Fast Bikes August 2024 issue **20 PAGE FREE PREVIEW**

USED B BUYING GUIDE

WASAKI ZX-10R KAW

FAST ROAD RUBBER RATED

SCRATCHING ON ROAD AND TRACK WITH BMW’S AWESOME M1000XR

SUB-LLITRE NAKEDS:

TRACCCK K ATTACK

SCRAPPING IT OUT TO FIND THE BEST T NAKED ON A HOT T LAP

TA MV AGUS00RR 8 BRUTALE

KTM 990 DUKE H TRIUMP IPLE R T T E STRE RS 765

DUCATI STREETFIGHTER V2

PROJECT 37:

A TEST OFF TIME PART ONE P F OUR BID OF TO T TAKE A MINI-TWIN M LAP RECORD ON A SUZUKI GSX-8R

AU G ISS UST UE 20 418 24

OU NEED TO ALL YO W BEFORE KNOW G ONE BUYING

METZELER ROADTEC 02

WELCOME

The greatest show on earth

B

y the time you’re reading this, the TT will probably be a distant memory. For me, having got back home just a few days ago, it’s fresh in my mind and consuming my thoughts in a way that only the fastest road race in the world can do.

Whether you’re a fan or not, there’s no denying that it is one of the most mind-blowing spectacles on earth, and perhaps many would argue that it’s the most impressive test of two-wheels by some margin. I cannot fathom how the hell they make it around that course at the speed they do, brushing off the walls, the kerbs and the realities of the ever-lurking danger that awaits them at every corner… and even down the straights. This year saw the likes of Hicky, Dunlop and Harrison averaging 135mph laps at times, which is just ludicrous, but what’s perhaps equally impressive is the shape of their bikes while clocking that pace.

Quite often, both wheels are off the ground, or with one out of line, leaving big black lines as the rear tyres struggle to put down in excess of 200bhp at any given moment. I got out for a lap when I was over there, which hammered home the feat of their undertakings; at half their speed, my mind felt frazzled. I guess I’m writing this in adoration of each and every racer, past and current, who’s USED B BUYING GUIDE

WASAKI ZX-10R KAW

METZELER ROADTEC 02 FAST ROAD RUBBER RATED

PROJJECT 37:

A TEST OF TIME

@FastBikesMag

ever taken to the start-line, regardless of whether they’re the fastest or not.

At the end of the Senior, I was in the pitlane watching the riders come back up the return road, safe in one piece, knowing they’d just done something beyond special. Even then, their eyes seemed hard – they were focused and unfazed by the noise and commotion going on around them as they processed their thoughts and emotions before reaching parc ferme. The relief of friends and family was tangible, and more obvious than a wart at the end of a nose. For the best part of two weeks, the dice were being rolled time and again, knowing that in an instant it could all go so wrong. But for those who finished, and especially the ones up on the podium, the consequences were life-changing. They’d written their names into the race’s 117-year history book.

One man who’s done it more than most is John McGuinness, who was standing directly in front of me, watching Davey Todd on the top step, having just claimed his first Senior TT. It was a profound moment, witnessing the changing of the guard, and it prompted me to wonder what thread would come next in this rich tapestry of majestic motorcycling. Who knows? But with less than a year until they’re blasting off down Bray Hill, we’ll soon find out.

Enjoy the mag,

nd epic eelie er

BOSSY MAN

SCRATCHING ON ROAD AND TRACK WITH BMW’S AWESOME M 1000 XR

SUB-LLITRE NAKEDS:

SCRAPPING IT OUT TO FIND THE BEST T NAKED ON A HOT T LAP

H TRIUMP LE TRIP STREET RS 765

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TESTS

Used Bike Guide..............................54

Scratching on the road and track with BMW’s awesome M1000XR.

Sub-litre nakeds on track ...............60

Ballistic bliss ................................... 18 Project 37: Part one ........................26

Why you should buy Kawasaki’s saucy ZX-10R.

Part two of our naked shootout on track.

The start of our bid to take a new lap record on Suzuki’s GSX-8R.

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Rating fast road rubber on the TT course.

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Metzeler Roadtec 02 ......................00 A2 assassin ....................................00 Putting Aprilia’s RS457 through its paces on track.

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THE SPECIAL ONES!

It’s been a weird sort of month, with a load of limitededition specials and concept models being shown off by Triumph, Ducati, Norton and BMW…

TRIUMPH BREITLING EDITION SPEED TRIPLE 1200 RR We’re kicking off with this, the Triumph Breitling Edition Speed Triple. It’s based on the excellent 1200 RR Striple, with its cheeky 178bhp motor, electronic semi-active Öhlins suspension, Brembo Stylema calipers, performance riding aids package and slick style. And that style has been dialled up even more thanks to a tie-in with the fancy Swiss watch maker Breitling. The bike comes with a unique paint scheme,

10 AUGUST 2024

complete with gold highlights, gold Breitling tank badge, and a special logoed rear wheel axle cap. There’s lightweight carbon fibre bolt-on parts, a special French-stitched leather saddle, and a one-off Akrapovic end can.

You also get a fancy Breitling watch thrown in. It’s a Chronomat B01 42 in titanium and 18k red gold, with a brown leather strap and anthracite dial. Originally designed for the Italian aerobatics

team Frecce Tricolori in 1983, the Chronomat poo-poos electronic quartz operation, instead going for a mechanical chronograph (stopwatch). Nice, we guess!

The package costs £22,995, which is a £5k uplift on the standard bike. A Chronomat B01 seems to retail at about £7-8k, so that’s almost a bargain, it seems.

They’ll be selling fast, no doubt – your local Triumph dealer may be able to help if you must have one…

Keep an eye on our online channels – Facebook, Twitter, and the Fast Bikes website (www.fastbikesmag.com) – for news as it happens.

DUCATI’S SENNA MONSTER AND SUPREME STREETFIGHTER V4S Ducati double-dropped on the specials front this month too, with a beautiful 30th anniversary commemorative Ayrton Senna Edition of the Monster and a Supreme version of the Streetfighter V4S. The Senna Monster is the latest in a long line of homage models to the legendary F1 racer who died in a tragic crash 30 years ago this year at Imola during the San Marino Grand Prix. Ducati released a few Senna edition 916 superbike models in the 1990s, before MV Agusta took on the mantle with F4 Senna superbikes.

All the bikes were sold to benefit the Senna charity foundations, and that continues with the 30th anniversary Senna Monster.

The bike was unveiled at Imola by Senna’s niece, Bianca Senna, and Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali. It is a high-spec version of the Monster SP, with the same 937cc 111bhp Testastretta V-twin motor, Öhlins steering damper, USD forks and rear shock, Brembo Stylema brakes and lithium battery. But it adds a set of forged aluminium wheels that save a couple of kilos, as well as a bespoke belly pan, yellow brake caliper paint and a one-off Termignoni end can.

It’s all finished off with the gorgeous yellow paint job based on Senna’s famous race helmet design.

The Senna Monster costs £23,500, if

you can get hold of one.

The next special Ducati is even pricier (though we bet it will still sell out) and a bit more obscure.

It’s a special Streetfighter, designed with the Supreme fashion label from New York, best-known for its skate/ urban wear and appeal to A-list Hollywood celebrities, music, and sports stars. The paintwork is simple enough: red and white, with the rather plain ‘Supreme’ logo (also seen on the firm’s £250 T-shirts and hoodies) and was produced by Aldo Drudi – better known as Valentino Rossi’s lid designer, of course. The bike is stock apart from paint, which makes the £42k

price tag a bit of a shocker; one for Ducati completists and Supreme obsessives, we imagine. You can also buy a matching Arai RX-7V Evo lid, Dainese race suit and Spidi gloves... form a queue outside your local Ducati dealer!

DUCATI SCRAMBLER SPECIALS Ducati’s Scrambler sub-brand showed off a pair of concept models at the Bike Shed Show in London. The flat-track RR24I was interesting enough, with a stripped-back look, but it’s the half-faired CR24I Café Racer that

caught the eye. Clip-ons, rearsets and the 1970s-style fairing with round headlamp added a new angle to the little retro-roadster, and the café racer concept could well find its way into a production model.

NORTON UNVEILS NEW CUSTOM PAINT SCHEME AND SIGNS UP EX-MANCHESTER UNITED CEO We imagine that TVS, owner of the Norton bike firm, has been a bit like us when we buy a new project bike.

Everywhere you look, there’s a lot more needing done than you thought.

It all costs a fortune, takes ages, and makes you sad at times – but it’s all worth it in the end.

The giant Indian firm – which makes nearly five million motorbikes a year – has owned Norton for more than four years now, after buying it from disgraced former owner Stuart Garner.

And while it’s reckoned to have a big range of all-new bikes in the pipeline, it’s also had to clear up the previous mess, while setting up an entirely new production line, R&D, dealer network and much more. A big job.

We are expecting big news from Norton later this year, but in the

meantime, the firm has launched an all-new ‘One of One’ custom paint service, which will let owners create their own bespoke paint design on the Commando 961 and V4 models. The scheme was launched at the London Bike Shed Show with a fabulous replica of Steve Hislop’s ‘White Charger’ RCW 588 rotary that won the famous 1992 Senior TT. Norton’s also signed up a new senior executive to help manage the transformation in the UK. Richard Arnold, the former CEO of Manchester United, is a keen biker and actually owns a Norton V4SV, so he knows the score.

• Norton’s also opened its first new dealer in Scotland. Revolutions in Perth will have the full range of V4 and Commando models available.

BMW R20 CONCEPT ON SHOW

BMW’s biggest engine, the R18, is currently restricted to powering a range of massive cruisers and American Grand Tourers, which limits its appeal in other markets somewhat.

But all that R&D and tooling must be paid for somehow, so it makes sense to see the enormous Boxer motor earning its corn in another role.

Perhaps like this – the R20 concept roadster. Shown off at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este event at Lake Como in Italy, it’s an even bigger two-litre version of the R18 lump, in a massively reduced chassis, with a near-200mm shorter wheelbase, a Bobber retro roadster style, and super-trick running gear. Öhlins Blackline forks and monoshock, dual ISR six-piston front brake calipers and sporty 120/70 17 and 200/55 tyre sizes point towards something with a cheeky approach to handling.

If they can get the mass down about 200-odd kg and tune it for some decent power (a stock R18 makes 90bhp; we’d want 120bhp, really), it could make for a torquey barrel of laughs in the mould of the Triumph Rocket 3. Or it could end up as a sort of Bavarian Yamaha MT-01 for the mid-2020s. Watch this space, and register on the www.m2000r.com website is our advice.

KTM AMT KTM is set to release a new automatic manual transmission (AMT) for its big adventure machines.

Details were scant as we went to press, but the firm had a prototype bike racing at the Erdberg Rodeo, using an LC8 V-twin engine from the 1290/1390 range and French enduro ace Johnny Aubert riding it.

“The gearbox was being put to the test at Erzberg as some extreme product development and testing,” according to the firm.

“More information will be available come September this year.”

AUGUST 2024 11

PLANE T FAST BIKES – NEW METAL

, NEWS & REVIEW S

THE MICHELIN TYRE TRACK EXPERIENCE

It makes the tyres for MotoGP and has produced some pretty amazing road tyres down the years. Now, French rubber ace Michelin is kicking off a new Track Experience programme in the UK, with limited numbers and some exclusive track riding events at a selection of the biggest tracks this season.

And Fast Bikes will be there too – we’ve teamed up with the firm, and Bruce, Tim and Joe are all set to appear at the experience.

The events announced so far are at Donington Park on July 23 and Brands Hatch GP circuit on August 28.

Both days will feature top VIP race stars including Sylvain Barrier, James Toseland and Kyle Ryde as special guest instructors.

“We have three or four world class/BSB instructors,” said Barrier. “They will take the time to share all the experience and the knowledge for our clients.

“We have mechanic assistance on track, as well as Michelin technicians. Clients need just to bring their bikes in our garage with a stand and tyre warmers.”

Riding groups will be small, according to Barrier. “A group of 20 people would be split into two sets. We’ll have 10 in a beginners’ group and 10 in a medium-plus group.

“Both sessions will have two instructors who will film them and give a full debrief between sessions.”

It’s not just on-track tuition, either. “Afterwards and between sessions, we will be talking about safety, airbags, bike maintenance, noise limits, and all about the range of Michelin tyres. There will be coffee, drinks and snacks provided too.”

BIKE SHED SHOW If you live in the south-east of England and haven’t been to the Bike Shed Moto Show in London, you’re definitely missing out. It’s a very different affair from the usual production bikes shows like the NEC and ExCel, with a load of custom machines on show, as well as decent food, drink and a nice location in Wapping. This year, organisers had a special Japanese custom room, with some sweet specials, including a trick Kawasaki KR-1S and a couple of sweet old Suzuki GSX-Rs, plus some Bōsōzoku biker gang designs. Put it in the diary for next year! https:// bikeshedlondonshow.com

12 AUGUST 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

What do you need to do to take part? According to Sylvain, it couldn’t be easier. “The client needs to buy a set of Michelin tyres (Power Slick 2, Power Cup 2 or Power GP2), then go to the Michelin website. We’ll send them out a code and they can choose the date they want.”

More info: www.michelin.com

AMA ADVENTURETRACKERS RACE SERIES ANNOUNCED They came up with the mental King of the Baggers race series, and now the crazy Yanks are at it again.

The AMA Flat Track race organisers are launching a production-based adventure tourer dirt track race class called AdventureTrackers, with superstock-like regs. Bikes approved include the BMW R1300 GS, Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally, Harley Pan America, Honda Africa Twin, Kawasaki Versys 1000, KTM Super Adventure, Suzuki V-Strom 1050, Triumph Tiger 1200 and even the old Yamaha Super Ténéré. The series kicks off at Sturgis on August 11. More info: www. americanflattrack.com

ALL THE LATEST, CO OL ES T & TRICK

ES T PERF ORMA NC E PRODUC TS

WUNDERLICH CLICK SYSTEM TANK BAGS Magnetic tank bags were a lifechanger when they appeared about 100 years ago – but the growth of plastic ‘tank covers’ has ruined their appeal a bit (plus, they can scratch paintwork). Enter the clip-on systems, like this Wunderlich set-up. A small

bracket bolts onto the fuel cap and a range of bags attaches quickly and easily, with no magnets and no fuss.

Available for a wide range of BMWs including the GS, M1000 and S1000, and with a choice of small, medium or large bags.

RRP: From £30 (fitting kit); £135-£219 (bags) www.nippynormans.com

ALPINESTARS GP PLUS V4 STELLA JACKET

ARAI TOUR-X

The Arrai Tour-X (or Tour Cross) lid alwart in the adventure is a sta g sector, with flagship-level touring and protection, plus build quality q g styling. This is the latest strong eneration version, which fifth-ge een hitting the shops this has be n with a full revamp. season There’’s a larger visor system d a removable peak so you and can have the helmet in ADV style with peak and visor, off-road with peak and your own goggles, or on-road with no peak and visor in place. You also get a new ventilation system and the u usual high-end removable inner

The GP Plus is Alpinestars’ top-end leather jacket, packed with smart design and premium material, and is now in its fourth version. It’s ideal for throwing on with riding jeans or as part of a two-piece zip-together leather suit with matching trousers. This is the Stella model, which is recut in a women’s fit, using the same high-end design as the GP Plus men’s jacket. There are loads of stretch panels, which add comfort as well as accommodating the firm’s various Tech-Air airbag systems. CE level one armour in shoulder and elbow, back protector pocket, zip-out thermal liner, extensive air vents and smart colour options round off the spec.

RRP: £499.99

RRP: £699.99

lining. It comes in a wide range of graphics, including this tasty Discovery Red.

www.whyarai.co.uk

LOUIS MOTO BT COMFORT TYRE WARMERS These new budget tyre warmers from German bike retailer Louis Moto offer a Bluetooth link for control via your Apple or Android smartphone. They have three heat settings (60, 80 and 95°c), fit 120/70 17 front and 180-200/55 17 rear tyres, and also come with a handy carrying case. Available without Bluetooth control for £43 less.

RRP: £299 (£256 no Bluetooth) www.louis-moto.co.uk

www.alpinestars.com

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PRODUCTS

DUCATI SPEED EVO V2 HELMET A special Bolognian edition of the Nolan X-Lite race lid, the Ducati Speed Evo V2 lid has a full carbon outer shell, extensive track-friendly venting, positive visor lock

TCX CLIMATREK BOOTS It’s a common complaint: bike boots which have zero grip on the soles, making them useless for any serious walking when off the bike. These TCX Climatreks address that head-on with a design that covers both biking and hiking. They’re short, with a tough textile outer shell, impact protection built into the ankle, toe and heel, and thermal and Gore-Tex breathable waterproof lining. The chunky sole helps grip when walking, and they look decent off the bike too.

RRP: £199.99

and a massive rear aero spoiler. It’s prepared for a hydration backpack system too, and has the usual emergency release inner pads, removable lining, quick-release visor system and extra-wide visor aperture. The best bit is the style, of course: it comes in two colour options, and both will go perfectly with a suitable Panigale. There are also four outer shell sizes for optimal dimensions whatever your cranial dimensions.

RRP: £699

www.tcxboots.com

www.ducati.com

RST LADIES TRACTECH EVO 5 SUIT

R&G EAZIGRIP TANK GRIPS Two British firms have joined forces on this: R&G Racing has teamed up with the Eazigrip tank grip pad maker to expand the brand worldwide. The Eazigrip system uses a pair of large, grippy stick-on pads to give massively improved traction between your thighs and the bike, improving stability mid-corner and on the brakes. Custommade for loads of bikes, including the latest 2024 Kawasaki 500 Ninja, and available in EVO track and pro road versions.

RRP: From £38

A great-looking suit from RST in a special ladies’ cut, the Tractech Evo 5 boasts a full cowhide outer construction with stretch panels, comfort neck and cuff materials, race hump and perforated sections. For 2024, the suit now has CE level two armour in knees, hips, elbows and shoulders and also comes with a level two back protector already in place. That gets it a CE AAA certification rating – nice. Available in three colours: a black base with white, green or fuchsia highlights.

RRP £569

www.rst-moto.com

www.rg-racing.com

PYRAMID TAIL TIDY FOR TRIUMPH 400 Triumph’s new 400 singles are selling well – and th he aftermarket is catching on. Here’s a new tail tidy option from British firm Pyramid Plastics, which replaces the stock rear mudguard and plate holder with a minimalist install instead.

RRP: £94.99

www.pyramidmoto.co.u uk

OXFORD PRODUCTS RP-4S GLOVES A no-fuss short summer riding glove from Oxford Products. The RP-4S has a leather base construction, with perforations and mesh panels in low-impact areas for optimal cooling airflow. There are PU impact absorbers

RRP: £49.99

in the palm with tough abrasion resistant layers, and twin wrist and cuff straps. Touchscreen fingers are present and correct, and they come in three colourways: black, red or yellow.

www.oxfordproducts.com

AUGUST 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 15

FEATURE

BMW M1000XR:

WORDS: BIG MAC

PICS: CHAPPO

In a world where we constantly want and expect more than what’s come before, the M1000XR delivers in ways few others could ever dream of… on road and track.

E

very now and then, a bike comes along that really challenges what you know – or thought you knew – about how a given type of bike feels and behaves.

The new BMW M1000XR is one such bike.

It’s hard to know where to start with the latest ‘M’-spec addition to the BMW range. In some ways, it’s an obvious and relatively simple statement maker – just bolt a full-blooded S1000RR superbike engine into

the existing S1000XR and in a stroke you’ve added enough power to justify swopping the letter S for the letter M. If you’re wondering what the power gain is, 31bhp extra is the exact figure, which takes the M1000XR up to 201bhp – a figure that dwarfs everything else in the ever-popular ‘crossover’ sector. The new Ducati Multistrada RS has 180bhp, the Pikes Peak has 170bhp and the KTM Super Duke GT has 175bhp.

So, that’s in then? I can pretty much wrap up this report on the BMW M1000XR now, can’t I? It’s just an S1000XR with a load more power than its rivals, and if you opt to not have the ‘competition pack,’ it’s also cheaper than both the Ducatis. Even with the £5100 optional pack added, which includes carbon wheels and a very long list of other carbon and trick alloy goodies, the BMW is still more powerful, lighter and cheaper than the AUGUST 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 1

FEATURE

Multistrada RS. Which leaves the KTM as the only bike in the sector that can offer something the BMW can’t – price. It’s a not insignificant £3400 cheaper than the base M1000XR. If it’s so simple, why is the M-XR such a challenge for me to understand? After a couple of hundred miles on it, I realised it’s because there has never been a bike like it before. It is true that the ‘crossover’ and ‘tallrounder’ genres haven’t been around for very long, and there’s various interpretations of what constitutes a fast bike that can cover long distances in comfort, yet still deliver hits of adrenaline when called upon. Once upon a time, continent crushers that could also slap you in the face were Suzuki Hayabusas and Kawasaki ZZRs, but now there’s something

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from all the manufacturers – from a humble Suzuki GSX-S1000GT through to this behemoth from BMW and everything in between – that claims to be the best of both worlds.

By definition, crossover bikes are compromised because physics dictates that if you put a superbike engine into a heavier chassis with longer suspension and a higher centre of gravity than a superbike, it can’t be as precise as a superbike. Equally, if you make the suspension firmer than a touring bike and take away a lot of its weight, it won’t be as comfortable and easy to ride long distances as a touring bike. So, you end up having to think about these bikes in terms of how little they’ve been compromised at the

two things they’re supposed to be good at, rather than how good they are at the one thing they’re supposed to be good at, which, in the case of a crossover, is being good at two things.

I’ve been lucky enough now to have ridden both the S and M variants of all of BMW’s four-cylinder engine motorcycles and I have to say straight out that the M version of the XR stands out as having the greatest amount of daylight between it and the S version of the same model. In the case of the M1000RR, most of what’s different between it and the S1000RR is engine internals and some massive wings which BMW needs to homologate for racing – and which make

BMW M1000XR

Below: It’s not afraid of getting stuck in.

zero difference to the dynamic of the bike in all other scenarios. In the case of the M1000R, there’s a much bigger jump in performance between it and the S1000R thanks to the extra horsepower the M gets from the shift-cam engine being bolted in.

However, in the case of the XR, it gets the same power boost as the M1000R, PLUS a massive overhaul to the chassis – which moves the dynamics of the bike, and how it rides and feels, miles away from the S1000XR. The upshot is that the M1000RR rides and feels pretty much just like and S1000RR, unless you’re bothering lap records; the M1000R is just like an S1000R but much more powerful (which is a good thing); and the M1000XR is nothing at all like the S1000XR in any way, shape or form – it is its own entity and, arguably, of all the M bikes is probably therefore the worthiest of the badge.

I’ve already covered the different engines in the M-XR, but before I move onto the stuff that makes the M-XR noticeably different at

all speeds, it’s worth mentioning that as well as giving it a massive 30bhp extra, BMW has added two teeth to the rear sprocket compared to the S-XR and shortened fourth, fifth and sixth gears for even more thrust.

The frame and swingarm are the same as the S-XR’s, but thanks to the larger rear sprocket, the wheelbase is 4mm shorter, which might not sound much but is a significant amount.

The riding position is more forward-biased largely due to different handlebars, which results in a 53.3/46.7 weight distribution front to rear versus 52.3/47.7 on the S-XR, and the steering geometry is half a degree steeper to complete the holy trinity of things you need to do to make a bike turn faster – shorter wheelbase, more weight on the front, and steeper steering angle. Also, at 223kg fully fuelled, it is 4kg lighter than the S-XR without the competition pack, and 7kg lighter with the competition pack – more on that later.

It doesn’t end there. The suspension has had a thorough working over, with the main headline being a reduction in travel at both “Can anyone help me up?”

FEATURE

OBVIOUSLY, THE ENGINE IS BALLISTIC, AS YOU’D EXPECT, BUT IT STILL MANAGES TO HAVE LOADS OF LOW-DOWN SHOVE. TAIL UNIT

The frame and swingarm are the same as all the other four-cylinder BMWs, but an extra two teeth on the rear sprocket compared to the S1000XR results in a shorter wheelbase, which, combined with a different riding position, changes the weight distribution to be more forward-biased. Throw in a tweak to the steering geometry too, and you’ve got racier geometry all over.

GEARING

ENGINE

As well as fourth, fifth and sixth gear being shorter in the gearbox, the final drive is also shorter by virtue of the rear sprocket being bigger (47 teeth) compared to the S1000XR’s (45 teeth). The result is obviously even greater acceleration and quite possibly a higher top speed.

Sometimes, higher top speeds can be achieved with slightly lower gearing, especially if the bike isn’t very aero-friendly, which the M1000XR isn’t. It’s academic because they don’t have the same engine, so the M1000XR will have a much higher top speed anyway.

2

CHASSIS

Bespoke to the M1000XR and slimmer than the S1000XR’s. The seat is a whopping 850mm high and sculpted to lock the rider pretty much into one place.

Also, the M1000XR doesn’t get a hard luggage rack, so if you really must bring the kitchen sink with you, then maybe the S1000XR is the bike for you. We wouldn’t be surprised if the reason for no hard luggage is simply because panniers and a top box could well cause stability issues at the sort of speeds the M1000XR is capable of.

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The same beast of a motor taken straight out of the M1000R, so that’s the full 201bhp, which backs up BMW’s marketing guff that the M1000XR is ‘the lightest and most powerful production crossover bike in the world.’

It’s 31bhp up on the S1000XR and redlines at 14,600rpm compared to 12,000rpm on the S1000XR. It’s all been said before about BMW’s second attempt at a four-cylinder engine, but the addition of shift-cam variable valve timing and the sheer quality of finish and components used internally make it one of the modern-day masterpieces in engine design.