BMW Motorrad goes into the Malaysian MotoGP weekend with a track weapon of its own, the HP4 Race which has arrived in Malaysia to the tune of RM 520,900 including GST, excluding insurance – a fair bit more than the standard BMW S 1000 RR, which retails for RM 106,900.

The HP4 Race has a natural rival in the Ducati 1299 Superleggera, although the Bolognese machine is one that is homologated for road use. The slick tyre-shod Motorrad machine counters with track-ready appointments, including a carbon-fibre frame which weighs just 7.6 kg, representing a 33% reduction from the S 1000 RR‘s 11.6 kg aluminium frame, according to BMW.


Power comes from a 999 cc, liquid-cooled DOHC 16-valve inline-four engine which is rated for 215 hp at 13,900 rpm, and 120 Nm of torque at 10,000 rpm. Outputs are sent to a six-speed, straight-cut gear transmission and chain final drive, with slipper clutch as standard.

Armed to the hilt with electronics, the HP4 Race includes 15-level traction and engine braking control; four ride modes – Wet, Intermediate, Dry 1 and Dry 2 – are included, while datalogging joins lap timing and GPS comes as standard. Its race pedigree also shows with the inclusion of a pit lane speed limiter, launch control, wheelie control, spring travel and brake pressure sensors.


Further driving the HP4 Race’s track-only orientation is a hardware suite which includes adjustable eight-position footrests, adjustable handlebars, seat height adjustment, adjustable steering head angle and swingarm centre of rotation, reverse shift pattern and up-and-down quickshifter.

Suspension hardware is from the top flight of superbike racing, with an Ohlins FGR300 Superbike World Cup front fork handling road-holding duties with an Ohlins SD052 steering damper. For endurance racing purposes, the HP4 Race’s front wheel can be liberated in quick-release fashion, with the fork legs able to twist out of the way for quick wheel changes. An Ohlins TTX36 GP unit handles rear monoshock duties.


More race-grade componentry for braking features. Brembo GP4-R calipers with titanium pistons clamp on a pair of 320 mm-diameter discs in front, driven by a Brembo RCS 19×18 master cylinder. Around the back, a four-piston Brembo caliper with titanium pistons grip a 220 mm rear disc.

Rolling stock is a pair of carbon-fibre wheels, and along with the lightweight frame made from motorsport’s favourite woven material, combine to give the HP4 Race a weight of 171 kg, fully fueled, ready to ride. Fuel capacity, incidentally, is 17.5 litres.

Limited to 750 units worldwide, the HP4 Race is hand-built by a dedicated team in Berlin, Germany, and comes solely in BMW Motorsport livery. The limited-run HP4 Race seen here is covered by a two-year, unlimited mileage warranty.