BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR

Sports bikes are exceptional at speed and agility. They are built for paved roads, and you can ride them as much as you want on streets and highways. They are great for speed demons and those who love to perform some stunts. But which sports bike to choose from in today’s market? We have developed a comparison of BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR, the two of the best sports bikes on today’s market, and they have been around for quite some time.

The S1000RR (top speed: 188 miles an hour) and CBR1000RR (top speed: 189 miles an hour) are awesome superbikes. Read on to find out more about these racing motorcycles.

Industry History

BMW

BMW has been producing high-quality bikes for a long time now. We all know how good BMW engineering is. It’s all about quality and performance.

Besides, this is exactly why the company was among the top-rated automobile and motorbike manufacturers globally. It has been in operation since the early 1900s and producing high-performing motorbikes one after the other.

Honda

Hond is well-known for its reliability and endurance. The company became the largest motorcycle producer in the world a short time ago. Without a doubt, when it’s a Honda, you can entirely rely on it.

The machine will continue to perform as if it’s new for a long time to come. Another massive advantage is, care and maintenance are pretty much standard, and you won’t have to go out of your skin to find its parts.

BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR – An Overview

The S1000RR 2021

If you are looking for some scintillating top speeds, you need to go for the BMW S1000RR. It’s exceptionally brisk, and you will be crowned the king of the road among your peers and bike enthusiast friends.

It has an incredibly powerful suspension, so you can use it for your stunts as well. It is also equipped with excellent stopping power and is a great choice for highways and tracks. 

The CBR1000RR 2021

The CBR1000RR has been a long-time track performer. Honda has been updating it regularly to keep it relevant, and they have done quite a superb job.

Furthermore, the CBR1000RR is another exceptional machine that will allow you to explore your bike skills and perform various stunts. It comes with good speed. And its suspension brakes are powerful as well.

Comparison Chart

FeaturesBMW S1000RR 2021Honda CBR1000RR 2021
Fuel and vehicle typePetrol sports bikePetrol sports bike
Fuel tank capacity4.4 gallons4.3 gallons
Engine type4-cylinder inline liquid-cooled engine4-cylinder inline, liquid-cooled engine
Displacement999cc998cc
Maximum power205 HP @ 13,000 RPM153.2 HP @ 10,600 RPM
Maximum torque83 lb-ft @ 11,000 RPM84 lb-ft @ 11,000 RPM
Gear transmission6-speed w/ multi-disc clutch6-speed w/ multi-plate slipper clutch
Seating capacity and type2, dual stepped2, dual stepped
Seat height32.4 inches32.3 inches
Front and rear suspensionUpside-down telescopic fork w/ 4.7-inch travel and swingarm w/ 4.6-inch travelBig piston fork w/ 4.3-inch travel and mono-shock w/ 5.2-inch travel
Front and rear brakesFloating dual disc brake and single disc brakeDual radial-mounted disc brake and single disc brake
Front and rear tires120/70ZR17 and 190/55ZR17120/70ZR17 and 190/50ZR17
Wheelbase56.7 inches55.3 inches
Ground clearance5.5 inches5.1 inches
Weight~463 lbs~428 lbs

Engine

BMW S1000 RR engine

Let’s begin the discussion on this comparison of BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR by talking about their engines. Both S1000RR and CBR1000RR come with very similar engines. They both have liquid-cooled inline DOHC engines that have 4-cylinders and 16 valves.

It means both the machines are equipped with plenty of power under their hood and can produce horsepower and torque. In most cases, you will notice both these bikes are very similar to each other in engine and performance.

But with that being said, the Honda CBR is slightly ahead of the S1000RR. Its engine displacement at 998cc is only a cubic centimeter shorter than what the BMW has, but it’s slightly ahead in terms of overall horsepower and torque generation at relative RPMs.

Therefore, the winner of this round is Honda but only by a slight margin. Because both these bikes are almost identical when it comes to engine type, displacement, torque, and horsepower. Still, the Honda CBR can slightly outspeed the BMW S with a better top speed and lighter weight.

Weight

Speaking of weight, this will be our next topic of discussion in this comparison of BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR. As we have just mentioned, both these bikes are almost identical in their engines, with Honda having a slight upper hand.

But this is where Honda outshines its competitor. It has a much lighter weight despite being similar to what the BMW has under its hood. Honda has done an extraordinary job keeping the bike’s weight under control and noticing that when you ride it.

The CBR is almost 35 pounds lighter than the BMW S, and this weight contributes a lot to the overall speed and agility of the bike. This is one of the primary reasons why the CBR outperforms the BMW S when it comes to the top speed.

With a lightweight design, the bike is going to accelerate in a much more efficient manner. And the best part is, it will be much easier to handle and maneuver. So, with a lightweight design, the Honda CBR is extending its lead over the BMW S in this second round.

Suspension and brakes

BMW S1000 RR suspension

Next up in this comparison of BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR is suspension and brakes. The BMW S1000RR comes with an upside-down telescopic fork with 4.7-inch travel and a swingarm with 4.6-inch travel.

While the Honda CBR1000RR comes with a big piston fork with 4.3-inch travel and a mono-shock with 5.2-inch travel. Both the machines are equipped with a durable and quality suspension system at both ends.

The BMW S is better in its front suspension, whereas the Honda CBR is better in its rear suspension. Therefore, if you are looking to perform some stunts, you will love riding the CBR. The BMW S does a great job as well but not as good as the CBR.

Both the machines come with powerful brakes as well. The BMW S comes with floating disc brakes on both ends, while the Honda CBR features radial-mounted disc brakes.

There is not much difference between the two braking systems if you compare them with one another. And they both roll well in terms of performance and maintenance.

So overall, the winner of this round is against the CBR because if it’s better suspension and wheel travel on the rear end for more adaptability for stunts.

Ergonomics

Next, we will talk about the ergonomics in this comparison of BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR. And this is where both these bikes are super smooth. They have a very aerodynamic design that is built for speed and agility.

However, if you compare them with one another, you will notice that the Honda CBR has a slightly lower seat height than the BMW S. The difference is only 0.1 inches, so it will not matter much. But what is going to matter is the wheelbase and ground clearance. 

The BMW S comes with a ground clearance of 5.5 inches instead of 5.1 inches of the Honda CBR. So, the BMW will perform slightly better on bumpy roads compared to the Honda CBR. And not only that, but the BMW S also has a bigger wheelbase than the Honda CBR.

The wheelbase of the BMW S is 56.7 inches, while that of the Honda CBR is 55.3 inches. It means you will have greater stability and balance while riding your BMW S because it has a longer frame design.

Eventually, you will have a greater footprint on the road for better ride control. This is one of the reasons why the BMW S is heavier as well. So in terms of ergonomics, the BMW S will take this round by a significant margin.

Looks and aesthetics

Looks of BMW S1000 RR motorcycle

It’s time to talk about the looks and aesthetics in this comparison of BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR. And we understand that it’s a pretty subjective matter. But it’s not just about the shapes and design here.

Have you ever thought about trying to customize how your bike looks? What if the company you are going for provides that facility to you? It would be pretty huge, no!

Well, guess what, BMW does that, and you can conveniently customize and configure your bike’s design just the way you like it. This is one of the biggest features that buying a bike from BMW comes with.

There are some color and trim options available as well. But Honda does not allow you to configure much. You can go for some accessories and add-ons but in a limited way.

Honda CBR does come in a couple of colors, and ABS trim as well if you want. But the customized configuration feature is not there. So, we will give this round to the BMW S, as you can conveniently build your bike just the way you want it to be.

Pricing

When it comes to pricing, you will know that the ride by BMW will cost more if all the rest of the specs are similar. They provide you with the facility to customize your build and configure it, and they do it on all their models.

That is why BMW has bigger price tags. However, you can go for the base model with that smiler price tag that the Honda CBR has on it.

So, if you think you need more configured trim, choose the BMW or save more for the base model. But if you are looking for reliability and a much lower maintenance cost, you can go for the Honda CBR. The choice is all yours to make!

BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR – The Similarities

After going through the above text in this comparison of BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR, you might have noticed there are some similarities between these two sports bikes as well. To keep things clear, we will highlight all those similarities in this section.

Fuel and vehicle type

Both these machines are gasoline-powered, and they both are sports bikes. They look almost identical in their appearances as well, with a few differences.

Engine features

Both these machines are equipped with a 998cc DOHC inline 4-cylinder engine. The BMW only has a single cubic centimeter better, but they perform similarly.

Gear transmission

The BMW S1000RR, as well as the Honda CBR1000RR both, come with 6-speed gear transmission. The only difference is that the BMW features a multi-disc clutch while the Honda comes with a multi-plate slipper clutch.

Seating capacity and type

Both these rides come with a seating capacity for two persons. The seating style on both these rides is dual stepped, and they are pretty comfortable.

BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR – Pros & Cons

BMW S1000RR 2021

Pros

  • Slightly bigger fuel tank.
  • Better ground clearances.
  • Wider wheelbase and footprint for better control.
  • More customized configuration options.

Cons

  • Slightly heavier.
  • Customization comes at an expense.

Honda CBR1000RR

Pros

  • Better rear suspension.
  • Better torque and power.
  • Lighter in weight.
  • Much more maneuverable and faster acceleration.

Cons

  • No many customization options.
  • Smaller wheelbase and ground clearance.

Conclusion

In our opinion, the winner of this comparison of BMW S1000RR vs. CBR1000RR is the Honda CBR1000RR. Because it’s a much better bike and Honda has significantly upgraded it from the previous model. It has better suspension and wheel travel, so it accelerates pretty well. To back all that, the bike also comes with phenomenal stopping power.

It has a light frame, and you can also go for ABS trim if you need better stopping power. This bike is a good choice if you are looking to perform some stunts and work well if you are racing. No matter what you want to do with it, the CBR1000RR is right there for you to deliver a top-notch performance. This is what you expect from a brand like Honda.

Featured Image from Flickr © Verronica Woods – The original image was not changed

Featured Image from Flickr © PaulRey – The original image was not changed