MCN Fleet: S100XR's positive vibes

The BMW S1000XR has been in my life for just a few weeks now and thankfully the thing I was dreading most of all – fearsome high-frequency vibration – hasn’t become a reality.

Search the internet for info about the S1000XR and the subject of vibration will quickly surface, but it does seem to be an inconsistent theme. What some owners and those on test rides have perceived as unacceptable vibration, others have said there is nothing to worry about. Thankfully I fall into the second category. After more than 1000 miles on the bike (MCN’s testers added another 500 or so on a recent group test where the XR won against KTM’s 1290 Super Duke GT and the Ducati Multistrada 1200S DVT), I don’t think the vibration is any worse than many other bikes.

• Related: 2020-on BMW S1000XR review

This has come as a massive relief. I try to ride as often as possible for my 60-mile daily commute, so having a bike that doesn’t leave me with numb fingers and toes is fairly important. The XR is already proving to be a bike of many talents.

It handled a pretty horrendous ride up to the last-ever MCN Live at Butlins in Skegness a few weeks ago where I helped lead the rideout on the Saturday. The weather on the way up was atrocious; cold and lashing rain but I was still comfortable and mostly warm although I wasn’t that impressed with the heat produced by the heated grips, even on their highest setting. Raising the screen to the highest setting creates the perfect windblast routing to blow rain off my visor too.

The ride home was on dry roads and that’s when the other, fast and sporty side of the XR was able to come out to play. Sticking the bike into Dynamic modes for both the Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) and the throttle mode was good fun and I particularly like the way the Akrapovic titanium end can (included in the price above) pops and bangs on a closed throttle.

So a few weeks into the experience and all seems well with the bike. I have also just fitted new Dunlop Roadsmart III tyres and will report back soon on how they fare.

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