2021 S1000XR TE

[Sa9818]

I seek the wisdom of the board.

Currently own a 1300GSA that was purchased to take me and the better half around and about. Turns out she gets motion sick so that didn’t go well or far.

I’m considering a 2021 S1000XR TE - what can I expect and what (if any) modification's would you suggest?

Bike will be used reliving my misspent youth no touring etc.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I seek the wisdom of the board.

Currently own a 1300GSA that was purchased to take me and the better half around and about. Turns out she gets motion sick so that didn’t go well or far.

I’m considering a 2021 S1000XR TE - what can I expect and what (if any) modification's would you suggest?

Bike will be used reliving my misspent youth no touring etc.

The XR is a fantastic bike a bit like a GS but with an ASBO

HAving owned the first Gen and ridden the more recent ones I can say that they have made it a little bit less lunatic or should that be a bit more civilised in its lunacy

They are happy to bimble along if that's your thing then very happy to have the knackers revel off them and go very very fast

Still the best bike BMW have ever made IMO

 

[siddo]

Result.
Go and take test rides. Make sure you try a Ducati before deciding.
Don't forget to try the Kawasaki H2 with the supercharger.
Once you have decided what suits, then you can start modding.

 

[Sa9818]

Result.
Go and take test rides. Make sure you try a Ducati before deciding.
Don't forget to try the Kawasaki H2 with the supercharger.
Once you have decided what suits, then you can start modding.

I had a Ducati street fighter for a while. Until a smart car tried to kill me and managed to write the bike off. I enjoyed it but it had loads of niggles that put me off the brand, the screen went and it took 9 weeks to get a replacement, then the forks developed a leak that took another three weeks to fix. The chain didn’t stay tight for more than a week and the wiring loom seemed to fall out with the rest of the bike daily. I tried a H2 and enjoyed it but it didn’t bite me the way my last Kawasaki did (a ZX12R) so I’m focused on the XR as BMW seem to be pretty stable on a reliability front. But I guess that’s all relative?

 

[Owen2737]

Had a gen 1 xr and now have a gen 2 model(2022). As said above the gen 2 is more civilised but there's still plenty of fun to be had. First mod would be to change /alter the seat. Standard it's not comfortable and feels restrictive. Screen is also something to think about depending on your height...

 

[wessie]

The XR is a fantastic bike a bit like a GS but with an ASBO

HAving owned the first Gen and ridden the more recent ones I can say that they have made it a little bit less lunatic or should that be a bit more civilised in its lunacy

They are happy to bimble along if that's your thing then very happy to have the knackers revel off them and go very very fast

Still the best bike BMW have ever made IMO

pretty much agree. Had a 2016 Gen 1 for 5 years from 2018 to 2023. Factory lowered model. Rode the Gen 2 as a service loaner and thought it had been sanitised a bit. The standard bike was a little taller than I found ideal.

takes a little recalibration if used to big twins but I enjoyed owning mine whilst also owning a R1200RS. Both bikes were great for touring but the XR was a bit more nimble on tight terrain like the Pyrenees with the wider bars and shorter wheelbase. Getting the needle on the Gen 1 dial tacho up to 9000+ was entertaining.

My only criticism of the XR was excess heat from the exhaust onto my legs. Few owners seemed to moan about this so I wondered if it was a feature of the lowered bike. I once rode a short distance in Luxembourg in jeans and trainers at 35C ambient and had a scorched right ankle. Didn't happen in proper boots and Rukka trousers.