BMW’s M series of cars are legendary.
From the M1 supercar of 1978, to the iconic M3 saloon car, Formula One engines and the latest generation of range topping road cars, BMW’s motorsport division has been responsible for breathing incredible performance into its four wheeled products. Now the company’s motorcycle division is getting the M treatment – with the introduction of the BMW M 1000 RR superbike.
Based on the S 1000 RR, the M RR has been designed with one purpose in mind – to win motorcycle races. The S 1000 RR is widely considered to be one of the best, if not the class king, when it comes to litre sports bikes, even though its record on the race tracks has been less than stellar.
Sure, the BMW has been competitive in superstock competition, but when it comes to top flight superbike racing, the S 1000 RR has found itself very much as the bridesmaid for over a decade.
The M RR is BMW’s solution to that annoying problem.
Back in the old days, it’s what would be known as a homologation special – an expensive, limited run, sports bike stuffed full of parts that will benefit the race teams who then further develop the base bikes for competition. The Bavarian giants hope that the M treatment will help overcome their bike’s reputation for being difficult to tune for superbike racing, and which will give high profile new signing Michael van der Mark a chance to win races in the 2021 Superbike World Championship.
The M RR is BMW’s answer to Ducati’s Panigale V4R, another model developed to provide a base for competition use. In road trim, the engine pumps out a claimed 212bhp, but its what’s inside the engine that counts for the race teams.
The S 1000 RR derived motor features BMW’s ShiftCam technology, which offers variable valve timing and valve lift, with what look like high lift cams for more outright power. The rev limiter has been raised to 15,100rpm, another critical factor in the development of outright power in racing, and there are a host of internal modifications like new two-ring forged pistons from Mahle, modified combustion chambers, increased compression ratio, longer and lighter titanium Pankl conrods, slimmer and lighter rocker arms, fully machined intake ports with new duct geometry, as well as revised machining around the camshafts and intake area.
BMW famously spent time in the wind tunnel with their world superbike riders this summer, and aerodynamics are an important part of the M RR’s overall package.
As well as playing a role in maximising top speed, aerodynamics can also help reduce wheelies under acceleration. Aero has become a big deal in MotoGP racing in recent years and part of the Ducati Panigale V4R’s success has been attributed to introduction of GP style wings attached to the front fairing. The M RR naturally sports carbon fibre winglets to generate additional load on the front wheel under braking and acceleration, as well as giving a claimed handling benefit, with greater stability in faster corners. The chassis has also been optimised for track performance over road manners, with modified geometry, greater adjustability of the swingarm pivot point and revised weight distribution.
The BMW M 1000 RR is a special bike which has been designed for the track but which, unlike the HP4 Race, is fully road legal. Special bikes usually have special price tags, and this one’s no different. £30,935, to be precise.
