Which is the better BMW Sport Tourer - S1000XR vs R1250RS

[Lee]

Phil, your view and mine on bikes are not that far apart, except for the seat of the XR.  As a matter of fact, I was taking a serious look at the KTM 890 Adventure earlier this year so even there we would have been even more similar in our bike choices. As a lover of sport bikes (and 4-cylinder bikes) I have been resisting the left brain telling me to be done with it and get a GS for years, so that would make our alignment on bikes complete. 

I agree that the RS is not one that likes gravel / off-road surfaces, and since I have this idea that I would like to pitch a tent in some remote spot somewhere one of these days, the RS is not the ticket for that. But I can't see how your XR was much better than the RS when it comes to goat paths and gravel roads. 

The upright riding posture took all the lean out as well as the weight on my wrists. The ability to stand on the pegs and not be over the front tire is a plus as well. I found the XR to be fine on gravel, much better than the RS.

I agree. Your arms and wrists take more of a beating on rough roads or slow speeds with low bars and standing with low bars is not easy for me.
Debbie has mentioned several times u turns were harder for her on the K75S and K1300S with the low narrow bars compared to the more upright and wider bars on the K1200RS and R1200/1250RS.