[motorcycle.com] - Reader’s Choice Best Sportbike of 2015: BMW HP4

[Ninjette Newsbot]

While some of the categories in our Reader’s Choice awards have been decided by narrow margins, when it comes to the Sportbike category, you, our readers, were pretty clear. With 28.8% of the votes, the BMW HP4 was your resounding winner, besting the second place, and the MO staff pick, Ducati 899 Panigale by more than six percentage points (22.5%). Honda’s CBR1000RR SP was a distant third place (16.4%), but the fourth place EBR 1190RX was close behind it, with 14.7% of you rooting for the home team.

2013 BMW S1000RR HP4 Review – Video

A hopped-up version of the already potent S1000RR, the HP4 takes the performance envelope a step further with forged aluminum wheels, Brembo monobloc calipers, and race-optimized ABS and traction control. The HP4 also received launch control, standard quickshifter and a switch to a 200-series rear tire. Oh, and let’s not forget BMW’s Dynamic Damping Control, the HP4’s headlining feature. The DDC automatically adjusts damping needs every 10 milliseconds based on numerous sensors and conditions to deliver optimal suspension control for the environment, whether you’re cruising on the highway or firing off hot laps at the track.

We wondered how BMW would top the S1000RR, but we should have known better than to doubt BMW. The HP4 took an already great motorcycle and made it even better. It’s $24,995 price tag was a reflection of that improvement. For 2015, many of the HP4 features can now be found on the standard model costing thousands of dollars less.


Combined with the S1000RR’s immensely powerful inline-Four, cranking out 172.4 hp to the wheel in our 2013 Exotic Literbike Shootout, the HP4 is an incredibly fast liter-class weapon that is still accessible to even the moderately skilled rider. It truly is a sportbike enthusiast’s dream come true.

2013 Exotic Superbike Shootout: Street – Video

Reader’s Choice Best Sportbike of 2015: BMW HP4 appeared first on Motorcycle.com.



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