I'm not sold on the BMW. The BMW engine is ringed out in stock form to scream. The Busa engine on the other hand is limited in stock form, there's easily 10-20 more horsepower there with relatively simple mods while still keeping the torque and ridability.
Obviously BMW wanted to introduce the RR with class leading horsepower but compare it to the rest of the class and it's down on hp/torque right up to the top rpms where it takes over. That makes it fast on fast tracks but it looses that advantage in the turns. In several Brit mags it actually had slow lap times compared to other bikes like the CBR1000RR.
I'm not saying the BMW is a bad bike. Bless any manufacturer that delivers a bike like that at $14K
I guess I see it like this: BMW caught the other guys sleeping. Take most of the top sportbikes, add TC, a speed shifter and a powerband shift toward horsepower and you're there. The real test of the BMW will be when the other guys respond with a little accessorizing of their top bikes in a year or so.
I just think the hype is a little over blown. And what's up with the lop sided body work?
Obviously BMW wanted to introduce the RR with class leading horsepower but compare it to the rest of the class and it's down on hp/torque right up to the top rpms where it takes over. That makes it fast on fast tracks but it looses that advantage in the turns. In several Brit mags it actually had slow lap times compared to other bikes like the CBR1000RR.
I'm not saying the BMW is a bad bike. Bless any manufacturer that delivers a bike like that at $14K
I guess I see it like this: BMW caught the other guys sleeping. Take most of the top sportbikes, add TC, a speed shifter and a powerband shift toward horsepower and you're there. The real test of the BMW will be when the other guys respond with a little accessorizing of their top bikes in a year or so.I just think the hype is a little over blown. And what's up with the lop sided body work?
