If you’re the kind of person that wants one bike to do everything, you’re going to have to make a compromise. There are many compromises available, but if you choose to stick to tarmac the options narrow down to manageable ones. You will want a motorcycle that is quick. But despite that performance, it will need to be either frugal or offer a good tank range. It will need to be capable of handling the commute, and then take you out for an all-day ride on the highway. It should make your enjoy corners. What you need, then, is a sport-tourer.
Why A Sport Tourer Makes A Lot Of Sense For Most People
A sport tourer needs to be sporty, so there will always be enough performance to put a smile on your face. However, it is also a tourer, so it will need to have tourer-specific abilities and features like all-day comfort, a relatively unstressed, reliable engine, and the ability to carry luggage. The comfort and engine characteristics also help immensely if you want to commute – they need to be agile to be sporty, so these aren’t barges like full-dress tourers are. But finding a sport-tourer that feels fast, forgiving, and surprisingly practical can be tricky.
The BMW S 1000 XR Is The Sport-Tourer That Feels Fast, Forgiving, and Surprisingly Practical
If you’re looking at touring bikes, BMW will come up in the conversation. It has some fantastic and unique models at the premium end of the spectrum that are unlike anything else. The R 1300 GS is an unquestioned leader in its segment, and there is nothing like the K 1600 series’ inline six-cylinder engine, or the boxer twin-powered R 1300 RT, in the market. However, if you want a little bit of everything and want to stick to tarmac, the S 1000 XR makes the most sense. It takes bits like the engine and chassis from BMW’s fastest bike and defangs them somewhat for a better touring experience – but it isn’t toothless. That is what makes it the sport-tourer that feels fast, forgiving, and surprisingly practical.
It Is Priced Like A Value Motorcycle
The S 1000 XR has a surprisingly low base price for a premium brand and model, at $18,825. It is a pretty complete package at the price, although it does become a much sweeter deal when you add accessories to it. And there are some genuinely great upgrades to be had, although they will cost you. In base form, though, you get one of the quickest sport tourers with a reputation for reliability and comfort – and it won’t shy away from a racetrack!
The Detuned Liter Sports Bike Engine Is Fun
BMW’s ‘S’ series bikes have an inline four engine, and in this case, the S 1000 XR has a 999 cc inline four borrowed from the S 1000 RR sport bike. This is a sport tourer, so the performance has been blunted: it doesn’t have the ShiftCam variable valve timing that the S 1000 RR or the M 1000 XR have. BMW has also focused on more torque rather than outright power, a necessity for a sport tourer. The numbers are 170 horsepower at 11,000 RPM and 84 pound-feet at 9,250 RPM from a compression ratio of 12.5:1. The redline is at 12,000 RPM, so you really can have a lot of fun with it. A six-speed gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch is standard, while a two-way quickshifter is an option.
Sporty Aluminum Chassis Pairs With Touring Bike Suspension
The S 1000 XR has a cast aluminum twin spar frame that looks like it comes from a sports bike, and it uses the engine as a stressed member. This is paired with conventional 45 mm inverted forks at the front, and a link-type monoshock at the rear. An interesting detail is the mounting of the rear shock: it is quite high in the chassis, so the bottom of the shock is always out of harm’s way, unlike in other link-type shocks.
Dynamic ESA – BMW’s electronic suspension – is standard, and you can unlock more features with options. The suspension is fully adjustable and offers 5.9 inches of travel at both ends. The brakes are also superbike spec, with twin 320 mm discs at the front with radial four piston fixed calipers, and a 220 mm disc with a two piston floating caliper at the rear. 17-inch alloy wheels and tubeless radial tires round things out.
The Seat Height Is Tall
This is quite a compact motorcycle overall, with an 84.8 inch length and 33.5 inch width, but it has a normal-sized 60.6 inch wheelbase. The seat is a little high, as expected, at 33.5 inches, while the fuel tank holds 5.2 gallons. You’re going to need it, with how fun this inline four engine is.
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Standard Features Are A Base To Build Upon
The S 1000 XR is a premium motorcycle; there’s no doubt about that. It has some good features in the base variant – it starts with the 6.5-inch TFT display that has Bluetooth and navigation. Also on the list are dynamic ESA, keyless ignition, a USB socket, and emergency calling. For anything more than this, you’re going to have to dip into the accessories list. There is an exceptionally long list of upgrades for this motorcycle, up to and including things from BMW’s famed M division, like a GPS laptrigger, forged wheels, a Li-ion battery, an Akrapovic exhaust, and an M endurance chain.
Rider aid-wise, there is a by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU here, so the usual suspects are present: cornering traction control, ABS, and engine back-torque limiting. It has a full electronics suite that includes features like wheelie control and slide control, but it has inexplicably left out cruise control and a two-way quickshifter from the base price. You can add them back on with one of the add-on ‘packages’.
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Very Few Contenders For The S 1000 XR’s Title
We’re going to stick to either sports tourers or crossovers as competitors for the S 1000 XR, so no adventure tourers here. We’re also not going to look at crossovers that are a segment below. That said, there are some fantastic options available, beginning with the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 ST. For $19,999, you can have one of the most advanced Harleys in history, and it is a fun motorcycle, too.
If you prefer things saner and slower, the Kawasaki Versys 1100 retails for $19,499. It might not have the best performance thanks to its 133-horsepower output, which is less than the Harley that has half as many cylinders, but it isn’t short on comfort or technology. It has everything, including the kitchen sink included in its price – yes, self-healing paint, too.
Another viable alternative that will save you some money is the $18,749 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX. Like the Kawasaki, it throws in everything for the price: two-way quickshifter, electronic suspension, and even smart cruise control. However, it is down on power compared to the BMW, at 153 horsepower, so you might have to work it harder to extract the same performance from it. It is dead reliable, and has all the features you need for either fun or a comfortable long ride.
Source: BMW USA