I ride a 1250GS which is probably the best motorcycle you can buy.Therefore you see so many but sometimes I get the itch for an XR because I like the top-end power that gives you such a rush.It is fun but also can get you in trouble as we all know.My dealer had a low mile trade-in 2019 last of the gen 1 models on the floor.Took her out on a test-ride and thought what a bike.I mean the GS is great has driveshaft good handling and more power up to 8000 rpm and no dive Telelever and feels like a Hoovercraft no matter how bad the pavement is like magic. But the XR is so much fun between 8000 and 11000 rpm and the intake roar is intoxicating.Only bad thing in dynamic-pro mode the ride is like riding on a board on todays less than perfect roads as also it sucks gas which is getting expensive nowadays...I thought I buy it because it is so much fun to finally get it out of my system especially since the newer ones are not as wild anymore...I thought !
But then another guy I know comes by and let me ride his 2020 gen 2 S1000XR in dynamic-pro mode with a Akrapovic Carbon slip-on.to compare.I must say I was positively surprised.Except for the intake roar the sound was still there and it felt just as fast with even 1000 rpm more to play with on top.Handling on both bikes is great as in quick steering and stable at high speeds.But the new bike felt like the road I just rode on just got repaved.The suspension felt way better as more compliant.Also the TFT screen and tank compartment a la GSA are nice features.The new one felt just as fast as the old one and still sounds great if you get the Akrapovic exhaust.But if you have an old one it is still so good that there is really no needto upgrade because handling and motor are about the same unless you ride on bumpy roads where the new one soaks up the bumps much better which translates in faster riding.Also you can feel the 30 lbs less on the new bike as also the lower and narrower handlebar are on the plus side too.
In the first 3 gears they both felt the same...Much faster than either 1290 or Multistrada V4 ! In the gears 4,5,6 the older one is shorter geared but the power pretty much felt the same between gen 1 and gen 2 while I saw 155mph on the old bike and 161 on the newer one.Both pretty fast and fast enough for the street.Probably even capable and fun enough on a track day giving in only to very few fast guys on real superbikes...
As for further improvement I can live with the seat as both bikes had the higher HP seats but a seat for even easier hanging-off would be nice.As for vibration both bikes no issue for me.I was really excited after the testrides...
I think next season I will go for the XR with the M-package or maybe the M1000XR gains even shift-cam or 1100 cc which would be great and then maybe go back to Telelever & shaftdrive with the new 1300/1400GS after a season or 2 after the bugs are worked out and getting more mature...
Or the GS gets 160 hp and 17 inch wheels and there is really no gap to the XR...who knows what the autumn brings to celebrate 100 years of BMW Motorrad.
Moral of the story both GS 1250 and XR 1000 are great bikes...
But then another guy I know comes by and let me ride his 2020 gen 2 S1000XR in dynamic-pro mode with a Akrapovic Carbon slip-on.to compare.I must say I was positively surprised.Except for the intake roar the sound was still there and it felt just as fast with even 1000 rpm more to play with on top.Handling on both bikes is great as in quick steering and stable at high speeds.But the new bike felt like the road I just rode on just got repaved.The suspension felt way better as more compliant.Also the TFT screen and tank compartment a la GSA are nice features.The new one felt just as fast as the old one and still sounds great if you get the Akrapovic exhaust.But if you have an old one it is still so good that there is really no needto upgrade because handling and motor are about the same unless you ride on bumpy roads where the new one soaks up the bumps much better which translates in faster riding.Also you can feel the 30 lbs less on the new bike as also the lower and narrower handlebar are on the plus side too.
In the first 3 gears they both felt the same...Much faster than either 1290 or Multistrada V4 ! In the gears 4,5,6 the older one is shorter geared but the power pretty much felt the same between gen 1 and gen 2 while I saw 155mph on the old bike and 161 on the newer one.Both pretty fast and fast enough for the street.Probably even capable and fun enough on a track day giving in only to very few fast guys on real superbikes...
As for further improvement I can live with the seat as both bikes had the higher HP seats but a seat for even easier hanging-off would be nice.As for vibration both bikes no issue for me.I was really excited after the testrides...
I think next season I will go for the XR with the M-package or maybe the M1000XR gains even shift-cam or 1100 cc which would be great and then maybe go back to Telelever & shaftdrive with the new 1300/1400GS after a season or 2 after the bugs are worked out and getting more mature...
Or the GS gets 160 hp and 17 inch wheels and there is really no gap to the XR...who knows what the autumn brings to celebrate 100 years of BMW Motorrad.Moral of the story both GS 1250 and XR 1000 are great bikes...
