17 September 2020

BMW S1000 XR strikes a perfect balance

Paul Browne swung a leg over an Approved Used BMW S1000XR and put it through its paces on runs to and from the northwest. It gobbled up those busy, technical miles not just with ease, but comfort.

BMW have been making the S1000RR since way back in 2010. That’s a decade of one of the fastest one litre bikes on the market, something to be commended.

At the same time they’ve also nailed it in the tall tourer stakes for even longer. It was only natural then, that they were going to blend the pair of them and when they did we got the S1000 XR.

They’ve realised that we need heaps of comfort and loads of power. The S1000 RR as a brilliant sports bike and as such makes the perfect basis for a new range of super fast lightweight touring motorcycles.

Miles more versatile

Enter the S1000 XR. This is a machine that we could put on a pillion and luggage on the back and ride off to Europe and at the same time dismiss a trackday with ease.

This is a bike that offers the perfect balance between something like a GS and a superbike.

It’s as versatile as any enduro style machine on the road and, rather wonderfully, it’s a whole lot faster!

The engine puts out 160 BHP and, pleasingly, 112 newton metres of all that lovely torque. The clever part is that it does this with the same seating arrangement as the aforementioned GS. I’m simply loving this engine.

Clever clutch

The Approved Used bike on test (not pictured) utilises the HP gear shift assist system. This offers seamless clutchless gear changes, both up and down the gearbox. It really does work that easily.

The bike needs the clutch lever employed when starting and stopping, but other than that the rider needs just select the gear with the foot lever. Riding it reminds me of my happy, happy formative years on a dirtbike. There’s no need to touch the clutch or even blip the throttle, the bike does it all for you.

When I first rode the S1000 XR it felt a little like I was riding some sort of automatic. Putting down some serious miles, however, on the run to and from the northwest and in the unrelenting rain, it made a lot of sense.

Combined with the electronic suspension adjustment this made for covering a lot of busy, technical miles just that much easier. While I didn’t activate the ABS Pro, knowing it was there made the longer journey easier and more comfortable.

Premium practicality

The bike ridden featured the premium package so it also had traction control, the gear shift assistant as well as cruise control and heated grips. Meanwhile practical additions such as a main stand make lubing the chain and loading the luggage – which is included on this machine – a lot easier than they would be on a bike with only a side stand.

The S1000 XR on test is part of the Approved Used Bikes collection from Kearys Motorrad in Cork. For more details, call them on 021 500 3600.

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