A Bike Versus Car Challenge: Can Anything Beat the HP4?

As a massive bike fan and car lover, I couldn't resist the opportunity to put two vastly different machines through their paces. My friend, a fellow enthusiast, and I decided to conduct a series of challenges that would reveal the key skills of each machine and determine which one comes out on top.

The first challenge was a slalom test, where we navigated our respective vehicles through a winding course. I took to the road in my car, feeling confident with its superior traction and M Sport suspension, while my friend, Chas Davies, rode his 1000cc HP4. The car's rear tyres were larger than its front ones, giving it a more aggressive stance, but I was determined to show that two wheels could take it.

The green flag waved, and we took off. My friend hit the stopwatch, and I was surprised to see him beat me with a time of 30.5 seconds. "That seemed like a pretty good effort," he said, "but two wheels will take it." I couldn't agree more. The HP4's variable ratio steering made it easier to turn at low speeds, and its high-tech launch control system allowed for a smooth getaway. But I was determined to prove that my car had what it took.

The first lap of the slalom course was intense, with both of us pushing our vehicles to the limit. My friend expertly navigated the turns, his HP4 handling like a dream. Meanwhile, I struggled to find traction, and my car's suspension struggled to keep up. The HP4 took the win in this challenge, but I knew that wasn't the end of the story.

Next up was a breaking test, where we slammed on the brakes from 100 miles an hour at the cones. My friend hit the hard pedal, and his HP4 responded with lightning-quick acceleration. But as he approached the final cone, disaster struck – the rear wheel lifted, and my friend had to correct sharply to avoid losing control. The HP4's ABS system kicked in, but it was a close call.

Meanwhile, I took a more measured approach, using the brakes smoothly to bring my car under control. The result? A time of 52 seconds, which left my friend with a gap that seemed insurmountable. "That wasn't what I expected," he said, shaking his head. "The bike may be agile, but the car's got better brakes."

The final challenge was a one-lap race, where we combined our skills to see who could take the win. My friend launched his HP4 with its launch control system, holding it at 8,000 rpm before unleashing a burst of power. He took the racing line, kissing 100 miles an hour as he entered the chicane.

I, meanwhile, hit my own hard pedal and pushed my car into the racing line, feeling the speed and adrenaline rush as I hurtled towards the finish line. The gap between us was enormous, but I refused to give up. As we approached the final turn, I could see my friend's bike taking off like a rocket, leaving me in his dust.

The results were clear: the HP4 had taken the win by over 10 seconds. My car may have been fast and agile, but it couldn't match the raw speed and performance of this superbike. Even one of the finest machines on sale can't keep up with the world's most advanced bike, especially when ridden by a champion like Chas Davies.

The M135i offers incredible performance and agility for its price, but it just can't quite keep up with the likes of the HP4. As I watched my friend ride away into the sunset, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of respect for his bike. It may not have won every challenge, but it had taken him to places that few other vehicles could match.

And as for me? Well, I'm still convinced that both bikes and cars have their own unique charms. As someone who's grown up on the go-kart circuit, I love the raw thrill of driving a car, whether it's a supercar or just a reliable old banger. But I also know that there's something special about riding a bike – the connection to the road, the rush of adrenaline, and the sense of freedom that comes with being one with your machine.

Whatever the result, this challenge has been an absolute blast. It's shown me that both bikes and cars have their strengths and weaknesses, but ultimately, it's all about enjoying the ride.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: ennext a brand new car that's got petrol heads very excited the bmw m135i claims to offer m-car panache for hot hatch cash it's six-cylinder turbocharged engine has performance that leaves a golf gti in the weeds but it's not the only thing bmw has brought out recently that was the new bmw hp4 and according to the bloke riding it it's something of a game changer 26 year old chas davies is one of world's superbikes most exciting talents and the 1000cc hp4 is basically the road version of his race machine at 190 miles an hour it's the quickest superbike on sale we've got three bike versus car challenges which will reveal the key skills of each and show which is best overall jazz now then you are a massive bike fan of course so undoubtedly you're going to think this is terrific yeah you could say that but uh of course i'm a bike lover but i'm also a car lover as well i grew up at a go-kart circuit and i've lived there most of my life so if it's got wheels two or four i'm uh i'm gonna be happy with it okay well i can guarantee that mine's gonna be fun as well it is a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing we will see first we'll test the agility of each machine with a slalom i'll go first with chat on the stopwatch with rear tyres that are larger than the fronts like a proper hot rod the car should have superior traction the m sport suspension does a great job at limiting body roll have you got a penalty then if we hit five seconds for you two and its variable ratio steering means that at low speeds like this less turns of the wheel are needed to change direction come on vicks 30.5 30.5 fair play that seemed like a pretty good effort but two wheels will take it i don't think so okay then biker boy i have noticed that chad has been off warming his tires cheating the hp4 has a high-tech launch control system this holds the engine at 8 000 rpm the optimum revs for a clean getaway then restricts power to prevent the rear wheel spinning and the front wheel lifting although it doesn't always work perfectly a pleasurably poor start there i think you'll find it's the first bike with semi-active suspension constantly adjusting its firmness depending on conditions oh he's clean and tidy he's really really tidy on that turn whereas i was quite larry oh this is not looking good for me oh yeah that was really bad what do you think you did 29.9 29.9 so bear in mind i did 30.5 you you did a 52 dead oh is it yeah that was weird i didn't didn't feel like i was actually you didn't know i just read a book while you were going there you did 25.2 yes i'm looking for victory and challenge two a breaking test we'll slam on the brakes from a hundred miles an hour at the cones and see who can stop in the shortest distance ninety or a hundred miles an hour in third gear there and i still had more revs to go come to the brakes hard hearts hearts hard abs coming back at me on the pedal that stopped in a really short space of time actually from 100. next the bike same speed same breaking point will it be able to stop before me right keep my eyes on the rear view mirror like the car the hp4 has abs it also weighs over a ton less than the car here he comes onto the brakes onto the brakes oh there he goes oh the back wheel went up he had a bit of a wobble on it's a surprising result and a lesson to bikers everywhere even one of the finest most high-tech superbikes on sale can't stop as quickly as a car so it's one apiece the bike's more agile but the car has better brakes finally we'll combine both skills over a one-lap race so three two one go off i go his launch control i think bogs him down slowly oh this is close stuff but i am going into the racing line kissing 100 miles an hour leaving it in third gear i've got to get through this chicane quicker than him he's absolutely pushing that bike he's got his knee down i've got my foot down the car's sinking around a bit trying to get itself sorted 110 120 oh my word here he comes here he comes here he comes i'm doing 130. he's definitely going quicker onto the brakes cool break later than he can i've closed up the gap slightly under the brakes there come on come on come on oh and then he gets onto the street opening it up and then oh it's just gone it's definitely one there's no way i'm going to catch him now in fact the bike wins the race by over 10 seconds but i still think the m135i offers incredible performance and agility for the money it just can't quite keep up with the world's most advanced superbike especially when it's ridden by surefire future world champion chas davies younext a brand new car that's got petrol heads very excited the bmw m135i claims to offer m-car panache for hot hatch cash it's six-cylinder turbocharged engine has performance that leaves a golf gti in the weeds but it's not the only thing bmw has brought out recently that was the new bmw hp4 and according to the bloke riding it it's something of a game changer 26 year old chas davies is one of world's superbikes most exciting talents and the 1000cc hp4 is basically the road version of his race machine at 190 miles an hour it's the quickest superbike on sale we've got three bike versus car challenges which will reveal the key skills of each and show which is best overall jazz now then you are a massive bike fan of course so undoubtedly you're going to think this is terrific yeah you could say that but uh of course i'm a bike lover but i'm also a car lover as well i grew up at a go-kart circuit and i've lived there most of my life so if it's got wheels two or four i'm uh i'm gonna be happy with it okay well i can guarantee that mine's gonna be fun as well it is a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing we will see first we'll test the agility of each machine with a slalom i'll go first with chat on the stopwatch with rear tyres that are larger than the fronts like a proper hot rod the car should have superior traction the m sport suspension does a great job at limiting body roll have you got a penalty then if we hit five seconds for you two and its variable ratio steering means that at low speeds like this less turns of the wheel are needed to change direction come on vicks 30.5 30.5 fair play that seemed like a pretty good effort but two wheels will take it i don't think so okay then biker boy i have noticed that chad has been off warming his tires cheating the hp4 has a high-tech launch control system this holds the engine at 8 000 rpm the optimum revs for a clean getaway then restricts power to prevent the rear wheel spinning and the front wheel lifting although it doesn't always work perfectly a pleasurably poor start there i think you'll find it's the first bike with semi-active suspension constantly adjusting its firmness depending on conditions oh he's clean and tidy he's really really tidy on that turn whereas i was quite larry oh this is not looking good for me oh yeah that was really bad what do you think you did 29.9 29.9 so bear in mind i did 30.5 you you did a 52 dead oh is it yeah that was weird i didn't didn't feel like i was actually you didn't know i just read a book while you were going there you did 25.2 yes i'm looking for victory and challenge two a breaking test we'll slam on the brakes from a hundred miles an hour at the cones and see who can stop in the shortest distance ninety or a hundred miles an hour in third gear there and i still had more revs to go come to the brakes hard hearts hearts hard abs coming back at me on the pedal that stopped in a really short space of time actually from 100. next the bike same speed same breaking point will it be able to stop before me right keep my eyes on the rear view mirror like the car the hp4 has abs it also weighs over a ton less than the car here he comes onto the brakes onto the brakes oh there he goes oh the back wheel went up he had a bit of a wobble on it's a surprising result and a lesson to bikers everywhere even one of the finest most high-tech superbikes on sale can't stop as quickly as a car so it's one apiece the bike's more agile but the car has better brakes finally we'll combine both skills over a one-lap race so three two one go off i go his launch control i think bogs him down slowly oh this is close stuff but i am going into the racing line kissing 100 miles an hour leaving it in third gear i've got to get through this chicane quicker than him he's absolutely pushing that bike he's got his knee down i've got my foot down the car's sinking around a bit trying to get itself sorted 110 120 oh my word here he comes here he comes here he comes i'm doing 130. he's definitely going quicker onto the brakes cool break later than he can i've closed up the gap slightly under the brakes there come on come on come on oh and then he gets onto the street opening it up and then oh it's just gone it's definitely one there's no way i'm going to catch him now in fact the bike wins the race by over 10 seconds but i still think the m135i offers incredible performance and agility for the money it just can't quite keep up with the world's most advanced superbike especially when it's ridden by surefire future world champion chas davies you\n"