As many of you already know, Max Stratton, long time supporter of Fishtail and BMW dealer extraordinaire, has a couple of S1000RRs coming exclusively for us to ride.  We plan on leaving the bike you see here in street trim for the season.  The second bike to come in is getting the full race treatment so that Robbie can campaign it around the country and terrorize unsuspecting victims.  For those of you that didn't see my post earlier, here are my first impressions of the bike.  I was mightily impressed by what I saw . . .

There are things more frustrating than getting your first look at a cutting edge superbike when it’s 80o below zero, but that list is mighty short.   I just got back from MAX BMW and my first look at the new S1000RR.  On Maslow’s Hierarchy of Coolness scale, it’s way, way up near the top.  Max just got the first of his allotment of Superbikes at the Hampton store, and the second one should be showing up in his New York store shortly.  In no particular order, and certainly without any expertise in such things, here’s some random thoughts:

• It looks like a weapon.  The bodywork looks almost shrink-wrapped, and it’s a very tight package mechanically.  Also, the asymmetrical styling elements (headlights, fairing vents, etc.) really work visually.  The longer I looked at it, the more I liked it.
• It has electronic “stuff” everywhere.  There’s a sensor and pick up on the front wheel for the ABS (and traction control?), a pick up on the shift linkage for the quick shifter, and extra buttons on the switch gear to control all that good stuff.  I’m guessing there’s a pickup on the rear wheel as well, but I don’t remember seeing one.
• The upper shock mount bolt goes through an insert in the frame.  It looks like you can adjust ride height by using different inserts.
• The suspension has marks on the adjusters and numbers printed on the shock/fork body, so you can easily see where you’ve set the damping adjustments.  That’ll come in handy at our FRS Suspension Experience (warning: shameless commercial plug).
• The swingarm is huge.
• The brake rotors mount directly to the wheel.  There’s no separate carrier.
• It sits pretty narrow, and that’s coming from someone who has been riding a Ducati 916 for about 10 years now.
• There’s not a ton of leg room (cornering clearance won’t be an issue), but the bars felt fairly high and wide for a superbike.  I’m guessing it’ll make a decent street ride.
• The tail light is uber funky.  You’ll just have to go look and see for yourself.
• It looks like it’s going to be HUGE fun.

 Max has a stockpile of bling coming for the bikes as well, so he’ll have lots of eye candy for those of you who dream about CNC and billet aluminum (like me!).  Most of us don’t need an excuse to head for Max’s place, but if you do, this will work fine.  We’re also planning some activities for February, but we’re not ready to announce them quite yet.  I’ll have more complete update ready soon.

Stay warm!