BMW S1000XR - any views or problems
Discussion
DaveK-S1 said:
Looking at replacing my street triple 675r with one of these, as my kids don't particularly like balancing on the back of the triple
Anybody run one and had any issues, they seem to get good write ups, but real world experiences are a better indication
thanks
I have one, don't think I've mentioned it here much Anybody run one and had any issues, they seem to get good write ups, but real world experiences are a better indication
thanks
It does daily commute (50 miles return across London) and weekend warrior duties. Got it in March. Run it in Dynamic Pro mode all the time and get 145-150 miles per tank which is 17.5 liters normally on fill up. Mine had new front discs under warranty as I bought it Approved Used from a dealer and they were warped on delivery. No issues so far but I think the cam chain tensioner is noisy which has only just developed. Took it back and the mechanic he cant hear an issue with it. So I'm putting up with it until the next service when I'll ask them to check it visually.
What else do you want to know?
I too have one (which is currently up for sale) and absolutely love it. I get nearer 200 miles to a tank and think it's the perfect all rounder. Brilliant for a spirited Sunday blast but also comfortable 2 up touring the Alps. They are known to have vibration issues but strangely this only affects some bikes and not others- some people find they're unbearable and others don't seem to have any issues at all.
What else do you want to know?
What else do you want to know?
Thanks for your replies.
I need to try one i think, i've tried one for size at the local motorad dealer that had the lowered suspension, disadvanatge of short legs, and could reach the floor both side with the standard seat, so with the lowered seat it would be even better.
I love the triple, but thinking the bmw would be a more practical bike, the other option is the new triumph tiger coming out next month, will have to wait and see, appreciate the bmw is going to be far quicker.
cheers
Dave
I need to try one i think, i've tried one for size at the local motorad dealer that had the lowered suspension, disadvanatge of short legs, and could reach the floor both side with the standard seat, so with the lowered seat it would be even better.
I love the triple, but thinking the bmw would be a more practical bike, the other option is the new triumph tiger coming out next month, will have to wait and see, appreciate the bmw is going to be far quicker.
cheers
Dave
The vibration issue was near enough sorted with the new 2017 model. So if you can stretch to a new model then I very much doubt you'll find it an issue.
With the early ones there was definitely some better than others, I've ridden quite a few and tried some that were bad and some absolutely fine. Total luck of the draw. But there is a mod which certainly improves things, but it's not a recall. It's when a customer mentions it. But if you're looking at used models, you can message me their reg or chassis number and I can check to see if it has been done for you
Any other Qs let me know.
With the early ones there was definitely some better than others, I've ridden quite a few and tried some that were bad and some absolutely fine. Total luck of the draw. But there is a mod which certainly improves things, but it's not a recall. It's when a customer mentions it. But if you're looking at used models, you can message me their reg or chassis number and I can check to see if it has been done for you
Any other Qs let me know.
I have an S1000R and yes they to suffer with vibes through the bars, gets noticeable after 250+ motorway miles.
Lightly touching the mirror stalks & they feel like something from Ann Summers, surprising how much vibes don't actually get through to the grips, I imagine the thin grips with heating elements don't help here though.
Like said above, the 2017 model of the R & XR have rubber mounted bars/clamps.
Not a joke but cruise control helps here, can at east relax grip or let go of the throttle momentarily. I've also read using Super Unleaded helps but have not tried it personally.
In reality, the vibes are no worse that EXUPs/Genesis of old.
Lightly touching the mirror stalks & they feel like something from Ann Summers, surprising how much vibes don't actually get through to the grips, I imagine the thin grips with heating elements don't help here though.
Like said above, the 2017 model of the R & XR have rubber mounted bars/clamps.
Not a joke but cruise control helps here, can at east relax grip or let go of the throttle momentarily. I've also read using Super Unleaded helps but have not tried it personally.
In reality, the vibes are no worse that EXUPs/Genesis of old.
Only rode one for a few miles, but my mate who does many many miles, hasn't mentioned any issues.
I'm a smidge over 5 10 and ride height was fine, my mate is a bit shorter than me and similarly doesn't struggle. He may have the thinner seat though.
Shifter takes a bit of getting used to was my only thoughts on it. Suspension was a bit squashy but I didn't have time to play with the modes.
If quick, upright, and f
k ugly, is your thing I think they're a great choice.
I'm a smidge over 5 10 and ride height was fine, my mate is a bit shorter than me and similarly doesn't struggle. He may have the thinner seat though.
Shifter takes a bit of getting used to was my only thoughts on it. Suspension was a bit squashy but I didn't have time to play with the modes.
If quick, upright, and f
k ugly, is your thing I think they're a great choice.I've just replaced my 1050 Speed Triple with one, had it just over two weeks and done nearly 1k miles already. I absolutely love it, mines a '15 model and was recalled to have the '17 bar mod done. It still has very slight vibes between 5 and 6k revs, I believe that the evo tech bar end weights make a big difference.
https://evotech-performance.com/products/bmw-s-100...
After riding V twins and triples for last 15 years or so, I don't really have a problem with vibes. I watched a review on you tube where the bike was described as a sports bike with an arm chair on top. A perfect description.
https://evotech-performance.com/products/bmw-s-100...
After riding V twins and triples for last 15 years or so, I don't really have a problem with vibes. I watched a review on you tube where the bike was described as a sports bike with an arm chair on top. A perfect description.
Hi!
I’ve had two
One first generation and most recently a 2017.
I spent most of the ownership of the first generation complaining about how buzzy the bars were and vibrations were a pain. Eventually a ‘fix’ was developed...in fact several fixes were tried. In the end I got totally fed up with it and got rid.
The new model came out and BMW claimed they had fixed the issue completely. Stupidly took their word for it and ordered a new one, the demo felt ok but I hadn’t been able to put big miles on it.
New bike arrives (fully loaded too) and I run it in. After running in service I hoped that the buzzing would have improved but alas it did not. Not so much in the bars now but really bad through the feet.
Then did a good 1200 mike tour of wales on mine over a few days. Hands were numb and feet were also feeling the effects. The vibrations through the feet were really poor IMHO and actually ended up giving me sore spots around gear changes area on left foot-despite the quickshifter. At 70mph the hearing is wrong in 6th it’s sitting at an RPM which seems to aggravate everything at that frequency...
In the end I cut my loses and got rid. I’ve just bought the new 2017RR which in comparison is buttery smooth and save for the riding position feels great. (It’s my 4th RR). I plan to buy a second hand blackbird in the spring for touring. Even my missus on a pillion ride of a few hundred miles said the vibrations were too annoying for her....
Plus points
Fastest sports tourer for sale A to B
Lots of spec options and luggage is decent from BMW
Gearbox is quick and smooth when you are ‘on it’ and up in the higher revs
Goes like a sports bike without all the luggage on it
Terrific brakes
Looks are Ok
Lights were decent
Wind buffering is good if you add an MRA Vario touring screen
Heated grips are best in business
Navigator 5 implementation is spot on with Idrive style wheel control
Minuses
High spec bikes don’t hold value (better off adding kit and selling seperately at time to change)
Vibes (as above)
Market for sports tourers has suffered this year for sales effecting prices (see latest Ride magazine article in this month where the XR does come out on top)
It’s trying to be too much of a Swiss Army knife of a bike
For me (personally) a great example of having two bikes for different purposes that are BRILLIANT at each sector and not Good for pace/power/comfort and sometimes Ok for Touring and long distance etc.
I’ve since heard of one customer where I bought my bike who paid cash for an new one for a tour, got to south of France hated it and bought a multistrada for the rest of the trip. Try the Ducati perhaps?
I’ve had two
One first generation and most recently a 2017.
I spent most of the ownership of the first generation complaining about how buzzy the bars were and vibrations were a pain. Eventually a ‘fix’ was developed...in fact several fixes were tried. In the end I got totally fed up with it and got rid.
The new model came out and BMW claimed they had fixed the issue completely. Stupidly took their word for it and ordered a new one, the demo felt ok but I hadn’t been able to put big miles on it.
New bike arrives (fully loaded too) and I run it in. After running in service I hoped that the buzzing would have improved but alas it did not. Not so much in the bars now but really bad through the feet.
Then did a good 1200 mike tour of wales on mine over a few days. Hands were numb and feet were also feeling the effects. The vibrations through the feet were really poor IMHO and actually ended up giving me sore spots around gear changes area on left foot-despite the quickshifter. At 70mph the hearing is wrong in 6th it’s sitting at an RPM which seems to aggravate everything at that frequency...
In the end I cut my loses and got rid. I’ve just bought the new 2017RR which in comparison is buttery smooth and save for the riding position feels great. (It’s my 4th RR). I plan to buy a second hand blackbird in the spring for touring. Even my missus on a pillion ride of a few hundred miles said the vibrations were too annoying for her....
Plus points
Fastest sports tourer for sale A to B
Lots of spec options and luggage is decent from BMW
Gearbox is quick and smooth when you are ‘on it’ and up in the higher revs
Goes like a sports bike without all the luggage on it
Terrific brakes
Looks are Ok
Lights were decent
Wind buffering is good if you add an MRA Vario touring screen
Heated grips are best in business
Navigator 5 implementation is spot on with Idrive style wheel control
Minuses
High spec bikes don’t hold value (better off adding kit and selling seperately at time to change)
Vibes (as above)
Market for sports tourers has suffered this year for sales effecting prices (see latest Ride magazine article in this month where the XR does come out on top)
It’s trying to be too much of a Swiss Army knife of a bike
For me (personally) a great example of having two bikes for different purposes that are BRILLIANT at each sector and not Good for pace/power/comfort and sometimes Ok for Touring and long distance etc.
I’ve since heard of one customer where I bought my bike who paid cash for an new one for a tour, got to south of France hated it and bought a multistrada for the rest of the trip. Try the Ducati perhaps?
I have one with a lowered seat which is currently up for sale.
Fantastic bike but a new baby and moving to a house with no storage are causing me to move it on.
Lowered seat is fine, I have done 400 miles in a day and had no other issues than I would have for sitting on a bike for that many hours!
As for the vibrations I fitted heavier bar ends and it now is not an issue.
Would prefer to sell it onto a PHer, pop me a DM and I'll give you a 'best price'
Fantastic bike but a new baby and moving to a house with no storage are causing me to move it on.
Lowered seat is fine, I have done 400 miles in a day and had no other issues than I would have for sitting on a bike for that many hours!
As for the vibrations I fitted heavier bar ends and it now is not an issue.
Would prefer to sell it onto a PHer, pop me a DM and I'll give you a 'best price'
S1000R owner here.
Fantastic bike, proper rapid, great brakes, excellent handling, and so far reliable (touches wood)
However....it is buzzy, and if you ride a lot at motorway speeds I really notice it. It seems to be worse at cruising speed in sixth (which incidentally means c.6k rpm at around 75/80)
For this reason I wouldn't tour on it, it would annoy me. I mainly use it for weekend blasts, where the throttle is rarely in one position, and don't notice it...for this sort of riding it excels.
I'm also tempted to buy a tourer type bike to compliment it, maybe an FZ1 or similar.
ETA: Coming form a 675 it'll blow your socks off! A genuine 160bhp at the rear wheel and low gearing.
Fantastic bike, proper rapid, great brakes, excellent handling, and so far reliable (touches wood)
However....it is buzzy, and if you ride a lot at motorway speeds I really notice it. It seems to be worse at cruising speed in sixth (which incidentally means c.6k rpm at around 75/80)
For this reason I wouldn't tour on it, it would annoy me. I mainly use it for weekend blasts, where the throttle is rarely in one position, and don't notice it...for this sort of riding it excels.
I'm also tempted to buy a tourer type bike to compliment it, maybe an FZ1 or similar.
ETA: Coming form a 675 it'll blow your socks off! A genuine 160bhp at the rear wheel and low gearing.
I spent a day riding the S1000XR and the R1200RS back to back over the same roads. The R1200RS was a faster and more comfortable machine. On the road, torque and getting drive out of bends is key, and the RS is just brilliant at that. It has a lower CoG and it’s apex speed is quicker than the XR in most situations.
XR is a manic bike that is neither fish nor fowl. There are better tourers which are more comfortable and with better luggage options, and there are better sportsbikes if you want to turn up the wick. The S1000 motor and quickshifter makes you want to ride the XR like a tit, and then you realise it is on stilts... don’t think it is a great seller for BMW.
XR is a manic bike that is neither fish nor fowl. There are better tourers which are more comfortable and with better luggage options, and there are better sportsbikes if you want to turn up the wick. The S1000 motor and quickshifter makes you want to ride the XR like a tit, and then you realise it is on stilts... don’t think it is a great seller for BMW.
spareparts said:
XR is a manic bike that is neither fish nor fowl. There are better tourers which are more comfortable and with better luggage options, and there are better sportsbikes if you want to turn up the wick. The S1000 motor and quickshifter makes you want to ride the XR like a tit, and then you realise it is on stilts... don’t think it is a great seller for BMW.
But in my humble opinion as an XR owner there is no better bike to get you to the Alps in relative comfort that then behaves like a sports bike when you get there. I bloody love mine. I wouldn't swap it for any other bike on the market at the moment.It's a brilliant laugh on a Sunday blast. I've done track days on it. I've toured it all over Europe. I can easily think of other bikes that'll do a better job of each discipline but no other bike as good for all three.
Not a best seller for BMW? According to the latest figures it's the 10th best selling bike in the UK over 125cc this year.
I'm an XR rider and can't recommend enough. The only thing me it misses is no LED headlight so use a GS in Winter months instead as halogen isn't good enough.
Done circa 20,000 miles on the XR in 2 years, from daily commute to work, weekend trips and blasts, to long distance tours or quick weekend blast down to the Alps.
I read lots of reviews about vibrations. I've never once found this. If you do motorway miles and sit at 70mph this is where apparently the problem is; however, just go a little quicker/slower and you dont notice it.
Quick-shifter & engine is delightful, although I end up riding like a hooligan all too often as it just sounds so good at high revs.
Very capable bike that you can load it up with panniers and take your supplies in relative comfort, to then a speed demon when it opens up.
I find the seat can be uncomfortable after say 3 hours on the seat. I've heard other seats are far better. It's never bothered me that much to change.
It doesn't feel as well put together as a GS, just not as luxurious. Only a little gripe but doesn't tell you tyre pressures through nav but nothing to put you off.
In the wet it never feels quite planted. Maybe my riding style and I do spoil myself on European roads early in the year. This year has been quite a wet/damp year after the early heat blast so have found myself using other bikes instead.
Done circa 20,000 miles on the XR in 2 years, from daily commute to work, weekend trips and blasts, to long distance tours or quick weekend blast down to the Alps.
I read lots of reviews about vibrations. I've never once found this. If you do motorway miles and sit at 70mph this is where apparently the problem is; however, just go a little quicker/slower and you dont notice it.
Quick-shifter & engine is delightful, although I end up riding like a hooligan all too often as it just sounds so good at high revs.
Very capable bike that you can load it up with panniers and take your supplies in relative comfort, to then a speed demon when it opens up.
I find the seat can be uncomfortable after say 3 hours on the seat. I've heard other seats are far better. It's never bothered me that much to change.
It doesn't feel as well put together as a GS, just not as luxurious. Only a little gripe but doesn't tell you tyre pressures through nav but nothing to put you off.
In the wet it never feels quite planted. Maybe my riding style and I do spoil myself on European roads early in the year. This year has been quite a wet/damp year after the early heat blast so have found myself using other bikes instead.
I have a 2016 S100XR Sport SE
Love it, I came from a semi-super naked (CB1000R) and its a huge step up in quality and performance. I test rode the 2017 version and bought the approved used '16 in the showroom as it was the right spec and colour I wanted.
I have the optional comfort seat with the XR stitched in. Very comfy, never had any issues even with full days out. Bar vibe is something I was concerned about but both the 2017 (demo) and my 2016 bikes don't seem to be too bad. Don't get me wrong, yes there is some bar vibe but no worse than on my Honda. However, now I've owned it I don't even notice it. I think it comes from the hand/wind deflectors, pop your fingers against them when riding and they are buzzing away like crazy!
Stacks of go and all very useable. Its one of only two bikes (the other being a MV Brutale 800) I've ridden in which I wouldn't want to change the exhaust for something louder. In Dynamic the pops and bangs on overrun are great to hear and the airbox makes an epic noise when on song.
All the toys are great, cruise control easy to use, heated grips are decent, sat nav scrolling (optional extra for the nav unit), DTRL is bright and catches the eye easily. Mine also has the ESA which makes life easy when the wife rides along. Up and down quick shifter is great although sometimes it doesn't respond but it's rare. It feels agile and nimble for a large bike and inspires confidence. I'm not a fast rider by any stretch but getting down the road quickly on this seems a doddle.
I umm'd and arr'd about doubling the spend on my bike (6k for the Honda, 12k for the BMW) but everyone I know who rides with a BMW have said its a big step up and for me I agree 100%. Unless circumstances change I won't be spending less on a bike that does all what the XR can.
Last additional bonus is they are reasonably rare on the road. I think I've seen perhaps 4 in my current 6 months of ownership. Two of those we're clearly demo's from the dealership i was riding past. So exclusivity is there too.
DO IT....you won't regret it!
Love it, I came from a semi-super naked (CB1000R) and its a huge step up in quality and performance. I test rode the 2017 version and bought the approved used '16 in the showroom as it was the right spec and colour I wanted.
I have the optional comfort seat with the XR stitched in. Very comfy, never had any issues even with full days out. Bar vibe is something I was concerned about but both the 2017 (demo) and my 2016 bikes don't seem to be too bad. Don't get me wrong, yes there is some bar vibe but no worse than on my Honda. However, now I've owned it I don't even notice it. I think it comes from the hand/wind deflectors, pop your fingers against them when riding and they are buzzing away like crazy!
Stacks of go and all very useable. Its one of only two bikes (the other being a MV Brutale 800) I've ridden in which I wouldn't want to change the exhaust for something louder. In Dynamic the pops and bangs on overrun are great to hear and the airbox makes an epic noise when on song.
All the toys are great, cruise control easy to use, heated grips are decent, sat nav scrolling (optional extra for the nav unit), DTRL is bright and catches the eye easily. Mine also has the ESA which makes life easy when the wife rides along. Up and down quick shifter is great although sometimes it doesn't respond but it's rare. It feels agile and nimble for a large bike and inspires confidence. I'm not a fast rider by any stretch but getting down the road quickly on this seems a doddle.
I umm'd and arr'd about doubling the spend on my bike (6k for the Honda, 12k for the BMW) but everyone I know who rides with a BMW have said its a big step up and for me I agree 100%. Unless circumstances change I won't be spending less on a bike that does all what the XR can.
Last additional bonus is they are reasonably rare on the road. I think I've seen perhaps 4 in my current 6 months of ownership. Two of those we're clearly demo's from the dealership i was riding past. So exclusivity is there too.
DO IT....you won't regret it!
In case its of interest to the OP, I bought this actual bike:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt-Tp2ACX4g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt-Tp2ACX4g
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