BMW S1000XR (2015 - 2019) Review

Very fast and comfortable, everything from a track day to touring with luggage

Powerful engine however very poor low speed running very snatchy throttle below 3k revs

Battery failed, fork seals leaked, heated grips just warm, wheel bearings fail, cam chain tensioner, quickshifter stopped working, catastrophic engine failure due to soft camshaft follower which wrecked the inlet cam which dropped an inlet valve which wrecked the cylinder head holed the piston and damaged the engine block

Service my own bike as no faith in the dealers

Best is the quickshifter, worst are the heated grips, tyres Michelin road 5’s

The ride is great, and with the semi active suspension, makes riding on British roads enjoyable. The brakes are by far one of the best I've experienced on a bike.

Engine is great when it doesn't go bang because of dodgy cam shafts.

I bought a 2016 XR and had it for 5 months. Putting about 2300 miles on it, with a total of about 10700 miles on the clock. I was was on a ride and it went bang. Took it to a garage and found that the cam shaft lobe had worn down, and failed causing the valve to smash into the piston. This has resulted in the engine being a total loss. Spoke with BMW and a number of other persons who own XRs, and have been told this is a common problem with the emailer models. So if you are in the market for an XR, be mindful if you hear a ticking noise.

My XR was getting about 150 miles per tank, which is about standard for most the bikes I've owned. Can't help with servicing as I only had it 5 months.

No issues

18000 mile service cost is horrendously expensive

Brakes are amazing, 0 complaints, stop like a truck and the ABS systems are crazy good. They can only be overwhelmed if you're being an absolute ape. Cornering ABS is straight up magic in emergency situations, and if you know how to use the electronics to your advantage (not rely on them, but use them) there is nothing on the road that can touch this bike under braking. Suspension features are also top notch, the electronic features are a game changer, anti dive is amazing, anti squat shoots you off like a rocket, handling razor sharp, electronic preload makes setting up the bike or just changing firmness for rougher terrain a 5 second job, however actual damping quality is not amazing. The electronics do a lot to cover the weaknesses of the base suspension to the point where it becomes a non issue, but without the electronics working this is a midrange suspension at best, the sort you'd find on something like a Versys 650 or SV650. Even on softest settings it's a little hard but not unbearable.

Tremendous engine, loads of power, loads of torque, dead smooth when under load, it's only jittery at very low speeds when the engine is not under load (ie rolling down a slight hill). Yes the engine is buzzy, nowhere near to the extent people make it out to be. I thought it was bad only because I was told so and I've been paying attention to it, then I rode a Multistrada 1260, CB650R, Street Triple 765RS, my old ER6F and all of them vibrated at least the same if not more. Gears are short but that really works for this bike especially paired with the sublime quickshifter.

Reliability is extremely good over 40,000 miles hasn't missed a beat that wasn't my fault breaking something (eg water getting under grips when replacing them and heated grips corroding, literally a 20 minute, 2 quid fix with some new heating element wire and a soldering iron). Build quality is really good on all the parts that matter. Mechanical components seem to have endless life and show no signs of age, as far as the smaller details go it gets a bit worse, fairings are a bit creaky, handguards a bit flimsy (not a problem even at high speed), some places have annoying gaps in them and the windscreen assembly is also a bit bendy, none of these affect riding experience though.

My annual running cost is factored in doing 15k miles a year. People who say this bike is expensive to run are speaking absolute bollocks. If you are silly enough to take the bike to a main dealer then you deserve to pay what the charge, and even that price is not unreasonable (200 quid for a full service).Any independent mechanic will halve the service costs BMW offer, especially at the bigger jobs, do it yourself it's, spare change. £45-50 for an oil change, one of the easiest bikes to do it on too, £20 for an air filter, valves service is just a couple hours and maybe £20-30 in shims if any needs replacing. Chain and sprockets slightly more than the average bike at £120, not because "it's a BMW", purely because this bike has a long chain, same with pads, which are around £70-80 for a full set, and discs... I was surprised to see a pair of upgrade Brembo discs (£320) on this bike are cheaper than replacement EBCs on my Kawasaki ER6!!! As for outright brand new value, it's not exactly relevant anymore but just last year the fully loaded Gen 2 S1000XR was £16500 OTR, equivalent Kawasaki Versys 1000 was £15500. Trust me when I say this bike has more than a 1000 quid on the Kawi... Then on the other end 1290 SD GT was around £18k and the Ducati nearly £20k. This makes the XR not only the highest performing in the category, but also the most well equipped and therefore best value.

Extremely well equipped bike, it has everything apart from some of the latest toys such as radar cruise control or blind spot detection. The selection and options for the electronics are simple but the electronics themselves are the most sophisticated there is on the market. Slip control is intelligent, keeps the bike dead steady, wheelie control gives you freedom in Dynamic but keeps you firmly planted in Road, the riding modes themselves are very well tuned to suit multiple riding situations and i don't see the need to fettle with them any more. If I would miss one thing it's adjustable engine braking.

Has an awful lot of power, I would prefer more torque in the lower revs.

So far had no problems.

As you would expect BMW are not the cheapest to run, I have had it 2 years now and would welcome some sort of reduced cost value servicing for older bikes like the cars do or a good service plan offer.

The sat nav works really well with the bike, I opted for the GS lockable mount to service. The latest model does come with its own lovable mount. Luggage works really well too. Shame they don’t do there own radiator grills, had to purchase third ones as the roads are very exposed.

Beautiful handling

Fast but short gears

Would be great but too many niggles

NGK plugs from BMW £60 Same NGK plugs from eBay £32

Cruise control is good. Display is mixture of digital and analog so old fashioned really. Sat Nav toggle wheel is gimmicky- doesn’t work seamlessly and a distraction on the move

It is very comfortable, can ride all day.

Has got a lot of performance, I would have preferred a little more torque though.

As you would expect built well. No corrosion yet and has had no failures.

I’m unsure how this compares with a like got like bike, but it does seem a little on the high side.

Equipment all works well including full luggage set. Sat nav is very good and shows the bikes computer information. Shame on this one they did not do a licking mount for the nav which I think they do on the latest model.

Rode Aylesbury to Aberdeen with nothing more than fuel stops and arrived fresh as a daisy. Pretty impressive given the four seasons experienced on route.

100% 5 out of 5. Gentle as a gentle thing when if you're not looking for pace. Reach for the red line and change gear on the white light and it's a glorious beast with a sound track to match.

I'd really like to say 5 out of 5 but a catastophic oil cooler failure during warranty blotted the copy book over 5 years of ownership from new. Most of the engine oil, under pressure, got dumped over a 200m stretch of straight road leaving a hot exhaust induced cloud of white smoke which grabbed my attention before the next left hander. Silverlining? BMW stumped up for new rear tyre too. Only other none service component failure was a front wheel bearing after 20k miles.

The 24k mile valve clearance major service was predictably eye watering.

Shift assist up and down is superb and on the way up at pace it adds to the sound track. Roadpilots make wet weather irrelevant. Avoid sports tyres unless you want to replace them with regular and totally un-necessary monotony.

For me this is the best street bike I’ve owned. It’s exceptionally comfortable. I could ride all day no problem. It’s really well balanced and loves a hack through the twisties. I have the fully loaded SE - slipper clutch, cruise control. I prefer to use the clutch from first to second as sometimes it jumps. Might just be me. The rest are seamless up and down. The brakes are exceptional. I’ve had to do some emergency braking and it has stopped and stayed planted. Gives me a lot of confidence

Bit of lag in lower Rev range but overall power delivery is good

Had rear bearings replaced twice now. Once under warranty once at my cost

See above. Had some niggles but overall it’s reliable. The 18k service is a fiver shy of £800 so be prepared. It manages tyres well with its linked intelligent braking.

Love and recommend slipper clutch. Barely use cruise control, find it a bit fiddly. I have the pre mounted sat nav with thumb wheel. I changed my bars to Helibars for two reasons- 1 I prefer a slightly more aggressive angle and 2. The standard width of bars makes town filtering difficult (I work in London). The heated grips get way to hot for me. I use Gerbing gloves in winter. I’ve blinged it a bit further. Tail tidy, tinted screen. Shorty levers, crash bungs, exhaust. I use Michelin Road pilot 5. Love them.

The adaptive suspension is brilliant giving a compliant ride on B roads without wallowing.

The engine gives exhilarating performance and the best bit is the throttle control is smooth and instantaneous.

Had to have the exhaust manifold and valve replaced under warranty.

Adaptive suspension

Very comfortable, little vibey and just feels like it wants to go faster. Happy at anything over 70mph.

Vibrations. Lively and just wants to go.

Expensive to service. Recently had oil and filter change, over £200, labour charges expensive at main dealers.

Radiator and Oil cooler guard. Fender extender for front mud guard. Extender on rear guard also as short and rain does get flicked up from rear wheel.

Ride with two up till the tank is dry. No vibrations

Smooth power through all gears, seamless shift up and down,

Nothing gone wrong in my ownership

Serving and parts if needed can be expensive, but it is a Bmw

Cruise control is fantastic, heated grips and quick shifter all brilliant. Wouldn’t bother with a aftermarket can as the standard one looks and sounds great. I always use Bridgestone battlaxe and have found them to be great. Also fitted a comfort seat from Bmw, the standard one is ok but this one looks better.

Brakes are excellent, never had any problems with them

The engine is fantastic for me ! It's very revy and that puts some people off but for me that's what makes the bike, it just wants you to push it more and that's when the engine is at its best !

It's been a great bike ( my second one) finish is good but I do clean it regularly and always garage it.. only problems I've had are 2 new fork legs ( both the oil side) slight pimple under the finish that has cut the fork seal.. had them replaced under warranty and also a new battery also under warranty.

To be fair BMW service charges are a lot cheaper than most Japanese bikes at around £210, apart from he 18000 mile service which is around £650

With technology things are always improving so there is never a perfect bike its an evolution but I like the way that its heading, for me the most important things are the engine and gearbox, I love the gear assist and the auto blipper is fantastic, still amazes me that you can go all the way down the box without locking the back wheel ( unless you're unlucky enough to hit neutral between first and second, then it will lock the back wheel if you don't notice and knock it into first without the clutch, you don't do it many times before you know to use the clutch )

castings on engine are poor. Fitting of fairings are out also. I'd expect better from a Chinese bike

Yes, the handlebars vibrate. I've never ridden more than 100 miles in any one ride but maybe it would be irritating if you did. I don't find it too much of an issue though.

Just superb

I'm not aware of any quality issues and this is my 2nd S1000XR having had the 1st one stolen.

Just love the look if it, the riding position, the ability to swap from sedate to lunatic immediately and for me the fuel consumption. I've had two of the same model and both returned similar

Seat and lights let it down but can ride for hour and a half before seat gets to me. The seat had uncomfortable ridges that stick into me.

Amazing engine pulls hard from 30mph in 6th 165 BHP is brilliant absolutely love the power

Had a fuel pump fail, clutch cable snap, paint bubble on swing arm and mirror replaced as mirror came loose, rear foot peg just went missing, fell off I guess. Have to point out that local dealer Dick Lovett Motorad have been brilliant with the way they handled the issues

Costs too much at BMW for service

Electric suspension and rider modes

Handling and brakes are just sublime. Way better than what I can hope to exploit fully.

What can I say. This engine just purrs at low speed and will pull smoothly from just about anywhere in the rev range, as borne out by pulling away from a stand still in 3rd. Open the throttle properly and the exhaust just howls as it gives and keeps on giving more and more, the only niggle is the gearing is on the low side in my opinion and you’ll have a left foot like Michael Flattley changing gear trying to keep up with the rev light.

No issues yet so can’t comment really.

Reasonable economic fuel costs given how much performance is on tap.

Mine has all the bells and whistles and it’s enough without being too much ( I had a multistrada before and there was too much to adjust on everything) so unless you’re riding competitively (probably not the ideal choice of bike then) you really don’t need more than this has for a great road set up for whatever situation- one up, two up, with luggage or not, fast riding, comfortable cruising- it’s all there.

I have the HP seat on which I picked up on ebay, this in conjunction with seamless boxers and Rukka trousers with built in padding mean 500 miles days in comfort. Brakes are fantastic (I swapped to SBS Street pads) but in comfort mode trail braking into corners is best done with rear brake as front can make the front squirm.

Standard engine performance was already fantastic but I had it mapped (with the intention of getting it to run a little cooler as they tend to run lean and hot) and I have a dyno graph showing 166 bhp at the rear wheel. Pulls effortlessly in any gear and from 25mph in 6th. Normal spirited riding and touring very rarely gives below 47mgp. 220+ mile range touring.

No issues except paint coming away from the edge of the wheel rims during tyre changes (corrosion on inner face)

Bought a 3 yr service plan from CMC for £500. First service in my ownership was 18k which included valve check so was v good vfm. Technician even videoed bike stripped down as proof that valves were checked.

Being the SE it has electronic suspension and cruise control as standard - both genuinely useful. The ar mounted selection wheel connected to the Nav 6 satnav is also useful. The electronics package abs, tc, anti wheelie is phenomenal to the point you don't really notice it working on the road. The true brilliance was noticed at an Anglesey track day where it embarrassed quite a few sports bikes and track machinery on Michelin Pilot Road 3s, even gained a compliment from Jamie Whitham after laying down big black lines at 125mph with a peg kissing the tarmac.

Awesome brakes, plenty of power but could do with a bit more feel

Simply stunning.

Comfortable when not pushing on, and with the press of a button it can eat the Twisties.

Expensive to buy but you get what you pay for.

Can't think of anything else you could want on a bike

Brakes are exceptionally strong,ride quality is good,can wallow a tiny bit but only if it is really being pushed.

Huge performance right where you need it.

280 for 6k service

Older LCD dash but nothing wrong with that. Gives you everything you need to know. Slight glitch when service light and readout comes on it stays on so you wont be able to see engine temp until fuel light warning comes on and then it alternates between fuel and temp every few seconds.

Awesome engine and suited for all roads. Whether you are riding around town, the motorway, or open roads.

The brakes are very responsive and are first class with plenty of bite and feel. The major draw back with this bike is the horrendous vibration at motorway speeds. I work as a Police Motorcycle Instructor and have ridden many bikes and many BMWs and this has to be one of the worst vibrating BMWs that i have ever ridden.What make it worse is that the vibration is very apparent in 5th or 6th at 70mph. Bike is going back to dealer to see what can be done to address the problem. If the problem cannot be addressed then it will be bye bye. How a quality outfit like BMW can let a bike with this serious problem out to the general public is beyond me. I do not understand how this issue was not identified during testing. Would not advise anyone to purchase one ( and i am a big BMW Fan )

A cracking engine that pulls from low down in the rev range. Very responsive.

It's a BMW so the build quality if first class!!

Plenty of toys for everyone.

No problem riding 2 up for 3hours, fill up an go again- nice seat and upright riding position. And still no problem going hard at the twisty bits. It does it all - brilliantly!

Love the sound and the power, no vibration on the 2018 model that’s bothering me.

Not a problem so far.

Love the qick shifter, works great, and the cruise control is nice and handy to avoid speeding when needed. Breaks is class leading. Tires:For touring and canyon riding I preferred Metzeler roadtech 01, for hard sport/track day Michelin power RS worked a treat.

We have had to cope with everything from unmade roads through to immaculate and fast tarmac. The ride modes which can and should be adjusted for different conditions is really effective at limiting his feistiness when necessary. If you prefer more excitement the dynamic gives you the feeling of riding a semi wild pony. New Mecklam tyres have significantly improved handling I think.

At 3000rpm he growls like he is clearing his throat and waiting for something more interesting to happen. At 4000rpm in pretty much any gear he feels like you could set off from nothing, handle any corner, overtake anything, and the engine braking would get you back to planet earth quickly. At 5000rpm he is a bloody nuisance with the worst of the vibrations and buzz that everyone talks about. At 6000rpm he starts to shout his appreciation that life is suddenly getting more interesting. At 7500rpm the scenery starts to blur as the bike gets into its stride. Corners are a wonder of grip, noise and flashing rev light. On a straight I wussed out at 110 when the seemingly endless stretch of empty foreign motorway suddenly developed fast corners that hadn’t been visible seconds before. Needless to say I am fishing in the bottom end of the rev counter most of the time.

I have only had normal servicing so far

This is more likely due to my higher mileage which is likely to exceed 10,000 and so includes new tyres.

My bike came fully loaded. The cruise control is useful on long trips. The luggage is great size wise and I don’t find it hinders filtering. ABS has proved (very occasionally) useful. The technology does a fabulous job of flattering the rider.

I find the bike's handling, brakes and engine superb not lacking any where. I never carry a pillion and have removed the rear foot pegs to discourage me from doing so!

The engine is extremely flexible with amazing torque even from low down revs and when you do use the powerband and quick shifter hold on tight!

I’m into my second year of ownership and covered 5k miles both in the UK and abroad and its never missed a beat!

I’ve had 2 services so far, max of £165.

I have the SE model which is extremely well equipped. I bought the Navigator 6 and it is awesome, the screen quality is the best I've ever seen. The only criticism I have is the headlight, come on BMW you can do better than this.

I've ridden this bike in some bad weather which can be a lot of the time here in Scotland but no issues for handling or corrosion. After 2-3 hrs my bum is numb so going for an after market seat this winter.

Does whatever you ask it to and then some more. My average fuel consumption is 45mpg.

Not the easiest bike to clean.

£161 for a 600 mile service was a bit steep. It should have been included in the price.

Extras fitted: Givi screen, sidestand enlarger, brake pedal enlarger, radiator and oil guard, Givi side and hand wind deflectors and changed the exhaust.

No sign of vibes

What a rush...GS comfort with pure speed and great handling

With the coding plug fitted post 1st service, a fourth mode option, Dynamic Pro, is made available. This mode although designed for track use, is absolutely awesome.

Sweet as you could wish for.

No issues whatsoever.

Set price for servicing available at most dealers.

Electronic rider aids are amazing with the quickshift pro giving seamless gear changes. Only small gripe is the OEM seat unit that does not aid knee down riding so optional HP seat is worth purchasing. Vibes are grossly exaggerated. I purchased Evotech Performance handlebar weights to offset expected problems but they have not been noticeable. I suppose if you sit at 5000 reve all day then you may feel some vibes in which case, a Harley Davidson may be the bike for you!

Hilariously, Exhilarating ride, and yet safe at the same time, the Quick shifter is a real treat Sport SE models only, brakes are awesome!

It's a BMW!

The electrical components on the handle bars seem a bit flimsy, I had a flat tyre but was alerted by hazard warning lights on the dash, arrangements were made with BMW Emergency Services to collect and fix the tyre at my nearest dealer. My ECU packed up but thanks again to BMW's Emergency Service and excellent Customer Services, I was back on the road again. Thankfully its still under warranty, which can be extended/renewed on its anniversary date. This also includes the exceptional BMW Emergency Service.

Servicing plus tyres. Running costs - depends on how you ride it!

Need to familiarise yourself with all the computer equipment, recommend the Sat Nav 5, its not just a Sat Nav! It also tells you what the bike stats are.

Very very powerful

Stupidly fast

Well equipped

With all the extras electronic suspension, quick shifter, ect you can't live without it's a lot more than the base price advertised.

You have to have all the options technology is what this bike is all about.

Stick in the chip and go to dynamic pro if you are an experienced rider to get proper riding thrills. Good safety for those not so experienced If you leave chip in the draw.

4.6 out of 5. Really very good give me the full 200bhp not 160. Mines a little vibey but no where near as much as others complain of

Very very good although switch gear a little plasticky

Only had 600 mile service so far. Bike is a little over expensive to buy. Fuel is giving me 41mpg so not great but expected.

4.6 out of 5. To be perfect it needs a hydraulic clutch, adjustable clutch lever and tyre pressure sensor. Higher screen would be a benefit to.

Not comfortable as announced for long distances. It is not a touring bike even if you had a GS1200...

The engine is strong but it causes extreme vibrations as informed before. So, it is not good.

At the second day of use appears the yellow light with the information: D-ESA! The suspension got totally hard and I needed to take the bike back to the seller for checking.

Comfy seat and brembo stoppers up front nuff said

Open it up and watch your licence

No dramas so far

Initial service only

Shed loads too much to list

No problems.

Beats everything else.

More power than you will ever need. Above 7000 rpm it is stunning.

Mine was one of the first delivered and the electronics needed to be fixed.

I don't agree with the other reviews here that obsess over the bike's vibration. It was a bit distracting on mine at first but diminished significantly after the first 1000 miles. The 600 mile removal of the rev limiter helped with this as well. Yes there's still a bit there but I've never ridden a bike that wasn't a little vibe'e somewhere in its rev range and I don't even notice it on mine anymore. Much ado about nothing IMHO. Oh, and the brakes are fantastic. Takes the twists like a sport bike and can even handle modest off roading with grace. Out performs any liter bike I've ridden with the exception of the RR. The track is likely the only place you might want to push it harder. In the real world it rules.

Tame around town but will gladly rip your arms off when you want to misbehave. Great sound as well. Truly one of the best features of the bike.

Admittedly it's very early on but I've had no issues in the first 5000 miles.

Typical BMW pricing but a fully equipped bike that has every creature comfort I could want. I wish the panniers were color matched on the white bike as well, but size and functionality are great. Pretty much water tight through a couple of torrential storms.

Brakes fantastic. Electronic suspension has been broken for most of my ownership so far (1000 miles)

Very powerful, good noise. Bit of a screamer at motorway speeds and feels like it needs another gear.

Electronic suspension not working with warning light permanently on. Have had 600 mile service and this was reported as fixed by BMW but has come straight back on.

I had the lowered seat option and the full touring SE spec. The seat is comfortable for long trips and at 5'9" I can plant my feet flat easily. Panniers are tiny, very expensive, and useless. Top box, ordered with bike from BMW, has still not arrived. Bad wind noise and buffeting at cruising speed, so go for an after market screen option. BMW Navigator V coslty but makes sense if you opt for the handlebar control.