodate a full-faced helmet or a 15-inch Macbook Pro in a backpack each, while still leaving lots of room for everything else. Install BMW’s 49-litre top case and you could ride anywhere.
Lastly, a 25-litre tank could go as far as 500 km if you ride smoothly. Combined consumption through city congestion and spirited highway blasting lowered it into the lower 400’s. Still a good feat for a big motorcycle.
In conclusion, the BMW R 1200 RT is the luxury touring model which slots in between the sportier S 1000 XR sport-tourer and the K 1600 series full-dress tourers. I wouldn’t call it a compromise between the two extremes; rather, the RT has its own distinctive character as a long-distance runner which endears itself to you very quickly with its great comfort, performance, great looks, typical BMW quality and fuel economy.
Priced from RM 118,798.77 (with 0% GST), it is exactly cheap for a person such as me and am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that I would like to own one in a heartbeat if some kind soul decided to donate some money my way.
| ENGINE | |
| ENGINE TYPE | 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, air/liquid-cooled, flat-Twin |
| DISPLACEMENT | 1170 cc |
| BORE x STROKE | 101.0 mm x 73.0 mm |
| POWER | 125 hp (92 kW) @ 7750 RPM |
| TORQUE | 125 Nm (92 lb-ft) @ 6500 RPM |
| COMPRESSION RATIO | 12.5:1 |
| TRANSMISSION | Constant mesh, 6 gears with helical cut gears |
| FUEL SYSTEM | Electronic fuel injection with ride-by-wire throttle |
| CLUTCH | Multiple-plate wet clutch, hydraulically operated |
| CHASSIS | |
| FRAME | Front two-section frame, bolted on rear frame, load bearing engine |
| FRONT SUSPENSION | BMW Telelever ø 37 mm forks, central spring strut |
| REAR SUSPENSION | Monoshock with WAD strut, spring preload hydraulically adjustable (continuously variable), rebound damping adjustable, BMW Paralever |
| SUSPENSION TRAVEL FRONT/REAR | 120mm / 136 mm |
| FRONT BRAKE | 2x radially-mounted 4-piston caliper, ø 320 mm floating discs |
| REAR BRAKE | 2-piston caliper, ø 276 mm brake disc |
| ABS | BMW Motorrad Integral ABS |
| TIRES FRONT/REAR | 120/70 ZR-17; 180/55 ZR-17 |
| STEERING HEAD ANGLE | 26.4o |
| TRAIL | 116 mm |
| WHEEL BASE | 1,485 mm |
| SEAT HEIGHT | 825 mm (high setting), 805 mm (low setting) |
| FUEL TANK CAPACITY | 25 litres |
| WEIGHT (READY TO RIDE) | 276 kg |
A newfound friend and I were chatting about bikes and more, of course but let’s keep it to bikes here since this is Bikes Republic and not the Sarawak Report.
He owns a 2016 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure, on which he had toured all the way to the Mae Hong Son loop and back a few times on it besides many other places.
Now, although I don’t own a GS, I’ve ridden one over quite some distance too. If you could recall the GIVI Golden Triangle Adventure in November last year, I had ridden a 2013 BMW R 1200 GS LC from KL to Pattaya and back, covering around 3200 km.
That trip firmly convinced me why BMW owners swear by it. It’s when you have to ride through treacherous conditions, or when your mind and body are exhausted, the R 1200 GS just keeps going. And going. And going.
A large part of that character is due to the bike’s Dynamic ESA /ESA II electronic suspension. It controls the damping electronically, removing bumps that would otherwise tire out the rider in a hurry.
However, as much as having a “smart” suspension, there’s no going around the Telelever’s basic setup at the front. The spring and damper are moved out of the fork tubes and placed at a separate location. The spring and fork tubes are then connected via an A-arm, also known as a wishbone to the frame. BMW did this to separate the damping forces from the steering. We wondered why the set up isn’t used in performance bikes. A little research revealed some interesting answers.
The traditional telescopic forks, whether “normal” or upside-down, suspend and also steer the bike. Let’s take a look at the picture below.
The forks connect to the frame via the headstock and forms a triangle. This makes the headstock as the weakest point in this connection, yet the forks and frame transmit loads into it.
Imagine the forces pushing up into the headstock from the rear tyre when accelerating, and the forces pushing up the fork under heavy breaking. At the same time, consider the bike’s and rider’s weights squashing down from above. All these forces threaten to split the fork-frame triangle like Jean-Claude Van Damme right at the headstock. This is why the front fork and wheel assembly comes off in some heavy accidents.
While this is happening, the rider steers the bike using the exact same components that are transmitting the forces to the headstock, frame, etc. Yes, those very same forces that threaten to tear the forks off the frame.
What that means is the forces you feel at the handlebar are the total, the sum, of all these forces acting in unison, plus the cornering forces such as camber thrust, weight, rolling drag torques, etc. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since that’s what riders call “front-end feedback.” The darker side, on the other hand, is when the rider lets off the throttle or applies the front brake abruptly in mid-corner, consequently transferring weight to the front and pushing the bike wide. That self-righting torque (the bike standing up) usually panics riders, causing them to think that they’ve run out of grip hence not forcing the bike back down to make the turn. This is why one overshoots a corner.
The Telelever and Duolever remove those forces from the steering; although the former still leaves some load through to the headstock and frame, while the latter completely isolates steering from suspension duties. The Telelever is the reason why the R 1200 GS is so easy to manoeuvre even extremely slow speeds, as exhibited by the tests in the GS Trophy. The Duolever system fitted to the K 1600 full-dress tourer line-up gives the bikes surprisingly light steering, despite their heft.
By if the Telelever is that good, why isn’t it used on performance bikes, much less in competition, say MotoGP? Part of the feedback is missing at full lean. It may be okay for road riding where speeds and tyre loads are much lower but not in racing where the rider needs to listen to the tyres.
We had speculated earlier that BMW Motorrad Malaysia will revise the prices of their new motorcycles with the onset of 0% GST beginning 1st June 2018. We have just received the official prices from BMW Motorrad Malaysia.
Please refer to the price list below.
As expected, prices will be reduced across the board, but what is interesting to see are the popular models such as the G-, F-, R-, and S-Series models. The prices will be even more attractive than they are currently. However, if there are many other models to choose from BMW Motorrad’s extensive line-up.
For example, the C-Series “Urban Mobility” super-powered maxi scooters. At the heart of these “babies” are the 647cc, 2-cylinder engine which punches out 60 bhp of power and 63 Nm of torque, with a top speed of 180 km/h.
A little further up the scale and you’ll have the R nineT “Heritage” family, which consists of five variants to choose from, including the ultra-sexy R nineT Racer and the utilitarian R nineT Urban GS.
On top of it all (S 1000 RR HP4 Race notwithstanding) is the K-Series of full-dress luxo tourers, including the new K 1600 B (Bagger). Being tourers, they may be large but we’ve discovered the joy of riding them as they could be ridden like much smaller bikes. Trust us, we did it on the K 1600 GTL in the chaotic Penang rush hour traffic.
Adding to the price revision is the unwavering quality and reliability of these German bikes, plus the excellent level of aftersales service one would receive, synonymous with the premium brand of motorcycles.
Please visit BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s official Facebook page for more information.
BMW Motorrad Malaysia has revised the prices of BMW motorcycles in accordance with the Government’s directive to set the Goods & Services Tax (GST) to 0% beginning 1st June 2018, in the interim before reimplementation of Sales & Services Tax (SST).
While we have not received an official line from BMW Motorrad Malaysia, reduction in price is definitely on the cards for every manufacturer.
Please refer to the table below. Please note that the prices are speculative at the moment in view of the said reinstatement of the SST later. BMW Motorrad lists their prices previously as “on-the-road without insurance with 6% GST,” thus we arrived at those figures below by subtracting 6% off the current price.
The S 1000 RR HP4 Race notwithstanding, we see a reduction of between RM 1,614.00 (G 310 R) to RM 10,194.00 (K 1600 GTL) in reduction across the board. But perhaps more interesting are the R 1200 GS lineup which sees a drop in prices between RM 6,174 (R 1200 GS) to RM 7,194.00 (R 1200 GS Adventure TFT).
Is this the best time to buy a new BMW? Yes, it is.
Another interesting note: In an interview earlier today, Tun Abdul Daim bin Zainuddin mentioned that the government is targeting an annual revenue of RM 30 billion through SST, against the RM 42 billion collected in 2017 through 6% GST. Does this mean SST will not be set at 10% as expected?
We do hope so.
The latest BMW Motorrad annual report has stated that their Heritage line which comprises of five different R nineT models is now ‘complete’. This also means that there will be no more retro additions in that particular family which already have the standard R nineT, R nineT Pure, R nineT Racer, R nineT Scrambler, and the R nineT Urban G/S. (more…)
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