2020 BMW S 1000 XR
R I D E R E V I E W
P62
SIDE ONE: MOTOR AND CHASSIS
The XR needs to be looked at as two
sides of the same coin—the mechanical
and the electronic. Let's go over the me-
chanical first. The motor has come in for
a pretty thorough overhaul but is interest-
ingly not fitted with the variable Shift Cam
technology that made its debut in the GS
and S 1000 RR last year, which is a little
odd when you consider the XR's motor is
directly derived from the RR's.
Cost and overall complexity of the Shift
Cam design are the primary reasons
for its exclusion, so the XR gets its own
Our test bike
came loaded with
cruise control,
carbon fiber body
panels, heated
grips, quick
shifter, the lot.
You'll want yours
loaded up, too.
(L-R) The new motor produces
a claimed 165 horsepower. The
swingarm does away with the previous
model's linkage system, saving some
more unsprung weight in the process.
The XR's is the most comprehensive
dash on the market. Yet, despite this,
it's actually quite easy to use and
navigate. New Dynamic ESA Pro is an
excellent accessory.
