Motorcycle Mojo – July 2019

32 MOTORCYCLE MOJO JULY 2019

New Tech

7KHÀUVWWKLQJ\RXQRWLFHZKHQORRNLQJ

at the new S1000RR is that it no longer

sports those polarizing asymmetrical

headlights. They were hallmarks of

the German-made supersport machine

since its introduction, although they

weren’t unanimously appreciated;

some people liked them, some people

didn’t. There’s no denying that the new

symmetrical headlights have given the

S1000RR an entirely new look. While

I found that the former oddly shaped

headlights gave previous incarnations

of the bike a distinctive look that set it

apart from the masses, I like this new

design.

From the saddle you’ll see a new

high-resolution TFT instrument panel,

controllable via handlebar-mounted

switches and multi-function thumb

wheel. There are several display options

and seemingly endless parameters you

can adjust via the screen – many more

than I had the chance to sample during

a day of track riding. The interface

is relatively user-friendly, although I

would have needed more seat time to

get accustomed to accessing all of the

functions available via the new screen.

The S1000RR now features advanced

six-axis sensors, which provide much

more intuitive and precise traction

and wheelie control than before. There

are four ride modes – Rain, Road,

Dynamic and Race – although real

tuning is available in the optional Pro

modes. With Pro modes, you get three

sub-modes – Race Pro 1, 2 and 3 – each

allowing you to select from three levels

of each parameter – including throttle

response, traction control, wheelie

control, engine braking and ABS – and

save them to the mode’s memory. You

therefore can have three customized

maps to select from when riding on the

track, although they must be selected

before you ride, by using the menu in

the TFT screen. There is a button on

the left handlebar switch assembly that

does allow you to tune the level of ABS

DQGWUDFWLRQFRQWUROIXUWKHURQWKHÁ\

PRESS LAUNCH 2020 BMW S1000RR

Race Pro modes come courtesy

of the optional M package, which

DOORZVIRULQ¿QLWHFRQ¿JXUDWLRQV

of settings like traction control,

wheelie control, ABS and more.

Everything you need to

FRQ¿JXUHWKHVHWWLQJVLV

on the left switchgear.

BMW’s ShiftCam technology moves the intake lobes,

ZKLFKDFWXDWHVWKHYDOYHVZLWKGLIIHUHQWFDPSUR¿OHV