The rumor has been going around for a while, but now it’s official: BMW has given the S 1000 RR for model year 2023 a major update. In addition to the one-liter supersport being given the aerodynamics and bicycle part of the M 1000 RR, BMW has also boosted the 999cc four-cylinder.
The supersport segment may no longer be the kilo-blaster from before the credit crisis, in terms of appearance and cosiness, supersport has absolutely not lost its way since then and the European models in particular have been given the status of a ‘hypercar on two wheels’. Of course, it also saves that the European brands have mainly focused on the premium segment.
Now something like homologation for road racing motorsport also plays a role in the one-litre supersport segment, although many brands have put a special model on the market for this, such as the ZX-10RR at Kawasaki and the Panigale V4R at Ducati. This also applies to BMW, which launched the M 1000 RR especially for the Superbike World Championship last year, the über version of the S 1000 RR that had been adapted on all fronts with a view to that World Superbike Championship.
With the M 1000 RR as the brand’s new flagship, it would not have surprised anyone if BMW Motorrad had let the completely redesigned S 1000 RR run for a few more years 3 years ago, but despite the fact that the sales figures are no longer those of 10 years ago So the Germans did, and we are certainly not sorry about that.
Let’s start with what you see. The 2023 S 1000 RR has ostensibly the same design as the M, including the aerodynamic winglets that add 10 pounds of pressure to the front, making the bike less prone to wheelies and more stable under braking. The lines are sharper and sleeker than the previous S, making the bike appear to have shrunk.
The push of that wheelie tendency is nice, because BMW has increased the top power of the forward-tilted 999 cc inline four by 3 hp, to now 210 hp at 13,750 rpm, with a maximum torque of 113 Nm at 11,000 rpm. The Germans managed to squeeze those extra horses out of the block by adjusting the intake path, including M-airbox. For faster acceleration, the S now has the same 46-tooth rear sprocket as the M.
Besides the fact that the block now has more spice, the electronics have also been refined. For example, the S 1000 RR is now equipped with Slide Control, which should make the engine more controllable under extreme lean angles thanks to the lean angle sensors. Naturally adjustable to your own scent and taste, giving the bike the opportunity to slide until the preset limit is reached, after which the electronics intervene and thanks to the traction control the drift is reduced.
Thanks in part to the introduction of the Slide Control function, the ABS Pro has now been enriched with the Brake Slide Assist function and the “Slick” setting. In practice, the electronics now have to let the rear slide into the corner during murderous braking, according to parameters that you have set yourself. As for the Slick function, it should optimize the use of slicks.
Finally, the bicycle part. BMW has completely revised the aluminum twin spar frame, with the aim of increasing lateral flexibility. The head angle has been moved from 23.1° to 23.6°, while the trail has been reduced by 3 mm. As a result of the changes, the wheelbase has now grown from 1,441mm to 1,457mm, giving the 2023 S 1000 RR the same geometry as the M 1000 RR. Including application of an adjustable swingarm pivot point.
BMW has made no changes to the suspension, with a 45 mm upside down fork and centrally mounted monoshock, both fully adjustable and optionally available with electronically controlled semi-active suspension.
The 2023 S 1000 RR is available in black, red and of course BMW’s racing white colour, with details that refer to the M such as the blue brake calipers. Price and delivery time is not yet known.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.