BMW S1000RR SPORT (2012 - 2014) Review
At a glance
Owners' reliability rating: | |
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Annual servicing cost: | £440 |
Power: | 193 bhp |
Seat height: | Medium (32.3 in / 820 mm) |
Weight: | Medium (450 lbs / 204 kg) |
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesYou might have to squint to tell the difference between the old and new one (the new tail unit and higher swingarm pivot is the clue), but the 2012 S1000RR is a giant leap forward. The first S1000RR was already leagues ahead of the competition, thanks to its huge power and cutting-edge electronics, but BMW has improved their fire-breathing superbike in every area. Thanks to a host of small, but important mods, it has more grunt, a smoother power delivery, quicker steering, better suspension and more refined electronics. Never has 195bhp been so easy to control.
- Related: 2019 BMW S1000RR review on MCN
- Related: 2012-2014 BMW HP4 review
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineTo speed-up the steering, improve stability in the corners and increase rear grip, the S1000RR’s steering geometry has been altered. The wheelbase is 9.3mm shorter, the swimgarm pivot is higher and there’s 0.1° more rake and 2.6mm extra trail. Fork offset is 2.5mm shorter and the forks protrude 5mm less through the yokes. Ride quality, suspension control and range of adjustment has been improved thanks to new fork and shock springs and internals. There’s a new 10-way steering damper, too, which is so good you could use it for racing. Now the S1000RR is a lot more agile and even feels lighter just pushing it around, thanks to the revised weight distribution, although all-up weight is the same. It’s as comfortable as any superbike on the road, but the screen is quite low and the pegs high for taller riders.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityAlthough power and torque remain the same, the 2012 S1000RR has a lighter-action throttle, smoother power delivery, a 20% larger air intake and a one-tooth larger rear sprocket, which gives the BMW extra oomph off the corners. There’s also a revised traction control system, which is based on the £2500 optional HP Power Kit from the previous model. In the electronic riding modes (Rain, Sport, Race and Slick), the Rain mode now has 163bhp – 11bhp more than before. There’s less engine braking in Slick mode now. The throttle butterflies open to take some compression out of the engine when you’ve got the throttle shut entering a corner. There’s also now an optional GPS datalogger, for just £530, which is brilliant. The 2D system gives you 32 channels of information – everything from lap times, to speed, lean angle, brake pressure, traction control information and everything in between. You can further enhance the system with a timing beacon, which gives you live lap times on the dash, as well as a green light that lights up when you improve you sector time. It’s the ultimate track-riding gizmo.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValueThe S1000RR is built to a very high standard and the reliability is excellent. There were stories flying around the internet about gearbox problems, but these were wildly exaggerated. True, a handful racing superstock bikes had gearbox problems early on, but then a lot of other different makes of machine occasionally have similar problems – it’s what can happen when you ask a road gearbox to perform in racing conditions. The BMW’s problems were focussed on, where those from rival manufacturers weren’t reported.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentNo other machine gets close when it comes to technological, big bhp bang for your buck. Its closest rival, the ZX-10R ABS is just over £500 cheaper, but isn’t as fast or as clever and the Ducati Panigale S, with all its electronic rider aids is over six-grand more.
Equipment
For the price, you get a mouth-watering level of equipment as standard. On the Sport model there’s traction control, a quickshifter, racing ABS, four riding modes, electronic engine braking control, a slipper clutch, Brembo brakes, easy to adjust suspension, Metzeler Racetec Interact K3 tyres and all the other bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern-day superbike. For 2012 the S1000RR gets a new tail section, a new dash and colours.
Specs |
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Engine size | 999cc |
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Engine type | 16v, inline four-cylinder |
Frame type | Aluminium twin spar frame. Double-sided aluminium swingarm |
Fuel capacity | 17.5 litres |
Seat height | 820mm |
Bike weight | 204kg |
Front suspension | Fully-adjustable 43mm upside down forks |
Rear suspension | Fully-adjustable single rear shock |
Front brake | 2 x 320mm discs with four-piston Brembo radial calipers. Racing ABS |
Rear brake | 220mm single disc with twin-piston caliper. Racing ABS |
Front tyre size | 120/70 x 17 |
Rear tyre size | 190/55 x 17 |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
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Average fuel consumption | 33 mpg |
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Annual road tax | £117 |
Annual service cost | £440 |
New price | - |
Used price | - |
Insurance group |
17 of 17 How much to insure? |
Warranty term | Two year unlimited mileage |
Top speed & performance |
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Max power | 193 bhp |
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Max torque | 83 ft-lb |
Top speed | 186 mph |
1/4 mile acceleration | - |
Tank range | 130 miles |
Model history & versions
Model history
2009 – S1000RR launched
2012 – Updated model introduced
Other versions
Standard model £12,295
Other BMW S1000RR reviews on MCN
MCN Long term test reports
MCN Fleet: 21 weeks, 9096 miles and one hell of a ride
419 miles Friday 31 May. Moments after grabbing the keys to my 2019 BMW S1000RR I’m heading to the Nürburgring, marvelling at my Beemer’s lightness and low-down torque. Cruise control, heated grips, quiet screen and neutral riding position make it the most comfortable superbike I’ve done big mi…
Owners' reviews for the BMW S1000RR (2012 - 2014)
6 owners have reviewed their BMW S1000RR (2012 - 2014) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your BMW S1000RR (2012 - 2014)
Summary of owners' reviews |
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Overall rating: | |
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Ride quality & brakes: | |
Engine: | |
Reliability & build quality: | |
Value vs rivals: | |
Equipment: | |
Annual servicing cost: | £440 |
Version: Sport
Year: 2012
Annual servicing cost: £1,000
Went from cbr600rr to BMW s1000 RR What a machine... Handled better than old 600 with acceleration that is out of this world
Awesome
Power keeps on coming 4 rider modes to suit all conditions
Bought from military vehicle auction 40k on clock with full service history Bargain price
Took it to local BMW dealer for major service as unsure when it was done Service history was annual but not by BMW and not specified Best move I made... Full engine rebuild
Heated grips Will never have bike without them
Buying experience: Ok
Version: 2013 S1000RR Sport
Year: 2013
Annual servicing cost: £160
best feature is it's such an easy bike to ride, either in town, country run or on track where it comes alive. Its best on track. i would recommend to a friend , in fact recommended it to my brother who went and bought one too.
ride quality is great for rider not so great for pillion, suspension is superb, brakes are outstanding
engine is phenomenal, i have fitted an Akrapovic race exhaust and PC5 power commander module and its superb, sounds great too!!
build quality is superb, nothing gone wrong so far so reliability is good
so far only had minor services carried out, its not an economical bike to run but then i wasn't buying it for fuel economy
heated grips are now essential!!
Buying experience: Bike was purchased new from BMW dealer in Dundee, good deal on P/X,
Year: 2012
Annual servicing cost: £150
I've pretty much had all the 1000cc super bikes out the, but this is by far the best. From power to looks to features to ride to build quality. Nothing else comes close.
Do everything bike unbeatable off the mark, fantastic handling, loads of mid range with a lovely top end. But can be a pussy cat round town too. Brembo brakes are second to none.
Smooth and very very powerful thoughout the whole rev range. Yet tech makes it easy to handle without getting in the way of the fun.
I've found the engine to be bullet proof, the electronics to be perfect and body to be really well put together. And to back it up the bmw warranty is better than any.
Easy 150 miles out of £15 of regular unleaded. Even when you ride fast.
Everything you could possibly need. Abs, traction control, quick shifter, slipper clutch, power modes, every thing you could want on the dash plus heated grips to boot.
Buying experience: Bought second hand from bmw. Services was excellent. Part ex prices were higher than anyone else. (Even the dealer where I bought the old bike)
I ride superbikes since the dawn of time. Tried/tested/owned pretty much anything available out there (including ... er ... a Harley, he he). Got the RR (2012 model) in order to test first hand the brave new word (i.e. the TC). That said a RR without the gizmos is merely better than a blade. After various unhappy moments (awful reliability) I've managed to sold the thing to someone willing to live with pieces that keep falling - too many to list here. Other than that this bike is the triumph of marketing (more is more) over common sense (less is more). Moral: buy a KTM RC8R (fix first the selector drum).
Far to many build quality issues, sound engine but chain, sump, switches, electrics and petrol cap just to name a few fail far to often, even my BWM salesman admitted most parts besides the engine are cheap and nasty....
i bought my second 2011 s1000rr in feburary and was once again reunited with my hero, then...i ended up popping into bmw motorrad edinburgh in march and decided to take out the 2012 model for a quick test ride and ended up walking out with a new one. There is such a leap forward again its is unbelievable, anyone considering a superbike would be silly not to seriously consider s1000rr, yes they are not the cheapest but really the level this bike is at makes it easily the best value for money