2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year: BMW S 1000 XR

Name: 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year: BMW S 1000 XR
Brand: BMW

There’s no better purveyor of the Adventure Sport craft than BMW’s magnificent S 1000 XR...

BMW’s S 1000 XR is now somewhat of a Bikesales Bike of the Year staple, getting the nod in the Adventure Sport category over the last three years.

That alone is an endorsement of just how enduring the S 1000 XR has become, with the good times continuing to roll courtesy of superb in-line four-cylinder performance, clever electronics and a more relaxed chassis than its more narrow-focussed siblings – the S 1000 RR sportsbike and S 1000 R naked.

We knew that strapping nature would cut the mustard in Tasmania, as we attended a multi-model BMW launch in the Apple Isle in early 2017 when the S 1000 XR was one of the halo bikes. It handled the twists and turns of Tassie with aplomb and, as we were to find out again, nothing has changed. It still stirs the soul as much as ever, but with a tonne of stability and forgiveness.

New variant

What is new to the S 1000 XR mix is an HP (as in High Performance) variant, which comes in a Motorsport Light White/Racing Blue Metallic/Racing Red livery, and includes Race ABS (cornering ABS), heated grips, Automatic Stability Control and an HP seat as standard features.

Our test bike also included the optional Dynamic package (which includes a bi-directional quickshifter, Dynamic traction control and Riding Mode Pro), Dynamic ESA (electronic suspension adjustment) as well as a number of accessories such as billet footpegs and levers, engine guards, carbon cover for the fuel filler cap, tinted screen and navigation. For the full list of S 1000 XR accessories, click here.

Our S 1000 XR HP was also delivered with a full luggage pack (tank bag, top box and panniers, including liners), but we removed the top box and panniers for the BOTY ride in Tasmania as our Fiat Ducato support vehicle had the heavy hauling covered. We did, however, take some snaps of the fully dressed bike before we left, as you can see in some of the attached images.

The base price for the S 1000 XR HP is $23,215 plus on-road costs, while the standard S 1000 XR is $22,490 plus on-road costs.

Performance and ergonomics

The Dynamic package doesn’t add extra horsepower into the S 1000 XR equation, but if you want to feel like you’re exploring somewhere near the potential of the 165hp/112Nm engine, it’s well and truly worth the investment – and there’s also the added safety aspect to factor in as well.

And with a longer wheelbase than the S 1000 R and S 1000 RR, as well as high-spec longer-travel suspension, the platform offered by the S 1000 XR is just so captivating: the wherewithal to carve up a mountain pass with the best of them, but in absolute comfort with that upright riding position.

For a 228kg (wet) machine, you get an exceptionally nimble package, too, which makes it even more of a thrill to ride hard.

All nine BOTY testers in Tasmania were a big wrap for the over-square engine (bore and stroke are 80mm and 49.7mm), which has both touring and adventure qualities. It’s quite docile at low revs with excellent fueling but then really builds up a full head of steam above 6000rpm.

That’s when riders get the most out of that quickshifter (Gear Shift Assist Pro in BMW speak), complete with a lovely crackle as the throttle is pinned and the higher cogs are selected in quick succession.

The 999cc engine is a little vibey, with a bit of buzz resonating through the handlebars and mirrors. It was mentioned on a few occasions during the three-day ride, but not so much in underwhelming tones as just being noticeable.

At 100km/h in top gear, the S 1000 XR is sitting on 4500rpm, so not a high point for those aforementioned vibes – but more importantly not too far away from where the action really starts to kick in.

Fuel economy? We achieved an average figure of 7.3lt/100km on the ride, which equates with a safe range of around 250km from the 20-litre tank.

Features and electronics

With inclement weather striking on day two as we made our way from Bicheno to Queenstown, the ability to soften up the suspension electronically was very handy indeed – all in the press of one button. Preload is also adjustable with the same button, but the bike has to be at a standstill.

On wet roads, the glitch-free power delivery S 1000 XR made it ideal to settle into a nice rhythm, although it certainly didn’t have the front-end feel of machine like the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT, which is of a similar silhouette and which also joined us on BOTY as the sports touring winner.

All the handlebar-mounted controls make sense and are intuitive, although we expect the S 1000 XR will have a TFT screen on the next update cycle. Currently, the dash is a mix of analogue and LCD.

There are two hand-adjustable settings – high and low – for the screen, and the wind protection on high is highly impressive. The screen's also robust, as well, so no wallowing and shuddering at high speeds.

Amongst all this glowing praise, there are a couple of bugbears with the S 1000 XR: the clutch lever has quite a wooden feel (and no span adjustment), and the sidestand is woeful: too short, shallow and without a big enough footprint. No complaints about the centrestand, though.

Summing up

The S 1000 XR is a mile-eater par excellence, and once again held its head extremely high in some exalted BOTY company. It’s up for the challenge of just about any tarmac adventure, and in the blink of an eye can export a rider from civility to a thrill fest. Some bikes can start to lose their lustre after long stints in the saddle: the S 1000 XR isn’t of them.

Specs: BMW S 1000 XR HP

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve, four-stroke, in-line four-cylinder
Capacity: 999cc
Bore x stroke: 80.0mm x 49.7mm
Compression ratio: 12.0:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 165hp (121.4kW) at 11,000rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 112Nm at 9250rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Clutch: Wet, multi-plate
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Aluminium composite bridge frame, engine as a partially stressed member
Front suspension: Inverted telescopic 46mm fork, Dynamic ESA
Rear suspension: Monoshock, Dynamic ESA
Front brakes: Dual 320mm discs with radial mount four-piston calipers
Rear brake: Single 265mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Tyres: Metzeler Sportec M7 – 120/70ZR17 front, 190/55ZR17 rear

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 228kg
Seat height: 840mm
Wheelbase: 1548mm
Fuel capacity: 20 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $23,215 (plus on-roads)
Colours: Motorsport Light White/Racing Blue Metallic/Racing Red
Bike supplied by: BMW Motorrad Australia
Warranty: Two-year/unlimited kilometres