Page 33 - Motorcycle Trader (February 2020)
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RIGHT There was more than one semi load of bikes in attendance, including Phillip Island Ride Days’ own S 1000 RR hire bikes.
ell yeah!” I blurt down the phone before Helmet on and ‘Sport’ mode selected, I take
editor Charris has stopped speaking. a moment to breathe it all in before driving the
I’m not normally prone to Tourette’s 331kW (444hp) coupe, but there’s little time to
outbursts but Chris has just asked if I’d enjoy the coastal scenery as the instructor in the
Hbe available to head down to Phillip lead car begins to crank up the pace.
Island to see what BMW’s latest ‘M Meets I’ve been lucky enough to drive an M4 on the
Motorrad’ experience is all about. Apparently, road a few times but, on track, it’s a revelation.
some BMW exec, having seen one too many Old The M4 lunges onto Phillip Island’s bends like
El Paso ads, has said “Why not have both?”, and a hungry tiger, its Michelin rubber clawing for
launched an event where Beemer-philes get to grip over ripple strips as the straight-six snarls
flog some of the marque’s best sportscars and under the bonnet. I’d wondered how something
motorcycles under expert tuition at with four wheels would compare to
the Phillip Island GP circuit – on the the intense thrill of riding something
same day. The experience was dreamt M M E E T S with two around the Island, but the
up to showcase the M Sport brand M O T O RRA D M4 is incredible, gobbling up corners
finally including the German giant’s and then blasting out of them with an
motorcycle division, which will see the intoxicating growl. I know I’m not getting
red, blue and white stripes adorning anywhere near the lap times I’ve done
some of BMW’s hottest two-wheeled weapons, here on a bike yet, but I can already feel how
like the ballistic new S 1000 RR M. As a K 1300 R much faster the M4 is from corner entry to exit.
owner and track-day goer, I was naturally keen I’m hitting the anchors later and later but the M4
to compare BMW’s best cars and bikes on the just squirms slightly as the massive calipers haul
island’s scintillating sweepers. up its 1500kg mass, allowing me to scythe hard
back to the apex where the gas can be applied
FOUR WHEELS ridiculously early. From there, I suspect a modern
As always, the butterflies begin when I spy Turns sportsbike gets off the turn faster, but even that’s
11 and 12 through the mesh fencing on the way to a questionable assumption given how hard the car
Phillip Island’s main gates. It’s the most daunting fires out of the tricky Turn 11, the 550Nm of turbo
racetrack I’ve ever lapped – and I’ve never driven torque between 1850 and 5550rpm slinging me
it in a car of any sort – so there’s a healthy dose of to Turn 12. All too soon it’s time to return to pit
trepidation accompanying my excitement when lane. What a car. What a track.
I see the white BMW M4 coupe crouched in pit The final course on the M-car menu is the part
lane for the first session. I’ve secretly been looking forward to the most:
MOTORCYCLE TRADER 33
