BMW S 1000 XR: First Look Review

The BMW S 1000 XR in the German bikemakers words is a combination of an enduro and sportsbike. In our opinion though the BMW S 1000 XR is the German two-wheeler giants take on a “adventure sport” a particular genre of motorcycles that has gained huge popularity in European markets. While the BMW R 1200 GS is more suitable for the rider who wants to ride to uncharted territory, the S 1000 XR feels more at home on tarmac and stretch its legs while keeping the rider in utmost comfort. Also Read - BMW R 12000 GS First Look Review

Design:

The bike has beaky-face similar to that of the Ducati Multistrada 1200 which is its arch rival. The face of the bike is similar to the BMW S 1000 RR as it follows the same asymmetric design language. The quirky looking twin headlamps look good and flow with the larger front section and tall windscreen. The sculpted quarter-fairing also looks interesting and has been beautifully integrated with the bulbous fuel tank. It has a mass forward design with split seats and a petite tail section. The gold finished USD forks give a good contrast but the large exhaust muffler looks a bit odd and out of place but that is the result of the stringent Euro4 emission norm. 

Features:

The bike sports a semi-digital instrument console that has been filled to the brim with data and the analogue tachometer takes centre stage. BMW offers the S 1000 XR with two additional options - Touring Package and Dynamics Package. The Touring Package consists of Dynamic ESA suspension is an optional extra in which two sensors register the vertical movements of the wheel suspension and transfer their data to a controller that adapts the damper characteristics to offer plush ride quality. It also offers heated grips, case holder, preparation for the navigation unit including the multi-controller, a center stand, and luggage bridge. The Dynamic Package consists of  Riding Modes Pro (Dynamic Traction Control DTC, riding modes “Dynamic” and “Dynamic Pro”), cornering ABS, quickshifter, cruise control and LED turn indicators.

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Engine:

The biggest update that the new S 1000 XR has received is that the bike is now much more cleaner than its predecessor. BMW engineers have made the 999cc motor compile to the stringent Euro 4 emission norms. The impressive bit about the new engine is the fact that the bike now develops 5PS more than its predecessor. The liquid-cooled, in-line four mill develops 167.2PS at 11,000rpm and 114Nm of peak torque arrives at 9,250rpm. The above figures makes the BMW S 1000 XR among the most powerful bike in the adventure sports tourer category. The older bike suffered from vibration problems in the handlebars but that has been rectified with the a redesigned handlebars. The S 1000 XR comes with two selectable driving modes as standard − "Rain" and "Road" – allowing drivers to adapt optimally to the driving conditions. ASC (Automatic Stability Control) is standard on the S 1000 XR. Power is transmitted to the rear-wheel via chain drive and the bike uses a 6-speed gearbox. 

Cycle Parts:

The BMW S 1000 XR employs an aluminium-alloy perimeter frame in which the four-cylinder motor acts as a load-bearing structure. Talking about damping, the German motorcycle uses USD forks at front while a double-sided swing arm with adjustable monoshock unit does duty at back. The chassis geometry has been completely redesigned to better suit the characteristic of the motorcycle. Payload carrying capacity of the motorcycle has been increased by 10kg to 444kg in comparison to the older and is something that will be appreciated by riders who like to tour with pillion rider. Braking is done by 320mm dia dual-disc brake clamped by 4-piston radial calipers at the front, while a 265mm dia disc with double-piston floating caliper does duty at rear.  

Pricing & Rivals:

BMW has launched two version of the S 1000 XR in our two-wheeler market - Standard and Pro. The Standard version of the BMW motorcycles has been priced at Rs 18.50 lakh while the Pro version retails for Rs 21.50 lakh (both prices are ex-showroom, Delhi). The BMW S 1000 XR competes against the Ducati Multistrada 12000 S and the Triumph Tiger Explorer.