Take an S 1000 RR, make the riding position upright, cover it in carbon and fit top spec brakes then call it a touring bike. We ride the crazy BMW M 1000 XR...Photos: Graham Bain/Pommie
Our Editor Jeff described the BMW M 1000 XR Competition as an SUV on steroids as the fob was handed over, and I must say, it’s probably an accurate description. The bike is big, incredibly fast and menacing, with lashings of carbon-fibre everywhere. Here’s my review.
More carbon-fibre than Toprak’s bike… the M 1000 XR is a the ultimate crazy sports tourer.
The M 1000 XR
The quality is what we’ve come to expect from BMW, but the M model takes it to the next level, with CNC machined parts everywhere and a beautiful paint finish, plus those carbon-fibre wheels just finish the whole bike off. There’s no getting around the fact that this is a big bike, with a seat height of 850mm and a very wide fuel tank area the XR is a bit of a handful to move around. However, it’s not excessively heavy at 223kg ready to ride and certainly doesn’t feel heavy when on the move.
At 223kg ready to ride and with an 850mm seat height the M XR is a huge motorcycle… But just look at it!
In the cockpit you get a wide set of black alloy tapered ‘bars adorned with the M logo, that are held on by a trick looking black anodised clamp. Attached to the ‘bars is a nice set of alloy ‘bar end mirrors that offer good vision and don’t protrude the too much, making it easier to lane split, however they do suffer from a bit of vibration blur at 80km/h + speeds.
Looking down into the cockpit is a thing of beauty, there are carbon inlay panels surrounding the large bright and colourful TFT dash. The TFT not only looks good, but it’s pretty easy to navigate through with a bit of practice and if you’re a BMW fan already then everything will be pretty familiar. On the ‘bar controls there are buttons everywhere and the left side one still has the now familiar BMW wheel.
201hp is insane for a sports tourer… throw in the DDC suspension and M brakes and you have the ultimate streetbike.
However, I was a bit disappointed that they have dropped the suspension adjustment button on the left switch on the M model (it’s still there on the standard XR though) and I would also like to have seen illuminated buttons too on such a high-end bike like this. Through the dash and buttons, you can control and customise just about anything, like the traction control settings, riding modes, custom dash layouts and just about anything else you can think of.
Pommie said he felt honoured to test such a special bike. That is saying something, as he has been doing this gig for almost two decades…
The Ride
Sitting on the bike the ride position is perfect, especially for people like me that may be getting on a bit in age or have just had enough of leaning over a sportsbike. There is a fair reach to the ground though and even with my 183cm frame I could only get the balls of my feet down. I’m guessing that’s the fault of the wide seat as well as the seat height.
The M 1000 XR is absolutely on rails. Forget the weight figure, this thing just eats up corners for breakfast…
After having a good look around the bike and drooling over all the bling, I hit the start button and I’m greeted by an eager revving in-line four-cylinder engine as it goes through its cold start process. I thought that it may be a bit louder with the Akrapovic exhaust on the M model, but I guess even that must come under the noise emission rules. I select first gear and I’m off up the road.
I like how BMW have made it so you can’t rev the bike hard when the engine is cold, the bike limits the revs until everything gets up to temperature. With the bike set in Road mode, the suspension feels firm but compliant, definitely more toward the sporty side than the S 1000 XR M Sport I tested. The cable operated clutch action is smooth and pretty light, not that you need it much two-way quick-shifter.
Loads of ground clearance, electronic suspension and multiple ride modes makes the M XR a mean street sports tourer.
When you ride a few bikes with quality quick-shifters you do start to take them for granted, but BMW were one of the first to get them working perfectly on road bikes and we have to be grateful for that. Tapping up and down through the gears is a joy and the M does it at any revs with the throttle open or closed, you can change gear with cruise control activated and it won’t deactivate it, a nice touch.
“To ride this bike, you simply have to adjust your brain as to how fast you get to the next bend”
Through traffic the M is a pleasure to ride and if the gap is big enough for the mirrors then lane splitting is easy enough. The gearbox is spot-on, and I found neutral every time when rolling to a stop. The engine is obviously a monster, but I found that it would pull smoothly away in top gear at really low speeds. I tried from 40km/h just as a test and it showed no sign of chugging or complaint, just smooth acceleration, pretty impressive for such a high performance engine.
Sadly hard luggage is not an option but there are some soft luggage accessories available.
On the freeway the bike sits on around 5000rpm and like I said before, you do get a bit of blur in those bar-end mirrors, but the bike is so comfy you could ride it all day. However, unlike the S 1000 XR you can’t fit the BMW hard panniers and top box should you want to tour, which is a bit disappointing, although you can get as an option some soft luggage side bags if you wish to travel.
To ride this bike, you simply have to adjust your brain as to how fast you get to the next bend, luckily it has the stopping power to match the performance…
In my eyes this bike has been built to be comfy, but at the same time capable of going insanely fast on the road or on a track if you so choose. Whenever I stopped and someone asked me what I thought about it, my answer was always the same, it’s really too fast for the road you can’t use anywhere near all the power this bike has.
“It’s really too fast for the road you can’t use anywhere near all the power this bike has.” Said Pommie, never.
To ride this bike, you simply have to adjust your brain as to how fast you get to the next bend, luckily it has the stopping power to match the performance. The M is fitted with Nissin made M brakes and they are extremely powerful and offer good feel at the beautifully made black billet folding lever and are a step up in performance to the ones fitted to the S 1000 XR M Sport.
Riding the two bikes back-to-back has been great and it’s not something we get the chance to do all the time. The M Competition model is just sharper in every aspect over the standard XR as you’d expect, the chassis is more taut as is the suspension, it just leans more towards the sporty side rather than the touring. The engine is the same one you get in the RR with the clever shift-cam technology so you get over 200hp of top-end craziness with the benefit of good midrange torque.
“The engine is the same one you get in the RR with the clever shift-cam technology so you get over 200hp of top-end craziness with the benefit of good midrange torque.”
On a twisty road the M model Competition shines and those superlight carbon-fibre wheels really earn their worth, the lack of unsprung rotating mass makes this bike steer unbelievably quick when changing direction, which in itself takes a bit of getting my brain used to, for such a big bike.
With multiple riding modes available and custom options, you don’t need to be intimidated by the bike performance, you can just select Rain mode, which softens everything down and just go for a nice comfortable leisurely cruise and when you feel like it and hit a good bit of road you can select Dynamic or even Race mode and turn the M into a beast.
“In the corner of my eye I can see the traction control light flickering like mad, even when I reach third gear”…
In Race mode I’d be leaving the traction control on and in a suitable setting, and at the same time keeping the wheelie control on, to give you a good chance of taming the beast. One thing I love to do on these crazy power bikes, is just pull over on a quiet bit of road and just launch it, it really gets the adrenaline going, but in the corner of my eye I can see the traction control light flickering like mad, even when I reach third gear, so it really is all the electronics that’s keeping me safe and stopping me from getting spat off! Although the Bridgestone Battlax RS11 tyres are amazing.
Conclusion
After my time with the BMW M 1000 XR Competition and the S 1000 XR M Sport I found myself asking which bike I’d choose. The M looks unbelievable and turned heads everywhere I took it and it’s insanely “superbike fast”. However, the S 1000 XR M Sport is no slouch with 170hp and it’s a more purposeful tourer for this class of bike and can provide 90 per cent of the thrills of the M, so if it was my money I’d probably take the XR M Sport, but if I had deep pockets then all that carbon would tempting.
Second Opinion
I’m only a year shy of turning 50, as much as I can’t believe that given I still make model motorcycles in my spare time and feel that EFI is a new thing. I just don’t feel 50… until I hop off a sportsbike or racebike after a track ride or day up on the local hills. Holy Moly, is my body stuffed… I am all for upright bikes. Yes, I have become one of the very riders I could not understand when I was young.. those that find sportsbikes hard work! The M 1000 XR may have just become my solution… Wait, I’m broke…
With over 200hp, the M XR gave me the thrill I need as an ex racer, while the oh so intimate feeling brakes impressed me. Finally, a bike with proper brakes! The grip levels from the RS11s, the presets of the electronic suspension in the ride modes and the incredible power delivery make the M XR a serious bike through the hills. But when I got tired, I could roll back and enjoy a comfy tourer. The upright riding position solves my wrist and back issues and the seat is comfy. It’s just a crazy machine! 10/10.
Jeff Ware reckons that the M 1000 XR is quite possibly the best handling performance streetbike he has tested…
2024 BMW M 1000 XR Competition Specifications
Price: $39,280 Ride Away (Nov 2024)
Warranty: Three-years
Colours: Light White/M Sport, Black Storm Metallic/M Sport (tested)
Claimed power: [148kW]201hp@12750rpm
Claimed torque: 113Nm[83ft-lbs]@11000rpm
Wet weight: 223kg (211kg dry)
Fuel capacity: 20 litres
Fuel consumption (measured): N/A
Engine: Water-cooled in-line four-cylinder four-stroke, four valves per cylinder, Shiftcam technology, DOHC, 999cc, 80 x 49.7mm bore x stroke, 13.3:1 compression
Gearbox: Constant-mesh 6-speed gearbox, quick-shifter Clutch: Self-reinforcing multi-plate anti-hopping wet clutch Final drive: 525 Chain, Top Speed: Over 275km/h, Max rpm: 14,600rpm.
Chassis: Aluminium composite bridge frame, self-supporting engine, alloy swingarm.
Rake: 64.9º Trail: 117.4mm
Front Suspension: Upside-down telescopic fork, slide tube diameter 45mm, Dynamic ESA, damping electronically adjustable. Rear Suspension: Dynamic ESA, damping electronically adjustable
Brakes: Twin disc brake, floating, 320mm, radial four-piston fixed Nissin M Sport calipers, rear Single-disc brake, 220mm, two-piston floating caliper, ABS Pro.
Wheels & Tyres: M Sport carbon-fibre wheels, 120/70-17, 200/55-17, 3.50 x 17in, 6.00 x 17in. Bridgestone Battlax RS11 tyres.
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 1552mm
Seat Height: 850mm STD
Length: 2170mm
Height: 1382mm
Electronics & Dash: 6.5in TFT colour display, BMW Motorrad ABS Pro, DTC, Dynamic Brake Control, LED lights, Hill Start Control, Riding Modes Pro, Keyless Ride, Dynamic ESA Pro, Gear Shift Assist Pro, Heated Grips, Cruise Control, Adaptive Headlight, Daytime Riding Light, Headlight Pro, HP Battery.
Ratings | Bike Review | 2024 BMW M 1000 XR Competition
Nuts!
Take an S 1000 RR superbike, make the riding position upright, cover it in carbon-fibre and fit top spec brakes then call it a touring bike. We ride the crazy BMW M 1000 XR…
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