The M badged range has the spec to justify wearing it!
Developed on track
For a very long time the ‘M’ moniker from our friends in the car world was the reference statement for a special range of cars that were built to be used on the road but developed, very much, on the track. A few years ago we finally saw the first of BMWs bikes that bore the M badge. The M1000RR. The machine was, and is, fantastic. Pretty much a WSB spec bike with lights fitted and a price tag of a shade over 36 grand it’s safe to say that if it was a lollipop you’d lick it. The fact that it has heated grips and cruise control is, and always will be, a shade troubling.
Now the German titans of motorcycling have added another two M bikes. Unsurprisingly they’re the M1000XR and the M1000R. All three feature the same engine and chassis. The single R is the high spec version of the companies already well proven roadster.
As a road biased bike it has a staggering specification. The engine is based on the MRR and puts out a staggering 220bhp and it does so with a wet weight of 199kilos! That’s a staggering 45 ponies more than the standard bike and it’s quite the beast in it’s own right. The battery is a lightweight lithium affair, there’s a USB charging socket, a set of LED lights are standard, electronic cruise control and heated grips are standard as is keyless ride.
Staggering aerodynamics for a 'roadster'
Since it’s a bike that’s been developed for road use a set of very cool bar end mirrors ‘fall to the eye’ when needed and stay out of the riders way in the meantime.
But it’s still more than ready for the track where it can only shine since it’s taken so much from it’s older sibling.
Add to this revised gearing that allows for even harder acceleration and it’s not difficult to see why those downforce increasing winglets are a lot more than decoration. Their aerodynamic properties cleverly add 11 kilos of downforce on the front wheel at 220kph. This is achieved with a little help from a redesign of the wind deflector over the instruments. Having a set of carbon wheels not only add to the bikes exclusivity but they also keep the weight down and reduce steering speed.
Keeping it all nice and tidy is the fully adjustable suspension set up that features BMWs Dynamic Damping Control setup. The stopping comes from a full set of M spec brakes directly from the RR which were, in turn, developed from WSB. These brakes even feature a system that allows the bike to be drifted into corners in a consistent, controlled manner.
A unique front profile
An adjustable steering damper rounds out the setup.
Riding modes include the usual rain, road, dynamic as well as two different race settings including Race Pro1-3. The traction control is a standard feature and the riders talent is greatly assisted with a 6-axis sensor box.
The TFT screen is where the magic lives. There’s an interface for the optional lap timer, datalogger and a bigger area dedicated to the speedo. The start-up graphic is really cool. It comes, once again, from the M1000RR.
A pit lane limiter allows the soundtrack from the standard Akrapovic out before you’ve even entered the track.
In addition to those wheels the M sets itself apart from the standard bike with milled rearsets a rear wheel cover and chain guard, a front wheel cover, a tank and an airbox cover, a wind deflector, a sprocket cover and even an M branded seat cowl cover. I’m still amazed that the starting price is only 23 grand.
Talk to Dee on 0215003600. It might help to note that she’s faster on a bike than you’ll ever be…
Shenannigans are forgiven thanks to the IMU