Battley Cycles, a BMW motorcycle dealer in Gaithersburg, MD, hosts the US dealer debut of BMW's hottest new product, the S1000RR. Battley Cycles is sponsoring this event in conjunction with BMW of North America to promote the S1000RR to all motorcycle enthuiasts.
The unveiling event takes place in two parts on Thurdsay, 4 June 2009. Part one happens at Summit Point Raceway in Summit Point, WV, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where 2008 ASRA Pro National Thunderbike Champion Nate Kern will put the new bike through its paces during the track day's lunch break. Part two happens at Hooters of Rockville from 7 to 10 p.m. and is open to the public. Hooters of Rockville is located at 1584 Rockville Pike.
The S1000RR is something of a change of pace for BMW. It reflects BMW's move in recent years away from manufacturing primarily touring and sport-touring motorcycles and towards more niche market motorcycles, such as dirt bikes, supermotards, luxo-tourers, and sportbikes.
Long ignoring the high-profile World Superbike racing series, the S1000RR is a clear attempt on BMW's part to work their way onto the podium. According to an article in the July 2009 issue of the BMW Owners News, BMW participated eagerly and often in recent discussions at the FIM to update homologation requirements and racebike specifications for the 2009 racing season.
Until the S1000RR, BMW has never produced a motorcycle with a traditional inline four engine. The traditional inline four is the staple of the Japanese manufacturers and, more recently, Triumph's sportbike line. In addition to this new engine, BMW currently produces transverse inline four (K Series), horizontally opposed twin (R Series), parallel twin (F Series), and single cylinder (G Series) motorcycle engines in displacements from 449 to 1293cc.
While regular riders will not be able to lay their hands on an S1000RR until some time in 2010, BMW will produce 1,000 of the new superbikes in 2009 to satisfy homologation requirements and qualify for the Superbike World Championship. According to the racers' official websites, the S1000RR will be ridden by Troy Corser of Australia and Ruben Xaus of Spain.
BMW will be competing against SBK regular winners Ducati, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, and Kawasaki, as well as Bimota, Aprilia and, starting in 2010, KTM.
Tune in tomorrow for more photographs and a detailed look at the technical specifications for the S1000RR.
The S1000RR will appear in Northern Virginia at an event sponsored by Morton's BMW of Fredericksburg. Watch this space for more news on that event.
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