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The new BMW S 1000 RR Unveiled at Monza

10th May 2009

For the first time ever BMW Motorrad is launching an all-new 1000cc sports bike with an in-line four power unit.

The international debut of the BMW S 1000 RR takes place on the legendary Monza Racing Circuit, where BMW Motorrad will showcase a true milestone in the world of sports machines, combining engine output of 142 kW (193 hp) with overall weight of just 204 kg including fuel (183 kg dry weight, 206.5 kg overall with Race ABS).

Specifications of this calibre make this 1000cc sports bike not only an absolute highlight in terms of its power-to-weight ratio and performance, but also sets a new benchmark in terms of riding dynamics, safety and innovation with Race ABS and DTC Dynamic Traction Control.

The decision to present the much anticipated S 1000 RR in Monza is by no means a coincidence. Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport has been playing an active role in the World Superbike Championship, aboard the race prepared superbike based closely on the S 1000 RR and ridden by BMW Motorrad's two team riders, Australia's own Troy Corser and Spaniard Ruben Xaus. Royal Park in Monza providing the ideal place for a presentation of this calibre.

The Challenge for BMW Motorrad.
To successfully enter the World Championship with a Superbike today, a manufacturer needs a production model with the right overall concept consistently applied in all areas. The essential factors, therefore, are supreme power, a wide range of engine speed, fast revving capacity (also over a long period), optimum chassis stiffness, and perfect set-up of the engine.

Other essential features, particularly in the premier league of 1000cc sports bikes are simple and straightforward - rideability, precise handling, and above all safety and performance features such as rider assistance systems such as ABS and traction control giving the rider precisely what is needed.

Developing the S 1000 RR, BMW Motorrad has entered completely new and unchartered terrain. Clearly, this meant a huge range of new challenges and responsibilities for the entire Development Team, but at the same time it also gave the Team enormous motivation in seeking to set new standards.

The specific targets in developing the S 1000 RR were therefore clear:

To achieve output and performance of the highest standard.
To make the suspension absolutely stable, with top handling and supreme traction.
To give the new machine that unmistakable, dynamic design of BMW Motorrad.
To reduce the weight of the motorcycle to an absolute minimum.
To ensure top quality typical of BMW.

Unique against the competition.
Over the years and decades, the principle of combining a straight-four power unit with an aluminium bridge frame has been consistently developed and has become the dominating technical concept, particularly in the sports bike segment. The reason, quite simply, is that a motorcycle of this kind offers significant benefits in terms of riding dynamics and durability.

The S 1000 RR, in its concept teaming up a in-line four power unit and an aluminium bridge frame, may appear at first sight to have similarities with some competitors, but the Development Team at BMW Motorrad has succeeded in enhancing the existing status of this concept in virtually every respect.

As a result, the S 1000 RR offers not only a wide range of firsts in terms of technology, performance, and design, but also, through its particularly compact overall layout, clearly demonstrating European engineering in the four-cylinder sportsbike segment.

Maximum performance and riding dynamics.
The consistent concept of the S 1000 RR sportsbike is borne out in particular by the truly fascinating, innovative high-performance technology and incomparable riding dynamics of this new machine. The result is an exceptional combination of supreme riding precision and agility, on the one hand, with unparalleled engine power and performance, on the other, providing an overall package truly unique in the market.

Never before has a BMW motorcycle been conceived and built more consistently for performance riding in terms of its concept and overall construction. At the same time the new S 1000 RR retains many of the virtues so typical of every BMW to this day: Extreme sportiness and riding dynamics combined with supreme everyday riding qualities, agile handling together with supreme riding stability, outstanding performance combined with unparalleled active safety, as well as dynamic, unmistakable design in conjunction with optimum ergonomics and aerodynamics.

Free choice of engine characteristics as well as Race ABS and DTC Dynamic Traction Control
The new S 1000 RR also excels through features and qualities typical of BMW such as a long running life, superior quality of production and optimum environmental compatibility thanks to the use of the most advanced exhaust management with two fully controlled three-way catalytic converters also able to fulfill future standards and requirements.

Active safety when braking is significantly enhanced by Race ABS developed especially for the S 1000 RR as a genuine performance motorcycle and available as an option direct from the factory. A further and most significant feature contributing to active safety of the highest standard is DTC Dynamic Traction Control also available as an option and masterminded electronically for supreme precision and practical value.

Facing various riding conditions such as wet roads ("Rain"), regular road conditions ("Sport"), a race track with supersport tyres ("Race"), or a race track with slicks ("Slick"), the rider also has the choice of various engine characteristics and set-ups available at the touch of a button. And last but not least, Race ABS and Dynamic Traction Control are combined with the respective riding modes and coordinated with one another to ensure a supreme standard of performance and safety all in one.

Valve drive like in a BMW Formula 1.
The primary objective in developing the new S 1000 RR was to create a sportsbike with supreme engine power combined with optimum rideability for the highest conceivable standard of all-round performance.

The water-cooled four-cylinder inline power unit chosen to provide these qualities is brand-new from the ground up, developing maximum output of 142 kW (193 hp) at 13,000 rpm and revving up to a maximum speed of 14,200 rpm. Maximum torque of 112 Nm, in turn, comes at 9,750 rpm.

Following the example of BMW 's Formula 1 engines, the two intake and exhaust valves per cylinder made of extra-light titanium are operated by very small and equally light single cam followers. In conjunction with the short sprocket driving the camshaft via an intermediate gear, this ensures supreme revving qualities at the highest speeds as well as exact maintenance of valve timing combined with very compact dimensions.

The use of extremely small and light cam followers furthermore gives the engineer greater freedom in choosing the ideal valve lift curves and, accordingly, in selecting optimum performance characteristics on both road and track.

All engine components are particularly compact and light, limiting weight of the overall engine without ancillaries to 59.8 kg and keeping the entire power unit very slim.

Innovative exhaust system with interference pipe butterflies for optimum power and performance.
Made completely of stainless steel, the exhaust system featured on the S 1000 RR is designed for optimum power and performance. It works according to the 4-in-2-in-1 principle with four individual manifolds of equal length first merging into two pipes beneath the engine block and then extending into a large-volume pre-silencer. From there the exhaust emissions flow through a very short and dynamically designed rear-end silencer.

A homogeneous power and torque curve ensuring optimum rideability is acknowledged as the requirement for sporting performance on the road and fast lap times on the track. This is precisely why the exhaust system featured on the S 1000 RR comes with two fully controlled interference pipe butterflies housed in two connection pipes for the two outer and two inner manifolds, in the immediate vicinity of the exhaust ducts. As a function of various parameters such as engine speed and the position of the throttle butterfly, an adjuster opens or closes these flaps, allowing exhaust gas to flow freely between the two manifolds or, respectively, interrupting the flow of gas. This coordinates the sequence of oscillations in the exhaust gas mass flow, reducing exhaust gas counter-pressure at the decisive point (like on a racing muffler) and increasing the cylinder charge accordingly. This factor alone makes a significant contribution to the very high standard of homogenous overall performance offered by the S 1000 RR.

Lightest 1000cc sports bike with ABS.
The new S 1000 RR offers the highest standard of technology also on its suspension and running gear. Weighing just 206.5 kg in road trim and with a full tank, BMW 's new 1000cc sports bike is by far the lightest machine of its calibre displacing 999 cc and featuring ABS brakes.

One of the features that ensures this light weight is the aluminium bridge frame integrating the engine tilted to the front at an angle of 32° as a load bearing element for optimum torsional stiffness on minimum weight. The front wheel runs on an upside-down fork with a fixed tube measuring an ample 46 millimetres, while a torsionally stiff swing arm made of aluminium holds the rear wheel in position.

The spring and damping action required is provided by a central spring strut pivoting on a guide lever.

The rear frame section of the S 1000 RR is a welded light-alloy structure bolted to the mainframe, combining low weight with superior stability and a high standard of robust strength particularly important to riders and teams on the race track.

Putting the rider right in the centre.
Developing the S 1000 RR, BMW Motorrad has given particular attention to the superior ergonomics of the machine, providing ideal qualities for both small and tall riders and therefore focusing consistently on the rider's individual requirements. The tank section is as slender as on a 600-cc machine, giving the rider the assurance of excellent control and handling at all times.

In the process of developing the S 1000 RR, BMW Motorrad focused not only on a lightweight structure, but also on minimum dimensions as an absolutely essential requirement. Cylinder bore of 80 millimetres or 3.15", for example, the largest bore in this segment, and the resulting width of the cylinder head, called for particularly attention on the part of the engineers in order to make the front silhouette of the S 1000 RR extremely slim and slender, on the one hand, while providing an efficient flow of cooling air, on the other.

Technical challenges of this kind as well as a development period of just four years made the S 1000 RR the ideal project for consistent, all-out use of CAD (Computer-Aided Design) technology as well as the most advanced calculation methods, for such aspects as the machine's aerodynamics.

The S 1000 RR is the ideal motorcycle for the riders looking for new, unprecedented standards and quality in the sportsbike segment.

The planned retail introduction of the S 1000 RR in Australia is during the first quarter of 2010.

Overview of technical highlights:

Best-in-class performance and supreme riding dynamics in the sportsbike
segment.
Engine output 142 kW (193 hp) at 13,000 rpm, peak torque 112 Nm at 9,750 rpm.
Weighing 206.5 kg in road trim and with a full tank, this is the lightest 1000cc sports bike with ABS. (Dry weight 183 kg)
Best power-to-weight ratio in this class of just 1.05 and 1.06 kg, respectively per horsepower without/with Race ABS.
Optional Race ABS for outstanding brake performance and safety. Weight of the entire system just 2.5 kg, while other systems of a similar kind weigh up to 10 kg.
Optional DTC Dynamic Traction Control in conjunction with Race ABS for optimum performance and maximum active safety when accelerating.
Only sportsbike with Race ABS and DTC Dynamic Traction Control.
Various riding modes (power options) available at the touch of a button for wet surfaces, regular road requirements, race tracks with sports tyres and race tracks with slicks.
All-round set-up, coordination and balance of Race ABS, DTC Dynamic Traction Control and engine management for all four riding modes.
High-speed, extra-sturdy valve drive with individual cam followers and titanium valves following the example of BMW 's Formula 1 engines.
Innovative exhaust system with a ultra compact muffler, pre silencer and electronically controlled interference pipe flaps as well as a fully controlled exhaust gas manifold and two fully controlled three-way catalytic converters.
Optimum gas dosage combined with maximum functional reliability ensured by E-gas, incorporating two bowden cables (opening and closing cable) leading to the throttle butterfly adjuster.
Fulfilment of all environmental standards with the potential to meet future emission requirements ensured by two fully controlled catalytic converters and digital motor electronics.
Damper elements with a wide range of adjustment on the spring base, the compression and rebound stroke, as well as the greatest damping reserves, particularly for racing.
New, clearly defined, simple and straightforward options to adjust the suspension and running gear.
Aluminium tank unique in this segment for further reduction of overall weight.
Supreme handling combined with best-in-class acceleration and braking stability.
Multi-functional instrument cluster with racing features such as a laptimer. The rider is able to set all functions directly from the handlebar.
New generation of switches with optimised ergonomics.
Supreme aerodynamics and sporting ergonomics ideal for both the tall and short rider.
Optional HP Gearshift Assistant for shifting up without operating the clutch and without the slightest interruption of torque and pulling power.
Wide range of equipment, special features and options tailored to the S 1000 RR and naturally offering full BMW quality.