BMW wheels out its very biggest guns to the Aussie press in an epic trip to take on Tassie’s challenging tarmac
How do you test four different bikes at once? Easy. Deploy them all to Tasmania. In Australian terms Tasmania is motorcycling heaven. Endless good-quality roads, enough twisties to keep you amused for days, and amazing scenery. It seems BMW agrees, recently holding a press launch of four new models there.
In the platoon of bikes to test were the 1000cc triplets of the S 1000 XR, S 1000 R, and the insane S 1000 RR. Added into that mix was the sergeant major of touring bikes, the K 1600 GT. BMW provided the option to ride the old model as a direct comparison to the new model. All the new models included the addition of a Euro 4 Emission-class engine, a few more horsepower and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC). In the case of the S 1000 XR, this is all that differed from the old model — well that and a new colour scheme.
Now while these upgrades are actually significant changes, they might be easily overlooked — that is unless you put the old model and the new model side by side. So that is exactly what they did. This was going to require a planned strategy. First ride the old, then hop straight over to the new. Well, that was the plan anyway.
It’s no secret that I’m not a knee down sports bike rider, so when I found myself first up on the S 1000 RR, I have to admit my heart skipped a beat. I had been hoping to ease myself into the two days of testing on the S 1000 XR, but hey, when you’re presented with the opportunity to ride a “double R” you take it, right?
Denne historien er fra July 2017-utgaven av Australian Road Rider.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 2017-utgaven av Australian Road Rider.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Chip Off The Old Block
ARR’s roving reporter, Ian Neubauer, heads to India to test the new Himalayan, Royal Enfield’s long-anticipated mid-size adventure tourer.
Winter Wonderland
As the weather cools, the tourists and surfers dwindle on the Sunshine Coast and the motorcycle riders move in
Taking It To The Street
Riders converge in Sydney’s Inner West for the 2017 Throttle Roll Street Party
Ride Like Hell
Anyone who hasn’t discovered the literary offerings of Paul Carter is missing a real treat.
Genre Bender
When Ducati produces a whole new bike, we sit up and take notice. When it creates a new category, well, the motorcycle world stands to attention. Leechy reports on the newest thing from Ducati, on the spot in Spain
Elite Fleet
BMW wheels out its very biggest guns to the Aussie press in an epic trip to take on Tassie’s challenging tarmac
Kriega Tail Packs
When it comes to bike luggage, my preference is usually a set of soft saddle bags; you can throw them on and off easily, and they make sense whether you’re packing for a day trip or a months-long adventure.
Pipe Dreams
We’re going hunting for noise after some urban exploration
Riding Me Crazy
Today’s 149km leg took us to 4200m above sea level on wild, rocky, slippery mountain passes with drop off s you just don’t want to think about.
Keeping Girls On Motorcycles
On any given weekend at your local motorcycle club, you will see throngs of kids blasting around on dirt bikes having a great time. More often than not, it’s at these local club tracks where kids are introduced to motorbikes. Boys and girls (under 10 years old) get out there and simply enjoy riding their bike without too much competition. Not many of the kids or parents care where they finish in the pack — it’s just about having fun.
