Peter Hickman knows a thing or two about BMW’s S 1000 RR, having raced and won the very prestigious IOM TT last year on the Smiths Racing BMW, and smashing the outright Mountain Course lap record along the way.
Peter Hickman with some TT silverware and celebrating his amazing 135.452 mph lap
He’s also pretty darn good on the short circuits too was the fastest BMW rider in British Superbike, and is known as a rider that can give good feedback and input back to the team. That, in my opinion, is why BMW gave him the opportunity to try out the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR as early as last year. When Hicky speaks, people listen, and that’s why we wanted to hear his thoughts on the new 2019 S 1000 RR.
Peter Hickman – BSB 2018 at Snetterton
Peter Hickman Interview
Steve Martin: Firstly, the 2018 model was a pretty impressive machine and one you’ve had great success on, but nothing’s perfect, what do you think its weak points were?
Peter Hickman: “Like you say everything has its weak points. The BMW has always been strong in a straight line, both with engine power and on the brakes.
“For me its weak point was always the chassis, it was very rigid, so the slightest of changes to either the chassis, air/track temperature, or even tyres made big differences to the bike. This made it hard to get set up. It was also a bike that never finished the corners so well.”
Peter Hickman on his way to victory at the 2018 Isle of Man Senior TT
Steve: You’ve cut some laps now on the new road bike, what’s your initial impression
Peter Hickman: “I rode a pre-production model last year and I loved it. Coming to Estoril has just cemented that feeling for me really. The bike is so easy to ride for a start, yet has more power and BMW have engineered more flex into the chassis, so overall, it’s everything I was asking for!”
Peter Hickman at the 2018 Macau GP
Steve: The two bikes look completely different but what about the feel, what’s the biggest difference between the two.
Peter Hickman: “Where to start? It still feels like a BMW, which I think is great. Ergonomically it’s very different however, you sit in the bike more than the old S 1000 RR. I’m a tall rider and the bike is very small, but even with these two facts I fit on the bike no problem.
“This bike gives a very positive feeling for me, when I ask it to do something it does it. As a racer riding ‘normal’ road bike this was very impressive, they usually feel all soft and sloppy, I didn’t get that feeling from the new RR.”
Peter Hickman at the 2018 Ulster Grand Prix
Steve: Has the 2019 given riders and teams more scope to cut lap times especially in a more standard guise.
Peter Hickman: “Absolutely it has, especially as a road or superstock race bike. I really think with what BMW have brought to the table it’s going to take all racing to another level.”
Peter Hickman – 2018 Senior TT winner
Steve: I’ve heard from inside BMW that on the same day, same tyres, same rider, the new bike’s about a second quicker in street trim what do you think?
Peter Hickman: “Interesting you should ask, because I was the rider who did this test! Ha! It was at Cartagena last year, Pirelli slicks on both bikes. I managed a 1m38.8sec lap on the 2018 S 1000 RR, I did a five-lap run, came into the pits and jumped straight onto the new bike without talking to anyone and did the same five-lap run.
“When I came back in they asked me what I thought, I felt that the new bike was easier to ride but I wasn’t sure there would be a major difference in lap times. Turns out I did a 1m37.4 on the new bike! Which is a huge difference! And to put that into perspective the best time I’ve done on my 2018 Superbike last year was a low 1m33, so four seconds on a road bike is impressive!”
Peter Hickman at Ballaugh Bridge – TT 2018
Steve: Electronics on the road RR were always good but how close is the latest system to the race versions”
Peter Hickman: “They’ve worked hard on this. They’ve made it much more adaptable like a race bike. For example, the traction control and anti-wheelie control run on separate systems now, which means you can have traction control out of the corner without hindering performance on the final part of the exit because it thinks it’s doing a wheelie when it isn’t.
“I need more laps to play more and understand but so far, I found it easy to use and really rider friendly, something most road bikes struggle with!”
Peter Hickman – Senior TT Winner 2018
Steve: Hicky thanks for your time, now go win some races.
A decade after BMW’s S 1000 RR first debuted and shocked all of us with its next level engine performance as we tasted its power for the first time at Portimao, BMW have re-imagined their flagship sportsbike for model year 2019.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
The headline figures for this new third-generation S 1000 RR are 207 horsepower at 13,500 rpm and a wet weight (with 16.5 litres of fuel) listed as 197 kg in base form, and as low as 193.5 kg with the M package option.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
In base form the 2019 S 1000 RR is 11 kilograms lighter than its predecessor.
Claimed torque is 113 Nm at 10,500 rpm and the engine itself is 4 kg lighter than the previous donk. Maximum engine speed is rated at 14,600 rpm and BMW claim that the new engine has more grunt across the entire rev range.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
Combined with a new suspension package and even more comprehensive suite of electronics BMW claim the new bike is ‘at least one-second faster than its predecessor’.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
Highlights
• 4 kg lighter, newly developed 4-cylinder in-line engine with BMW ShiftCam Technology for variation of valve timings and valve strokes on the intake side. • Increased output and torque: 152 kW (207 hp) (in the USA: 151 kW (205 hp)) at 13 500 rpm and 113 Nm at 11 000 rpm. • At least 100 Nm of torque from 5,500 to 14,500 rpm. • Effort-saving, linear torque curve: further improved ridability 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 11 – 14.5 kg to 197 kg when fully fuelled (DIN unladen) and 193.5 kg with M Package. • New exhaust system weighing some 1.3 kg less, with 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 down shifting without clutch, standard. • Shift pattern can easily be reversed. Electronic cruise control as an ex works option. • New instrument panel with 6.5-inch screen offering excellent readability and featuring a Pure Ride screen as well as three Core screens. • LED light units all round. • Turn indicators with new “Comfort Indicator” function. • Completely newly designed body elements for even more dynamic styling and optimum aerodynamics. • Two colour schemes for the market launch: Racing Red and Motorsport paint finish. • Extended range of special accessories and ex-work options.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
BMW ShiftCam Technology
Not only is the geometry of the intake and exhaust ports further optimised, the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR now also comes with BMW ShiftCam Technology.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
This system varies the valve timings and valve strokes on the intake side via a two sets of lobes on the camshafts.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
The valves themselves are made of light titanium with the intake items featuring a hollow bore.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
A revised intake passage and a new exhaust system that is 1.3 kg lighter likewise contribute to increased overall performance. Ridability and sprint capability benefit from a substantially increased torque across a wide engine speed range.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
New Suspension
With the aim of achieving a significant weight reduction, the engine in the new RR now has more of a load-bearing function than was previously the case.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
The requirement in designing the new main frame, in addition to improving ergonomics, was to have the force applied directly to the engine structure via the shortest possible paths.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
BMW claim that a significant increase in riding dynamics was achieved in the new RR based on the combination of the new riding geometry, optimised wheel load distribution and a substantial weight optimisation.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
The steering head angle has now been set 0.4° steeper at 66.9°, with the offset of the fork bridges adjusted as necessary. The castor is reduced to 93.9 mm (previously 96.5 mm).
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
At the same time, the wheelbase was extended by 9 mm to 1,441 mm. The length of the new single-section rear wheel swinging arm with underslung sections is 606.6 mm.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
The new Full Floater Pro kinematics in the rear suspension also contributes significantly to the perceptible increase in suspension performance.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
All in all, riders of the new RR will benefit from further improved handling, increased traction and even more transparent feedback in all riding states up to the threshold range.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR – DDC Shock
The next generation of the electronic suspension DDC is available for the new RR as an optional equipment item. Specially developed for the RR, Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) requires no compromises in terms of suspension set-up.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
This is made by possible among other things by new valve and control technology. What is more, a shim package is available for selective adaptation when required for ambitious race track riding.
Riding Modes
Four riding modes as standard and three more as part of the “Pro Modes” option for optimum adaptation. For ideal adaptation to varied conditions of use, the new RR is fitted with the four modes “Rain”, “Road”, “Dynamic” and “Race” as standard.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
For those who wish to delve deeper into the world of race tracks and motor racing, the “Pro Modes” option offers an additional three riding modes (Race Pro 1-3) that are freely programmable. These enable individual adaptation of the most diverse control functions such as Dynamic Traction Control DTC, ABS and wheelie detection as well as the throttle curve (torque adjustment) and Engine Brake to suit the rider’s own skill level and riding style.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
Other features that come with the “Pro Modes” option are Launch Control for perfect race starts and the configurable Pit Lane Limiter for exact adherence to speeds in the pit lane. Ultra-fast shifting up and down without the clutch is enabled by HP Shift Assistant Pro, which comes as a standard feature.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
New Six-Axis IMU
New 6-axis sensor cluster for an unprecedented level of electronic control quality.
The new RR is fitted with ABS Pro and Dynamic Traction Control DTC as standard. In addition to traction control, DTC also includes the DTC Wheelie Function as standard – available as an ex works option and now individually adjustable for the first time.
All control systems have been readjusted for regulation quality and characteristics. While the part integral BMW Motorrad ABS systems already provide a very high degree of performance and safety when braking in a straight line, ABS Pro now takes this a step further to offer increased safety when braking in banking position as well.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
New 6.5-inch colour TFT screen
The instrument panel of the new RR has also been completely newly developed and is now designed even more consistently for use in supersports racing. In addition to a maximum range of information, the BMW Motorrad developers paid particular attention to ensuring that the 6.5-inch TFT screen provides excellent readability – even in difficult light conditions.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
The aim was to offer the rider individually tailored screen displays for different uses. The Pure Ride screen shows all the information required for regular road use while the three Core screens are designed for use on the race track, with the rev counter displayed in analogue form (Core 1 and 2) or else as a bar chart (Core 3), for example.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
Alongside the digital display of speed, revolutions per minute, selected mode, settings for ABS Pro, DTC and DDC and the menus, it is also possible to access the following wide range of information on the screen (depending on the options fitted), for example
• Current banking position, left/right. • Maximum banking position achieved, left/right. • Current deceleration in m/s2 . • Maximum deceleration achieved in m/s2 . • Engine speed reduction by DTC. • Speed warning (“SPEED” appears when a previously defined speed is exceeded). • Average speed. • Average fuel consumption. • Trip 1 and 2. • Remaining range. • Total kilometres. • Fuel tank fill level.
For riders using the new RR on the race track, the new instrument cluster offers additional and highly interesting data which can be accessed in a variety of screen display formats:
• Lap time and lap distance. • Lap-specific speeds (min, max, average). • Active mode per lap. • DTC adjustment value per lap. • Banking angle, left/right. • Maximum banking positions, left/right per lap. • Maximum DTC torque reduction per lap. • Maximum deceleration per lap. • Number of shifts per lap. • Average throttle grip position per lap. • Total laps, total riding time and total distance. • Best ever lap.
Ergonomics and Styling
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
The new layout of the main frame – as a Flex Frame – has made it possible to create a much leaner fuel tank and seating area trim sections for further improved support and knee grip.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
What is more, optimised contact surfaces and a newly defined ergonomic triangle between the handlebar ends, seat surface and footrests makes for optimum ergonomics.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
Meanwhile, completely newly developed bodywork features ensure the new RR is instantly recognisable as a new model. This is supported by the dynamic design featuring a colour scheme with two individual characters: Racing Red and Motorsport paint finish.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
Option Packages
• M Package: Pro Mode, Motorsport paint finish, M carbon fibre wheels, M light weight battery, M sport seat, M chassis kit with rear ride height adjustment and swingarm pivot.
• Dynamic Package: Next generation Dynamic Damping Control DDC, heated grips, cruise control.
• Race Package: Pro Mode, M forged wheel, M light weight battery, M chassis kit with rear ride height adjustment and swingarm pivot.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
BMW aiming for WorldSBK Title
A new BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will enter WorldSBK in collaboration with Shaun Muir Racing and with a well-known rider pairing: 2013 Superbike World Championship winner Tom Sykes (GBR) together with reigning Superstock 1000 European champion and three-times IDM champion Markus Reiterberger (GER).
With the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and the cooperation with Shaun Muir Racing, BMW Motorrad is significantly expanding its engagement in the WorldSBK. At the same time, BMW Motorrad will continue its successful customer racing program in numerous other national and international racing series.
What do you think of BMW’s effort? Please comment below.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
Technical specifications
BMW S 1000 RR
Engine
Capacity
cc
999
Bore/Stroke
mm
80/49.7
Output
kW/hp
152/207
@ Engine Speed
rpm
13500
Torque
Nm
113
@ Engine Speed
rpm
10 500
Type
Water-cooled in-line 4-cylinder engine
Compression/Fuel
13.3:1
Premium (super plus) unleaded petrol, octane number 95- 98 (RON) (knock control; rated output with 98 RON)
Valve/Accelerator Actuation
DOHC (double overhead camshaft) Valve activation via individual rocker arms and variable intake camshaft control system BMW ShiftCam
Valves Per Cylinder
4
Ø intake/Outlet
mm
33.5/27.2
Throttle Valve Diameter
mm
48
Engine Control
BMS-O
Emission Control
Closed-loop three-way catalytic converter
Electrical System
Alternator
W
450
Battery
V/Ah
12 / 8, maintenance-free
Headlamp
W
LED low beam twin headlamp in free-form technology
Upside-down telescopic fork, slide tube diameter 45 mm, spring preload, compression and rebound stage adjustable, DDC option: damping electronically adjustable
Rear Wheel Control
Aluminium underslung double-sided swinging arm with central spring strut, spring preload, adjustable compression and rebound stage, DDC option: damping electronically adjustable
