BMW S 1000 RR 2017 — Specifications

When Munich decides to play in the hypersport arena, it doesn’t do so halfway. The BMW S 1000 RR shook established beliefs from its launch in 2009, and this 2017 Euro4-compliant version proves that Bavarian appetite for performance hasn't diminished by a crankshaft revolution. Eight years in the catalog, and the machine continues to inspire the same mixture of fascination and nervous respect in those who approach it.

Let's start with the figure that upsets the competitors: 199 horsepower, delivered at 12,500 rpm by an inline four-cylinder engine of 999 cm³. Torque follows with 113 Nm at 10,500 rpm, all housed in a composite aluminum chassis that contains the whole at 208 kilograms fully fueled. This BMW S 1000 RR engine is a double-edged sword: it propels you towards 300 km/h with disconcerting ease, but it demands in return a precise reading of the road and a firm hand on the controls. The 80 mm bore for only 49.7 mm stroke translates to an engine designed to rev high, not to cruise in the city.

The Euro4 update has not amputated the beast of its claws. It has mainly allowed engineers to focus their energy on onboard electronics. As standard, three riding modes cover Road, Rain and Race conditions, along with a track-specific ABS. Traction control with lean angle detection, formerly charged as an option, now joins the standard equipment with seven levels of sensitivity. For those who want to refine further, the options catalog is as tempting as it is dangerous for the wallet: DDC damping, bidirectional Shifter Pro, forged rims, carbon parts. The BMW S 1000 RR base price is listed at 17,650 euros, but few resist the Options page of the configurator for long.

The chassis reprises the reworked foundations of the previous generation: aluminum perimeter frame, wheelbase of 1,438 mm, 46 mm adjustable inverted fork in compression and rebound, aluminum swingarm equally adjustable. BMW chose to deliver this version in original single-seat configuration, seat cowl mounted and passenger footrests absent. This is consistent with what the machine is really, a track bike that tolerates the road, rather than a road bike that dreams of the circuit. A passenger kit remains available free of charge upon order for those who wish to take a guest on the adventure.

Facing the Panigale V4, CBR1000RR-R and other Ninja ZX-10R which have since joined or surpassed this generation in terms of technology, the S 1000 RR 2017 has aged with a certain dignity. BMW S 1000 RR 2020 and BMW S 1000 RR 2023 versions have since profoundly reworked the platform, with a new four-camshaft engine and a revised frame. But this 2017 generation retains real interest, particularly on the BMW S 1000 RR used market, where the performance/price ratio becomes frankly convincing. The seat height at 815 mm and the aggressiveness of the riding position unequivocally recall that this machine is not intended for inexperienced hands. The target audience? Seasoned riders, comfortable on the track, who are looking for a complete machine without having to wait for the next evolutions. For them, the BMW S 1000 RR test remains a benchmark that must be earned.