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 751 cc' awards in its first year, as well as the 2011 'Best Sportsbike over 601 cc' 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. 160 bhp, 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.

"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," said Adrian Roderick, BMW Motorrad General Manager.

"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."

Posted in: Adrian Roderick,Bike,BMW,BMW Motorrad,BMW S 1000 RR,Europe,Machine of the Year,Super/Sports Bike,Two-Wheeler