Unconventionally conventional for BMW Motorrad, the S1000RR will be powered by a 4-cylinder engine and trade BMW's signature Boxer engine and Duolever suspension entirely for more traditional track-oriented components.Of course, to accord to World Superbike homologation regulations, there will be upwards of 1,000 units in yearly production. Expect BMW loyalists (the ones who don't recoil at the very non-BMW styling, at least) and lovers of exotic sportbikes alike to buy them up as soon as they roll out of the factory.
BMW also boldly claims that even with a cutting edge traction control system and currently top secret engine innovations (which should put out at the very least 200+ hp in Superbike form), the price will be somewhat competitive with Japanese and Italian rivals.
This is hard to believe given the 25k MSRP for a far less racey BMW HP2 Sport, however the pricing of a numerically limited flagship model a brand wants urgently to be seen by the public (to benefit the sales of the rest of the model lineup), is often very unpredictable.
Video:
From the rare bits of audio which I've been able to sample, the new BMW clashes with the new Aprilia's brutal, guttural cackle and impatient revs and possesses more of a (dare I say, very slightly Japanese) primal, organic and breath-like, surging moan.
Update: Spaniard Ruben Xaus, recent winner of World Superbike race 2 at Misano (and currently riding a Ducati), comments on his contract to race the new BMW next season:
"When I met the BMW guys, I was very impressed by their commitment, their passion for racing and their ideas about the future. We discussed how the WSBK project was going and I realised that I wanted to be a part of it straightaway. It is not often that you get the chance to start a completely new project, but I am really looking forward to the challenge. Although it's going to be tough racing a new bike, I believe BMW will give me a good bike and great support and that's all I ask for." -Ruben Xaus
"Ever since we announced that we would enter the 2009 Superbike World Championship, there has been a lot of speculation about and interest in our bike and our riders. Everybody has already had some information about our new S1000 RR bike, and today we can reveal one of the riders who will join us in this great adventure next year. Ruben is a strong and combative rider, full of enthusiasm and with a passion for racing. This fits our philosophy completely and together we will take on this new challenge. We know that the Superbike World Championship is a very hard and competitive series, but we are not entering it just to make up the numbers: we will be taking part because we want to win! Of course, we are starting with a brand new bike but, together with Ruben, we believe we can progress quickly and maybe surprise a few people along the way." -Peter Mueller, Executive Vice President Development & Model Lines, BMW Motorrad.
(Click images to enlarge)
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