25. August 2010
The mirrors on S1000RR (below left) have almost no visible vibrations and gives exellent view of what happens behind you and to the sides, just as good as on the Blade (below right at 110 km/h).
The front direction indicators on the BMW are placed as separate units on the lower fairing just below the RR symbol (below). The solution on the Honda is more elegant as the mirrors have built in light units with direction indicators and position lights. These light units are mounted in elastic material funtioning as vibration dampers. The higher position makes the Blades lights more visible to other traffic and hence increase safety.
The slim and light weight side stands on both bikes are very stable, but on the S1000RR I missed the little pike that the side stand on the Fireblade has (below right) which makes it easier to get the side stand down.
The light switch for high and low beam on the BMW is extremely well functioning and placed so it is just next to your left index finger (image below left). Flip the switch forward to get high beem, pull it back for low beam position, and further back to flash the high beam for e.g. overtakeing. It is much easier to operate than the high/low beem switch on the Blade where you need to move the left thumb all the way up to the top of the grip to operate the switch.
Both Teis and I found that the switch for left/right indication on the BMW was placed in a rather ackward angle, which it took some time to get used to (image below middle).
The kill- and starter switch is an elegantly combined swith, placed where you need it: next to your right thumb (image below right).
Monday evening, after an extended long weekend and more than 1000 km on the S1000RR Teis and I returned the bike to BMW dealer Jens Whinter in Roskilde. Jens is an enthusiastic motorbiker, so it took a couple of hours before we were finished debriefing about our S1000RR experience and talking biking in general. Jens showed us a couple of the other new BMW bikes which he suggested might be worth testing. Let's see what next summer will bring!
We also found time to shoot a couple of pictures for another of my articles titled Buy both Car and Motorcycle. And one of theese pictures is shown here below binging our conclusion after testing these two superbikes over more than 1000 km:
After parking a car and the two bikes I asked Teis to get seated on the bike
he would prefer, then I would do the same. Neither of us were in doubt. Teis
immediately jumped on the BMW and I selected the Fireblade. We hence had an even
stand and not one unique winner bringing us to our final conclusion:
Two winners - both being wonderfull world class leading machines!
Teis Rindom (born 1977): Bought his Suzuki GSX1300 Hayabusa from brand new in 2007. Still has his old Yamaha XS 650 standing in the barn. 2 years experience with some kind of off-roader in Danish military. Very skilled gymnast with a fenomenal ballance doing multiple sommersaults and twists on floor and trampette. Trainer in gymnastics for lots of youngsters.
Freddy Jacobsen (born 1956): Bought my Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade from brand new in 2008. Also have a Honda CBF1000A from 2007. Drove Honda CB500 from 2002 to 2007. Flew aerobatics in my 1947 Stampe SV4c in the 1980`s and enjoied parashuting in the 1970`s. Much less skilled gymnast with a resonable balance, still doing max 2 sommersaults and max 1.5 twists on trampette. Also gymnastics trainer for lots of youngsters.
See also:
First Year
with my Fireblade
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