Oli
Well-known member
After my test ride on the Gen 4 RR today at Cannon BMW, I took out the new 2020 S1000XR. Here are my initial impressions.
TLDR
Good bike, but definitely not good enough to tempt me away from a sport bike as an only bike. It is better then the previous XR in terms of refinement (and looks in my opinion), but I?m not convinced the suspension is better and I don?t think the engine is as strong as I would have expected.
Ergos
Seat makes coccyx uncomfortable and raised rim digs into arse over time. Plenty of leg room, bolt upright riding position with slightly narrower bars then previously, is closer to what you?d expect on a naked bike.
Initial impressions
Suspension is very, very soft. Reminds me of an R1200GS. Switching to dynamic firms it up a bit, but still it?s soft.
Startup is identical to the Gen 4 RR, with a fast idle when cold and an initial blip to ~ 2k when warm, before settling into the slow idle.
Clutch bite point seems conventional, pulling away is easy. Whereas on the GS it took me a long time to get accustomed to it, the XR?s have always conferred immediate confidence in my opinion, coming from an S1000RR.
Gearbox / Gearshift Assist Pro
Very slick. It?s definitely a BMW box, but the engagement of each gear is crisp and the operation of GearShift Assist Pro is excellent up and down the box above 4 k rpm. Really pleased with this.
Noise Vibration & Harshness
At low and mid engine speeds the engine/exhaust noise is very quiet. At high engine speeds the S1000 character starts to come out. This is either a good thing, or a not so good thing depending on your perspective. If I was buying one, a full system (+baffle) would be a necessity purchase.
The bike buzzes through the reearsets and bars at the typical ~ 4 k rpm. The handlebars are fully decoupled on the new XR, which does reduce the vibration felt, but does not eliminate it completely, contrary to what several online reviews state. Personally, this is not an issue and it?s significantly smoother than an R1200GS in my opinion.
Engine Performance
This is where I was less impressed. The specs state the same power figures as the previous XR, but whereas previously I felt the midrange and sense of urgency were strong points, this time I felt the midrange power a little lacking. When you get into the top end, it pulls strong and cleanly, but in my opinion lower down it?s just not as effervescent as I?d have expected, or wanted. I haven?t ridden an R1250GS, but I suspect this is where the big boxer engine could sway an on-the-fence customer.
It would be interesting to compare the previous generation XR, to the new one on a dyno, to see how they differ at the back wheel. It may well be that the new bike just doesn?t ?feel? as fast, due to how quiet it is though the rev range.
Handling
Another area I wasn?t blown away by. Going from A to B etc. it handles well, it?s very easy to ride, it is very flattering to ride, you have fantastic visibility afforded to you from the bolt upright riding position and tall adventure bike stance. The visibility alone makes planning overtakes so easy as you can literally see over the top of normal cars. Feels like cheating lol. I?ve always felt that unless your well versed in sport bikes, you?d ride something like this better and make more progress in the real world, then on a sport bike.
However ? If you are accustomed to a sport bikes, then the upright riding position, longer travel suspension and overall higher centre of gravity just doesn?t give ?me? confidence out of the gate in the corners. I also never feel completely convinced with how much ground clearance adventure bikes have, as I personally can?t stand it when pegs touch down and have had this on a few occasions on both the previous XR and on an R1200GS. Furthermore, the suspension on this new bike feels very ?dynamic?. I don?t know if it?s because the damping is softer, or whether it?s a totally different algorithm managing it all, but it doesn?t always feel as though its made its mind up on how much support to give you. With the limited time available on test rides, I can?t say for certain whether this is simply me not being used to the bike, moreover this format of bike. But it definitely feels different to the previous generation XR, and not necessarily in a positive way.
Brakes
The brakes are excellent, can?t fault the Hayes front brakes and the rear is very powerful on the XR?s. Top marks.
To conclude, the S1000XR is a good bike, but it is not a sport bike. This bike makes a lot of sense if you want to carry a pillion and when you treat it like an adventure bike, and not like a sport bike, it?s a very enjoyable experience. It offers the refined character of sports 1000cc engine, in a more user friendly and forgiving package.
But, for going out for a sporting ride on your day(s) off, for the yearly trip and general solo riding, I personally would stick with the S1000RR.
Ride safe and have fun [emoji41]
Oli
TLDR
Good bike, but definitely not good enough to tempt me away from a sport bike as an only bike. It is better then the previous XR in terms of refinement (and looks in my opinion), but I?m not convinced the suspension is better and I don?t think the engine is as strong as I would have expected.
Ergos
Seat makes coccyx uncomfortable and raised rim digs into arse over time. Plenty of leg room, bolt upright riding position with slightly narrower bars then previously, is closer to what you?d expect on a naked bike.
Initial impressions
Suspension is very, very soft. Reminds me of an R1200GS. Switching to dynamic firms it up a bit, but still it?s soft.
Startup is identical to the Gen 4 RR, with a fast idle when cold and an initial blip to ~ 2k when warm, before settling into the slow idle.
Clutch bite point seems conventional, pulling away is easy. Whereas on the GS it took me a long time to get accustomed to it, the XR?s have always conferred immediate confidence in my opinion, coming from an S1000RR.
Gearbox / Gearshift Assist Pro
Very slick. It?s definitely a BMW box, but the engagement of each gear is crisp and the operation of GearShift Assist Pro is excellent up and down the box above 4 k rpm. Really pleased with this.
Noise Vibration & Harshness
At low and mid engine speeds the engine/exhaust noise is very quiet. At high engine speeds the S1000 character starts to come out. This is either a good thing, or a not so good thing depending on your perspective. If I was buying one, a full system (+baffle) would be a necessity purchase.
The bike buzzes through the reearsets and bars at the typical ~ 4 k rpm. The handlebars are fully decoupled on the new XR, which does reduce the vibration felt, but does not eliminate it completely, contrary to what several online reviews state. Personally, this is not an issue and it?s significantly smoother than an R1200GS in my opinion.
Engine Performance
This is where I was less impressed. The specs state the same power figures as the previous XR, but whereas previously I felt the midrange and sense of urgency were strong points, this time I felt the midrange power a little lacking. When you get into the top end, it pulls strong and cleanly, but in my opinion lower down it?s just not as effervescent as I?d have expected, or wanted. I haven?t ridden an R1250GS, but I suspect this is where the big boxer engine could sway an on-the-fence customer.
It would be interesting to compare the previous generation XR, to the new one on a dyno, to see how they differ at the back wheel. It may well be that the new bike just doesn?t ?feel? as fast, due to how quiet it is though the rev range.
Handling
Another area I wasn?t blown away by. Going from A to B etc. it handles well, it?s very easy to ride, it is very flattering to ride, you have fantastic visibility afforded to you from the bolt upright riding position and tall adventure bike stance. The visibility alone makes planning overtakes so easy as you can literally see over the top of normal cars. Feels like cheating lol. I?ve always felt that unless your well versed in sport bikes, you?d ride something like this better and make more progress in the real world, then on a sport bike.
However ? If you are accustomed to a sport bikes, then the upright riding position, longer travel suspension and overall higher centre of gravity just doesn?t give ?me? confidence out of the gate in the corners. I also never feel completely convinced with how much ground clearance adventure bikes have, as I personally can?t stand it when pegs touch down and have had this on a few occasions on both the previous XR and on an R1200GS. Furthermore, the suspension on this new bike feels very ?dynamic?. I don?t know if it?s because the damping is softer, or whether it?s a totally different algorithm managing it all, but it doesn?t always feel as though its made its mind up on how much support to give you. With the limited time available on test rides, I can?t say for certain whether this is simply me not being used to the bike, moreover this format of bike. But it definitely feels different to the previous generation XR, and not necessarily in a positive way.
Brakes
The brakes are excellent, can?t fault the Hayes front brakes and the rear is very powerful on the XR?s. Top marks.
To conclude, the S1000XR is a good bike, but it is not a sport bike. This bike makes a lot of sense if you want to carry a pillion and when you treat it like an adventure bike, and not like a sport bike, it?s a very enjoyable experience. It offers the refined character of sports 1000cc engine, in a more user friendly and forgiving package.
But, for going out for a sporting ride on your day(s) off, for the yearly trip and general solo riding, I personally would stick with the S1000RR.
Ride safe and have fun [emoji41]
Oli
