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Test rode BMW S1000XR and S1000R

HappyHighwayman

HappyHighwayman

It's all in the reflexes
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Location
San Francisco
Moto(s)
Rad Rover
Name
Jordan
IMG_2108.JPG


Thanks to the guys at BMW Moto SF for the opportunity to ride the exquisite S1000XR and the S1000R (Naked). We went down the highway, did some twisties and a little city streets.

General feedback is positive. It's a monster, power at all RPMs and speeds. I never left 4th gear. Easy to ride for an inline 4 on both bikes, though the S1000R is smaller and lighter and more of a traditional naked sports bike (though with upright seating). The XR felt more like a GS body with the same amazing engine. Brakes were more touchy/sensitive on the S1000R.

I'd buy one right now if money wasn't an issue.

The clutchless speed shifter is amazing too, BAM BAM BAM 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc.
 
Does your F800 know about this affair? :laughing

I'm sure they are great bikes and made your F800 feel slow by comparison.

BMW just might have the most diverse model range out their.

Singles, boxer twins, parallel twins, laid down fours, inline fours, and six cylinder machines.

Does anyone else have as many configurations?

Loved my K75S triple and love my F800.

How was the flickability of those bikes?
 
The S1000R was super flickable. It was so small and light. My first real "sports bike" experience. It felt like it had clip-ons compared to my bike....the F800GS got a spa treatment while I took the other out ;)

It did make my F800GS feel slow, but when I got back on it it felt great...it's like riding a couch...it's the best city bike. Has plenty of highway power but can drive over shitty roads no problem.

Maybe in 2017 if I have cash I'll upgrade.
 
HappyHighwayman said:
The S1000R was super flickable. It was so small and light. My first real "sports bike" experience. It felt like it had clip-ons compared to my bike....the F800GS got a spa treatment while I took the other out ;)

It did make my F800GS feel slow, but when I got back on it it felt great...it's like riding a couch...it's the best city bike. Has plenty of highway power but can drive over shitty roads no problem.

Maybe in 2017 if I have cash I'll upgrade.
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Everyone should own at least one sportbike in their riding careers.

Had mine for 13 years but tired of it despite great suspension upgrades and ditching the clipons.

YMMV.
 
I rode the S1000R as well. Really fun bike, but I think I'd like the XR more. More upright seating position, longer suspension travel, more long-distance worthy.

If you had to pick just one...?
 
Man, got behind a guy on a S1000XR yesterday afternoon at the one-way light on Highway 9. Beautiful bike - and holy hell did he take off when the light turned green. Never saw him again after the first curve, but then again I was on my 250 :laughing
 
InI bought a 2015 S1000R in june, awesome motorcycle, incredible power and super light, I have been riding my kawasaki ZRX1200R back and forth to work and didn't want to put to many miles on it so I thought I would get another bike and split the riding time up between the both of them, I haven't even riden the kawasaki since I got the BMW !!! (I think my kawasaki is mad at me) the S1000R handles so good and you can throw it around in the corners so easy, it's just so fun to ride, I have now made that my commuter, I ride from Concord to Byron everyday down marsh creek rd which is a rough twisttie road and the S1000R just makes child's play out of it, but for a long days ride down the freeway the Kawasaki ZRX1200R is much more comfortable
 
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kuksul08 said:
I rode the S1000R as well. Really fun bike, but I think I'd like the XR more. More upright seating position, longer suspension travel, more long-distance worthy.

If you had to pick just one...?
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S1000XR for me. I need a daily commuter do everything bike. Though the one time I lane split in the S1000R it was ridiculously easy...no wonder you sport bike guy are lane splitting in areas I wouldn't try it.

Fortunately I can afford neither.
 
S1000XR, the strawberry jelly on my toast, the chocolate in my coffee, the Dijon on my bacon burger, I love thee and want thee!


Shhhhh, don't tell Ducati and my Multi. Shhhhhh!
 
GAJ said:
BMW just might have the most diverse model range out their.

Singles, boxer twins, parallel twins, laid down fours, inline fours, and six cylinder machines.

Does anyone else have as many configurations?
Click to expand...

Yamaha has them beat... Single (SR400), parallel twin (R3), triple (fz09), 270 twin (super tenere), 270 I4 (R1), standard I4 (R6), plus the V-twins that power the Bolt and Star cruisers.
 
I test rode the S1000R about 6 months ago... before the XR was released.

It was nice to flick around, the QS and CC are nice to have too.

It's unbearable if you're riding 2-up though, there is just as little space as on the RR. Also, I wasn't impressed by the quality of the plastics... it looked kinda cheap overall.

The semi-active suspension seemed like nothing special to me and more of a gimmick than anything. I was coming off a bike with Ohlins at the time and was a bit underwhelmed.

I liked the power band - for an I4 it's very manageable for around city cruising and taking off from lights.
 
GoNotShow said:
Yamaha has them beat... Single (SR400), parallel twin (R3), triple (fz09), 270 twin (super tenere), 270 I4 (R1), standard I4 (R6), plus the V-twins that power the Bolt and Star cruisers.
Click to expand...

Honda has all that, plus 6 cyls, and v4s.
 
aminalmutha said:
Huh. I wasn't aware they were necessarily difficult to ride.
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Harder than a twin. I found my Fz6 difficult to control at slow speeds until I got used to it, and it needed to be ridden in a higher RPM range than my twins...e.g. my BMW F800 maxes at 8000 rpm while that was no problem for the FZ6 which went to 14,000
 
HappyHighwayman said:
Harder than a twin. I found my Fz6 difficult to control at slow speeds until I got used to it, and it needed to be ridden in a higher RPM range than my twins...e.g. my BMW F800 maxes at 8000 rpm while that was no problem for the FZ6 which went to 14,000
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Broad statement. Try lugging a dry clutch Ducati. :laughing Try lugging a ZRX1200R. :party Ducati will be angry with you, the ZRX doesn't give a shit.

A big bore four banger's torque curve comes on fast, so you can be wonky on the clutch at low rpm and the motor doesn't care. I wouldn't necessarily say one particular engine configuration is easier or harder to ride than another, they're just different. And every bike is different.
 
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