BMW Motarrad have unleashed the S 1000 RR M Sport, their latest generation super sport flagship. It’s a supreme mix of controlled precision and pure unadulterated aggression that will fulfil the needs of even the most discerning performance bike enthusiast.
This year’s fifth generation model boasts increased power, new tech and chassis development to maximise power delivery and handling prowess, both on the track and the road. It sits atop the four variant Australian range with a host of M goodies.
These include M carbon wheels, an M seat, M blue brake callipers, an M fuel filler cap and special M rider footrest system. A race-bred M endurance chain, sports silencer and M chassis are also included in the price of admission.
If that wasn’t enough, it grabs the dynamic package as well, which delivers Riding Modes Pro, dynamic dampening control, heated hand grips, a USB charging port, tyre pressure monitoring and cruise control.
The Light White/M Motorsport livery hits the mark, and is unmistakably BMW. It’s a modern interpretation of a classic colour scheme which pays tribute to the brand’s rich motorsport history. It looks and feels like a Panigale slayer, and there’s little doubt it’s the target.
On the track, you can unleash 154kW of power and 113Nm of torque, but one of the great character traits of the 2023 BMW S 1000 RR M Sport is its road manners and indeed, how well behaved and manageable it is for everyday use.
It’s probably best described as being a little Jekyl and Hyde (like our leathers – see what we did there), with the bike being well behaved in the lower rev range, before turning into an unhinged monster higher at full noise.
The new model utilises a high performance BMW ShiftCam four-cylinder engine. The airbox is one of a number of new components taken directly from the M RR and ensures excellent air supply to the power plant.
The cylinder heads, with new channel geometry and reinforced bearing brackets, were also lifted from that bike, as was the chain ring, which now has more teeth (46 instead of 45), for increased straight line speed.
All this helps the S 1000 RR reach a claimed top speed of 303km/h. Standard Shift Assistant Pro (aka a quick shifter) has also been improved and optimised, and works beautifully for precise gear changes.
Power delivery is sublime, with the rider never feeling out of control as they twist their right wrist to where their limits take them. Under hard acceleration, the downforce and willingness of the front end is evident.
For us, that was a real standout, and highlight of the overall package. It inspired so much confidence and we cannot wait to get this bike to a race track (something we’ll be doing later this year).
Part of the reason for the stickiness of the front end is new composite plastic winglets. Designed to generate up to 17.1kg of aerodynamic downforce – depending on speed, the downforce counteracts the want of the front wheel to lift under hard acceleration.
This enables a more direct conversion of drive power into acceleration. Handling has also been improved for 2023 with the addition of the M chassis kit. New frame recesses ensure greater lateral flexibility too.
The steering head angle has been lowered to 0.5-degrees to 66.4-degrees, with the fork bridge offset 3mm to 26.5mm. The result is a more precise front wheel. A 45mm upside-down telescopic fork features.
It sports spring preload and adjustable stages of rebound and compression, allowing 120mm of travel. The rear suspension setup utilises an aluminium swing arm with adjustable compression and rebound damping and spring preload for 117mm of travel.
The setup works extremely well in road conditions. Braking performance is also excellent, with twin 320mm disc brakes up front, with 4-piston fixed callipers. A single 220mm disc brake with a 1-piston calliper provides the stopping power on the rear.
BMW Motorrad’s ABS Pro system is included, and features individual tuning of the braking, depending upon ride mode selected. These can be accessed via the intuitive and easy to navigate 5.0-inch TFT display, which offers four options for displaying info to the rider.
The screen has been decluttered to make it easier to see critical information on the fly. seeing key critical info even easier on the fly. All-in-all, the 2023 BMW S 1000 RR M Sport is truly worthy of the term super bike.
It offers riders a truly exhilarating experience, on the road or track, with precise control and distilled aggression that only a German marque could deliver with such brilliant engineering.
Backed by a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, the 2023 BMW S 1000 RR M Sport is priced from $38,310 ride away.
Our test bike was provided by BMW Motorrad Australia. To find out more about the 2023 BMW S 1000 RR M Sport, contact your local BMW Motorrad dealer.
