Bike review of the new S1000XR

Robbo1200ADV

Well-known member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
7,208
Reaction score
876
Location
waitrose Brighton,England
They seem to like it 5 stars .looks like the multi strata to me but sounds like it will be fun.big enough for a tosser but fast and with all the electronics you may or may not need.All day comfort etc etc .to me it looks a bit generic , big radiators that look vulnerable to road shit/ stones but no doubt there will be protection available from the usual guys .Big and fast big old exhaust , will give one a go .I know bike mags are in the pockets of manufacturers but worth a read if after something different.the mag is out now and no I don't work for them :D
 
.......and that's the thing, a bit generic. In one.

It's obviously a good bike, a brilliant bike no doubt but no soul, no character.

I'm sure it'll sell well though..........

Andres
 
I think the bike does stir mixed emotions.

It's described as "very fast"....which is useful in a nation where the roads are pretty dire, traffic police and cameras are everywhere and the roads clogged with cars (especially here in the south), so being "very fast etc" is a mixed attribute.

It does rather look "generic" and dosen't have the "reach out" factor you'd hope for...but that might be me.

I was in Berlin all last week for work. Commonest bikes were Hondas...especially older ones. I saw any number of CX500s which was a bit unusual. Saw several GS1150s and GS1150 Adv's and a few earlier GS1200s but nothing much after 2005/6. Germans are careful with their pennies and make bikes last.

Oh yes, and a WW1 Fokker Triplane in red at the airport. Unexpected but good to see.
 
I saw it in the flesh today, looks very nicely put together, if your after one the only option will be a cancelled order for this yr.
 
I think the bike does stir mixed emotions.

It's described as "very fast"....which is useful in a nation where the roads are pretty dire, traffic police and cameras are everywhere and the roads clogged with cars (especially here in the south), so being "very fast etc" is a mixed attribute.

It does rather look "generic" and dosen't have the "reach out" factor you'd hope for...but that might be me.

I was in Berlin all last week for work. Commonest bikes were Hondas...especially older ones. I saw any number of CX500s which was a bit unusual. Saw several GS1150s and GS1150 Adv's and a few earlier GS1200s but nothing much after 2005/6. Germans are careful with their pennies and make bikes last.

Oh yes, and a WW1 Fokker Triplane in red at the airport. Unexpected but good to see.

Sadly, I don't need anything high performance to get caught speeding:D

Interesting observation btw is the domestic market that dire?
 
I saw it in the flesh today, looks very nicely put together, if your after one the only option will be a cancelled order for this yr.

and thats not a bad thing having to wait ..let all the first year faults arise , get sorted and then it will be a superb machine
 
and thats not a bad thing having to wait ..let all the first year faults arise , get sorted and then it will be a superb machine

Fingers crossed I don't get a lemon again then !! Most of the components have already been tested across the s1000 range so hopefully this bike is good to go.
 
Sadly, I don't need anything high performance to get caught speeding:D

Interesting observation btw is the domestic market that dire?

I have the idea that in Berlin there are people with "money" and who drive big new Mercedes Benz's and BMWs and the rest appear to be either on a very basic wage or students/young people. There are also a number of key embassies there and you do see a fair few "diplomat" looking people. But I expect that, like in other countries, salaries and wages are not that evenly distributed, and many Germans (or Berliners) don't have as much disposable income as one might otherwise think. I work with Germans and I know they're all rather careful with money. My friend of mine (from Hamburg) has a 24 year old BMW and a 10 year old HD Springer that he waited for for years. And he drives a Golf Mk 3 with almost 200,000 kms on the clock. The others are similarly frugal.

I expect Germany (i.e. BMW) exports a significant amount of its production. A brand new BMW motorcycle of around 1000 - 1200 cc would be a "big deal" for the average German rider I know. But it'd be interesting to hear from other Germans who surf this website.

I expect the XR will do well and in the interests of all of us who enjoy these types of bikes, whether we own/ride one or not, I would wish it success. BMW worked hard to bring it to market so hope it goes well for them.
 
Fingers crossed I don't get a lemon again then !! Most of the components have already been tested across the s1000 range so hopefully this bike is good to go.

When does yours arrive, Dave?
 
Had a sit on one today , felt nice ,lighter than a GSA and roomy , a guy who'd test ridden it said it was bloody quick and he was trading a blackbird for it .thing I noticed was the size of the radiators and they looked pretty exposed , the guy had tried the multistrada and thought the BM was quicker and easier to adjust on the fly .I was offered very low finance deal but advised the salesman I was just a time waster :D

I also went and had a look at the 1290-1190&1050 KTM' s
No purchase was made , looked at a new E class as well .its great when your wife goes away for the weekend:thumby:
 
I have the idea that in Berlin there are people with "money" and who drive big new Mercedes Benz's and BMWs and the rest appear to be either on a very basic wage or students/young people. There are also a number of key embassies there and you do see a fair few "diplomat" looking people. But I expect that, like in other countries, salaries and wages are not that evenly distributed, and many Germans (or Berliners) don't have as much disposable income as one might otherwise think. I work with Germans and I know they're all rather careful with money. My friend of mine (from Hamburg) has a 24 year old BMW and a 10 year old HD Springer that he waited for for years. And he drives a Golf Mk 3 with almost 200,000 kms on the clock. The others are similarly frugal.

I expect Germany (i.e. BMW) exports a significant amount of its production. A brand new BMW motorcycle of around 1000 - 1200 cc would be a "big deal" for the average German rider I know. But it'd be interesting to hear from other Germans who surf this website.

I expect the XR will do well and in the interests of all of us who enjoy these types of bikes, whether we own/ride one or not, I would wish it success. BMW worked hard to bring it to market so hope it goes well for them.

Interesting and thoughtful observations.

Thanks:thumb2
 
Had a sit on one today , felt nice ,lighter than a GSA and roomy , a guy who'd test ridden it said it was bloody quick and he was trading a blackbird for it .thing I noticed was the size of the radiators and they looked pretty exposed , the guy had tried the multistrada and thought the BM was quicker and easier to adjust on the fly .I was offered very low finance deal but advised the salesman I was just a time waster :D

I also went and had a look at the 1290-1190&1050 KTM' s
No purchase was made , looked at a new E class as well .its great when your wife goes away for the weekend:thumby:

Tyre kicker :D
 


Back
Top Bottom