Somerset farmers last night welcomed the latest version of the BMW S 1000 R, which is basically a detuned S 1000 RR with the fairings off.

“It was bad enough when the Honda CBR 1000 RR-R came out,” said Taunton cider producer Marvin Spelunker, 58.

“As you may or not know, there are a limited number of rs in the world, and with bike manufacturers using them up with gay abandon, loike, there weren’t enough left for us to go around saying ‘Oh arr’ all the time, which is a crucial part of our cultural heritage, innit.

“It caused no end of spuddling, so this new Beemer is just the badger. Loike.”

Tidy - The neat TFT screen and the slightly useless mirrors

Marvin, you never spoke a truer word, loike. The S 1000 RR was a beast of a machine in the hands of a top rider on a race track, unleashing 207bhp at 13,500rpm, but for 99.999% of road riders, completely pointless in the real world. Whatever that is.

So it was with some satisfaction that I climbed on board the R and noted happily that the wider, higher bars meant a significantly more comfortable riding position than the RR.

The mirrors are nicely poised between slightly useful and slightly useless, giving me a lovely view of my elbows with bits of road peeking out coyly behind.

Still, never mind. The lovely TFT screen gives you much more information at a glance – speed, revs, gear, range to empty, time and which mode you’re in, Rain, Road or Dynamic.

Press the go button, and the air fills with the familiar eager growl of an inline four, rising to an unmitigated howl as it nears maximum output at 11,000rpm.

Vroom - 165bhp is more than enough for satisfying acceleration

Not that you need to go anywhere near that, mind you. With 165bhp propelling a piffling 199kg of bike, 6.5kg lighter than the previous version, even Road mode hurls you towards the horizon with satisfying alacrity as you snick up through the six-speed gearbox with the firm but slick quickshifter.

Superb - The handling is brilliantly light and instinctive

The handling is superbly instinctive, and more agile than the previous model. Just think, and in a blink those wide bars and steep fork rake are tipping you into corners with scalpel-like accuracy.

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The brakes are brutally effective, as I found the first time I tried them in earnest and nearly went flying over the bars to join the old dear in the Nissan Micra in front, but cornering ABS will keep you alive on the way into bends, and cornering traction control on the way out.

Stripped - Removing the flyscreen and fairings from the RR creates a lovely profile

The flyscreen on the RR has been dumped along with the fairings, but even with the slightly more upright riding position, bombing down the motorway is entirely tolerable, with the engine humming away at a little over 4,000rpm, since sixth gear is taller than in the previous model.

The all-new suspension is on the firm side, especially in Dynamic mode, so avoid potholes and rough roads if you want to cosset your buns, and although progress was entirely brisk in Road mode, Dynamic adds a harsher, more aggressive edge to power delivery, which led to a very satisfying moment as I flung the bike past a miffed Porsche 911 driver. Or whatever 911s are called these days.

Cough - It's obvious that BMW test riders don't pay for the tyres

So what’s this bike for? As much fun as you can handle for weekend blasts or track days, and both cheaper and more usable than the £15,590 RR.

And if you can’t swing to a new one, tidy previous versions from 2014 or so are on autotrader.co.uk/bikes from about £6,500 with under 20,000 miles on the clock.

Subtle - One of the three colour schemes on offer

Either way, Marvin and the farmers of Somerset thank you from the bottom of their cider barrels. Loike.

Bike supplied by BMW Motorrad Belfast, charleshurstgroup.co.uk/bmw.

The Facts: BMW S 1000 R

Engine: 999cc liquid-cooled inline four

Power: 165bhp @ 11,000rpm

Torque: 84 lb ft @ 9,250rpm

Colours: White/red/blue; red; grey/black/yellow

Price: £12,055

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