Page 36 - Motorcycle Trader (February 2020)

M M E E T S

M O T O RRA D

Apart from accelerating like it’s compressing Where I got the way its muscular midrange gets the
space and time, the biggest impression the RR front wheel pawing the air on exits means
makes is in its rideability, the clever electronics out of the it’s no less entertaining. The R 1250 R is my
and crisp fuelling which unobtrusively ensure cars with first taste of BMW’s new ShiftCam variable-
the chassis is never overwhelmed by the inline valve technology, which does exactly what
four’s enormous power – important when slightly it says on the box: boosting low-down power
you’re entering some turns with not much sweaty without sacrificing top-end. It makes the big
change from 200km/h. boxer feel like it’s been on a diet of steroids,
The adrenaline hit of attempting to ride palms, I and a hoot to fire out of slower turns.
a motorcycle quickly at Phillip Island is climb off When it’s finally time to peel off the sweat-
hard to match, but it’s also mentally and soaked leathers and bask in the afterglow of
physically draining. Where I got out of the the S 1000 another track day done and dusted without
cars with slightly sweaty palms, by the time RR with damaging myself or any vehicles, I take a
I climb off the S 1000 RR’s saddle every moment to reflect on the variety of machinery
pore of my skin is leaking with the effort every pore I’ve piloted over the past eight hours. It’s
of stopping, turning and hanging off the of my skin enough to leave your head spinning a bit, and
no-compromise machine. the sessions sometimes felt a bit abbreviated
leaking in order to pack so much in.
AND THE REST Driving the M cars was probably the

For the last session I sample a couple of BMW’s highlight of the day, but to be able to frap
less track-focussed bikes: the four-cylinder S the Motorrad bikes immediately after with
1000 R and the boxer-powered R 1250 R. expert tuition was an experience I won’t
The S 1000 R immediately impresses with soon forget. Future ‘M meets Motorrad’
its two-way quickshifter, which takes some dates are yet to be announced so keep an eye
getting used to but makes corner entries a on the BMW events page on the Motorrad
doddle. The naked R might be slower over website if you’re keen to have a go. Why not
the course of a lap than its RR sibling, but have both indeed!

000 R
:
9
S 1
20
1
MIA: 2019 S 1000 RR to potential faults with the oil- rear tyre, which would be sub-
MIA
R
cooler hoses, and there simply optimal at Phillip Island, I guess.
BMW brought several new
hadn’t been time to fix the If you own one of the 100
S 1000 RRs to the event,
including an M version, but then issue before the event due to Australian bikes affected,
parts availability. The possibility contact your BMW Motorrad
told us we weren’t allowed to
existed for the rubber inlet and dealer, or call the BMW Group
actually ride them. What gives?
Turns out the bike had been outlet oil-cooler hoses to crack, Australia Customer Interaction
potentially leaking oil onto the Centre on 1800 813 299.
recalled back in October due
36 MOTORCYCLE TRADER