BMW S1000 XR: A new, improved ADV bike for the street

BMW has released its new S1000 XR adventure touring bike, with a reworked version of the S1000 RR’s engine, as expected.

The new engine has been retuned for the XR application, making 165 hp at 11,000 rpm, and 84 lb-ft of torque at 9,250 rpm. But, although it’s derived from the S1000 RR superbike, it does not have the Shiftcam variable valve timing design.

It has other advantages, though. Gears 4-6 have longer ratios to keep engine noise and rpm down, and ease fuel consumption. There’s also a revised anti-hop clutch, and BMW included engine drag torque control, electronically controlled, to smooth out downshifts and quick snaps of the throttle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sScTuXphA2c

Overall, power delivery is supposed to be more smooth and enjoyable than previous models (this is something every manufacturer says every year, though). It’s all Euro5 compliant as well.

Through clever engineering, BMW has also managed to cut 5 kg of weight off the engine for 2020. Rain, Road, Dynamic and Dynamic Pro riding modes come as standard. Dynamic is obviously a sportier setting, and Dynamic Pro allows the user to configure their own choice of throttle response, engine braking, ABS interference, traction control level, and wheelie control. A six-axis IMU is standard, and provides the brainwork behind these functions.

Of course, the S1000 XR also comes with other electronic safety measures such as hill start assistance, stability control, leaning-sensitive ABS and traction control functions and a 6.5-inch TFT screen (Bluetooth compatible). The TFT screen can be configured to deliver standard in-flight information, or customized to show things like lean angle and the level of braking and traction control employed.

LED lighting is standard (including a cornering-enabled headlight as optional), and the tech theme carries over to the suspension department. Electronic suspension adjustment is standard, and there’s an optional Pro mode that allows the rider to select between a couple of damping modes, while providing automatic load compensation.

The S1000 XR also lost some weight in the frame and swingarm, with new double-sided swingarm reducing unsprung mass. This was partly enabled by making the engine carry more of the chassis load, allowing BMW to reduce the frame’s bulk elsewhere.

Overall, the bike is down an impressive 10 kg, to 226 kg.

Cruise control is optional, as is an up/down quickshifter. As you’d expect, BMW will have a wide range of accessories available for this machine, including panniers, topbox, and all sorts of other practical add-ons.

According to BMW,  the updated S1000XR will be on sale in Canada in Q2 of 2020, with an MSRP of $19,750.