BMW launched the most anticipated new sport bike in recent memory, the S 1000 RR, at the famed Monza racetrack, in Italy, during the Superbike World Championship race weekend on May 9th, 2009.

This new Superbike from BMW weighing only 404 lbs, and putting out a massive 193 hp, is one of the most potent, sophisticated and lightest sport bikes ever unleashed on the planet.  The new S 1000 RR is the most powerful production 1000cc sport bike in the world. 

In addition to the class-leading power plant, the BMW S 1000 RR introduces new technical features such as the first-ever 4-stage Race ABS system with settings for Rain, Sport, Race and Slick conditions.  This groundbreaking new ABS system weighs only about 5.5 lbs complete, which is nearly 20 lbs lighter than the competition.     

With its highly distinctive new asymmetrical headlights, which follow the very elegant and unique asymmetrical panels, this first BMW Superbike promises to standout from the crowd of liter-class bikes.

The new S 1000 RR will be unveiled officially in the US at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah during WSBK races, on the last weekend in May.  Following the US unveiling, our two official S 1000 RR ambassadors: Nate Kern and Jason Turner, will be traveling to dealerships all across the nation for special S 1000 RR presentations, track days and dealer events.  (Please look in our Events section below for more information.)

The new S 1000 RR is scheduled to be released in the US by early 2010.>> read more

The BMW S 1000 RR enjoyed its first national race success on 11 April, with victory in the prestigious 1,000 km Hockenheim race in Germany. Not only did Team Motobike (a cooperation partner of BMW Motorrad Germany for motorcyclist training programs) celebrate victory with a production version of BMW's new 1000cc superbike in this famous endurance race, but the HP2 Sport also enjoyed a podium finish in its class.

Under the leadership of crew chief Albin Kirchengast, three teams of riders competed under the ‘Team Motobike' banner in the 1000 km endurance test and sprint races at the 4,567m Hockenheimring circuit. A special treat for all race fans was that in Class 1 (motorcycles up to 1200cc) Team Motobike brought the brand new BMW S 1000 RR superbike to the starting grid, along with racing legend Jürgen Fuchs and the two-times German IDM Supersport champion, Arne Tode.>> read more

Great Showing by Xaus at Monza, Italy
Ruben Xaus gave Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport their best result so far with a superb seventh in the first race at Monza. He then followed it up with a solid ninth in the second race to make it his best weekend in five rounds and shows that he and the bike are making progress every time out.

His team mate Troy Corser was involved in a horrific crash on the opening lap of race one, when he was hit in the neck and back of the head by another rider's fallen bike. Troy was winded and was stretchered off, but fortunately he was able to get back to the pits under his own steam. Despite being bruised and battered, Troy decided to take part in the restarted race, but suffered another crash on the approach to the Parabolica on lap one. Luckily he was not injured seriously but he and the team decided to err on the side of safety and therefore not take part in race two.

WSBK Superbike World Championship at Miller on SpeedTV
Catch all the action of the upcoming WSBK at our home turf at Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City, UT, featuring BMW Motorrad Motorsport racers Ruben Xaus and Troy Corser on the SpeedTV channel.  Speed will be showing both race 1 and 2 (with a repeat showing for race 2).  Don't miss a moment of BMW's historic and exiting entry in the world's most important motorcycle race.

On May 29, 2009, the World Superbike action starts right here at home at Miller Motorsport Park in Tooele, UT.  Be a part of this high-speed weekend with BMW and be among the very first to see the all new street version of the S 1000 RR Superbike powered by an inline-4 engine putting out a massive 193 hp on a very light 404 lb body.

This WSBK race weekend activities includes:

• Salt Lake City Bike Bash on Thursday night, May 28th, featuring a performance by the incredible BMW Streetbike Freestyle performer (stunt) and three-time Indoor Stunt Riding World Champion Christian Pfeiffer.
• BMW hospitality area with closed-circuit race viewing for BMW VIP ticket holders
• BMW Streetbike Freestyle shows with World Champion Christian Pfeiffer  (Saturday and Sunday, including autograph sessions)
• Autograph sessions with the new BMW S 1000 RR racers Troy Corser
  and Ruben Xaus
• Exhibit area featuring new S 1000 RR, with closed circuit race viewing available

F 800 GS Wins 2009 Rider Magazine "Motorcycle of the Year?

Rider magazine has picked the BMW F 800 GS for its prestigious 2009 MOTY award.  It's not often that Rider chooses an adventure bike – but the F 800 GS is that good. 

"BMW has been thinking way out of the box lately, and there is perhaps no better evidence than its unstoppable new F800GS adventure tourer.” writes Rider  "Far narrower with its upright parallel twin, and like the 1200 [GS] offers a tremendous amount of satisfying performance.  Chain final drive, 9 inches of suspension travel, a 21- and 19-inch front/rear spoked wheel combination and plenty of twin-cylinder torque give it much better off-road ability than its boxer brethren, yet the F800GS has enough on-road legs that you can haul down the highway from fill-up to fill-up in satisfactory comfort without stopping.”

We thank the editors and staff at Rider for this recognition.

Randy Bedeaux's a Success on the G 450 X 
Randy Bedeaux, sales manager of Leo's South BMW Motorcycles in Lakeville, MN has been putting up a great show on BMW's new G 450 X dual-sport.  Randy has been racing the G 450 X in events organized by Motokazie in Elko, MN. He signed up in the +40 class and has been garnering podium finishes pretty consistently.

"I started racing enduro's when I was 12.  I made it all the way up to an A-rider. Then my oldest son, Nick wanted to start racing MX, so I started racing MX when I was in my mid thirties,” says Randy.  "In 2005 I raced a couple of super-motard races. That was a blast! I thought since Nick and I are getting older and we don't really spend much time together I would start racing with him.  I signed up as a Senior C rider (that's for 40 year olds and older, I'm 43). The race was an hour long and the track was a 9-mile course through tight woods, over a home-made bridge and an open field where you had to dirt track the bike around.”

Randy continues, "The first lap I was held up by a bunch of slow people and it took me 42 minutes. The second lap I passed the leader and just rode as fast as I could. I completed the second lap in 22 minutes, a full 2 minutes ahead of the next guy in my class. I felt great and the bike felt great.  Over all the BMW G450 was awesome!”

RawHyde's Adventure Rider Challenge – A Real Blast
The weekend of May 15th, RawHyde's Adventure Rider Challenge (ARC) in Southern California was a major hit with the GS crowd.  The event was very well attended and has generated very positive word of mouth.  Soon we'll be receiving lots of images and stories from this great event and we'll be distilling them down to a special report for our June issue.  Look for the ARC report plus some cool images next month in our BMW Motorrad USA eNewsletter.

BMW's May/June '09 Events Calendar
We are pleased to announce our expanded events calendar for the months of May and June 2009.   Our schedule of events for the upcoming weeks include:  Special S 1000 RR in-dealer presentations by our two official S 1000 RR ambassadors, Nate Kern and Jason Turner.  Nate and Jason will be covering the East and West Coasts respectively.  Also, in this calendar look for Dealer Demo Days, Track Days, Chris McNeil’s stunt shows, Nate Kern racing and more.

This year our Demo team will be fully present at Miller Motorsports Park for the WSBK World Superbike racing and unfortunately could not attend the Americade Rally in Lake George, NY due to scheduling conflict.

BMW S 1000 RR Lifestyle Collection
>> learn more

S 1000 RR Accessories in the Works
BMW's parts and accessories department is working on an exciting line of accessories for the hot new S 1000 RR.  Stay tuned for soon to be announced Superbike accessories including ultra lightweight Carbon Fiber pieces. 

There's no better way to start this riding season than on a new bike and it's now the best time to buy with 2 new ways to save on a new BMW.

RawHyde's Ladies Only Intro to Adventure Riding - May 29-31
The RawHyde adventure off-road training camp in the foothills above Los Angeles will be offering a ladies only introduction to dirt riding techniques on the weekend of May 29-31. 

Enduro bikes, like BMW's legendary GS, are the SUVs of the motorcycle world yet many riders of these bikes are nervous about taking them off pavement even though that's what they were designed for.  That's mostly because they are heavier than a typical small dirt bike and overall more expensive to repair. This combination makes riders reluctant to ride them off road.

Here is Robert Magara's submission of his self-made "Real Riders” ad.  Robert is taking some air on his
G 650 Xchallenge with a very optimistic tag line "Any day above ground is a good day.”     

CHiP's on patrol.  A great shot from CHP motor officers on their BMW R 1200 RT-P and R 1150 RT-P scouting some snow covered roads for their upcoming training day.