BUYING BMW’S S1000R
Presence, performance and practicality. And the Sport has all the widgets too…
Presence, performance and lots of tech. All from just £6000.
FLYING FAIRINGS
After some owners of early 2014 S1000RS reported their bike’s side fairings flying off at high speed (140mph) on trackdays, BMW issued a fix. The update saw a small screw inserted over the mounting peg of the upper leading nose of the black plastic fairing. The screw has a BMW roundel and creates a more secure bond.
SWITCHGEAR
The MK1 suffered the same faulty switchgear that plagued most BMWS of this era. Issues start when buttons on the left bar intermittently won’t allow ASC or main beam toggling. The righthand switches were also an issue, particularly the mode selector and killswitch. The right-hand switchgear was replaced on most bikes via a technical update.
FRAME PAINT
The paint on the frame is water-based and very thin which means it’s easily worn through where clothing or boots come into contact. It’s all typically BMW. In the worst cases the paint is worn through to the bare alloy beneath. The best course of action is to protect it with either clear plastic coating or carbon-fibre frame covers, and heel guards.
TYRES
if you’re hard on the throttle then get ready to spend because the S1000R is partial to rear rubber. Expect to burn through an Oe-spec Bridgestone back tyre every 2500 miles. Pick of the bunch for sporty road riding is Metzeler’s Sportec M7RR, which provide excellent all-round grip and last longer too.
SERVICING
The S1000R was a big seller on PCP finance packages, so most 20142016 used examples should have a fully stamped service book. Services happen every 6000 miles or annually and cost between £200 and £240. The valve clearance check happens at the 18,000-mile service, which costs upwards of £650, or more depending on how many valves need adjusting. Brake fluid needs changing every two years.
CLUTCH SWITCH RECALL
Some Mk1 owners experienced bikes cutting out and problems with the cruise control. BMW issued a replacement clutch lever perch update. The new perch changes the way the clutch lever interacts with the safety cut-out switch, curing the problem.
BLACK PLASTIC TRIM
The matt panels around the headlight and radiator are of particularly low quality and are easily cracked. They also tend to discolour quickly – due to UV they can go grey after only a few years. There are two options: either regularly apply specialist automotive plastic polish, or do what most owners do and replace suspect panels with carbon-fibre. Ilmberger are the high-quality choice here and offer a range of pre-preg carbon-fibre pieces, such as a nose fairing for £401.
NOISY ENGINES
The S1000R’S sportsbike-derived 999cc motor is 157bhp of inline four joy. It’s supersmooth on the go, with plenty of low-range shove and high-rpm thrills. But it is naturally noisy. So, don’t worry too much if, when you start it up, it sounds like a bag of nails. It’s character. Some say it’s the cam chain and reputedly there is a technical update available for a longer tensioner, authorised to be fitted to bikes over 12,000 miles.
LUMPY IDLE
Don’t be concerned about the S1000R’S lumpy idle. On start-up and tick over it may sound and look like it’s stalling or hunting, but that’s just a side effect of its aggressive cam profiles and low-rpm fuelling. If you want a high-revving screamer of an engine, you’re going to have to take the rough (running) with the smooth.
COOLANT LEAKS
Some early S1000RS develop little leaks at various points on the cooling system and some owners also notice their header tank requires topping up regularly. Often this is the result of radiator damage caused by road debris. Solution: fit a radiator guard. It can also be a water pump issue – some have been replaced under warranty.