{"id":1495801,"date":"2021-11-02T14:08:38","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T04:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bikeme.tv\/?p=1495801"},"modified":"2021-11-02T14:08:38","modified_gmt":"2021-11-02T04:08:38","slug":"2021-bmw-s1000r-m-sport-review-distilled-aggression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/2021-bmw-s1000r-m-sport-review-distilled-aggression\/","title":{"rendered":"2021 BMW S1000R M-SPORT REVIEW \u2013 DISTILLED AGGRESSION"},"content":{"rendered":"

IMAGES BY NICK ‘I’LL GET UP IN A MINUTE’ EDARDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

It’s so much better at this than I am.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019m going to tell you right up front the BMW S1000R M-Sport is one of the most brilliant bikes you can buy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s demonically fast, offers you handling and ride-integrity you\u2019ll never find the limits of, comes with goosebump-making carbon-fibre wheels, a chain made out of sorcery, stunning levels of finish, and looks like a mailed fist full of clenched intent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There is a primal joy to be found in pushing it hard. It\u2019s so good at what it does \u2013 so distilled, pure, and unfussed in the way it deals with your aggression, it\u2019s like it\u2019s performing some kind of neat magic trick.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Yeah, it does wanna fight you.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Surely the silly numbers you\u2019ll see on its TFT dash are lying? Because it sure doesn\u2019t feel silly. Nothing is shuddering. Nothing is being sketchy. Everything is simply being dealt with. You could have entered that corner at least 30km\/h faster, and got on the gas much harder and earlier than you did.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And you know that. Now. After the fact.<\/p>\n

\"\"

The pillion can catch a cab.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

I think that is the mark of a great bike. It will always be more than you are. It must<\/em> always be more than what you are. Its limits are not yours. And you will not find those limits. But you will try, and you will be delighted each time you don\u2019t find them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

See how that works? See how what\u2019s happening expands your skill-set?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There is much to be said for a bike whose neck you can wring, ride to its limit, and bark at the sky. There is much, much more to be said for a bike whose neck you will never wring.<\/p>\n

\"\"

This is one of those moving apexes you read about in books.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

But there is not a doubt in my mind some of you will sniff in dismissal because the S1000R is not the S1000RR with the fairings torn off.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s that horsepower thing, isn\u2019t it? The S1000RR has 207 and the S1000R has a mere 165. That the R has a touch more torque than the RR (114 at 9250rpm versus 100 from 5000 to 14,500rpm) is irrelevant in your world \u2013 a strange world where your riding skills are at such a level that anything under 200 horses is to be sniffed at dismissively.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Please don’t complain about the exhaust system. It keeps polar bears alive.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

And yet, somehow, you got rounded up on the corners by some wildman riding a clapped out old 850 GS shod with rotting Chinese tyres (Hi, Deano!).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Where was all that horsepower you were buffing yourself with when that terrible thing happened? Yeah, that\u2019s right. In your brag-bag back at the caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n

\"\"

See that chain? You’re going to be seeing it for a long time.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Bloody caf\u00e9s. They\u2019re like the milk-crates and tree stumps of old, when crazy people would climb up on them and hold forth about whatever was troubling them. Sometimes a crowd would gather to listen. If it was amusing and informative then the crowd would nod in approval. But if what was being said was dumb, then the crowd would throw scorn, derision, and old vegetables at the person on the milk-crate.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And I want to hit you in the heard with a turnip when you say to me \u201cOh, I wish the S1000R had the same horsepower the RR has!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

These are Hayes calipers. Not Brembo. I’m not good enough to prefer one over the other.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Why? It\u2019s not like you\u2019d be any faster on it, would you? In fact, I\u2019m willing to bet you good money that on any given given windy road, you\u2019d be faster on an S1000R than you would be on the track-focused RR.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are a few reasons for that. And they have nothing to do with the horsepower you think you\u2019re being cheated of. Horsepower is all about you standing on a milk-crate and beating your chest. It means little on the road and everything on the track.<\/p>\n

\"\"

It’s handsome, but not loud. I believe that can be rectified with prayer and a file.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

That is why the S1000R is so devastatingly effective on the road. That is why you, and your utter lack of MotoGP-level riding skills, are better served by an S1000R than and S1000RR.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The distillation which has gone into making the S1000R such an effective road-weapon is to be admired and applauded rather than sniffed at. Trust me, chief. You are not going to miss not having 207 horses. You\u2019re not even gonna notice. Ride them back to back. See for yourself.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Yes, it’s right to pleasure yourself over carbon wheels.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Now then, where was I? Oh yes\u2026<\/p>\n

How is this beast improved from last year’s? A bit. it’s lighter all around, tipping the scales at 199kg, which makes it the lightest in this class along with the new Speed triple RS. The frame, subframe, exhaust and swingarm are all lighter.<\/p>\n

Your knees are closer together and the handlebars (which are adjustable) pitch you forward more, and the suspension is all new, with the rear shock boasting a bigger damping piston, which, when coupled with the DDC semi-active control option and more refined settings, give you a\u00a0 far more comfortable ride. If you’ll recall, the previous iterations were a touch harsh.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The M-Sport incarnation of the S1000R will certainly add a few bucks to the price of the base S1000R \u2013 and already competent weapon, make no mistake.<\/p>\n

\"\"

There’s quality in every line.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

But the simple addition of the carbon-wheels makes a very noticeable difference to its handling. Unsprung weight is the crucial factor here.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That\u2019s the weight that\u2019s not being dealt with by the suspension. That\u2019s weight you\u2019re going to notice when you\u2019re hell-braking into a viciously sharp right-hander and then instantly flicking it left to make an even more vicious left. That\u2019s the weight you\u2019ll feel when the corner suddenly tightens on you. That\u2019s the weight you feel when you haul it upright as fast as possible so you can get on the gas earlier.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unsprung weight is one of bike handling\u2019s Holy Grails. The heavier your wheels and brakes, the harder your suspension has to work to keep that all on the road. Lightening that load is a revelation in terms of handling.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Still one of the best dash-layouts in the business. Simple, easy-to-read…<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

…and with an option to see other things of interest.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

That is the magic of super-light carbon wheels. And that is why I would spend the extra bucks on the M-Sport package. Sure, the extra goodies \u2013 sports can, embroidered seat, lighter battery, a GPS-Laptrigger, and the M Endurance chain \u2013 are very welcome. Especially the chain, which you might have been told is now \u201cmaintenance free\u201d and will last the life of the bike.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pilgrim, nothing is \u201cmaintenance free\u201d. What this new chain offers you is vastly reduced maintenance and a much longer chain-life. You\u2019ve still got to do the odd adjustment, clean and lube, OK?<\/p>\n

\"\"

I’m a little addicted to quick-shifters – and this is one of the best.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

It is still an X-ring chain, but you\u2019ll notice it\u2019s a different colour to traditional chains.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The M Endurance chain is coated with a diamond-like coating that doesn\u2019t wear off easily, or require lubing or adjustment as often. You could maybe do this once a year if you\u2019re not smashing out vast and hard miles, instead of once every few months.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Even old people can get up it a little.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s very much a suck it and see thing. But it\u2019s still a great and good thing. Anything that lessens the time you spend doing the dirtiest job on the bike \u2013 chain lubing and adjustment \u2013 is to be celebrated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So the M-Sport does look special, as it should. Compared to the base model S1000R, it is special. The wheels, chain, and assorted bling make it so.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Some wings could have gone here.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Will you notice this difference and is it worth the money? My answer to this is yes \u2013 in the very first corner you jam it into \u2013 and yes, it\u2019s totally worth the money.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But that\u2019s me. I\u2019m sure there will be lots of lip-pursing at my profligacy with money. That\u2019s OK. I\u2019ve never been about the money. I\u2019ve been about how much happiness (ie. Handling, power, and sexiness) that money can buy me in a motorcycle. Money is a means to an end \u2013 otherwise what\u2019s the point of it?<\/p>\n

\"\"

This is me being profligate.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

But you do you, OK? I\u2019ll eat one-minute noodles for a month if it means I can put carbon-fibre wheels, a chain I only have to look at once a year, and an M badge, on my S1000R.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I had the S1000R M-Sport for a while. I put some robust kays on it. It always delivered. No matter what I asked, how over-committed I got, or how ham-fisted my inputs were, when I put my head down and applied myself to that marvellous quick-shifter, the bike delivered it all with unflappable aplomb.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of those bikes that makes you feel a bit special when you ride it. It\u2019s actually very good at doing that. And I do like to feel special. Who doesn\u2019t?<\/p>\n

\"\"

It’s got a bit going on, hasn’t it?<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Its refinement and accessibility is precisely what makes it so capable on the road \u2013 allowing the rider to confidently explore the outer limits of his limited abilities is no small thing. It\u2019ll nurse you gently onwards and upwards while simultaneously ramming crazy velocities and sublime handling into you. Like I said \u2013 it will always be better than you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ergonomically, you\u2019re tilted forward on flat \u2019bars, but not in a way that\u2019s remotely tiring. It\u2019s a business-like riding position. And on an S1000R your business is always clear. And easy. And very, very fast. It\u2019s quite a hell of a package in that regard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s not possible to find negatives on a bike like this. There are only levels of personal satisfaction and subjective observations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My personal satisfaction was through the roof. I have heard people say things about the S1000R that defy logic, like \u201cIt\u2019s so good it\u2019s boring\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Boring? Because it\u2019s so good, and so fuss-free being so good? Oh, OK.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Why is Nick lying down again?<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

So it\u2019s not trying to buck you off because your inputs have not been race-standard? So it\u2019s not burning your leg and arse with its exhaust system? So it\u2019s not crushing your nuts and cricking your neck with its crap seat and race-ergos?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That\u2019s what makes it boring, is it? You are all sorts of strange, aren\u2019t you?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Turn that thing on the right handlebar some more. Keep turning it until it\u2019s not boring anymore.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If anything, I think it could maybe look a little more exciting. A little more exotic, evil, and savage. But that could be just a question of painting it matte black and sticking a crazy exhaust pipe on it, then not washing it for a year. In it\u2019s red-white-and-blue livery it looks far too well-mannered and anodyne for what it is.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Because it\u2019s a weapon. A very sharp one.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ALL THE MANY SPECIFICATIONS, ACCESSORIES, PRICES, AND VARIATIONS OF THE S1000R CAN BE FOUND HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IMAGES BY NICK ‘I’LL GET UP IN A MINUTE’ EDARDS I\u2019m going to tell you right up front the BMW S1000R M-Sport is one of the most brilliant bikes you can buy.   It\u2019s demonically fast, offers you handling and ride-integrity you\u2019ll never find the limits of, comes with goosebump-making carbon-fibre wheels, a chain made [&hellip<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1495821,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1495801"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1495801"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1495801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1495823,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1495801\/revisions\/1495823"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1495821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1495801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1495801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1495801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}