Malaysia will now have one BMW S 1000 RR HP4 Race.
The bike was delivered to her owner last night.
It will see track action soon.
The one and only BMW S 1000 RR HP4 Race in Malaysia was delivered to her lucky owner last night.
The handover ceremony was carried out last night by BMW Motorrad Auto Bavaria in their new showroom in Ara Damansara. Owner Mr. Mark Chew was present to unveil and receive the mock key for the bike numbered 162/750.
BMW Motorrad introduced the HP4 Race to showcase their engineering prowess in building high performance bikes. Working hand-in-hand with a number of specialists, the HP4 is a study in creating an ultra-exotic superbike that’s chockful of components and materials this side of World Superbike and MotoGP.
Where do we begin?
The obvious place would be the engine. It may reside in a bike with the S 1000 RR silhouette, but it’s actually rather different from the standard unit. For example, it produces 215 hp at 13,500 RPM and 120 Nm of torque at 10,000 RPM. Compression ratio has similarly been bumped up to 13.7:1, necessitating the use of a minimum of RON 98 petrol.
To handle all that power and abuse, the transmission has straight cut gears for 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th speeds. The shift pattern follows that of race bikes, of course i.e. 1 up, 5 down. The package even includes a combination of 3 front and 5 rear sprockets of different sizes.
The bodywork is entirely carbon, including the self-supporting tail unit. The front mudguard and inner splash guard are also carbon. Using the black stuff cuts weight down to just 146 kg dry, and 171 kg ready to roll.
Speaking of carbon fibre, even the frame is made from the lightweight material, and weighs only 7.8 kg. But carbon fibre is stronger than steel, which means it doesn’t flex as much. That’s good when the bike is straight up, but how so when it’s cranked way over in a corner. BMW overcame this by designing in some flex to absorb shocks.
Running gear consists of great stuff, too. Everyone’s attention will first be diverted to those jaw-dropping wheels. Yes, they’re made of carbon fibre, too. As the eyes move up, they’ll be caught by the GP-spec T-floating Brembo brake discs and GP4-PR monobloc calipers. These calipers feature titanium pistons. The rear brake caliper also has a caliper with 4 titanium pistons.
The front is suspended by Öhlins FGR 300 World Superbike forks. these fork legs are rotatable, enabling front tyre change without removing the brake calipers. At the back is an Öhlins TTX 36 GP WorldSBK-spec shock, which is attached to a swingarm made by Suter. (Suter is a frame and racing components specialist who entered Moto2 a few years ago.)
Up top, an eccentric carrier allows the steering head angle, hence the rake can be adjusted by a maximum of 1-degree in 0.5-degree increments from 24.5 degrees. As such, the trail is also adjustable between 95 to 112 mm.
It’s definitely a bike for those who dare to dream. “I’ve always wanted a bike like this since I was a kid,” said Mark Chew. “I’ve already got a Ducati V4 S, but the HP4 Race is something truly exotic.”
Mark had raced professionally 20 years ago but is now a regular of SBR Trackdays at the Sepang International Circuit. “Yeah, I can’t wait to take this bike down to the track. The earliest trackday will be in early March.” “I really appreciate the support given by Auto Bavaria, as they will send a team of mechanics to help me understand and setup the bike. Plus, they will also help me with the 2D GPS data acquisition system which will tell me where I should go faster.”
That’s truly nice to hear, rather than have the bike sitting in a glass case or in the living room.
Ever wondered what it takes to build one of the most popular superbikes in the world? We’re referring to BMW Motorrad’s BMW S 1000 RR and we’ve always wondered how its factory keeps churning out these beautiful machines on a regular basis. If you’ve ever wondered about the processes, we’ve got the solution for you. (more…)
ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team mengumumkan penyertaan Markus Reiterberger yang akan beraksi di ASB1000 Kejuaraan Motosikal Asia (ARRC) musim depan.
Pelumba berusia 25 tahun itu bakal bergandingan dengan Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman dengan kedua-duanya bakal beraksi dengan jentera baharu, BMW S 1000 RR 2019.
Meskipun 10 tahun lebih muda berbanding Azlan Shah namun dia dianggap selaku pelumba berpengalaman susulan pernah menjuarai German Yamaha Cup pada 2010, 2013 dan 2015 manakala muncul juara IDM Superbike Championship dua tahun lalu.
Reiterberger juga memiliki pengalaman di Kejuaraan Superbike Dunia (WSBK) bersama Althea BMW Racing Team pada 2016.
Sumber: ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team @ Facebook
Musim lalu, ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team berjaya muncul juara sulung kategori ASB1000 menerusi Azlan Shah.
We were given the honour to cover the 8 Hours of Sepang FIM EWC race from inside the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team.
We had an unprecedented access to what made them tick and the strategies involved.
The team finished third overall.
Excitement fills the air as the bikes were fired up for 8 Hours of Sepang FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) race.
As adrenaline started coursing through the veins of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team members, their cheerful disposition gave way to steely stares and clenched jaws. It’s time to go racing.
The Planned Start
A technician pushed the BMW S 1000 RR onto the pitlane with rider Ilya Mikhalchik following closely behind. As he reached for the started button, I braced myself as if squeezing my ear canals in anticipation of an exhaust blast. But… nothing… there was a slight roar from the titanium Akrapovic exhaust silencer but that was it. No eardrum assaulting, chest punching roar.
And away he went along with other riders. The technicians grabbed their equipment and hurried to the gate to the grid. By then, the first riders had completed their warm-up lap.
When the bikes returned to the grid, they were wheeled backwards and parked against the pitwall at an angle. The riders then went to the other side of the start finish straight. The factory BMW sat in fifth while the crew blanketed the rain Dunlop tyres with warmers again.
Alas, the rain started coming down in earnest with just 25 minutes before the start.
The Safety and Medical Cars were sent out to check but it was visible that the sheer volume of water had overwhelmed the drainage. The cars sent up huge plumes of spray.
By then there was a delay in starting the race and the field was given another sighting lap. The riders roared away in a whiteout wall of spray. Back in the pit, the team had their eyes transfixed on the TV monitors.
The riders tip-toed through every corner and there was still lots of standing water including at the apexes of Turns 5, 9, 13 and 14. There was a river-like puddle running across the track at the braking area for Turn 15.
Upon reaching the start/finish line, marshals instructed the riders to their bikes, away from the where they were supposed to start running from. A few minutes later, race direction suspended the start. Team managers were then called to the briefing room at 1:15pm. We feared the worst i.e. outright cancellation, but that decision never came.
Now, the long wait began.
The BMW Motorrad World Endurance crew didn’t look agitated, but they didn’t seem relaxed, either.
We waited.
This is how the stripped down BMW S 1000 RR endurance racebike looks like
The 1st Restart
The rain began abated somewhat by 2:30 pm. At 2:40 pm, a message flashed across all monitors at the track: PITLANE OPENS FOR 2 MINUTES AT 3:05 PM.
Yes! We’re finally going racing. As per endurance racing rules, the duration was shortened to 6 hours.
However, there was no Le Mans style start. Instead, the riders were flagged off one by one by a marshal holding the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian flag). Again, a wall of spray hung in the air as the bikes made their way to Turn 1. Also this time, they had to follow the Safety Car (SC).
Photo credit FIM EWC
The spectators in the grandstands were excited. Kids who’ve been running around suddenly sat ran back to their parents’ arms and pointed excitedly at the track.
The SC took the grid past the finish line for Lap 1. There was still too much spray. They went past for Lap 2. Then Lap 3, Lap 4, everyone in the pits was hoping for the SC to turn off its emergency lights. It would mean that it would peel into the pits and let racing commence.
All teams began to prepare for the eventual pitstop by placing tools, axle stands, refueling rigs near the pit entrance. They also place spareparts and assemblies such as front ends, rear subframes, bodywork, radiators, etc. where they are within easy reach (in case of crashes or breakdowns).
The refueling can was placed nearby together with a large fire extinguisher. The refueling man’s helmet and Nomex gloves were placed on top of the fuel can. There’s no time to rush back into the pits for something!
Sadly, the SC never turned off it lights and pulled in at the end of Lap 8. The red flags went out signaling another race suspension.
Another team managers meeting was called at 5.00 pm. BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team’s manager Werner Daemen ran up the steps again to the briefing room.
The organizers, stewards and teams deliberated for more than an hour before coming to the decision to either race or suspend it outright. However, should they choose to restart, the race has to end at 9.00 pm.
Sources told us that the teams were eager to go on and it’ll be a shame to cancel since they had travelled so far for this race. It would’ve been 8 Hours of Rain if it were cancelled.
The 2nd Restart
Soon, the message RACE TO RESUME AT 6.00 PM appeared on the monitors. Mechanics rushed to the holding area to pick up their bikes. They were pushed back to outside the pits and parked on the “hot pit lane” (the red line) and waited for the signal from Race Direction.
At the sound of the air horn, mechanics rushed their bikes into their respective pits to begin working on them.
Why such ruling? So that everyone starts working on their bike from the same time as everyone else. No handicap.
The team mechanics jumped in to change the rear sprocket for a taller gearing, fresh wet tyres were installed. They gave the bike a one-over to make sure everything was alright.
The pit reopened at exactly 6.00 pm and every single person at the track was eager to see the race get going. The field first formed up behind the Safety Car and the riders must be in their qualifying order before the car turns off its warning lights to let the 50 riders loose.
Finally, it was time to race after a couple of laps behind the SC. The 8 Hours of Sepang was go.
By the end of the first restarted lap, it was Mike Di Meglio of F.C.C. TSR Honda (#5) who was challenging Michael Van Der Mark from the Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (#21) for the lead.
The #37 bike of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team was in sixth at the end of the same lap, in a pack of four bikes including the Tecmas Racing #9 BMW S 1000 RR (older model). The Tecmas team’s pit neighbor’s the Motorrad’s pit.
Soon, a fierce battle developed up front between #5 and #21, as if it was the last few laps of a WorldSBK race.
The rain had stopped by the 4h 15 minute mark, but the track was still wet.
But neither leading rider backed down and they were pushing so hard that their bikes squirmed under hard braking. That frenetic racing saw a pace that no one else on the field could or want to match. While most of the field was lapping in the 2m 30s bracket, the dueling duo was circulating around in 2m 15s.
Meanwhile, #37 and #9 were locked in a battle of their own, and the former was briefly in fourth by the 4h 40 minute mark. The team members were glued to the TV monitors, a few mini-hopping up and down, a few chewed their fingernails.
Then it happened. V.D. Mark outbraked Di Meglio into Turn 15, but he went wide. Seeing the gap, Di Meglio stuck his bike up the inside. As V.D. Mark tried to tighten his line for the exit, he was surprised to find #5 there and lifted his #21 bike. Di Meglio was also surprised by the move and probably dabbed his front brake and lost the front tyre, which slid into #21’s rear tyre. It sent both men skidding off the track.
A huge roar went up all around the circuit and in the pits.
Di Meglio managed to pick up his bike first and continued racing, while V.D. Mark’s Yamaha was heavily damaged and had to return to his pit.
To give you an idea of how far they were ahead, Di Meglio rejoined the race in first place.
Into the Night
At the same time, #9 got the better of #37 and the latter dropped back to sixth. But four laps later, there was huge plume of white smoke leading into Turn 1. #9’s engine had gone bang in spectacular fashion. Peeking into our neighbours’ pit saw them slumped into their chairs. One of the crew members had told me during the start that they’re using Michelin tyres and gave the thumbs up. Michelin makes arguably the best rain tyres.
The Safety Car was called into action as the track crew removed the stricken bike from the gravel trap and to assess if any oil was dumped onto the track. It led the field for five laps.
During this time, BMW Motorrad team manager Daemen ran back and forth between the pit and pit wall, discussing their fueling strategy. He had told me earlier that the 24-liter tank could last between 26 to 27 laps in rainy conditions. But with the Safety Car period thrown into the mix, they needed to recalculate the bike’s fuel consumption. They also needed to figure out their pace in comparison to other competitors. Calling for a stop at the wrong time would be out of sync with field and cost them track position.
The mechanics began arranging different types of “stands” on the pit lane. They were all custom made for different purposes, including those to place the wheels. A loose wheel rolling down pit lane will be punished by a penalty.
They also prepared two types of Dunlop wet rear tyres, one intermediate and one full wet. The current rider will advise the team on which to choose.
At last, the #37 got the “BOX” message on his pit board. So do the other teams.
The bikes may appear slow on TV as they headed down pit lane, but they were fast in real life as the riders held on to the pit lane speed for as long as possible. The #37 flew into position in the blink of an eye and the four-man crew descended on it in that split second it stopped.
The wrenches went “rat-tat-tat-tat” in unison, the front and rear wheels came out, new ones went on, and and “rat-tat-tat-tat” again. But the mechanics also checked the nut with a torque wrench. (Here it was, where every second mattered, yet they still used torque wrenches, whereas most real-world mechanics never touch them.)
They yelled “GO!” to the fuel man and cleared away from the bike. With one swift motion, the biggest man in the pit (dressed in flame retardant suit) heaved the can above bike’s fuel tank and plunked it down into the dry break female coupling with an audible click, while another man stood by with the fire extinguisher. It took only a few seconds. He pulled the can off and the rider jumped on the bike, punched the starter button and away he went.
All these in less than 20 seconds.
You can watch video of the lightning fast pit stop below.
Countdown to the 8th Hour
We thought the field would settle into a rhythm. Instead, it was a crash fest.
Most riders crashed at Turn 5. Local riders know to stay away from apex as moisture seems to cling to that spot. The track was starting to dry but again, we local riders know that the Sepang International Circuit’s new surface may look dry while it’s still damp.
The most prominent crasher during this period was Mike Di Meglio on the #5 bike. While the earlier crash caused minor scrapes, this one saw extensive damage to the bike. He had to pit for repairs. His partner continued the race dead last but managed claw his way back to 21st at the 8th hour.
As the minutes ticked away, the top three began to emerge: YART Yamaha, Honda Asia-Dream Racing and BMW Motorrad World Endurance.
A second and last pitstop was called with 20 minutes to go. Again, the team did their choreographed magic. Again, they sent the rider and bike out in less than 20 seconds.
It’s all up to the rider now.
YART Yamaha was in an unassailable lead with one lap in hand, while the Honda Asia-Dream team was 1m 40s ahead in second.
By now, the BMW rider Mikhalchik was lapping 3 seconds a lap faster the leading pair, but there was no way in catching the second-placed team.
The team climbed atop the pit fence to welcome their rider home. It was their second podium finish in as many races. It’s a fantastic result by all means, considering that this is the first season for the factory BMW Motorrad team.
It was also the second podium of the year for Dunlop. (Remember, there’s a tyre war in the FIM EWC, unlike in MotoGP and WorldSBK.)
The next race will be the 24 Hueres Motos at the Bugati circuit in Le Mans, France on 18th and 19th April 2020.
We wish to record our heartfelt thanks to the BMW World Endurance Team for allowing us to cover the race along with them. Them team was very professional and they were very focused on their tasks at hand. It was a true honour to experience it firsthand.
A big thank you and appreciation to BMW Motorrad Malaysia also, for setting up the coverage.
Last but not lease, congratulations to the team and BMW Motorrad as a whole.
We were given access to the BMW Motorrad FIM Endurance World Championship Team’s pit.
There we saw the BMW S 1000 RR endurance racer.
The 8 Hours of Sepang FEWC race is happening this weekend.
BMW Motorrad announced that the new BMW S 1000 RR will be entered in the FIM Endurance World Championship last year, just prior to the start of the 2019-2020 season.
The decision seemed to have justified itself when the team finished third overall in the season opener at the 24-hour Bol D’or race in France.
We’ve published an article on some of the technical rules for the FEWC, but of course, who wouldn’t want to see the bikes up close? Well, we were given access to the team’s pits and bikes, thanks to BMW Motorrad Malaysia.
First of all, we were surprised how “open” all the teams were in FEWC. There was no giant separators to hide the insides of the pits, bike parts were in the open, riders walked about nonchalantly without being mobbed.
Walking into the BMW pit, there were fuel tanks on top of a transport case. These tanks feature extensions underneath and to the rear. The rear portion is placed under the rider’s seat. A 24-litre capacity is allowed in FEWC so the teams need extra space to store all that fuel.
But sitting right there in the middle was a stripped out 2019 BMW S 1000 RR. It was sitting on paddock stands without its wheels, seat cover and fuel tank.
Since refuelling need to be lightning quick, all teams use the dry break refuelling system. There are those with two couplings, the rest are with single couplings. Why two holes? Air from the tank exits through one hole while fuel flows through another. Doing this speeds up the fueling process.
Team manager Werner Daemen greeted us and went on to explain about the bike. (Greeted by a team boss? Never happened in MotoGP.)
There are pitstops for fuel, tyres and rider change (and also crashes). As such, every attachment on the bike is made for quick release. Both wheel axles/spindles needed only three turns to be extracted. Consequently, tyre swaps take only 3 seconds!
The footrests, foot pedals, clip-ons and levers are also quick release systems. Their cable and hose attachments have quick-release couplings that can be twisted on and off.
Looking at the handlebar, there’s a button which says “START.” Yes, the bike’s starter is in place. That’s because riders will line their bikes on one side of the track, then run over from the opposite side. They then have to start their bikes and get going. This endurance tradition lives one.
Daemen pointed out the brakes. The team uses Nissin brakes instead of the usual Brembo. We’ll leave the good/bad arguments to the riders but it shows that there’s room for other manufacturers to shine in the FEWC.
We noticed the gorgeous swingarm. A closer inspection showed that it’s made by Suter, who were once involved in Moto2 racing.
Suter also makes the swingarm for the BMW S 1000 RR HP4 Race, but the swingarms on these race bikes were custom made.
We walked over to the other two bikes. One was crashed yesterday and the rider suffered some shoulder injuries.
Here, we could look right into the engine compartment. The huge airbox was still attached and the ECU sits atop it. The ECU is available to BMW customers who wish to race in endurance. However, instead of unlocking more of the engine’s power, it’s programmed to provide better fuel efficiency and engine reliability. Endurance racing is about strategy and who can be the fastest on a consistent basis, rather than an all-out horsepower battle like in MotoGP.
The rep explained that the riders love the new BMW S 1000 RR engine as it produces a lot of midrange torque. He says that this is due to the BMW ShiftCam variable valve timing/lift system.
It’s this midrange grunt that propels the bike and rider out of corners, not top-end horsepower. If you look at SIC’s layout, there are only two areas that require high horsepower i.e. the rear and front straights, while the rest are made up of short “chutes” leading into other corners. In fact, the torque helps the bike to build speed much quicker when exiting corners, translating to higher speeds down the straights. Remember our article?
It has to be said here that the FEWC is a production-based series. That means the racebike must be essentially be the same as the homologation street bike. It also means that the engine architecture and capacity; frame design and material must be exactly be the same.
The FIM scrutineered the bikes and stamped the parts such as the frame.
As we mentioned before, the FEWC is where a proper tyre war takes place. This is where Dunlop, Bridgestone and Pirelli duke it out to produce the best tyres in terms of grip and durability.
The overall objective of all these rules is to encourage manufacturers to produce bikes and products that the buying public can benefit from.
The second round of the season is now in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit. Called the 8 Hours of Sepang, the race will play the role as the qualifier for the Suzuka 8 Hour season-finale for “part-time” teams. It means that these teams will compete alongside the regular teams of the FEWC.
So do make your way over to the Sepang International Circuit for this grand event. More details on the SIC webpage.
When it comes to one of the best superbikes in the world, the BMW S 1000 RR certainly sits somewhere on the top amongst the other greats from Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and more. But what happens when you wake up in the morning and found out that your dog ‘ate’ your beloved BMW S 1000 RR? (more…)
The 2019 BMW S 1000 RR, 2019 BMW R 1250 RS, 2019 BMW R 1250 R were launched today at the 2019 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Only the S 1000 RR with M Sport Package is available at the moment.
The R 1250 R and R 1250 RS adds to BMW’s Boxer family.
The 2019 BMW S 1000 RR, 2019 BMW R 1250 RS, 2019 BMW R 1250 R were launched today at the 2019 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR (from RM 138,500.00 for M Sport Package)
The 3rd-generation S 1000 RR has been long-awaited even before its official launch at EICMA 2018. Suffice to say that it was one of BMW Motorrad’s worst kept secrets!
It’s easy to see why BMW’s superbike is so popular these days. It’s one bike that would go fast as you dare and as slow as you want it to without complaining. It’s also a superbike that you could ride to track, whack off the mirrors and indicators, tape up the headlamps and taillamp, blast around the track, and ride it to work the next day.
The bike launched today is the M Sport Package variant.
Highlights:
999cc, liquid-cooled, 16-valve, DOHC, inline-Four with ShiftCam.
The new lump produces 207 bhp (152kW) at 13,500 RPM and 113 Nm of torque.
The ShiftCam technology varies both valve opening timing but also lift.
Hollow-stem lightweight titanium intake valves.
This allows the bike linear and good spread of power.
But also good fuel consumption at 6.4 litres per 100 km.
Oil pump and water pump integrated as one — saves weight and width.
The coolant/oil pump
Suspension is handled electronically by next generation of DDC (Dynamic Damping Control).
The rear shock is moved further back, away from exhaust and engine heat.
A new frame called Flex Frame — with specifically tuned zones of stiffness — provides better grip in corners and feedback.
Leaner fuel tank, narrower midsection for better knee grip and support.
The bodywork has short overhangs — the entire bike sits between the wheels.
More compact dimensions are the goal including engine, frame, tank, bodywork.
Revised exhaust system, engine, and M-lightweight battery.
The M Sport package includes M sport seat, country-specific taillamp, M carbon fibre wheels and lightweight M battery.
The revisions cut weight down to just 193.5 kg from the standard bike’s 208 kg.
Standard electronic rider aid include Rain, Road, Dynamic and Race.
Options are the “Pro Modes” — Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 3 which includes DTC, ABS Pro, DTC Wheelie Detection, engine torque and engine braking adjustments.
Also available are race assistance modes such as Launch Control and Pit Lane Limiter.
Signature S 1000 RR smooth gearshifts are handled by the HP Shift Assistant Pro (standard).
New 6.5-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth connectivity.
BMW Motorrad Malaysia brought in the M Sport package as the introduction as the S 1000 RR is of limited stock worldwide. As such, BMW Motorrad Malaysia will send a bike to each dealer for customers to view and place orders.
The base S 1000 RR will arrive in Malaysia in 2020.
2019 BMW R 1250 RS (from RM 106,500.00) and 2019 BMW R 1250 R (from RM 102,500.00)
2019 BMW R 1250 RS
The R 1250 RS and R 1250 R completes the BMW Boxer family. The RS is the sport-tourer (the R 1250 RT is the luxury sport-tourer), while the R is the Roadster (naked street bike). We feel that the R 1250 RS’s smaller size will make it easier to ride as a daily commuter, as well.
2019 BMW R 1250 R
Highlights:
Features the new 1254cc Boxer with BMW ShiftCam technology.
Produces 136 bhp and 143 Nm of torque.
The engine is also economical, consuming only 4.75 litres of fuel per 100 km.
Two standard riding modes that adapt to riding style.
Automatic Stability Control is standard, as is Hill Start Control.
They also feature Riding Modes Pro which includes Dynamic and Dynamic Pro.
The Dynamic Traction Control ties in with the Riding Modes Pro selection.
New 6.5-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth connectivity.
BMW Financing
BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia provides financing for these new bikes. You can ride the S 1000 R from RM 1,690 per month, R 1250 R from 1,250 per month, and the R 1250 RS RM 1,300 per month. These amounts are based on estimates 80 percent loan for 4-year tenure.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK will continue with Tom Sykes in the 2020 WorldSBK season.
The rider took the new BMW S 1000 RR to four podiums in its debut season.
He will be joined by Eugene Laverty next year.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and rider Tom Sykes will continue their cooperation into 2020 WorldSBK Championship (FIM World Superbike Championship).
While the tie-up has yet to yield a win this season, Sykes had done well to put it on the podium at Misano, Italy; Donington Park (UK); and Laguna Seca (USA).
Those results were truly impressive, considering that BMW Motorrad announced their intention to join the championship with the new BMW S 1000 RR in November 2018. That left the factory, Shaun Muir team, and riders only a few months to prepare.
2013 WorldSBK Champion Sykes will be joined by Eugene Laverty next year, replacing Markus Reiterberger.
BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers welcomed Sykes’s continuation with the team as it provides stability. “Continuity and stability are critical factors for the success of the project,” he said. “Tom Sykes has consistently moved in a forward direction with the new S 1000 RR.”
Continuity would mean that the bike will follow a steady and somewhat predictable development path as opposed to swapping riders all the time. As different riders have different riding styles, there will be too many variables to consider. There is no luxury of time for such ventures in world championship racing.
A German patent application showed that BMW is working on an electrically supercharged superbike based on the S 1000 RR.
An electrical supercharger boosts performance without sapping engine power.
Power and torque are boosted without needing higher RPM.
A German patent application showed that BMW is working on an electrically supercharged S 1000 RR.
Forced induction isn’t something new and neither is an electrically driven supercharger. but an electric supercharger offers more advantages than an engine-driven or exhaust-driven supercharger.
An electric supercharger has the potential to spool up quickly, thereby eliminating or reducing lag when the throttle is snapped open. The compressor should be driven by a motor which gets its power supply from a battery or capacitor.
On the other hand, engine-driven supercharger like the Kawasaki Ninja H2’s saps the engine’s power. The H2 may not lack power but the output could be potentially higher.
An exhaust-driven supercharger (or turbocharger) creates a blockage in the exhaust system and produces turbo lag. Another critical part is keeping the supercharger or turbocharger’s bearing oiled.
The document shows a simplified drawing of the system. The electric motor (24) drives the supercharger (28), which stuffs air into the combustion chamber (11).
Having a supercharger not only boosts top end power but also torque throughout the engine’s rev range. It certainly does away with needing tons of RPM. Besides that, engine emissions could also be reduced.
Will we see a supercharged S 1000 RR soon? Who knows, but remember that BMW patented a carbon frame and it resulted in the S 1000 RR HP4 Race.
Attention to all BMW fans and enthusiasts? If you’re in love with the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR as much as we do and you want to take it to the next level right out of the showroom, you can basically ‘make’ your very own 2019 BMW S 1000 RR Carbon Edition thanks to some very tantalising carbon fibre parts from Ilmberger. (more…)
BMW Motorrad confirmed their participation in the 2020 FIM Endurance World Championship (FEWC).
They will campaign the new BMW S 1000 RR.
The 2020 season starts next month with the Bol D’Or 24-hour race.
BMW Motorrad confirmed their participation in the 2020 FIM Endurance World Championship (FEWC) with full factory support. They will enter the new BMW S 1000 RR, of course.
BMW’s Big Four Japanese rivals, namely Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki are already enjoying much coverage in the series.
The German factory will join forces with the MRP team, who’ve an extensive record in working with BMW on the world stage. It’s also reported that the team will use Dunlop tyres. However, the rider line-up has yet to be announced. The FEWC is the currently the only world-stage motorcycle racing series which allows tyre manufacturers to compete.
The FIM Endurance World Championship seems to be gaining in popularity lately. This is because the series consists of bikes that are relevant to those you and I can buy at a dealership. Heck, the bikes even have working electric starters and working lights!
On the other hand, MotoGP bikes are fully prototype machines, like Formula 1 in auto racing. While much technology has trickled down to road bikes, components don’t have the same designs and may not necessarily use the same materials. The advertising copywriting may say, “Inspired by our extensive technology in MotoGP racing,” but that’s as far as it goes. Or they could produce something so exotic like the Honda RC213V, yet it’s way out of reach among 99.99999% of us mortals.
What about the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK)? Forget it. They may look like, feel like and even smell like road bikes but their electronics rival MotoGP.
The 2020 FEWC season begins next month (September) with the Bol d’Or 24-hour race in France, followed by the Eight Hours of Sepang from 13th to 15th December. There will be another three races next year to complete the 2020 championship.
The new 2019 BMW S 1000 RR has yet to arrive in Malaysia.
The delay is due to the great demand for the M Package S 1000 RR worldwide.
BMW Motorrad is currently working on clearing the supply bottleneck.
Besides the just-launched new 2019 BMW R 1250 GS and GS Adventure, one has to ask where in the world is the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR?
Even we at BikesRepublic.com were hoping to see it launched during the BMW Motorrad Night Fuel Kuala Lumpur lifestyle event a few weeks ago.
Alas, the bike didn’t appear. So, we decided to post the question to BMW Motorrad Malaysia.
Apparently, it turned out that BMW Motorrad’s factory in Munich is overloaded with orders for the “M Package.” Based on the standard S 1000 RR, the M Pakcage adds motorsport paint, carbon fibre wheels, lightweight battery, M Chassis kit which includes rear seat height and swingarm pivot adjustment, sport seat and Pro Mode.
It has to be said that this is the first time BMW Motorrad is offering an M Package for their bikes. BMW cars have had the M option for a long time, in contrast.
It’s due to this demand for the M Package that reduced the number of the standard S 1000 RR.
This delay is worldwide and affects not Malaysia alone.
In any case, you can bet that BMW Motorrad is working to clear the supply bottleneck.
