New limited production 2013 BMW S1000RR HP4!

I talked to a friend of mine at BMW USA and apparently BWM is toying with the motorcycle manufacturers competition. They have enough technology ready for two wheels to cross over from their cars that nobody else can even come close to keeping up. He also said that the reason they aren't winning everything on the world level is because they are racing stuff that's going into production even if it's not the fastest way around a track. I'm not a big BMW fan but you have to admit these guys are taking no prisoners. And to put this stuff out there at the price point they are doing it is going to make guys like Ducati and Aprilia look like they are chasing their tails.

Which may well be why their rival Audi bought Ducati.....
 
Blanca Busa said:
It opens up new questions concerning racing though. With BMW having fully active suspension and others not will it be allowed to compete on same levels? When one won't have to worry about even the slightest ripples and having a suspension that sets itself perfectly every millisecond it seems they will have a big advantage over ones who constantly chase the perfect setup adjusting things.

Why not its not BMW's fault for that
 
Hayabusa.org Essential Rule #3: Porn is strictly prohibited.

Screw that....









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Think I might want to add a stable mate to my 08!

Rumble
 
No not their fault but I just wonder if it will be deemed majorly unfair?

I doubt that complicated a suspension would ever make it out onto the real race circuit, but I'd sure like to give it a couple laps around Barber to compare! Oh be still, my beating heart :inlove:

Wonder if if comes with the stickers? :laugh:
 
I doubt that complicated a suspension would ever make it out onto the real race circuit, but I'd sure like to give it a couple laps around Barber to compare! Oh be still, my beating heart :inlove:

Wonder if if comes with the stickers? :laugh:

Why? Much of the tech is already on track in many of their cars.
 
Hayabusa.org Essential Rule #3: Porn is strictly prohibited.

Screw that....









P90100782_web-1024x665.jpg

Not sure how mad my wife will be, but I'm inclined to sell the dining room table, china cabinet, hutch, chandelier, etc., and just put that bike in my dining room with a spot light on it.
 
Blanca,

The trick is to add GPS to the mix for a racer. The bike could then actually set itself up for various parts of the track. Right now race teams spend hours trying to adjust the bike to the best compromise for the whole track. Imagine if they could set the bike up for various parts of the track and have the bike adjust itself as it's going around the track by GPS. If you think about it even if the suspension is adjusting itself it's still reacting to the condition.

Imagine a bike that allows squat at the start, pushes up on the forks as you brake, raises the height to drop into a turn better, drops 2" in the straights, etc. You could also have the bike learn the track. Each time you lap it will make the adjustments it sees the bike needing based on the forces on the suspension then keep adjusting the bike accordingly until it's perfect. Man that's crazy.
 
There was an interview with a guy from Ohlins I read not too long ago where he was saying the electronic stuff they were doing for Ducati was the tip of the ice berg. This could get real interesting!
 
Blanca,

The trick is to add GPS to the mix for a racer. The bike could then actually set itself up for various parts of the track. Right now race teams spend hours trying to adjust the bike to the best compromise for the whole track. Imagine if they could set the bike up for various parts of the track and have the bike adjust itself as it's going around the track by GPS. If you think about it even if the suspension is adjusting itself it's still reacting to the condition.

Imagine a bike that allows squat at the start, pushes up on the forks as you brake, raises the height to drop into a turn better, drops 2" in the straights, etc. You could also have the bike learn the track. Each time you lap it will make the adjustments it sees the bike needing based on the forces on the suspension then keep adjusting the bike accordingly until it's perfect. Man that's crazy.

Willie that's pretty much what active suspension does only it adjusts constantly every millisecond . Our new 2013 Mks has ccd-continuously controlled damping on it. The difference in drive from a 12 without and the new with is dramatic. Every nuance the suspension adjusts for constantly. No need to 'learn' or program a certain track as Everytime you ride it the bike will be perfect every straight every corner Everytime.
 
None of this stuff means diddly squat unless the bike is performing well past the average riders ability. WELL PAST!

If it works you will see it shine on the podium riders. If it's just a sales gimmick the only place you'll see it is on the full page ads within Sport Rider and Motorcyclist magazines.

Johnathan Rea brought his Honda to life with traction control but it took and still takes, not one, not two, but 3 full time programers to keep it set up and functioning properly. I believe the cost was around $300K per season. I don't think you or I will be hiring three full time programers to keep it working properly, eh?
 
when the bike launched in 2010, it was so far advanced over the jap liter bikes, at that time, it was ridiculous. hence, the new zx10. hopefully, suzuki responds, and the performance level just continues to elevate. as well, you can rest assured the new zx-14 is a direct result of the gen 2 busa.

i think this bike, the bmw, was far enough ahead of the competition when introduced, it is having nearly the same effect on the market that the busa did when it was launched. the technology and improvements that the competition have to make, benefit who? us....the consumer of course.

...and that hp4 sure is easy to look at..
 
I have had several of these on my dyno in the past few months, and as far as rwhp and torque are concerned, I am not impressed. This bike makes less torque than a well-tuned GSXR1000. Below 10,000 rpm, it is no big deal. The only thing this motor has going for it is the ability to go to almost 15,000 rpm. And as far as electronics go, the "intrusion" of technology may very well be the downfall of future bikes - like this one and the ZX14. That is why everyone is trying to flash these ecus to eliminate modes and factory restrictions and ABS lights and all the stupidity that makes your dashboard light up like a christmes tree when you are trying to ride. And the more complicated electronics get, the more you will find yourself married to the dealer . . . IMHO! :laugh:
+1000 well said
 
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