2016 BMW S 1000 XR
FIRST RIDE
P64
could go plenty fast on the Tour-
ing Package with the bonus of
having my luggage racks already
fitted. The one thing I would
insist on is the Gear Shift Assist
Pro, which is an excellent fea-
ture, especially when the roads
are soaking wet like they were
on this ride.
The Gear Shift Assist Pro fea-
ture allows for clutchless up and
down shifts, making corner entry
smoother. You have to make sure
you have the throttle completely
closed, though, because any form
of throttle opening will disengage
the system and the shift becomes
super clunky, if you can shift at all.
Work the system the way it should
(full close throttle, light snick of the
lever and down goes the ratio) and
it's a gem. It's funny how quickly
you get used to the system, kinda
like it's always been there but
you've just never noticed. Sadly
the Gear Shift Assist Pro wasn't
enough to stop some Canadian
journos packing up and heading
back to the hotel about five hours
early due to the rain. Soft as but-
ter, I say…
A L L D AY
The S 1000 XR is a bike you'll
be able to ride all day on and
that's got nothing to do with the
engine. That chassis, combined
with the Dynamic ESA fitted to
the testbike, makes for a sterling
ride that meant I could have kept
riding and riding, regardless of
the weather.
The Dynamic ESA feels like
it's right in its happy zone on
the XR. On the superbike there
are those riders who prefer the
feel of conventional suspension
but on the XR this Dynamic stuff
really delivers the goods. It's
action is subtle and the ride is
consequently very smooth, and
when combined with the lazier
geometry of the XR over the S
1000 R the ride is never anything
Rennie contemplates the meaning of life…
