2019 BMW S 1000 RR in Motorsport livery. Images courtesy BMW Motorrad.
First released in 2009, the 2019 S 1000 RR is now entering its third generation, with significant engine and suspension changes, improved ergonomics and a totally new look.
We tested the original back in 2010; read about it here.
According to the press release for the new RR, BMW had three major goals: make it one second faster around the track, more than 10kg (22 pounds) lighter, and more user-friendly and easier to ride. It claims success on all three, with a boost in horsepower to a claimed 205 peak at 13,500 rpm, a drop in weight from 459 pounds to 434 and refinements to the suspension and electronics that improve performance, feedback and rideability.
New LED headlights and an all-new fairing design mark the third-gen S 1000 RR as unique from its predecessors. The 999cc in-line four has been updated with BMW’s variable valve timing and valve stroke ShiftCam technology, plus a revised intake passage and exhaust port, and it reportedly weighs 4kg (8.8 pounds) less than before. The result is more torque at the low- to mid-range and increased top-end power.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR in Motorsport livery. Images courtesy BMW Motorrad.
A new frame increases the load-bearing function of the engine, with the aim of improving rider ergonomics but also contributing to the effectiveness of the revised suspension, something BMW calls Flex Frame. The fuel tank is leaner and the seat area more trim, for better gri...