November 18th MCN S1000RR Article - WE'VE GOT IT!

[Rob]

http://www.rainbowmotorcycles.com/MC...%20S1000RR.pdf

Quotes from the article:

Brilliant. Need we say more?

BMW has pro-duced a bike that’s not just faster than the extraordinarily capable Fireblade, but more polished and sophisticated, too. And for roughly the same money. Amazing? Definitely.

Handling in standard trim will make the other manufacturers wince with embarrassment – even Honda.

[Scorch]

It makes you wonder how long they will be able to offer the bikes at the introductory prices. I hope I don't finally decide to buy one and find the prices have been jacked up by 50% because they've become so popular...

[H-2 CHARLIE]

Do you ever think the price will drop down on this bmw bike ......not ......glad mine will be in my garage in 60-75 days...HOPING FOR A # OF UNDER 500

[avboden]

Originally Posted by H-2 CHARLIE

Do you ever think the price will drop down on this bmw bike ......not ......glad mine will be in my garage in 60-75 days...HOPING FOR A # OF UNDER 500

july 30th will put someone around #s 200-300

early september late august puts you around 400



hope that gives you some sort of idea



If you want to know what order you are just email Laurence dot Kuykendall at bmwna dot com

he's the guy handling all the US orders.

[Rob]

Actually, he's the marketing manager for BMWNA. (and a hell of a nice guy) He just happens to be point person for this bike, which says alot about how important it is.

FWIW, he's one of the guys who rides to work in the winter. In Jersey.

[kismetcapitan]

from all the glowing praise, I just wondered...how the hell is the bike so cheap (relatively speaking), but we've been down that road already. Or, why did the bike not dominate WSBK, but then again, BMW was developing from scratch their ride-by-wire programming, the DTC programming, the chassis, everything. And also...a stable and smooth bike that's great for a sport rider/track day guy, is probably far too stable and hence, slow in corners, to be competitive in top-level racing.

It's really great though to hear a lot of our speculation over this year pan out. Like, to end up being the most powerful bike on the block...yet also the most controlled. It confirms that it was worth waiting for the ABS/DTC package, as well as a BMW-style power curve. To have power hit so hard suddenly at 10,000rpm like, say the Aprilia RSV4, or the traditional Japanese superbike, without traction control, is spooky. Note that EVERY report talks about the superb fuel mapping particularly at low rpm - something that's hard to do on a bike engine, especially a powerful literbike.

And the handling reports are also good - the Fireblade really is the standard for "rideable" literbikes, and to say that the S1000RR surpasses that makes me feel like I've put my money in a good place! I suspect that, set up properly, on the street at least, it should feel as good as my Amazing Ride on the Ohlins-equipped 1198S I took this summer. Hopefully, without cooking my testicles. Btw, none of the ride reports talked about discomfort or excessive heat...is it cold in Portimao now? Or has BMW gotten heat management well under control??

Finally, the "extensive testing" on pre-production bikes...BMW seems to acknowledge their mistakes with the K1200 launch, not to mention the F800, and it reimains to be seen, but wouldn't it just be wonderful that all that road testing results in the first new BMW that's actually reliable!! (not that mine hasn't been, but one where NO one is reporting serious faults).

I'm going to commute on this bike from the day I get it (albeit 15 minutes, 95% of it on a highway I know like the back of my hand). So I sure hope the ABS/DTC and Rain Mode is up for February riding. It has occurred to me to run two sets of tires/wheels. I'll start a thread on that...

[H-2 CHARLIE]

The truth for me is this bike will not ever be ridden in the rain or left anywheres out of my site ..it will go to bike nites with me waching it and on rides like ach hwy- malibu hills - or all over so.cal and where ever but it will not be left out of view... It will not go to the store or mall ..no way .then it goes home to my garage covered up warm and locked down tight ...really looking forward to keeping it clean and the chain will get teflon dry spray so my polished swing arm stays clean ....its great knowing im getting one under 500 for usa

[kismetcapitan]

It's uncertain whether the F800S will stay when the S1000RR comes.

But regardless, with something that awesome, I'm going to ride it every chance I can. When I finished building my Skyline, I drove it to work every day, in traffic, getting 6-8mpg, the race Ohlins make every bump in the road feel like a kidney punch, but damn...a sweet machine deserves to see usage!

But I do agree with you on the last point - when it comes home, it gets wiped down and cleaned to mint condition!

[Teach]

Originally Posted by avboden

july 30th will put someone around #s 200-300

early september late august puts you around 400



hope that gives you some sort of idea



If you want to know what order you are just email Laurence dot Kuykendall at bmwna dot com

he's the guy handling all the US orders.

think it's a little higher than that...first 50 are promo bikes, production of course. then the next 4-500 i believe are all pre order bikes, followed by the next order of 150 or so which will go to the dealers...i think that will bring production close to the mid year point. at least that's the info I got directly from the horses mouth...you don't wanna know when mine rolls through the door! haha

[kismetcapitan]

do tell! do tell! at least I can live vicariously through you - hell I already do, watching you ride. I go to sleep imagining I can pull off shit like that on a real bike...:P

[Deans BMW]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am now being informed that the dealers, or at least some of them will be recieving a demo bike some time in Dec or Jan with our pre orders starting the delivery cycle in Feb. after the US dealer intro in Florida. At least that is my current impression.

With the arrival of the SRR my stable of bikes will be just right....or close enough.......

'03 R1200CLC, '05 R1200ST to be replaced with a '10 R1200GS, the S1000RR and a '05 KLR650 that my wife wants me to replace with a new G650GS thumper.

Life is good, happy Thanksgiving all.

[viperclaw]

Dealers will get a bike--not sure when--but they will not get a key to the bike. That means you cannot start it. BMWs have coded keys set to each specific bike for theft prevention. So the bikes will only be for display.

At least we get to look at a final production version and see the build quality.

[kismetcapitan]

Should be less than a month before the dealer bikes arrive!!

[Deans BMW]

Originally Posted by viperclaw

Dealers will get a bike--not sure when--but they will not get a key to the bike. That means you cannot start it. BMWs have coded keys set to each specific bike for theft prevention. So the bikes will only be for display.

At least we get to look at a final production version and see the build quality.

Now that is interesting, I was not aware of that.

[viperclaw]

That is what I heard from my dealer principle last night. Hopefully he is wrong but it sounds like something BMW would do in this case. The actual launch won't be until late Jan/early Feb. I guess they don't want the bike out on the street until dealerships are fully prepped/trained and ready. You know that even if they sent the keys with the bikes and the dealerships had to agree not to take them on the streets or track, someone--or many--would do it anyway.

[Teach]

I think that the bikes won't even be in the States until mid Jan...annual Stuntwars comp is the weekend before the dealer meeting and I think it was a crapshoot as to whether I could steal one quick enough to get any time on it before the comp...

interesting about the keys though, but makes sense in a way.

my impression was that for the first batch of dealer bikes, dealers were supposed to not sell the bike (or wreck) it as that would be all that was available to show potential customers. I'm sure everyone is very curious as to when bikes will 'actually' be available for purchase and drive away on showroom floors.

[avboden]

Originally Posted by Teach

I think that the bikes won't even be in the States until mid Jan...annual Stuntwars comp is the weekend before the dealer meeting and I think it was a crapshoot as to whether I could steal one quick enough to get any time on it before the comp...

interesting about the keys though, but makes sense in a way.

my impression was that for the first batch of dealer bikes, dealers were supposed to not sell the bike (or wreck) it as that would be all that was available to show potential customers. I'm sure everyone is very curious as to when bikes will 'actually' be available for purchase and drive away on showroom floors.

Wait, are you getting an S1000RR stunt bike? Seems silly, the F800 rocks the stunt world

[Beefa]

OK .... my two have been built.

ZV30965 - Mineral

[Beefa]

OK .... my two have been built.

ZV30965 - Mineral Silver - option 0129
ZV31279 - Tri Colour - option 0129

Both have engine numbers and were built in week 47 and week 46

no eta into Aus yet though

[kismetcapitan]

my dealer was told that they would receive a "display" model, wouldn't be surprised if it came without keys. Anyways, they're expecting that one before Christmas.

All this waiting for months, it's been an interesting experience! All the speculation, the little tidbits we'd jump upon. The bikes are being built as we speak, we know the stats, we now have actual riding impressions from journos, the day feels very, very close!

[Teach]

Originally Posted by avboden

Wait, are you getting an S1000RR stunt bike? Seems silly, the F800 rocks the stunt world

that's the plan. personally, I can't wait to get back on an inline four full fairing bike... f8 is good, but doesn't suit my style and NA doesnt sell the R.

[avboden]

spam removed.

That's awesome Teach! I'm really curious how it'll be as a stunt bike.

[Teach]

Originally Posted by kismetcapitan

my dealer was told that they would receive a "display" model, wouldn't be surprised if it came without keys. Anyways, they're expecting that one before Christmas.

All this waiting for months, it's been an interesting experience! All the speculation, the little tidbits we'd jump upon. The bikes are being built as we speak, we know the stats, we now have actual riding impressions from journos, the day feels very, very close!

i just confirmed this with BMW today...dealers get one in Dec no key till after dealer meeting in late Jan.

[pedantic_pete]

UK launch is this coming Saturday. Unfortunately I'll be in Lyon (France) for the weekend (well fortunately actually, but...) so I'll miss it.

[Deans BMW]

Recieved the VIN of my SRR today, it is in production as we type this up.