Tag

superbike

Browsing

The BMW M1000RR was the first motorcycle from BMW M Motorsports, and while the machine was a carbon-fiber upgrade to the BMW S1000RR superbike, it failed to excite the segment, due in part to its hefty price tag and close resemblance to its more “normal” sibling. That changes for 2023.

While the 2023 BMW S1000RR gets a number of needed upgrades to bring the liter-bike onto par with the rest of the segment, BMW Motorrad has stretched things further with the M1000RR, giving this super “superbike” some uniqueness of its own.

The BMW S1000RR is getting some meaningful updates for the 2023 model year, most of which seem to be targeted towards requests made by the company’s WorldSBK and critical feedback from journalists and customers regarding the previous iteration.

That’s welcomed news, because despite our excitement when the current generation S1000RR debuted, we found that BMW had essentially ruined the bike with its US specification – adding a giant hole to the middle of the throttle map.

While quite the looker, the BMW S1000RR didn’t do anything particularly better than its competition, and in certain aspects of the bike (e.g. the front brake performance), the machine was notably off the mark.

It is hard to tell if BMW Motorrad has completely fixed all these issues now for 2023, but the company has made an extensive list of improvements to the bike’s chassis, bodywork, and electronics.

To help celebrate 50 years of the “M” brand in BMW, your favorite German manufacturer is releasing today the heavily worded BMW M1000RR 50 Years M Edition superbike.

Based on the already spicy BMW M1000RR, in all its carbon fiber glory, the 50 Years M Edition model brings extensive use aluminum and carbon parts, featuring a light-silver anodized aluminum swingarm, M GPS lap trigger, a M endurance chain, and passenger seat and seat cover.

You can get it in any color you want, so long as its “Sao Paulo Yellow” – which is pretty striking, if you ask us.

The final bike of Ducati’s 2022 model year releases has finally dropped, but technically it is a 2023 machine. That’s okay, because the 2023 Ducati Panigale V4 SP2 is set to be a killer Italian superbike.

As we mentioned in our rumors coverage, there isn’t anything too surprising in the design and concept with this new SP2 model, as the Italian brand has taken the potent improvements brought to the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S, given them the “SP” treatment, and added an extra number for good measure.

Ducati isn’t done showing its 2022 model lineup, with the Italian manufacturer suggesting that we will see three more model announcements in the next few weeks.

Teasing three release dates (and thus presumably three new models), Ducati has virtual launches set for February 17th, March 3rd, and March 10th, which will stream on the company’s YouTube channel.

What models could Ducati be getting ready to launch? According to the sleuthing done by Motorcycle.com, we have a good idea what two of those three bikes might be.

If the $37,500 BMW M1000RR superbike is too much carbon for your wallet, may we suggest something a little more affordable for the elf on your shelf. Behold, the BMW M1000RR LEGO Technic set.

The 1,920-piece set makes a superbike that is 1:5 scale to the original two-wheeled weapon – 10 in. (27 cm) high, 17 in. (45 cm) long, and 6 in. (17 cm) wide.

The set includes a gold chain, a functional three-speed gearbox, working forks and rear shock, and a dashboard with three different display options (presumably via different bricks choices). It even comes with a cute rear stand.

Yamaha Motor Europe is making the most out of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s WorldSBK Championship title (along with the tuning fork brand taking the triple crown in the World Superbike series), and they have something special for 21 lucky buyers.

Making a limited-edition replica of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s Yamaha YZF-R1, the PATA Yamaha squad is making the bikes in Crescent Racing workshop.

My first proper introduction to the Ducati Panigale V4 S happened in Spain, almost  four years go. Testing Ducati’s first proper four-cylinder superbike around the Valencia circuit was like witnessing a moment in history.

The Italian brand had slaughtered the last of its sacred cows, and laid them as tribute on the alter of speed – Ducati was serious about winning in WorldSBK, and had built a machine designed for that specific duty, with a whatever it takes attitude.

Our first outing with the Panigale V4 S showed that Ducati was on the right track. The bike was potent, not perfect, but potent.

Now here we are again, testing the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S at another Spanish race track, and I have to revisit those thoughts from my first meeting.

Potent? Yes, certainly. The 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S only hones the formula further in terms of on-track potency for the Italian brand’s superbike package.

But how close does this new Panigale V4 come to perfection? That is why we were in Jerez de la Frontera, to look for the unobtainable dream.

Our conclusion? For those who can afford to put one in their garage, the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S is two-wheeled nirvana. Let me explain.

In case you missed our “Gone Riding” preview of the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S, we are in Spain right now getting ready to swing a leg over Italy’s newest superbike (we ride on Thursday).

To help us gear-up for the event, and prime our tackling of the Circuito de Jerez with over 200hp of fury, I thought it best to upload these high-resolution photos of the machine (our original post on the bike was a little lacking in this regard too).

An update to an already potent machine, the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S boasts more power, but more importantly, more features to help the rider use all of that power.

For the third time this month, we have crossed over the Atlantic ocean to ride a brand new Italian motorcycle. It is a tough job, but someone has to do it.

This edition of “Gone Riding” sees us getting ready to ride the new Ducati Panigale V4 superbike, which gets a bevy of updates for the 2022 model year.

Ducati has us testing this new Panigale V4 at the Jerez circuit, with the MotoGP track being a popular destination to put a motorcycle through its paces.

Of course, when we see updates coming to the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade for next year, we can expect a similar treatment of the 2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP (say that three times fast).

Like its sibling, the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP sees its inline-four engine massaged for better mid-range grunt, while maintaining its 214hp (160 kW) peak power figure.