BMW S1000 XR Growing Up Gracefully.

Knowledge is Power

To understand the BMW S1000 XR is to understand an engine.

What is an engine?

Technically it’s a compressor of combustible gases that directs energy to a drive train while managing the release of heat. Ok… that’s true, but what happens when humans are factored into the equation?

Let’s try that again. What is an engine?

An engine extends the limits that millions of years of evolution have placed on our 3 km per hour, bipedal bodies, and in doing so has elevated us from the status of mere mortals to outright demi-gods.

Especially the engine bolted to the BMW S1000 XR. Holy Cow!

Evolution

The pedigree of the XR’s engine can be traced to April 2008 when BMW Motorrad created a 999cc 199hp four-cylinder inline powerplant: mounted it to a sport bike frame and called it the S1000RR. The engine, gearbox, suspension and frame were perfected in the pure racing environment of Superbike. By 2010 the full production version of this exceptionally fast, street legal sport bike was officially offered to the public. Now we mere mortals could jump on the motorcycle, tuck into a virtual fetal position and accelerate until the adrenaline in our bloodstream clears our sinuses. As they would say in Boston, that bike is “wicked fast”.

Not everyone wants to ride a motorcycle in such an aggressive, crouched body position all day, so in 2014 BMW introduced a street fighter version in the form of the S1000R. This new naked variation offered a more relaxed riding stance while a slightly de-tuned engine focused more low and mid range performance friendlier to everyday traffic. Don’t be fooled, at 160hp this was still an incredibly fast motorcycle.

Then for a time all was quiet at Bayerische Motoren Werke, yet it seemed a shame to not find one more use for this engine. So…

Enter the third iteration for this exquisite motor: the fabulous S1000XR. Now, this is a more difficult motorcycle to categorize. The marketing department at BMW may promote it as a kind of ADV bike, or position it against the Ducati Multistrada (designed to take on the Italians; a Viele Straßen as it were.) I can understand either scenario. But after riding this bike for a week I feel like there is a third interpretation for this motorcycle. I see it as an opportunity to age gracefully.

The S1000XR might just be a home for sport bike riders who really want to sit upright but not sacrifice the joy of a sport bike engine. A truth revealed by just starting the machine with your eyes closed. The exhaust note is pure super bike: you will swear your standing beside an RR. Open your eyes and there stands a tall adventure bike with all its mid-life advantages. The XR is a perfect platform for sore wrists and aching backs. This motorcycle firmly keeps breathtaking speed and torque available while giving your sport-bike body a reprieve. One can comfortably ride eight hours on this bike with no issues. Trust me.

I can’t help but think about the famous “March of Progress” drawing, but in this instance depicting the evolutionary journey from hunched over sport bike rider to fully upright adventure rider.

Revolution

Full disclosure: At first I wasn't too sure about this motorcycle. For all its muscle I was a little confused as to why I would want it. It took a little while but once I bonded and understood its style I found it a real joy to ride. Within two hours I was properly hooked.

As I faced the obligatory grind through city sprawl, clawing my way to the open roads in the north, I was pleasantly surprised that, for all its power, it is in fact a very comfortable inner city machine. Sure, it doesn’t actually like chugging along in 1st and 2nd gear: the engine can shudder slightly at lower speed and does run quite hot, but these are small issues considering the boundless amounts of torque available for navigating traffic snarls. Slow speed handling is docile and the bike feels light and balanced. Like many ADV-type machines it is rather tall but not unreasonably so. The standard seat height of 840 mm was fine for my short inseam although one can choose a lower 790 mm or higher 855mm depending on your parents’ genetics.

Finally clear of the city, the real joy of this bike is found at highway speeds. Now how does one extol the virtues of a motorcycle that can leap “north” of the legal speed limits so easily while not incriminating ones self?

Well… you can’t.

Suffice to say I’m 53 years old and wisdom prevails as far as sustained civic irresponsibilities go. What I can say is that the power and torque of the S1000XR allows for very quick passing options while I rode the busy secondary highways of Ontario and Quebec. Lightening fast multi-car overtaking is very confidence-inspiring and one of the many strengths of this motorcycle. The Shift Assistant Pro option, changing gears without engaging the clutch, only enhances the ability to rapidly ramp up to high passing speeds, then very quickly ramp back down to merge back into the right lane without needing to brake. Speaking of which the ABS controlled dual floating, 4 piston-fixed calliper front and the single rear disc brakes do a great job of undoing all that speed if and when it is finally needed.

It is the 21st century after all, and with it the XR offers a number of different throttle mappings and suspension configurations which can all be changed in real time. Rain and Road modes are as advertised, but there is a third option called Dynamic. This mode, when married to the Dynamic suspension mode, brings complex computer control to the bikes handling. It is an unusual setting at first, various sensors constantly adjust the parameters to perfectly match to needs of the moment. The hard-core stubborn libertarian pinko in me didn’t like the idea of computer AI making so many decisions on my behalf, but I have to admit that in practice it was pretty amazing. In fact, once in the twisties of the Laurentian mountains I found I preferred it and may have made me seem a better rider then I probably am.

There is a Motard attitude evident in in the 17 inch front and rear wheels. The small front rim size does make the the bike follow the line of tight curves beautifully, but would make it difficult to find knobby tires for true dual sport needs once again adding a bit of confusion to what kind of bike this really is. The fairing and windshield do a great job and the seat was remarkably comfortable.

Absolution

On the down side there is the classic inline four cylinder phenomenon: buzzy handle bars at high rpm’s that can make your fingers feel like there covered in insects when you pull over for a coffee. I remember this feeling with my old 1987 K-100 brick. It just seems to be a physical reality of inline four engine design. To be honest I don’t mind: much like I don’t mind riding single cylinder thumpers either. Bikes are living breathing creatures that should have character as far as I’m concerned.

The other consideration is fuel economy. Riding in groups with other 1000 to 1200 cc bikes on the same roads at similar speeds I was inevitably always first to reach the fuel warning light. Again not a problem understanding that this is a sport bike engine but one would have to budget for much more fuel in an ADV setting. A trip from Canada to Argentina would need extra jerry cans lashed to the panniers for some of the lonelier stretches of southern Patagonia.

Otherwise what can I say?

BMW S1000 XR is a powerful machine that unapologetically defies categorization. A somewhat confusing bike for sure but to paraphrase Woody Allen, “as confusing experiences go, it really is one of the best”.

Michael Wojewoda is a record producer and motorcyclist based in Toronto, Canada.

mpwmusic.com

Notes from the Pillion by Selina Martin

After 2 ½ hours on the back of the incredibly powerful and awesomely smooth BMW S1000XR I feel like I’m still moving. But I’m just standing here. And I can still feel that feeling in my chest. Like it wants to expand, to take up more space, to grow beyond the confines of my physical body. It’s an ache. It’s like the feeling you get when you’re at the top of a mountain, or hanging at the apex of a rollercoaster’s first dive, or when you’re falling in love. Perhaps not exactly like falling in love, but close.

I’m not unaccustomed to the back seat of a motorcycle. When I was a kid I used to love going for rides on the back of my dad’s Kawasaki 750, and - when I was really little - sitting on the gas tank of his BSA for slow trips around the block. Memories like these came rushing back during my ride with Michael. But the BMW S1000XR is an entirely new species of machine. It’s so powerful, yet it’s a surprisingly smooth and comfortable ride. Even on the back seat. It doesn’t matter if you’re cruising through the city, flying along the highway, or sidewinding on country roads, the ease of acceleration is remarkable. Drawbacks? Not many. After a couple of hours I wished the seat cushion had a little more “cush” for my butt., Plus at high speeds I was fighting wind drag on my helmet, but I think that just comes with the territory. Regardless it was intoxicating. I felt my state of being change. I was transformed from a thinking being to a feeling one. That barrier that ‘regular life’ builds in you – the one that separates you from the rest of your surroundings – it vanished. I couldn’t stop smiling. I forgot all my puny worries as I watched the highway speed by underneath us, smooth and powerful like a fast-moving black river. A really fast-moving black river.

Selina Martin is recording artist/ actor based in Toronto, Canada

selinamartin.com

All photographs by Steve Moretti except photo of Selina Martin by author

steve-moretti.com

Engine

Type Liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline-four, 4 valves/cyl.

Displacement 999cc

Bore x stroke 80.0 x 49.7mm

Compression ratio 12.0:1

Induction BMS-X EFI, 48mm throttle bodies, dual injectors/cyl.

Chassis

Front Tire 120/70ZR-17 Bridgestone Battlax T30F EVO

Rear Tire 190/55ZR-17 Bridgestone Battlax T30R

Rake/trail 25.5 degrees/4.6 in. (117mm)

Wheelbase 61.0 in. in. (1549mm)

Seat height 33.1 in. (841mm)

Fuel Capacity 5.2 gal. (20L)

Claimed curb weight 502 lb. (228kg)