THE V4’S BIG PROBLEM IS…

Power: 204bhp Weight: 193.5kg Engine: 999cc 16v dohc variable valve inline four Price: £19,315

BMW WERE NEVER going to muck about creating the new S1000RR. You only have to think back to 2010 when the original blew the doors off the competition – it put them to shame with the kind of engine power, electronics and handling that the oppsition couldn’t deliver.

With stronger competition from the Japanese, Ducati and Aprilia the new BMW doesn’t give its rivals such a drubbing, but it still spanks them, especially the £19,315 M Package version lavished with every conceivable bell and whistle including carbon wheels, lithium battery, snazzy paint and dazzling electronics. Lighter and more powerful, the new RR is more of a demon on the track, but what it does on the road is actually more impressive and that’s down to its magical new Shiftcam motor.

Below 9000rpm it’s blessed with such a torrent of whooshing grunt it feels more like a 1300cc hyperbike and that’s how it lives so easily with the Ducati 1100cc Panigale V4 and Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory. Add in a light-action throttle, crisp, snatch-free fuelling and the new Beemer gives us a tantalising glimpse into what a stonking sports tourer the XR version is going to be.

BMW have dropped the HP branding for their special models in favour of the M badge, which is apt because the S1000RR feels like an M car, mixing monster tech, convenience and practicality with breathtakingly easy speed. It’s still the only superbike to come with heated grips and cruise control (‘hello,’ everyone else), new electronic suspension delivers an even plusher ride (helped by those sexy wheels) and this is a superbike that even has a sat nav built into its new colour dash.

On track the S1000RR is even easier and safer to ride fast, thanks to its crisper new chassis. It digs in harder, hugs apexes tighter, makes mincemeats of flip-flops and stops with more ferocity. Above 9000rpm the Shiftcam clicks into full race attack mode and delivers the kind of power that has already racked up WSB podiums and a TT win.

All this for a few hundred quid less than a Fireblade SP. However having said all this, it is not all good news. Severe production delays have left many customers hanging on, bikeless. If you are one of the unlucky lucky ones don’t worry, it’ll be well worth the wait.

‘BMW were never going to muck about…’