As well as the electronic suspension, the BMW HP4 had a new 15-stage traction control system, four riding modes, Brembo Monobloc front calipers, lightweight wheels, racing ABS, quickshifter, 200-section rear Pirelli Diablo Super Corsa SP, mini LEDs, tinted screen and an enclosed bellypan all included in the price. There was also a BMW HP4 Carbon model, with carbon fibre body panels.
BMW HP4 Carbon review
Could the HP4 be too good for the road? It operates stratospheres above what you can get away with and at low speeds an inline four engine lacks character compared to a V4 or V-twin. But you can’t argue with its performance.
Its short-stroke motor should be peaky, but it has so much instant grunt at low revs that you’d never know it and only the Honda gets close to the BMW’s instant acceleration at the low end of the tacho. And when there’s a straight long enough to let it off its leash for a moment, your head spins with sensory overload.
There’s crushing acceleration, a high-pitched exhaust howl and the crackle and pop of the quickshifter doing its thing through the gears.
With its semi-active suspension constantly adjusting the damping as you ride, the HP4 never gets out of shape. The fork and shock are soft unless they need to stiffen up under braking and acceleration loads, so the ride is plush and you always feel the tyres digging in, searching for maximum grip.
With its clever suspension, predictable power delivery and race-grade brakes, you can’t ruffle the BMW HP4’s feathers on the road. A choice of four electronic riding modes give you ascending levels of engine response and suspension stiffness and descending levels of traction control, anti-wheelie and ABS. So, there’s a mode to increase performance and safety to suit any conditions.
The motor is smooth, the riding position is natural and it even has heated grips. Our guest tester Berryman is gobsmacked: "It feels like juggling with a chainsaw. It’s so brutally fast and powerful, but not unmanageable. Every gear feels like first and the acceleration never seems to stop. It’s a struggle to recalibrate your brain to what’s happening."