BMW S 1000 XR First Look Review

BMW calls the S 1000 XR as an adventure sports motorcycle. It basically means the motorcycle has traits belonging to the adventure segment and at the same time, it is quite sporty. The S 1000 XR as a motorcycle is more at home on the road, than off it. But if its off-roading you want, then there’s the R 1200 GS. 

Developed to take on the Ducati Multistrada 1200 and the Kawasaki Versys 1000, the BMW S 1000 XR gets a host of inspiration from the S 1000 RR – BMW’s flagship model. The fascia almost resembles a fully-faired sports bike, however, the S 1000 XR misses out on the asymmetrical headlamps. Being in the touring segment, this bike is equipped with a tall windscreen for wind deflection. The split seats have been designed to offer comfort for long distance runs.

Powering this sports tourer is the same 999cc in-line four motor from the S1000RR. The engine develops 165bhp at 11,000rpm and peak torque of 114Nm at 9250rpm. This makes the S 1000 XR one of the most powerful touring motorcycles in the segment. This 999cc motor is mated to a six-speed gearbox that transfers power to the rear wheel via a chain drive. The rider has the option of exploring the power of this bike via two riding modes – rain and road. The automatic stability control (ASC) features as a standard on this BMW. The bike comes with Ride Modes Pro as an option. In this mode, the rider gets access to a more sophisticated Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and two additional riding modes – dynamic and dynamic pro. BMW has also provided an optional Gear Shift Assist Pro which allows for clutch-less upshifts and downshifts, on this bike. 

The brakes on the S 1000 XR is taken care of by 320mm dual-disc with four-piston callipers in the front and 265mm disc with double-piston callipers at the rear. The motorcycle rides on 17-inch wheels with 120/70 tyre at the front and 190/55 tyre at the rear. With a tank capacity of 20-litres, the S 1000 XR could be ridden for approximately 400kms before heading to a fuel station. This BMW tips the scale at 228kg, which is on the heavier side. 

BMW is selling the S 1000 XR as a completely-built-up (CBU) unit. That means, the bike comes from Germany, so expect the quality of the cycle parts to be top notch. The bike is available in India in three versions – standard and pro. The BMW S 1000 XR competes with the Ducati Multistrada 1200 and the Kawasaki Versys 1000, which is the most affordable of the three.