We're looking forward to seeing everyone at Vines of Guildford for tomorrow's MacMillan Big Coffee Morning!

It's the final countdown! Only two more days until we're Riding off to Redhill! From 1 October our teams will start moving; Parts will move on 1 October, Workshop moves over on 2 October and our showroom will follow on 3 October. If you have any queries feel free to contact the team on 01883 349433.

BMW S 1000 RR voted MCN Machine of the Year

The incredible BMW S 1000 RR has been crowned Motorcycle News’ 2012 ‘Machine of the Year’ – the second time that the RR has taken the highest accolade in the MCN Awards. The RR also won the ‘Best Sportsbike Unlimited’ award for supersports machines with engines of any capacity.

The 2012 ‘Machine of the Year’ honour is an unprecedented fifth MCN Award for the S 1000 RR. Previous accolades include the 2010 ‘Machine of the Year’ and ‘Sportsbike over 751cc’ awards in its first year, as well as the 2011 ‘Best Sportsbike over 601cc’ award and this year’s ‘Best Sportsbike Unlimited’ title.

Praising the S 1000 RR, Motorcycle News said: “The incredible and class-redefining BMW S 1000 RR has once again scooped the Machine of the Year crown. It’s the second time the staggeringly capable superbike has won the award. BMW entered the hardest class in the world and led it at the first attempt in 2010. It scarcely seemed possible to improve on the original, but do it they did. MCN hailed the 2012 model as being as great a leap over the outgoing bike as the first S 1000 RR was over the Japanese competition.”

In addition, the BMW K 1600 GT has won the coveted ‘Tourer of the Year’ award for the second consecutive year; which itself took the title from BMW’s lauded R 1200 RT in 2010. The K 1600 GT and GTL variant have been a big sales success, re-emphasising BMW Motorrad’s dominance of the touring sector.


Explaining the K 1600 GT’s second consecutive category honour, MCN said: “BMW’s six-cylinder tourer is the stuff of concept model fantasies and boyhood dreams. With the performance of a sports car and the comfort of a Range Rover it’s just as special in real life. 160bhp, 24 valves, those corona headlamps and every extra you can think of, many of them included as standard, the imposing K 1600 GT continues to set the standard for trans-continental cruising.”

Judged and presented by Motorcycle News, the UK’s best-selling motorcycle publication, the annual MCN Awards recognise technical innovations, outstanding motorcycles and sales success within the industry.

Adrian Roderick, BMW Motorrad General Manager, said: “It’s a real endorsement for the UK’s biggest motorcycle publication to confirm that the S 1000 RR and the K 1600 GT are still the undisputed kings of their respective classes.

“To be recognised as the leader in two vital sectors, one which BMW Motorrad has been at the forefront of for decades, and one which it has entered and dominated immediately, proves that the pioneering work of BMW continues to pay off.

“With motorcycles like the K 1600 GT and S 1000 RR we are pushing the boundaries of innovation and performance for riders; while models such as the high-tech HP4 with semi-active suspension, and the C evolution electric maxi-scooter, represent the future for BMW Motorrad and of motorcycling itself.”

As a farewell to our Caterham premises, on Saturday , 29 September we will have a selection of offers and discounts* on our new and Approved Used Bikes & up to 40% off on selected Motorrad clothing.

BMW HP4 – the beginning of a new generation
An interview with RR and HP4 Product Manager Josef Maechle

Accolade heaped upon accolade – just one way to describe the reaction of the world’s press when they first got to grips with the BMW S 1000 RR during the autumn of 2009. At the end of 2011, BMW Motorrad released an updated version of the RR to a waiting world.

During the period between Christmas 2011 and New Year of 2012, four of Europe’s leading motorcycle publications staged a premiere 1000cc superbike group test at Spain’s Almeria Circuit. The result of which, the latest RR romped to victory. Of course, this led to a new wave of accolades in the direction of BMW Motorrad.

It wasn’t just a simple, straightforward case of the new RR being the quickest machine at the tortuous circuit – by a considerable margin as it happened – but in a controlled series of tests, BMW’s genuine road-racing replica was proven to be the fastest, most powerful, best handling and, above all, the safest!

The tested machine was the RR Sport, complete with updated Race ABS, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), and adjustable power modes among other components exclusive to the Sport model. Simply put, not one of its competitors came close to upstaging the German sports bike.


Come June 2012 and BMW announces the imminent arrival of a new machine based on the RR: the HP4. As befitting the HP (High Performance) designation – first seen in 2005 with the Boxer-engine range of HP2 Enduro, followed by the HP2 Megamoto and HP2 Sport – the HP4 is nothing short of perfection in the performance-based world of race-replica superbikes.

The impressive specification sheets read like a wish list; 199kg weight including the fitment of Race ABS, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and a tank of fuel. Launch control, full length titanium exhaust, adjustable on-the-move traction control in race ‘Slick’ mode, technology that allows full power capability in ‘Rain’ mode through the use of clever electronics, Brembo race-spec front braking system with new nine-point fixing discs… and much more.

Typical of BMW motorcycles, the HP4 carries first time pioneering technology to be used on a production machine. A trip down memory lane will record BMW being the first in 1935 to deliver hydraulically-damped telescopic forks on models R 12 and R 17. Also, in 1988, BMW became the first manufacturer to develop and install motorcycle-specific ABS to a production motorcycle in the shape of the K 100. With the HP4, BMW Motorrad continues the trend of being first.

While the HP4 uses the same racing genes of the 193HP, 999cc RR, there has been extensive research and development by the BMW Motorrad design team to deliver a totally new high-performance experience. The biggest talking point of the HP4 is the fitment of Dynamic Damping Control (DDC), a unique suspension and, therefore, rider aid.


While the DDC system’s mechanics and technology to provide automated suspension adjustment according to differing surface conditions and riding styles are now well documented – anything new that is geared to performance and safety in motorcycling is big news – up to September 2012, not one person outside of the BMW Motorrad design team had practical experience with DDC, or indeed the extended performance the HP4 offers.

But this changed in early September when the HP4 was presented to world’s motorcycling press at Circuito de Jerez, one of Spain’s famous MotoGP racing circuits, and the chance to experience what the HP4 promised to deliver. Of course, this was under the watchful eye of the BMW Motorrad design team, among who was BMW Motorrad’s RR and HP4 Product Manager Josef Maechler.

“We invited 80 members of the motorcycling press from around the globe including the Americas,” he said. “They were formed into two groups of 40 riders. And while these guests were keen to sample the HP4 at a track environment, the riding sessions were conducted to ensure maximum riding time in complete safety.

“But even after the first riding session we could see on their faces that the HP4 experience was greater than they had expected. The resulting conversations went in the same excited direction.


“For all of the riders, they had never experienced what an effect DDC has on stability and chassis performance and were obviously delighted at how it performs. They were even more surprised to learn the reaction time of the ever changing dynamics of DDC is 10-milliseconds and the DDC system comes purely from the BMW Motorrad development team and technology first used in BMW cars.

“Of course, the riders were also highly impressed with the HP4 engine and chassis performance. The fact that a 1000cc motorcycle with199-kilos in running order is a major point, the riders also realised the weight saving aided the HP4’s steering dynamics. With 2.4kg reduction from the use of forged aluminium wheels, that’s a lot of mass to lose from unsprung weight and this makes a big difference especially on circuit. Add DDC to this and you have race-like handling with exceptional stability.

“Weight saving of 5.4kg also comes with the use of the Akrapovič purpose-built titanium exhaust and, yes, that still includes an emissions compliant catalyser. By using the sports focused exhaust and carefully matching it to the HP4 engine and engine ancillaries, the midrange torque performance is greatly enhanced between 6000rpm and 9750rpm. This is something that really raised the rider’s smiles...”

So, does the HP4 follow the same pattern as the RR in terms of superior performance, rider safety and the title of best 1000cc superbike?


The world’s leading weekly motorcycling newspaper, UK-based MotorCycle News (MCN) is one of the first titles to publish its HP4 riding test and verdict. Senior Road Tester for MCN Michael Neeves had this to say of his first experience with the HP4:

“BMW keep making their S 1000 RR better – it leaves its rivals trailing even further behind.” On the subject of the new BMW Motorrad DDC system, MCN reports “I’d have been as impressed with a standard S 1000 RR with its ‘normal’ suspension dialled-in to suit the track, but there’s the thing. Who would actually get to that level adjusting their suspension? It takes time, knowledge and inclination to get it right and by the time you’ve figured it out, it’s time to pack up and go home again. DDC saves all that hassle.

“The DDC should be even better for the road. We can’t wait to try it… What’s really exciting is this signals the start of the semi-active electronic suspension revolution”

And now the world knows what BMW Motorrad already knew about the HP4 – the best just got better.

For more information about the new BMW HP4 or to register your interest please click here>>>

Vines Caterham team soon to be Vines Motorrad are busy busy getting ready for the big move to Vines of Redhill! We're taking over the upstairs showroom and decking it out in true Motorrad fashion.

Vines Caterham team are getting ready for our big move into Redhill. Our Parts team are moving on 1 October, Workshop on 2 October and our Showroom on 3 October. We'll still be operational whilst moving across the two sites and can make provisions for our Service customers during this move week. Call us for more info 01883 349433.

Tough day at the office for BMW Motorrad Motorsport

It was a day to remember at the Nürburgring for BMW Motorrad Motorsport, but for all the wrong reasons. Marco Melandri had two uncharacteristic front-end crashes on his S 1000 RR which meant that he failed to score any points, while team-mate Leon Haslam’s seventh place in race one was the team’s best result of the weekend, as he also crashed out of contention in race two.

It was a difficult end to what looked like a promising start to BMW Motorrad’s ‘home’ round of this year’s WSBK series, with Melandri qualifying on the front row and looking forwards to defending the championship lead he had earned in Moscow a fortnight ago. Furthermore, in the earlier Superstock 1000 FIM Cup race, BMW Motorrad Italia Goldbet RR rider Sylvain Barrier had put his championship challenge right back on track with a decisive victory that brings him to within just six points of series leader Eddi La Marra.

Grip was definitely an issue at the 5.137-km German circuit today though, as the lap times were nowhere near what the top Superbike riders had been achieving in qualifying and Superpole on Friday and Saturday. Despite sunny and warm race day conditions, several riders crashed out in the early stages of WSBK race one, including Michel Fabrizio, Carlos Checa, Jonathan Rea and Davide Guigliano.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s Marco Melandri was next to pay the price, with an uncharacteristic crash on lap 5 when he lost the front-end on the approach into the bottom hairpin. This handed the advantage to his championship rival Max Biaggi, who went on to take his first win since Aragon in July and in doing so, regained the series lead.


Despite nursing a painful shoulder injury, Leon Haslam dug deep throughout the long race and produced a brave performance on his RR to finish in seventh place, with Ayrton Badovini coming home in ninth on the BMW Motorrad Italia Goldbet SBK Team RR.

In race two, a determined Melandri looked set to put the disappointment of race one behind him as he retook the provisional WSBK championship lead when Max Biaggi crashed on the second lap. With lots of heated battles soon developing throughout the pack, Marco looked in good shape as he moved up into the leading trio of riders that also included Tom Sykes and Chaz Davies.

The front three soon pulled a gap on their chasing rivals and Marco then took the lead on lap 7 when he out-braked Tom Sykes at the end of the start/finish straight. The determined Italian then immediately upped the pace, pulling a gap on the two riders behind him and looked set to control things from the front when, to the surprise of all around him, Marco crashed out of the lead on lap 8 at the MGK Chicane after losing the front end.

Just one lap later, team-mate Leon also crashed out of the race, but was able to walk away unaided. In the end, it was Ayrton Badovini who was the top BMW finisher, with another ninth place finish. Max Biaggi, who had remounted after his earlier crash, finished the race in 13th position, claiming three championship points that help him increase his lead over Marco by 9.5 points. However, with four more races in the 2012 series remaining, there is everything still to play for. This will be the team’s focus as it prepares for the upcoming round at Portimão in Portugal in two weeks time.


Race two was eventually won by Welshman Chaz Davies, who celebrated his first ever WSBK win in his debut season. BMW Motorrad Motorsport later confirmed that Davies will be lining up alongside Marco Melandri as his team-mate in the 2013 FIM Superbike World Championship.

Marco Melandri: “Today was my first time to have a double zero. It was two different races, but with the same result. I am very disappointed for the team, which is working so hard. In race one I struggled a lot with rear grip and was losing a lot compared to the guys in front of me so I was trying to catch them in braking. I was braking very hard every time but in corner eight I took a bump and just lost the front. I don’t know yet what was the reason for my crash in race two. I was on the straight and lost the front. That was strange. Now I will recharge my batteries and fight back in Portugal.”

Leon Haslam: “Race one was really bad. I felt I had the pace to run with Eugene Laverty and Chaz Davies. Earlier on I was struggling with the feel from the front and I found it quite hard to pass the other guys. But then midway through the race I was also really struggling to change direction and in the last six or seven laps I had zero grip. My lap times went up to high 59s and even two minutes in the end, while yesterday I did a race simulation all in 56s. So for me it was really disappointing because it should have been a podium but it was difficult out there with my injury and the lack of power in my shoulder.


“In race two I felt pretty comfortable. I was in a battle with Eugene and Leon Camier who eventually finished second and third. I made a mistake a few laps before the crash which dropped me back behind the Ducatis but I managed to get back past them and catch up to Camier. But then I just lost the front. I never really had any slides before, it was just in that lap and it put me down pretty fast. It was strange. In race one a lot of people crashed that way, in race two it was me and Marco. Normally the crashes are on braking, but this time it was off brakes. I don’t have any major damages, just a lot of bruises. I landed on the same shoulder again and hurt my elbow and finger but nothing too major. I am happy about a two-week break now and then we will work on to getting back to where we should be. Today we were in a battle for second or third coming from 12th on the grid with my injuries so I can’t be unhappy but I am disappointed for the crash.”

Bernhard Gobmeier (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director): “It was a day to forget. Overall the weekend went well. We made big steps forward and the bikes were well prepared for the races. The riders felt comfortable on their RRs and we proved that our race pace as well as our qualifying pace was very competitive. But today we had bad luck on our side; neither the riders nor the team are to blame.

“A big thank you to our crews who again worked so hard this weekend. Marco was on his way to claim two more top positions, but it was not meant to be today. Hats off to Leon: despite his injury he fought so bravely. Now we are looking forward to Portimão. There are four more races to go with 100 points on offer. We will now focus on the coming races where again we will give our best.”

New World and National Records For BMW Motorcycles Andy Sills and Erin Hunter Pilot the BMW S 1000 RR to New Heights at Bonneville.

Legendary landspeed racer Andy Sills claimed another world record riding solo on a 2012 BMW S 1000 RR at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials on August 29.  Sills recorded a flying mile two-way average speed of 204.784 mph, setting a new FIM record in the Partially Streamlined Naturally Aspirated 1000 cc class at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats, west of Salt Lake City, Utah.  Sills bested the previous world record set in 2009 by more than four-and-a-half miles per hour.

Erin Hunter, also an accomplished landspeed racer and ambassador for women in the sport, set an AMA national record on the same BMW S 1000 RR with a top speed of 207.758 and a two-way average of 205.566 mph (besting the previous record by over six miles per hour) at the Bonneville event.

“We’ve had the good fortune to race a number of different bikes throughout our careers, including streamliners,” commented Erin, “and the BMW S 1000 RR is incredibly stable at high speeds.  The super stable platform allows us to focus on our racing skills without having to worry about the performance of the bike.  You can trust it and go all out.”

 “Andy and Erin contacted me about a week before the trials and asked if I could provide them with an S 1000 RR for Bonneville,” said Gary Orr, co-owner and general manager of San Diego BMW Motorcycles.  “We’ve been successfully prepping race bikes for them for the past several years, so we were happy to help them out again.”


Orr and his mechanics took the production bike and installed a BMW HP Race Powerkit, a LeoVince SBK exhaust pipe, and race body work.  In the meantime, Brock’s Performance shipped Orr a suspension lowering kit.  With little time to spare, the race-ready S 1000 RR was delivered to Andy and Erin the day before they left for Bonneville.  The couple had FastSkinz race vinyl added to the bike at the BUB event.

Now in its 9th year, the Bonneville BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials continue to be solely dedicated to motorcycles. The event offers world and national record breaking opportunities and attracts top contenders in many classes.

Andy Sills and Erin Hunter are avid high-speed riders with a combined 17 years of landspeed racing competition.  Together, they have earned 19 world and national landspeed records with streamliner motorcycles as well as traditional race bikes.  They hold a Guinness World Record for the fastest speed on a motorcycle ridden by two people simultaneously – a record achieved on a 2011 BMW S 1000 RR reaching an average two-way speed of 181.426 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats where Andy was the rider for the qualification run (with Erin as the pillion passenger) and  they switched for the record return run – with Erin as the rider and Andy as the pillion passenger.  Erin also is named in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest female with a World Record in a streamliner motorcycle.

Andy became known in the BMW community in 2005 for setting the FIM land speed record of approximately 176 mph on the BMW K 1200 S at Bonneville, during BUB’s Speed Trials.  The dynamic duo will continue to race the 2012 S 1000 RR this year and next with the goal of setting new speed records.  Avid BMW riders, their San Francisco garage also houses an HP2 Sport, an R1200 S and a K 1300 S.

Melandri closes championship gap at rain-affected Silverstone

Today’s two Superbike World Championship races at Silverstone took place in the trickiest weather conditions imaginable, with the most important outcome for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team being the fact that Marco Melandri has closed the gap to championship leader Max Biaggi to just 10.5 points, thanks to a carefully managed strategy in both races.

Race one was red-flagged in the early laps and then delayed before being re-started as a ‘wet’ race. In one of the most thrilling races of the year, all the skill, talent and bravery of the WSBK competitors was tested to the limit as the constantly changing weather conditions made it impossible to predict who would be the strongest.


Leon Haslam enjoyed several spells in the lead - being out in front on his S 1000 RR for more than half of the race laps - and was looking good for his first WSBK race victory for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team, but the local hero began to struggle with grip levels in the final laps as the increasingly wet surface took the heat out of his tyres. Despite this, he battled on to eventually finish race one in a creditable sixth place, just in front of his team-mate Marco Melandri in seventh. However, it was the turn of BMW Motorrad Italia Goldbet SBK Team riders Michel Fabrizio and Ayrton Badovini to shine, as they came from 15th and 18th on the grid to finish on the podium in second and third, behind race one winner Loris Baz.

Race two was just as dramatic, with the start delayed again and a wet race declared. In the extremely difficult conditions, a fascinating contest unraveled with positions changing every corner as some riders without championship aspirations took more risks than others. The trick was staying on, riding a smart race and thinking about the title, which was the exact strategy used by Marco Melandri, as he concentrated on staying ahead of his championship rival Max Biaggi.

Inevitably, some riders fell foul of the conditions and as the rain became heavier, the number of crashes increased, with Davide Guigliano, Ayrton Badovini, Jakub Smrz, Jonathan Rea, Carlos Checa, Maxime Berger, Tom Sykes and even race leader Loris Baz crashing out before the race was red-flagged for safety reasons and the results taken back one lap. In the end, there were just 17 listed finishers and half points were awarded.


After some delay, Sylvain Guintoli was declared the winner. Marco Melandri finished in eighth place and Leon Haslam - who had unfortunately crashed on some oil on the track but had remounted his S 1000 RR - was eventually credited with 17th place. Importantly for Marco, he finished in front of Biaggi for the second time today, as his fellow Italian had crashed out of race one earlier. This means that Marco is now within 10.5 points of the WSBK championship lead, with Leon in a clear sixth place. With today’s results and thanks to some intelligent race craft , BMW Motorrad has not only increased its WSBK title ambitions but also increased its lead in the Manufacturer’s Championship.

The next round of a thrilling 2012 WSBK Championship takes place in three week’s time when the series makes its debut in Moscow, Russia.

Marco Melandri: "This day actually was unbelievable. The two races were completely different, but they were both equally difficult. It was very important to finish today. Many young riders who are not involved in the championship fight were pushing very hard so the races were not easy. But I am so happy because we leave here without any damage and good points. Now I am looking forward to Moscow because the track is new for everybody. I just hope that the weather will be more stable there."


Leon Haslam: "It was another bad race day. There was no fault of the team or the bike. We could have won race one but were unfortunate with the weather and the tyre. In race two we had an issue during the first half of the race. There was something strange with the centre of the tyre when it was dry. The more and more it rained the tyre became better and I started to catch the guys again but then I crashed on some oil. I regained the race and got up to 14th but then it was red flagged and the race was classified on the result after lap eight, so I was out of the points. It is really frustrating. They should have stopped the race before."

Head of Race Operations Andrea Dosoli:"Overall we are happy because we increased our lead in the Manufacturer’s Championship and we reduced the gap to Max Biaggi. But we would have preferred to achieve this in a fair competition with proper track conditions. The conditions were extreme and dangerous for the riders. I am glad with the job done by Leon and Marco because they were able to manage two very difficult races. Unfortunately Leon crashed in the second race on some oil on the wet track, otherwise he would have been much further up in the results. In race one Leon deserved a better result because he was able to lead the race and we are sure that he can soon achieve his target and get this top result he deserves."

Thanks to all of our staff and customers who joined us last weekend on the Maxi Scooter ride out to Brighton, we had a blast!

Have you heard our Caterham branch is relocating? Read more - http://blog.vinesbmwbikes.co.uk/2012/08/riding-into-redhill.html

We're supporting the MacMillan Big Coffee Morning on Friday, 28 September. Join us for cake and tea in support of this charity!