Unobtainium squared: BMW releases details on its HP4 Race

If everyone who reads Common Tread this week sends in $1, and we can figure out which strings we need to pull and somehow get our name on the right list, we'll buy one of the 750 HP4 Race models BMW plans to build. That's just 750 for the entire world, at a price around $85,000ish, if you must ask.

Then I'll get former AMA Superbike Champion Miguel Duhamel out of retirement to ride it, have ZLA cameraman Ryan put a GoPro in front of him, push Miguel's "talk" button and the result will be gold.

Why Duhamel? Have you seen the guy ride? Have you heard the guy talk? It's the two things he's best at. And he's retired, so maybe he's available. I won't even ride it myself. Far less capable motorcycles are sufficient to make me feel inadequate.

Back to reality

OK, so none of that is going to happen (NOTE: Please don't send me $1!), especially the part about us getting our name on that super-exclusive list of 750. So instead, let's look at the BMW HP4 Race from a distance, our snotty little noses smearing up the display window glass alongside all the other little people.

BMW announced this model last year at the EICMA show. If an S 1000 RR isn't enough for you, and the limited edition HP4 still isn't exclusive enough, BMW now has the HP4 Race. BMW revealed full information about the motorcycle yesterday at the Shanghai Auto Show.

To sum up, what you're getting here is a track bike that's slightly lighter than a World Superbike race bike. You're getting 215 horsepower to propel 378 fully fueled pounds. You're getting trick bits such as adjustable swingarm pivot and adjustable steering head angle. You get lightweight everything, from the carbon fiber frame and wheels to the titanium valves and the aluminum fuel tank. You get bragging rights like the rest of us can't even imagine.

You're also totally out of excuses if you can't get around the track faster than your riding buddies, too. Just warning you. Oh, and you'll need to buy that pricey race gas. But I guess that shouldn't pose a financial hardship for HP4 Race owners.

Really, I don't know what else to say about excess like this, so I'm just going to marvel at the spec sheet and leave it at that.

BMW HP4 Race
Engine	Inline-four-cylinder, 16 valves, double overhead cams
Displacement	999 cc
Bore x stroke	80 mm x 49.7 mm
Power	215 horsepower at 13,900 rpm
Frame	Carbon fiber monocoque with adjustable swingarm pivot and steering head
Front suspension	Öhlins FGR 300 fork, adjustable rebound and compression damping, adjustable preload, Öhlins SD052 adjustable steering damper
Rear suspension	Öhlins TTX 36 GP central spring strut, adjustable rebound and compression damping, adjustable preload, adjustable top spring strut pivot point, adjustable spring strut deflection
Travel (front/rear)	5.1 inches/4.7 inches
Wheelbase	56.7 inches
Steering head angle	65.5 degrees (adjustable in +/- 0.5- or 1.0-degree steps)
Front wheel	Carbon fiber, 3.5 inches x 17 inches
Rear wheel	Carbon fiber, 6 inches x 17 inches
Front tire	120/70ZR 17 Pirelli Diabolo Superbike Slick SC2
Rear tire	200/60ZR 17 Pirelli Diabolo Superbike Slick SC2
Front brake	Brembo Racing twin floating 320 mm discs with four-piston monobloc WSBK GP4-PR fixed caliper with titanium pistons
Rear brake	Brembo Racing single 220 mm disc with four-piston WSBK fixed caliper with titanium pistons
Wet weight	378 pounds