MCN reader reveals what life’s been like after doing 14k miles on a BMW S1000RR
‘Ionly popped in for a coffee,” says Alan Harrison as he describes the morning he got back into bikes for the third time. “I was meeting a friend at the café at Wollaston BMW. I wasn’t interested in buying a bike at all when I walked in, but I ended up walking out as an RnineT owner. So that cuppa ended up costing me £11,000.”
After two years lavishing his boxer with custom goodies, Alan then had his head turned by the German brand’s flagship sportsbike.
“I took the S1000RR demo out for a test ride. I’d only ridden down the dual carriageway and back before I knew I had to have one. I didn’t know that was what I was looking for until I rode it. The power and how it made me feel was like nothing I’d experienced before.
“I got back to the showroom and told them to get me one as soon as possible. They had this full-spec Storm Black Sport ready to go, so I traded in the RnineT and started life as a sportsbike owner again.”
miles 0
I nearly didn’t collect it because of a problem with insurance. I had a policy with Bennetts, so I called them to say I’d bought a new bike and asked if I could transfer the policy. I was shocked when they said no; apparently they didn’t cover the S1000RR. I had to phone around various places while I stood in the showroom. In the end, Devitts came up trumps but it cost me six months’ no claims bonus from cancelling my policy with Bennetts.
miles 600
I completed the running-in within a few weeks. Keeping the revs in check while the engine was loosening up wasn’t a problem because the bike’s ECU limits itself to 6000rpm. Then I took it to Wollaston for its first service, which cost £100, and they removed the limiter.
1500 miles
My mates thought I was having a mid-life crisis. There are a few of us who meet up every Sunday, for a 100 -mile ride. We do it every week all year round. That lot thought I was mad. They all ride GSs and told me that I was too old for an S1000RR. But it fits me just fine and I find it comfortable enough for three-hour stints or a tankful, which is about 170 miles. I haven’t got a beer belly, which I think helps a lot!
miles 4000
The OE Bridgestone S20 Evos it came on were about finished so I replaced them with an identical set. Shortly after that I did a trackday at Silverstone but the tyres didn’t give me that much confidence. I didn’t know what the bike was doing beneath me and everything just felt dead. Silverstone itself was great, if a bit daunting. I couldn’t tell you how fast I was going on the Hangar Straight as I didn’t dare look down at the speedo.
‘My mates thought I was having a mid-life crisis’