Suspension Part 4 - Bitubo Steering Damper Upgrade on BMW S1000RR

[@colinpirie8403]

Brilliant explanation

[@Niko-qs1sl]

Hey George, If you ever get the time, I would be interested to know your opinion on the Gen 4/5 versus your maxed-out Gen 3. Upgrading to a newer model was never an option for me because my 2016 was only two years old when I first got her. I started slowly upgrading parts like you did. After sinking this much cash into upgrades, I always wondered if I would have been better off putting this money towards a newer model and trading her in. I'm emotionally attached to the bike now, so it's not really an option, but I always wondered what I was missing out on. (Although mine is called Penelope, Bob is a rather interesting name even if you're batting for the other team. But I digress.) Is it worth paying a bit less for the last generation of bike and using the saved money for upgrades, like we have done, versus going for a "mid" spec Gen 4/5 like the ones you have at the school? I'm curious where you stand on this, having ridden the different generations over the years.

[@TheBikeStig]

Hey mate, I frequently get asked why I haven't upgraded or if I am planning to upgrade at some time. But to be honest I have no plans to do that. I really like the 2015/2016 model, when it came to the school it was considered by all of the coaches to be the best model of that generation of S1kRRs. The latest 2024 version RR has a much better front end than earlier versions of the new generation. But I still can't see why I would shift from a high-end 15/16 model to the new one. The thing I have is brilliant, and I've chosen to go the route of building it into something special. I've ridden it on track and have had no issues passing riders on newer full race spec RRs as well as Panigale V4s. The suspension upgrade we've done is the final piece of the puzzle that has probably made the biggest difference. End of the day the rider is still a key component and going to a newer bike might not be the solution. Cheers mate