- BMW puts an M3 and an S 1000 RR bike head-to-head on the track — except the object of this race is to start at opposite ends of the track and catch the other vehicle first.
- Both vehicles made a trip to the Akrapovic tuning firm for a couple of upgrades before hitting the track.
- The BMW M3's engine was upgraded to 442 horsepower and 321 pound-feet of torque, and the S 1000 RR bike was tweaked to deliver 198 horses and 87 lb-ft of torque.
- In the end, the better power-to-weight ratio logically reigned supreme.
MUNICH, Germany — BMW Motorrad helps squash the long-lasting debate of whether two or four wheels are superior, with a new video called The Chase.
The video starts with a pair of friends, Nico and Rico, debating if Rico's BMW S 1000 RR motorcycle or Nico's BMW M3 can make it around the tarmac quicker. The BMWs are then pitted head-to-head, except instead of racing side-by-side, they start at opposite ends of the track to see who can catch the other racer first.
Before the race, the duo makes a trip to the tuner Akrapovic's factory in Ljubljana, Slovenia, for a couple of upgrades. The M3's weight is shaved to 3,575 pounds and engine output increased to 442 horsepower and 321 pound-feet of torque, while the 434-pound S 1000 RR's engine is bumped to 198 hp and 87 lb-ft of torque.
In the end, it takes the bike just 15 laps to catch the tweaked M3.
Inside Line says: Unless the bike takes a spill around a turn, the RR wins this race 10 times out of 10. — Mike Lysaght, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
spike357 says:
11:09 AM, 05/11/2011
If you have ever driven an e92 M3, you'd know that the engine's "personality" is certainly not the issue. Neither is it the handling. I have had an e92 M3 fore 3 years and have driven an e46 on many, many occasions. The e46, though fun, is an oil burning slug compared to the e92.
tayl0rd says:
09:34 AM, 05/04/2011
pathos, the CTS-V is an M5 competitor, not the M3. The CTS has been unfairly compared to the significantly smaller 3-series from day one by the motoring press simply because of its price point. It was then and is still now the 5-series competitor, NOT the 3-series.
sierrabravo says:
10:03 PM, 05/03/2011
Cool video. Highlights that it's as much about weight as it is about power...if not more so.
rrtodd says:
06:50 PM, 05/03/2011
Great video, made my day to take a break from work and watch this tomfoolery!
pathos says:
04:02 PM, 05/03/2011
Revealing lap times and section times of every lap would be nice to chew on.
Anyways, the M3 needs to lose weight and get an engine with more personality to get back some of it's fan base. I don't care that it's lighter than the C63 or CTS-V. Those cars are more muscle car than finese cars, and BMW should not be following them. BMW was lost to them in the engine dept, and handling of the C63 and CTS-V are only a step behind. The M3 is supposed to be about handling and finese, and it's just not cutting it, even though it's lighter than the competitions weight. They should be aiming for Porsche's low weight and high level of feel, IMO.
I know there's the 1M, and I'm sure it's fun (the 135 loaner I had could really be tossed about), but is just doesn't look good to me. I guess it would be easier for BMW to just change the exterior/interior of the 1M , than change the next 3 series into a M3 of old. Sigh, whatever...
kosmo69 says:
01:13 PM, 05/03/2011
dumb. Everyone knows the outcome.