BMW M1000XR Review | Superbike Performance, ADV Practicality

A beast of a bike

Your closing remarks are very accurate 👍. My 2 cents for someone who may consider this bike. I enjoy my MXR a lot (11,000 miles) but it is not for everyone. It is possible to use all of its performance on the roads, but it has to be done in the right places and with the right skills developed with lots of track time. Inline 4s start to shine once the pace heats up. With changing throttle and RPM going through best moto roads and with the right exhaust the soundtrack becomes almost F1 like. Crazy wail bouncing off redline and loud pops and bags on overrun in RacePro mode. In this mode of riding vibrations also disappear from your mind. It is for racing aficionados who ride long miles in changing weather conditions - hence niche product. I won’t say I4 is my favorite engine layout , but currently this unique combination of qualities offered by MXR is matched by none. This was enough for me to get back into BMW S1000 I4s after almost 10 years of other engine layouts. Carbon wheels are perfect for this bike, I changed almost 10 tires total DIY already, they do require extra care (I use Rabaconda), but reliability IMO is a non-issue. I would not recommend this bike to anyone who rides poor quality roads.

Hi Ian:
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Great video.

I have a KTM 1290 SAR. very interested

That catalytic converter just destroys the profile of that bike. If I was to buy one, I'd be decatting it, instantly.

Simple - Multistrada (didn't watch the video, just for the comment)

Been waiting on this one. Now that we have this one done, next up is a Daily Rider. I really want this bike, but I also really don't want to die early.

So you've got pretty upright seating position on a 200+HP sports bike, and the retro R9T gets way more agressive one? Manufacturers logic will never cease to amaze me...

If i had to choose, i would get the GS. It's a more useful all around bike. If i had to tell the truth, i would get the Africa Twin DCT. You won't go with the XR where you would with a GS or an AT. Besides, for road use, all those horses are pretty much useless. I already have to limit myself, and my motorcycle has a little more than half the power of this.

I put a BMW sticker on my KLR

I only ride hayabusa. It just works for me in every situation except longer graver roads lol

IMO Kawasaki Versys 1000/1100 is the best value in the class. Plenty of performance for the money.

XR>GS for road.

To answer the question… GS anyday, Shaft over Chain for me

Damn, just in time to buy a life insurance policy on you. Sick with a 200 mph motorcycle. Be careful. Hell of a ride. No shit about that. I used to quiz Dave Robb all the time about real M model motorcycles. This was in early 2000's. The dreams arrived. You still have 4500 rpm to use on the 0-80 run. I'm glad you put it in KM per hour. I a mile I'm done riding an in-line four. The vibration with carpal tunnel repaired two times kills me. I can't hold on or use any of the controls. It's a no go for me. 50 years crawling on my hands and knees in low seam 24 to 40 inch high coal seams. Good review Ian. Enjoyed. It's in the crazy category. All good from easy KY USA Next time

For me, a R65, but that is me.

Wow, I would have to have a pit crew to adjust everything for me 🤓

I'm on my second BMW 1200GS. Sold my 2014 with 95K miles and bought a KTM 890 Adventure thinking the lower weight would be better for me at 73. But after 10K miles and having to call a friend to help me pick it up in deep sand. Sold it after deciding 470 pound KTM is still nearly 500 Pounds and a 1200GS is heavier, easier to pick up and will do fire roads all day long! I bought a 2015 1200GS two years ago with 18K miles and $6K in extras for $12500, a killer deal at the time. Now the 2013 and later water boxers prices have crashed and deals everywhere. For myself my bikes may see redling once a year if that. I love torque and living in Northern CA. with world class twisties where 3500 rpm with get you down the road in a hurry!

Great review. You glossed over this but what exactly is the gps lap trigger and how do you use it?

I guess this is the bike for GS buyers that never ride off road ? I think its trick but Ugly.Also any Idea why a New BMW R1250RT cost $30k as well and has no "M" no carbon fiber etc. the same price as this bike ?

I can't even consider a bike this expensive, don't care how good a performer it is. I just can't imagine ever getting that much enjoyment out of a bike. And 200 HP? Seriously, who the hell needs that in a street bike? Ridiculous.

What's dynamic?

As a 2022 XR M livery owner (the same model you tested previously) who also tested and ridden GSes, XR any day! A much more fun and agile bike.

It takes ZERO skill to ride or drive on pavement. Why is there no age limit on driver licenses? It takes no effort, no skill, no ability. As long as you can see and use your limbs, you get to go. So, bikes like this are a waste of time reviewing. Anyone can ride this nonsense. Any able bodied adult. Dual sport bikes, that are meant to tackle off road enivorments or just gravel roads, well, they take some skill. There is nothing ADV about these machines. They have no place off road, ever, at their weight. The H.P. is never, ever needed, off-road. It's time for honesty.

I’m buying both the 25 GSA and the 25 m 1000 xr. They have far different use cases. Variety is the spice of life….

Shame it sounds like shit.

I watch all of your videos, and I came to realize that the US has the most beautiful places and amazing weather to really enjoy owning and riding a motorbike.
I hope one day life give me a chance to live and ride in California.

The electronics are a turn off for me. Don’t need them, don’t want them, just another failure point few years down the road.

I love the way M1000XR/S1000XR looks (didn't ride it though), but I opted for R1300GS mainly because of the wet dutch weather (and I commute and ride around all year round), but also for the ability to go of the paved roads when I travel. Wider front of GS does a really good job protecting me from the rains and winds, but also driveshaft makes a huge difference.

Between the GS or an XR, easily the GS: Torque, low RPM in high gears, way more comfort and lower fuel consumption. Also engine noise is too much on the XR.

I still think the XR is the best motorbike in the world, it's an insanely beautiful (the normal white model, not this M one) and powerful motorbike, but it's not for me, for the reasons above.

I am a firm believer that everyone should experience a vehicle that can do 0-60 faster than it can do 60-0, but there's only a few of us that should ever own one. (I am not one of them)

This is kind of motorcycle shouldn't be available to the public off a showroom floor!

I wonder why the mortality numbers aren't dropping lately 🤷‍♂

Heart, admiration, desire: XR. Actually buying: GS.

This is an awesome bike, but the worst thing for me is that ugly exhaust hanging down.

GS forever!

I loved my S1000XR gen 2. Docile and super easy and light at low speeds, rev it out and it goes like a rocket. It always felt special and riding it was an event, but you could ride slowly too and it is much more relaxed at low speeds than the gen1. If you don’t like IL4 engines you won’t like it, but I hate the boxer engine, I find it sounds horrible and despite the torque it’s boring to me. So it very much depends on personal choice.
The reality with the M is that it offers more only at the very top end, with quite a lot less practicality, and a much heavier price tag. One of the weak bits of the XR is that the brakes are good but not great. The M brakes look phenomenal. Here in the UK it would cost a fortune to insure and I’d either get killed or lose my licence, or (most likely) it would get stolen. I’m glad it exists but not for me.

Great job with the review.

XR every day. But I got to say the M coloring is becoming annoying to the eyes like KTM orange.

Another great video. Thank you! Still haven’t fixed the vibrations in the bars? I love the wheels I can’t stand the rest of the bike. That ugly belly exhaust, not a fan of the graphics, looks like a color form sticker kit gone wrong. No Blindspot monitoring or adaptive cruise control ?
I still think the Multistrada ia a better bike, But I guess if you’re looking for top horsepower…..

GS all day and I have one

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

I would buy the M1000XR if I did not have a BMW R1250 GSA already.

I'd definitely buy the XR as I can't stand the lack of steering feel of the GS.

I so badly wanted to get one. 5 minutes into a demo ride last year and I knew it wasn't going to happen. My right hand was already totally numb from the vibes.