New 2019 BMW S1000RR: Rumour, Gossip and Intrigue...

[JoePeps]

Yeah will do if I remember mate

 

[fast_ryan]

Interesting read about the new frame, swingarm and geometry.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2018/november/bmw-s1000rr-2019-frame-technology/

 

[Ukbmw]

After some research here is what ive come up with. Trail is the most important thing in stability.
Rake has alot to do with stability and flickabilty. Wheelbase has simular effect on stability and change of direction but needs bigger changes to create the same effects as rake/ trail adjustments.
I tested the rsv4 and found it ran wide alot but was dead stable. Now i know why...
Plus it shows why my old zx10r was so stable but bit difficult to change directions.
Im suprised about the new fireblade.
It must be a very nervous bike.
But take a look at the 2019 s1000rr. Its way radical and the shortest rake and trail of any sports bike made that i know of. Wind up them steering dampers!!!
Rake / trail / wheelbase / bike
26.5 / 104 / 1445 / rsv4
25 / 109.9 / 1440 / zx10r
24.5 / 100 / 1469 / v4 panigale
24 / 102 / 1415 / r1
23.5 / 96.5 / 1445 / s1000rr gen3
23.3 / 96 / 1400 / cbr1000rr
23.1 / 93.9 / 1441 / s1000rr 2019

 

[alex]

bikes are so well developed now a new model seems token gestures, 30mm narrower thats a finger each side, looks sell as much if not more than technology, it seems initial first impressions are not great, cheap plastics etc etc colours horrible, bmw may have flooked up, i will hold judgment till i see it in the flesh but gen 3 deals look better each day

I have it on good authority an extra inch makes a difference...

- Alex

 

[DCB]

Is that a mans inch or a woman’s inch Alex? They are vastly different

 

[soofsayer]

Courtesy of roadrunner who was at the nec today.

 

[roadrunner]

Thanks for that Andy, I hope I didn't interrupt your tea.

Having seen the new bike in motorsports colours, I have to say that I like it!
I hope the pictures of the new engine are helpful to those contemplating this bike.

 

[Ukbmw]

Brill pics. The inlet cam is amazing. Its splined like a gearbox shaft and it has 2 small offset lobes per valve instead of 1 large lobe. These are moved side to side via a slotted cam system. Looks very complicated and i cant believe it works but it obviously does.

 

[JoePeps]

I really liked it in the flesh, the dash is excellent!
It didn't seem cheaply put together at all to me but I only had a short time as there were so many people wanting to get a look.

The BMW guys told me deliveries will be in May

 

[oldwobbler]

When I see pictures of cut away engines I'm always blown away by just how big a cylinder head is!

 

[Monners]

Thanks for that post, I've been wanting to get some numbers for comparison for a while now. Quite surprising figures! I'm guessing the comparitively long wheel base keeps it stable; I'd be very surprised if BMW gave up on this quality as its a big selling point for the average user. They wanted to make it more agile but keep its stability from what I could gather from the blurb.

After some research here is what ive come up with. Trail is the most important thing in stability.
Rake has alot to do with stability and flickabilty. Wheelbase has simular effect on stability and change of direction but needs bigger changes to create the same effects as rake/ trail adjustments.
I tested the rsv4 and found it ran wide alot but was dead stable. Now i know why...
Plus it shows why my old zx10r was so stable but bit difficult to change directions.
Im suprised about the new fireblade.
It must be a very nervous bike.
But take a look at the 2019 s1000rr. Its way radical and the shortest rake and trail of any sports bike made that i know of. Wind up them steering dampers!!!
Rake / trail / wheelbase / bike
26.5 / 104 / 1445 / rsv4
25 / 109.9 / 1440 / zx10r
24.5 / 100 / 1469 / v4 panigale
24 / 102 / 1415 / r1
23.5 / 96.5 / 1445 / s1000rr gen3
23.3 / 96 / 1400 / cbr1000rr
23.1 / 93.9 / 1441 / s1000rr 2019

 

[Monners]

The link posted above mentions that the wheelbase has been lengthened by 9mm which would make more sense?

Altered geometry

BMW have also played with the new bike?s geometry, lengthening the wheelbase by 9mm to 1411mm (Superstock racers have traditionally pulled the wheel back as far as it can go for the same effect) in a bid to aid stability.
That extra wheelbase has allowed tighter, more extreme steering geometry as well, being 0.4 degrees steeper at 23.1 degrees while trail has been reduced to 93.9mm. All of which points to a machine that is lighter, more nimble and more stable all at the same time.

On wikipedia some more figures...

Dimensions 2010-2014 2015-2017 2019
Length	2,056 mm (80.94 in)	2,050 mm (80.71 in)	2,073 mm (81.6 in)
Width	826 mm (32.5 in)	846 mm (33.3 in)
Height	1,138 mm (44.80 in)	1,140 mm (44.88 in)
Seat height	820 mm (32.3 in)	815 mm (32.1 in)	824 mm (32.4 in)
Wheelbase	1,422 mm (55.98 in)	1,425 mm (56.10 in)	1,441 mm (56.7 in)
Wet weight	204 kg (450 lb)	197 kg (434 lb)
Fuel capacity	17.5 l (3.8 imp gal; 4.6 US gal)	16.5 l (3.6 imp gal; 4.4 US gal)

 

[Ukbmw]

I forgot to mention the suzuki.
Its got...
23.2 with 94 trail and 1404 wheelbase.
I test rode the suzuki last year with 100% intention of px my zx10r for it but it nearly killed me on the test ride.
I had a few tank slappers.
I came over a crest and the front went light and it nearly spat me off.
I took it straight back and told them what a pile of crap the bike was on the road. Its the worse bike i can ever remember riding on the road.
The bmw is even more extreme but slightly longer wheelbase so i expect it to behave the same so at the moment im out.
Im not loving my gen3 either so might chop it for r1m

 

[alex]

No need to test ride if you can determine everything from the rake and trail...should save you a lot of time :face_palm:

 

[Monners]

Coming from a Panigale all other bikes are super stable at the limit The feedback I heard on the new bike didn't mention anything about it being unstable so its not something I'm concerned about just now. I know from the Panigale how many things can affect the stability and also the head shake you mention. In particular the front / rear balance makes a big difference and a few people have mentioned how the gen 3 likes to be 50/50 or more weight to the rear. I had some major problems with the Panigale in Brno with head shake and pumping on acceleration due to rear wheel spin on some of the bumpy corner exits. I dropped the forks literally 1-1.5mm at the front to put some more weight on the rear and the difference was night and day. It really amazed me how such a tiny adjustment could make such a big difference.

 

[baz]

If you are dropping the forks,you are raising the front thereby putting more weight to the rear.

 

[Huge]

Dropping forks means the axle gets further from the yoke.
Dropping the front means the axle gets closer to the yoke.
-
Q: Why can't you tease an egg white?
A: Because it can't take a yolk.

 

[Oli]

This 44 Teeth video is extremely informative

https://youtu.be/kDYQ3Gm2POg

 

[CJK]

This 44 Teeth video is extremely informative

https://youtu.be/kDYQ3Gm2POg

Yes a great video, a lot of that extra technology is probably wasted on the majority of riders, it certainly is for me! Would I have one; most definitely but would I pay over ?19k for a new M version most definitely not! The technology on bikes is beyond belief now but all that development has to be paid for and the new generation of superbikes are getting so expensive only 13 years ago I nearly bought a new ZX10R for under ?8k you probably couldn’t buy a Gen 1 for that now.... oh how times have changed

 

[Ukbmw]

No need to test ride if you can determine everything from the rake and trail...should save you a lot of time :face_palm:

I will test ride it as i test most 1000s but im not looking to have a track only bike so i dont think its gonna be for me.
You obviously need to test before making full judgement but you can read alot about how a bike will behave by all the specs.