BMW Motorrad launched the sensational new S 1000 RR superbike at Phillip Island in Victoria this week, with MotoOnline.com.au attending the launch on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A technical introduction took place at BMW’s training headquarters on Tuesday, where the Australian press were displayed the tech features of the German manufacturer’s first litre class sportsbike.

It was revealed that there will be two separate models released in Australia, one being the previously announced standard edition for $21,990, while the latest version is the S 1000 RR Sport at $24,990 (all pricing + orc).

The Sport edition comes equipped with Race ABS and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), while both models are released with BMW’s quick shifter and have four separate riding modes that are available – Rain, Sport, Race and Slick modes.

Additional options for the inline four-cylinder include an anti-theft alarm for $505, while you can look like Aussie Troy Corser, BMW’s factory Superbike World Championship rider, with the vastly popular Motorsport colour sceme for an extra $765.

And what are our first impressions after the launch at the scenic 4.445 –kilometre Island circuit? The S 1000 RR is an extremely impressive piece of equipment – as proven by factory BMW test pilot Steve Martin’s pace of 1:38 lap times on the standard street bike during the test

Martin also doubles as the current World Endurance Champion and international World Superbike commentator.

BMW claims 181 horsepower at the rear wheel thanks to the 990cc liquid-cooled DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine, and you can feel every inch of it!

Adding to the impressive engine power is the fact that the electronic trickery that’s featured is so advanced that general motorcyclists will begin to understand exactly what racers are experiencing when speaking of traction control and how it reacts – not to mention the confidence inspiring ABS.

Weighing in at 206.5 kilograms wet including the ABS and DTC, the handling of the S 1000 RR is mostly made up by a bridge-type aluminium alloy frame, fully-adjustable Sachs suspension, Brembo brakes and Metzeler’s Racetec K3 tyres.

As a sneak preview we can tell you that it handles everything the we threw at it during the epic day at the Island, however you’ll have to wait until next Thursday to watch an onboard video from the test and then Friday will see MotoOnline.com.au’s official Launch Test report.