BMW’s S1000RR, for those motorcyclists who have lived in a cave these last five years, is the fastest superbike on the planet. Even more astounding is that it has held the crown since 2009, an eon in a segment when the reign at the top of the horsepower heap is usually measured in months, not years.
It achieves its horsepower superiority by revving higher and harder than any superbike previous. Where most of its big bore competition sign off at 12,000 or so rpm, the S1000RR keeps revving higher on its way to an incredible 13,000rpm, 197hp power peak. To sample — preferably on a racetrack – that last extra kick of high-speed in the top of fifth or sixth gear is to know both elation and fear.
The mechanics behind all that high-speed horsepower are Formula One derived, BMW Motorrad borrowing some nous from car-side and developing a hugely oversquare 80mm x 49.7mm design that boasts a sky-high 13.0:1 compression ratio and some F1-style camshaft finger followers rather than motorcycling’s more traditional direct-to-bucket valve actuation system. Techno gobbledygook or not, virtually everything about the S1000 engine was designed so it could spin as fast as possible and produce more power than the rest of the superbike field (BMW has yet to wear the WSBK crown, but the S1000RR instantly transformed the formerly sleepy manufacturer of sport-tourers into a superbike powerhouse).
Pretty much everyone, however, assumed that intrinsic in this design would be a lack of bottom-end torque, those aforementioned bore and stroke dimensions hardly the classic route to punchy mid-range response. So when BMW announced that it would morph its clipped-on track-ready superbike into a high-handlebarred, oriental-style “naked” machine, the first question on everyone’s lips was how would all that high-revving power mesh with a chassis now geared to street riding?
Well, it turns out that we were all wrong about one thing: As successful as the S1000 has been at spinning its way to unprecedented horsepower, there’s absolutely nothing at all preventing it from also being, given the right tuning, as tractable as a Gold Wing. Indeed, with only minimal changes – a little camshaft timing and some fiddling with the inlet tract – the single-R has been transformed into a slightly detuned (if 160 still rompin’ and stompin’ horsepower can in any way be considered detuned) and imminently torquey road bike engine.
Comparing the two bikes’ dyno curves provided by BMW, the supposedly lesser single-R actually outmuscles the double-R by as much as 10Nm all the way from 3,000rpm to 9,000rpm. The R’s peak torque – 117Nm – remains the same. But make no mistake, BMW has managed to move all that grunt way down the powerband, making the naked S1000R more immediately responsive than the double-R.
And, indeed, it’s really quite amazing how tractable the new S1000R can be. Exiting hairpins high in the Majorcan mountains at barely 2,500rpm, there’s so much torque that downshifting is, thankfully — because the cold, damp Spanish roads were so darned slippery – rendered superfluous. Not having to deal with vagaries of wet weather traction while trying to contain a chomping-at-the-bit superbike is a surprise beyond the pleasant.
Even under this heavy load, the still highly tuned (160hp from just 999cc) four-cylinder accelerates up the steep Majorcan coastline with no snatching, no spitting and nary a performance concession to the fact that it is barely above idle. It’s amazing how a simple rejigging of the camshaft timing and some narrower, higher-velocity intake ports has the previously highly-strung BMW thinking it’s a Harley.
There will be some who still will lament the S1000R’s 33hp downgrade of the giant-killing original, even if I suspect the loss is more about bar stool bragging than any actual downgrade in performance. I’ll personally open myself to criticisms of wimpdom by opining that I think the reduction is a good thing. For one, it imbues the 1000R with the instantaneous throttle response that makes wheelies a doddle (and, know this, wheelies are the very raison d’être for this naked bike phenomenon). Less downshifting is required and the S1000R’s ability to scoot by slow-moving traffic is truly spellbinding. The only thing lost is the double-R’s final, 12,000rpm kick, where the superbike version slips in one final burst of mega-horsepower insouciance on its way to making those aforementioned 193 horses.
Even with its “meagre” 160 ponies, the S1000R – thanks to its rearward weight bias caused by its naked-bike mandated, upright riding position – starts to get decidedly light in the front end when that screaming 999cc four hits nine grand; it would be nigh on unmanageable if there was still another kick to come at 12,000rpm. Complain all you will about the softening of the power delivery but I’ll take tractability over inadvertent 160kph wheelies any day (it should be noted that the S1000R also has anti-wheelie control built into its DTC traction control system – it needs it).
Besides, for those hooligans who might be lamenting that the S1000 has been overly tamed, rest assured that tractable doesn’t mean civilised. The S1000’s engine actually remains just as insistent as the Double-R version, the highly tuned engine nervously “hunting” on steady throttle, as if it can’t quite believe anyone would bother riding it below 4,000rpm. It barks on overrun, occasionally spits when you back off from high revs and always howls like a superbike no matter what speed you’re cruising at. Naysayers, again looking at that 33hp deficit on the spec sheet, will try to decry the R as too civilised; in reality it still chomps at the bit like a Rottweiler with its eye on a particularly weedy poodle.
BMW tries to further tame the R’s wayward ways by kicking out the frame’s steering angle 0.8 degrees and increasing the trail by five millimetres, both measures contributing to the single-R’s 22mm longer wheelbase. All the changes are designed to render a little stability to what otherwise might be a hyperactive ride at high speeds (those who have never ridden a high-powered naked sports bike should note that just removing the aerodynamic front fairing and raising the handlebars to a comfortable riding position so dramatically shifts weight to the rear wheel so that the front end gets decidedly light and the steering twitchy). That said, the raked-out front end does render the R’s steering heavier at low speeds than the double-R’s, and not quite as linear. Again, critics will decry that 33hp deficit, but I’d suggest the more noticeable loss in real-world performance is that smidgen of reluctance to turn in that BMW built into the S1000R’s frame geometry in its quest for high-speed stability.
The resultant seating position, however, is comfy as a couch, the higher handlebar and slightly lower and further forward foot pegs a tonic to those of who suffer from wonky spines. The seat itself is also lower to the ground, despite being more generously padded than the RR’s perch. It all adds up to a bike more comfortable than a hyper-focused superbike but, as I mentioned above, with most of its capabilities.
That’s also true of the S1000R’s electronics. In base form, the naked bike’s high-tech handling enhancements are simpler than the RR’s, there being just two modes – Rain (which cuts max power to 136hp) and Road – managing traction and the engine output. But fit the optional Sports package and one gets a more sophisticated engine management system with racier Dynamic (which offers minimal intervention) and Dynamic Pro (which completely disables the Dynamic Traction Control and is definitely not for newbies) engine management modes.
As well, BMW offers its Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) as an option. By toggling through the ABS switch, one can alter both front and rear suspensions between Soft, Normal and Hard damping settings, this last largely reserved for track use, especially when the DTC system is in Dynamic or Dynamic Pro mode. Set to its softest position, however, compliance is almost sport-touring friendly.
If there’s an oddity to BMW’s naked bike, it’s that the company claims that the S1000R concept is a recent inspiration. Most motorcycle companies plan their naked versions at the same time as they start engineering the superbikes on which they are based, but Alexander Buckan, BMW’s chief designer, says the R’s styling was penned only recently.
In most aspects, there’s little effect of the S1000R being an afterthought, but one can tell the potent engine was designed to be covered by the RR’s all-encompassing superbike fairing and not to be exposed as motorcycle art (à la Ducati, for instance). The water pump and its attendant piping, for instance, would never be as prominently displayed on an engine destined from the start for naked use. That huge under-slung catalytic converter, partially hidden by the fairing on the RR, is no thing of beauty either.
These are, nonetheless, minor foibles on a bike that extends the appeal of motorcycling’s most powerful engine to a wider, less track-focused audience. Indeed, that’s the allure of the single-R version of BMW’s venomous S1000. It commutes in comfort. It will, if accessorised with saddlebags and a small windscreen, tour to destinations distant and still scare the heck out of you. That’s the magic of the naked versions of superbikes and none does it better than BMW.
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Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
Results
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Reem Baynounah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Afham, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle
7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Haqeeqy, Dane O’Neill, John Hyde.
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
