2019 BMW S1000 XR

[Grumpy Goat]

Ron - excellent review! Hit all the right notes - thank you. The clutch lever reach can be solved with some aftermarket levers so all is not lost on that score. I am heartened to hear that they fixed the handlebar buzz - something that should have never been an issue from the start. They lost many sales due to that f**kery - including from me, as I was all hot to get an XR when I had to nix that idea and got the RS instead.

With all the changes and points you raised, it would seem that the XR is again a possibility if ever I were to find the bucks to justify a second bike, and one of this cost. When I tested the 2016 model n 2015 I also found the saddle restrictive to movement and did not like that. To hear that has not changed is not surprising since there are folks who whould change the seat anyway.

The thing to note though, is that the XR is not a long distance tourer like the RS is. The seat locks one in place as noted above, and the engine rotational rate at cruising speed is too high for me, and that cannot change. You have the best combination for the kind of riding you do - sport touring and canyon carving, and for that you need these two bikes.