BMW has taken the wraps off the 2023 S 1000 RR and it is now more powerful, safer and technically advanced than before. The flagship superbike from Bavaria has gotten even more dynamic thanks to tweaks to the engine, suspension and chassis.
When it comes to design, the 2023 BMW S 1000 RR benefits from a redesigned front section with winglets that make it look more aggressive. BMW claims they provide as much as 9.9kg of downforce. Then there's a new, lighter and sportier-looking rear section and the three new colour schemes Blackstorm metallic, Racing Red non-metallic and the racing-oriented Light White non-metallic. Other than that the superbike remains largely the same with a centre air vent upfront that is flanked by thin LED headlights and a larger bubble wind visor.
The 2023 S 1000 RR also gets a Carbon Package which adds in an M Carbon front wheel fender, M Carbon rear wheel mudguard, M Carbon chain guard, M Carbon side trim and M Carbon sprocket cover. There's also a Race Package which adds in an M Endurance chain with M titanium sports silencer or M full titanium exhaust system. While the Milled Parts Package let's you have an M folding clutch lever, M brake lever guard.
Mainly, it's the mechanicals which have gotten better with the 2023 BMW S 1000 RR. While it retains its famed 999cc in-line four-cylinder engine, the powerplant now makes 206bhp, making it the most powerful S 1000 RR ever. This engine churns out 113Nm of torque and doesn't stop revving until 14600rpm. Crazy isn't it? BMW has also given the 2023 S 1000 RR a new airbox and shorter intake funnels, from the M 1000 RR, to aid flow at high speeds. Moreover, it also has BMW's ShiftCam tech with variable valve timing that provides better power, no matter what the rev range. In terms of chassis updates, the 2023 S 1000 RR' frame has been given “several openings in the side areas,” to provide more lateral flex. It also has a larger steering rake and shorter triple clamps. At the same time, the wheelbase was extended to 57.4 inches, an increase of 0.7 inches. All these changes translate to improved stability.
On the suspension front, the 45mm telescopic forks and rear monoshock aren’t much different from before, but the new 2023 S 1000 RR can be equipped with the optional Dynamic Damping Control or DDC. This system features four modes namely, Rain, Road, Dynamic and Race. Braking duties of the S 1000 RR are handled by twin 320mm floating disc brakes with radially mounted four-piston calipers at the front and a single 220mm disc one-piston floating caliper at the rear.
The 2023 BMW S 1000 RR features four riding modes as standard including Rain, Road, Dynamic and Race, while there's an optional 'Pro Mode' which offers 'Race Pro 1', 'Race Pro 2' and 'Race Pro 3'. These can be tweaked for finer adjustments. These are for the folks who call the racetrack, their second home.
While the S 1000 RR retains the usual electronic nannies one expects from a bike of its calibre, like ABS, Traction Control etc, BMW has also given it a 'Slide Control' function too. This system uses the IMU, steering angle sensor, and wheel speed sensors to tell when the rear tire is not inline with the front. It lets the rear step out a certain amount before adjusting the power output and bringing everything back in line. Then there's a feature called 'DTC Pro' with DTC Wheelie, that helps you pop the front wheel in a controlled manner. In a similar vein, another cool new feature is the 'Brake Slide Assist '. Where the Slide Control system helps keep the bike under control as you slide out of a corner, Brake Slide Assist can help you back it into it. Other features on the electronics side include launch control and a pit lane speed limiter.
Wolfgang Wallner, Project Manager S 1000 RR, says, "With an advanced suspension and chassis, the new Brake Slide Assist and DTC Slide Control assistance systems as well as optimised aerodynamics with winglets and a redesigned rear end, we are able to raise the RR’s performance to a new level.”
The 2023 BMW S1000RR will be offered in three variants: Standard, Sport, and M. Expect it to carry a slight premium when it reaches Indian shores, which we reckon it will very soon. It rivals the likes of the Ducati Panigale V4, Aprilia RSV4 RF, Suzuki GSXR-1000 and the newly updated Kawasaki ZX10-RR. Would you like to have the updated S 1000 RR in your garage? Do let us know by interacting in the comments section and follow our social media handles for all the latest updates.