Think you're too young for a BMW GS or don't want to spend the money on a Multistrada? BMW has thought about people like you - the S 1000 XR will work in the urban jungle, during a trip to the resort and will give you a lot of fun on the track. The perfect motorcycle?! Almost.
Motorcycle BMW S 1000 XR
Even the fortune teller Maciej did not predict that the S 1000 RR, shown in 2009, would be such a success for BMW. It is not surprising that the offer has been expanded by the power naked bike S 1000 R, and this year also by the touring fanbike or S 1000 XR. The straight-line drive is inherited from the racing one, only it has been “cut down” and better suited to everyday driving. Performance is the same as naked bikes – 160 hp. and torque 112 Nm. I immediately liked the strong low and mid range. You won't complain about flexibility - in six you will safely drop to 40 km/h, and after unscrewing the gas you will pick up speed again. However, you can clearly feel the sporty DNA of the engine as it favors revs. It's good that during the test drive we were driving on Spanish roads, so we had enough time to relax and we were almost floating in the skies...
Faith, strength, courage
You have to get used to the heavier weight than the naked. With the tank full, the XR weighs 228 kg. Fortunately, this does not interfere at all while driving. This just means that in tighter corners you need to apply some force. Also, in alternating turns, controlling the motorcycle requires decisiveness. Flying quickly through corners doesn't force you to change your position, and on twisty roads the wide handlebars and upright stance help. Also pleasing is the significant standard ground clearance - only a few times did the running boards scratch the asphalt. For the lower ones, there is a version with a chassis lowered by 30 mm, which is more convenient, but, of course, it rubs the footpegs in the assembly faster. In both cases, there is no instability when cornering, and redundancy is an alien phenomenon here.
BMW S 1000 XR
The BMW S 1000 XR rides like it's on rails - the suspension works well with the tires. I only forced the traction control intervention on a paved road - the bike simply stopped accelerating for a split second. The roads were quite smooth and the pace was quite fast, so the suspensions most often worked in dynamic mode. In vulnerable areas it was possible to switch to the soft and more comfortable Road mode. However, the star of this show is the ABS Pro. There is no doubt that it is worth spending RUB 27,000 for the Pro modes (Pro, DTC and ABS Pro cards). The Brembo radial calipers, combined with 320mm diameter brake discs and steel braided wires, do an excellent job: they provide a precise operating point, very good metering and low operating force. And ABS comes into effect very late. What more could you want?
Touring sportbike: BMW S1000XR test
The BMW S1000XR tourist crossover, which appeared in 2015, was positioned by the Bavarians as the killer of the Multistrada. However, the “murder” did not happen, as well as the attempt on his life - the device turned out to be too original, so the Ducati Multistrada 1200 continued its quiet existence, just like the BMW S1000XR, which won fans in all countries, including ours.
The first question that will rightly arise in your head after getting acquainted with the history of the birth of the S1000XR is “Why?” And it’s true, because the device is built around the platform of one of the best sportbikes of our time - the BMW S1000RR, created exclusively for the track. Don’t let the lighting technology, cruise control and heated grips fool you - they are installed on the S1000RR only to get to the racetrack comfortably. Well, so that the owners of other sports would be jealous, of course.
“Cross-eyed” optics correspond to the corporate style and carry the DNA of the S-series
However, no matter how much you tell motorcyclists about the disadvantages of a sportbike in the city, such as a crooked landing and rigid short-travel suspensions, we motorcyclists still strive to break the mold. And that is why at the “lookout” it is easier to meet a liter sportsbike that has not seen a track, with half-wheel “chickenstripes”, than a motorcycle of a healthy person, suitable for its habitat.
Culture does not stand still, the generation of “experienced” sportbikers, both here and in the West, has grown up and began to put their comfort above the demands of minor “rides”, to whom you only serve “liter sports” or, in extreme cases, “six hundred” . It is for those who primarily want to drive, including outside the city, and track days are in second or even third place, and first the S1000R naked bike appeared, and then the S1000XR crossover.
The XR is equally appropriate both on the track and on the smooth asphalt of the Novorizhskoe highway, and the device feels good in the city too
The power in the S1000XR is less than in the “sport”, but one hundred and sixty-five “horses” will be more than enough in any situation. The “workplace” is much more comfortable than on a sportbike: wide and high handlebars, low-mounted footpegs and well-developed wind protection with a height-adjustable “fly swatter”. The latter is fixed in only two positions and does not have any “wings”, nuts or handles - you need to pull to raise or lower it directly by the glass itself, not so interesting, but simple, convenient and reliable.
Adjustable windshield is a convenient and nice feature
The saddle is quite high and hard – you can feel its sporting roots, but no one bothers you to replace it right at the purchase stage, choosing one of several original tuning options. The passenger will be more comfortable here than on the S1000R and RR, but you shouldn’t expect miracles - the device is primarily for the driver. It is for him that there is standard heated grips and cruise control, as well as electronic suspensions and a bunch of other assistants, which we will talk about a little later.
The new color looks noble, but such a bright motorcycle does not need this tuxedo
The remote controls are unified with other BMW models; there are an indecent number of keys, but they are located thoughtfully and conveniently. The cruise control flag is generally standard. In order not to overload the remote control with buttons, the Bavarians also installed a joystick wheel, making it easier to navigate through the dashboard menu. A convenient and original thing that eliminates the need to be distracted from the road by also looking at the keys - all the controls are intuitive and you only need to look at the screen.
A remote control with a joystick wheel is a Bavarian find that has not yet been copied by competitors
But the steering wheel, which is now fixed to the upper cross-beam through silent blocks, is an excellent solution, there are really fewer vibrations and the slight itching that reaches the hands is not irritating at all. I wish I could get him off the steps! But, alas and ah, the liter sixteen-valve “four” was created for completely different tasks and records, so in terms of comfort the device will definitely lose to the “Multistrad”, at least until the latter gets stuck in a traffic jam and starts frying the pilot’s ass with the exhaust pipe.
Steering wheel silent blocks reduce vibration and itching
Analogies and comparisons with “Cartoon” suggest themselves, but only until the BMW engine begins to purr. The first one turns on with a short click, the soft and not very informative clutch lever returns to its place, the electronic throttle is turned all the way and the soul rushes to heaven. The dynamics will be the envy of other sportbikes, but it’s better not to mention crossovers here at all! There is no need to touch the clutch, the double-sided quick shifter does its job perfectly, the main thing is to remember the features of the mechanism.
The device under test is equipped with an optional “accompaniment” by maestro Igor Akrapovich
The quick shifter was created for racing and on the XR it migrated from the S1000RR along with the settings, which is why if you don’t want jerking and scary sounds, turn the gas harder on upshifts, and “close” harder when shifting down. By following this simple rule, there are no complaints about the operation of the mechanism, and the need for a clutch lever arises only at traffic lights or if you want to lift the device “in reverse”.
It’s pointless to describe the advantages of a quickshifter, it’s better to try it once
Enjoying the operation of the box and the short-throw gearbox of the S1000XR, you involuntarily remember Honda with its long-suffering robotic DCT, to which, as an option, they offer an “electronic” gearbox pedal for those who are more accustomed to shifting the old-fashioned way rather than pressing buttons. It’s scary to imagine what it cost the Japanese to develop this transmission, but hopes of being the first and only “automatic” apparently simmered. Back then, no one could have imagined that with the advent of the quick shifter, the need to use the clutch lever would practically die out. Of course, the advantages of the “robot” do not end there, but how strongly and how elegantly the Germans broke the gap between “automatic” and “mechanics”!
Plastic pan protection and a low radiator make the XR an asphalt motorcycle
There are a lot of electronics on the S1000XR: active suspension, ABS, stability control, throttle by wire and several engine operating modes. All this interacts with each other, taking into account many factors, including the tilt of the motorcycle at a given second!
If you want, turn on the optional Dynamic PRO mode, and the motorcycle, instantly responding to any change in the position of the throttle, rushes forward, lifting the front end off the asphalt during acceleration and allowing the rear wheel to slip slightly.
The sporting roots of the motorcycle are always felt, no matter what angle you look at it from.
If you want, choose a safe Rain with limited power, a sluggish response to the gas and heightened attention of stabilization systems that turn on at the mere hint of loss of traction between the wheels and the asphalt. But between them there is also Tour and the optional “simply” Dynamic. By the way, I would not recommend saving on this option; it is certainly worth the money and reveals the full potential of the device.
Externally, the instrument panel has hardly changed, the edging does not count - an analogue tachometer at the head and a monochrome monitor with a bunch of information displaying everything, including parameters such as tire pressure.
The dashboard is not super modern, but I wouldn’t dare call it boring
Having discarded the “wires”, the motor is ideal: power increases linearly and in proportion to the speed, no explosions or failures, everything is predictable, clear and bright. The sound, with the clapping sound when releasing the gas, is magnificent, the itching - well, where would we be without it... However, there are too many emotions to pay attention to such trifles. Almost S1000RR, almost the standard!
The motorcycle is driven by an inline four with a displacement of 999 cm3
But what is good for the city is not at all good for off-road. That is why, under no circumstances should you drive off, if not from the asphalt, then from a good primer, because no electronics will save you. Absolutely asphalt tires and a “seventeenth” front wheel, even with the traction control system turned off, will not allow you to go far.
The saddle is hard, but the motorcycle is not soft - harmony!
But on hard surfaces the motorcycle behaves perfectly, predictably and sharply, even on the removed asphalt of the “Third Transport”, even on the licked and combed Moscow Raceway, you can spend all your money. The chassis is rigid - neither the pendulum nor the fork even tries to “play”, the height and relatively large stroke of the shock absorbers do not interfere at all, sit alternately on one knee or the other, and write out trajectories!
The suspension electronics adapt to road conditions, the fork doesn’t intimidate with dives, stabilization systems compensate for sloppy operation with gas, and all this with impressive tolerance to what’s happening under the wheels. There are also brakes - the standard of efficiency, predictability and feedback. No matter how fast you drive, there is not a hint of overheating or at least a change in characteristics when heated - the grip of the calipers is directly proportional to the force on the levers, the ABS is delicate, what else is needed?
Brembo brakes are the standard!
A pair of side cases and one central case, a larger fly swatter and the ability to put up with a very specific design. Yes, the device is twitchy and sharp even in the softest mode, no matter how hard you wash it with the “Tender”, and it’s collected and sharp, but if you want to ride around the Russian city on a sportbike or even travel beyond its borders, the XR is what you need. However, if all-terrain capability and a comfortable seating position with excellent wind protection allow you to dominate sport bikers, practically without losing them in races on the track, then in the mud of some “Maloyaroslavets” you will look ridiculous and helpless, despite the presence of a plastic “beak” over the front wheel .
When riding the S1000XR, you should limit yourself to hard surfaces; for everything else there is the GS line
As for those who already have an S1000XR, then you, friends, have nothing to worry about - all the changes in the 2021 model came down to the appearance of silent blocks on the steering wheel, an exhaust that complies with Euro-4 standards, an additional five “horses” and a new coloring In other words, there is no point in urgently draining your device and running for a new one, and judging by the success of the model, it will not appear soon.
Video review of BMW S1000XR 2021:
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Accreditation and organization of test drives – Denis Sokolov | | +7 (999) 851-49-71
On ABS Pro
The functioning of this ABS is difficult to describe. It's best to try it yourself. Product manager Joseph Mahler told me that designers are concerned about early throttle release out of corners, as well as maximum braking retardation. Everything went well, although we must not forget about the advantages of Pirelli Diablo Rosso II and dry asphalt. Even in deep turns I didn't worry.
BMW S 1000 XR ABS
The moment of straightening is practically not felt, and we are not talking about hoses. Championship! As a test, I turned off the ABS and repeated the maneuver. Without the electronics, the bike was clearly rearing up, so I had to put everything back.
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UNIVERSAL
The BMW S1000XR was truly a success! The motorcycle turned out to be not only attractive in appearance, technically perfect and extremely advanced in terms of electronics, but also surprisingly balanced. Impeccably executed and equipped, the new motorcycle turned out to be not quite what was expected. The Bavarians did not make a four-cylinder GS, as many people think, and not even a “lifted” one for the sake of the S1000R style.
At its core, the S1000XR is as close as possible to the Ducati Multistrada crossover. But on the road, the XR shows a much greater bias towards aggressive, technical driving and a slightly less predisposition to long trips. But all these are exclusively subjective assessments based on the experience and preferences of a particular person.
It is possible that the emphasis and preferences in using the S1000XR for each owner will shift in one direction or another. After close contact with the Bavarian novelty, you get the feeling that there are several different motorcycles under you at once. We've seen motorcycle manufacturers attempt to create multi-tasking models before - just think of the Honda Crossrunner or Kawasaki Versys.
However, BMW Motorrad coped with this task at a qualitatively different, impeccable level. Perhaps we are looking at the brightest representative of a relatively young class of motorcycles, which are faced with the task of combining as harmoniously as possible the seemingly most contradictory advantages and the ability to cope with a wide variety of tasks.
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BMW Tests and Reviews Touring motorcycle
Leave your fears behind
In general, the BMW XR pilot is maximally (as far as possible on a motorcycle) insured against possible troubles. There is perhaps even more smart electronics in this motorcycle than in any other spacecraft. “We can provide for almost everything! - say the engineers - its creators. “We cannot change only the laws of physics...” But I will add on my own, they are trying to do this. In addition to advanced ABS Pro, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and Electronic Stability Control (ASC), the motorcycle is also equipped with the ability to select a driving mode. Click the button on the right handle and the sign Rain will light up on the instrument panel.
In this mode, all motorcycle reactions will be emphatically smooth and accurate. The response to turning the accelerator is linear, the brakes are delicate and the traction control is as sensitive as possible. The power will even decrease slightly: from the declared 160 hp. it will drop to about 145–146 “power”. On cold asphalt, on wet and slippery roads - just right! Switch to Road mode and the bike will be transformed. It will become sharper, sharper and more responsive. Well, Dynamic (the third mode, available only when the Riding PRO option is installed) is generally recommended to be turned on only on a dry road with an ideal surface. And only if you know what you are doing and draw a clear line between your own skills and the capabilities of electronic assistants. I also like that, even without any special talents, you can easily knock down the arrogance of some young man who thinks too much of himself in a 600 Fire or Jixer.
In the “traffic light race” the XR will a priori leave him no chance! You won't have to waste precious milliseconds even pressing the clutch when changing gears! The quickshifter is very cool: you just flick the gear shift paw without touching the clutch lever. The sports “liter” is no joke, no matter in what guise it is presented!
