05-21-2014, 10:06 AM
I just got a new BMW S1000R and I was asked to do a review of the bike:
I currently own what I believe to be the ultimate Naked sportbike; a Ducati 1098S Streetfighter. I love it and will probably keep it for many years to come but lately I've been craving a naked of a different character and I love 4 cylinder bikes because thats what I grew up riding.
I've owned a couple of MV Agustas and my last one was a 1078RR Brutale and while the bike is visually stunning and the engine character is sublime I just didn't gel with the seating position so after 4 different seat configurations I let it go.
I don't want a another vtwin like my SF so the KTM 1290R was out for me. The only other choices were the Aprilia tuono and the BMW S1000R. The tuono has a V4 and the sound that engine makes is nothing short of magical. The bike handles beautifully and it's very comfortable fitting me perfectly.
But I hate the flat colors that the Ape is only offered in and the engine makes no power below 5000 RPM. To me a super naked has to have torque from the bottom to the redline and top speed is not the objective, so the Ape was out.
The BMW does everything well, it fits me well and its very comfortable with a great seat. The engine sound is fantastic - so much that I wouldn't even put an aftermarket exhaust system on it. The bike is so fast it will blur you vision with a twist of the throttle. And, its quick and nimble while being stable in the corners. I would call this bike confidence inspiring making the rider feel immediately at home.
It does have a few quirks that I don't like; The engine is buzzy with a noticeable high frequency vibration sent through the entire bike. And while all of the technology is great, (it has stability control, traction control, ABS with 3 settings, auto adjusting suspension with user definable settings, throttle modes, and suspension modes, cruise control, heated grips, slipper clutch, auto quick shift, and I'm sure a whole lot more that I haven't discovered yet), I'm not a fan of the nanny cuss. If I want to do a burn-out or a wheelie I don't need no stinkin German engineer shutting the bike down to save me from myself. I've turned off the traction control but so far I've not been able to defeat the wheelie control, and that pisses me off.
Over-all I love the bike and the few little niggles aren't going to dampen my enjoyment. It'll take me a while to get to know and understand all of the electronics but I'm sure I'll find a way to get around the nanny controls.
I currently own what I believe to be the ultimate Naked sportbike; a Ducati 1098S Streetfighter. I love it and will probably keep it for many years to come but lately I've been craving a naked of a different character and I love 4 cylinder bikes because thats what I grew up riding.
I've owned a couple of MV Agustas and my last one was a 1078RR Brutale and while the bike is visually stunning and the engine character is sublime I just didn't gel with the seating position so after 4 different seat configurations I let it go.
I don't want a another vtwin like my SF so the KTM 1290R was out for me. The only other choices were the Aprilia tuono and the BMW S1000R. The tuono has a V4 and the sound that engine makes is nothing short of magical. The bike handles beautifully and it's very comfortable fitting me perfectly.
But I hate the flat colors that the Ape is only offered in and the engine makes no power below 5000 RPM. To me a super naked has to have torque from the bottom to the redline and top speed is not the objective, so the Ape was out.
The BMW does everything well, it fits me well and its very comfortable with a great seat. The engine sound is fantastic - so much that I wouldn't even put an aftermarket exhaust system on it. The bike is so fast it will blur you vision with a twist of the throttle. And, its quick and nimble while being stable in the corners. I would call this bike confidence inspiring making the rider feel immediately at home.
It does have a few quirks that I don't like; The engine is buzzy with a noticeable high frequency vibration sent through the entire bike. And while all of the technology is great, (it has stability control, traction control, ABS with 3 settings, auto adjusting suspension with user definable settings, throttle modes, and suspension modes, cruise control, heated grips, slipper clutch, auto quick shift, and I'm sure a whole lot more that I haven't discovered yet), I'm not a fan of the nanny cuss. If I want to do a burn-out or a wheelie I don't need no stinkin German engineer shutting the bike down to save me from myself. I've turned off the traction control but so far I've not been able to defeat the wheelie control, and that pisses me off.
Over-all I love the bike and the few little niggles aren't going to dampen my enjoyment. It'll take me a while to get to know and understand all of the electronics but I'm sure I'll find a way to get around the nanny controls.