Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1518395
999cc inline-four, producing 201 horsepower at 12,750 rpm. Peak torque is 83.3 lb-ft at 11,000 rpm, with the redline at a foolish 14,600 rpm. The final gearing and top three cogs in the gearbox are slightly short - er than the S 1000 XR's, and there is Pro Shift Assist for slicker changes and an anti-hopping slipper clutch. BMW says that the M 1000 XR is more powerful across the whole rev range than the S 1000 XR and 1.3 seconds faster from 0 to 125 P84 RIDE REVIEW I 2024 BMW M 1000 XR (Top) We defy you to show us something sexier on a motorcycle than carbon-fiber wheels. Especially ones with the BMW M sticker on them. (Middle) Billet footpegs on our test bike add a touch of class. (Bottom) The same 6.5- inch dash as found on many of BMW's top-of-the-line models adorns the M XR. mph—and truthfully, I was a little intimidated as I approached it for my first ride. There's a huge amount of angular carbon plus those protruding wings. And being a crossover, it's tall—and I'm not. However, within a few miles of leaving BMW's test base in south - ern Spain it was apparent that this special M is more than a WorldSBK racer on stilts. The ShiftCam means it isn't peaky and, at low speeds, it's easygoing and doc- ile—in fact, around town, the odd burble from the Akrapovic exhaust is the only indication you're riding something special. As the pace and revs pick up, the M 1000 XR drives hard but without drama through a strong mid-range. The engine is smooth; there's an air of nonchalant sophistication as you nudge the quickshifter up and down, enjoy - ing the torque and a brisk, satisfying ride. Sitting tall and supremely comfortable in a deep plush seat, arms gently stretched to accom - modatingly wide bars. Everything is much as it would be on the base S 1000 XR. Then you open the throttle, release as many of those 200 horses as you dare, and all that changes. The acceleration, initially at least, feels shockingly violent and, on the freeway, our test bike stampeded to 160 mph before I could even think about it (closed road obviously, officer). I had to recalibrate and adjust to the M's natural pace. The ac - celeration is ruthless, but the bike itself remains unmoved by the drama it's creating, and there's a strange disconnect between its pace and its riding position. On a pure sports bike, you are hunched over and probably wearing race leathers, so 150 mph feels fast. On the M 1000 XR, however, you just sit there, twist the throttle, and potentially go straight to prison. Truly, speeding has never been so easy. However, don't use this as a legal defense.