Which is the better BMW Sport Tourer - S1000XR vs R1250RS

[kmbbmw]

I wish BMW made a K1300RS with shaft drive and size and weight similar to my R1250RS.  An XR with a shaft drive won't do it, the "bucket" seat is just too bad, and the seat height is too high - two things that I could not fix on my XR.  Even though I had 3 seats for the XR including one Wunderlich seat that was further customized.

If they did I'd likely have that instead of my 1250.

But alas. It's the next best thing really

[Paughco]

Back in March of 2016 I traded in my black K1300S for a red S1000XR. I sold my 2010 R1200GSA to a neighbor. I've always enjoyed riding that red XR. Short rides around the Snoqualmie Valley, the occasional run into Seattle, and multi-day rides with the Hog Ridin' Fools - all were just fine. I ran through nine sets of Metzeler M7RRs and was on my third DID chain in September 2022. The tires were never really worn out; I just wanted fresh tires for an upcoming high-speed boogie multi-day tour with the HRF. I rode the XR from Pugetropolis to the Reno Air Races in 2018. Took two days each way - getting older, I guess. No problem-o. Had a great time. 

The XR was getting taller as time went on. In September 2022 I rode out to Seattle BMW MC on Lake City Way in Seattle and asked to look at their RS motorcycles. Thought I'd see if the lower seat height (a plus) or the more sporty ergs (a potential negative) would make a difference. They rolled out a white RS (the one with the belly pan and the red frame). I popped it on the centerstand. I swung my leg over and sat on it. This is where things got really weird. Y'know in those Alien movies, like "Prometheus," how all that alien s**t happened? Well, it was like that; these tendrils grew up from the handlebars, up my arms, all throughout my body, and straight to my credit card. I was FORCED to put an immediate deposit down on that bike! Actually, I took it on a testride first. 52,921 miles on my XR when I traded her in.

A year has gone by. I've got 8,126 miles on the RS. The original tires, Metzeler Z8s, have been worn out and replaced by M7RRs. I've changed the oil and the final drive lube. 

Some observations: 

• The XR had great performance, but it was always kind of "busy." My old K1300S used to speak softly to me, always wanting to go faster. The XR screamed that I should be going way  faster - right NOW! 
  
• All my K-bikes, starting with a dolphin blue K1200RS, followed by a silver K1200S, then my black K1300S wore the OXCART license plate (OXCART is the CIA code name for the Lockheed A-12). I dunno - somehow the XR wasn't quite OXCART worthy. Also, to be honest, I didn't want the plate to be easy to remember... MY 2022 R1250RS is OXCART worthy, so she's running the OXCART plate. 
  
• I checked the specs. The R1250RS has more torque than a S1000XR, or even a S1000RR! I haven't studied the rpm vs torque and hp curves like on YouTube's Engine Masters dyno runs, but I'll bet that torque diff applies through the rpm range that I'll be using 99% of the time.
  
• The RS fits me like a glove.
  
• Talk about tradition - I replaced that ugly chrome bazooka on the right side of the RS with a black Remus from none other than the PIRATE!
  

OK - I'll try to post a couple pictures of the bike. It is beautiful.





Check the hat in the first image...

Seeya
 ATB

[Grumpy Goat]

Good for you ... great story too.

[c10]

The RS .   Why did I chose a RS over XR ?  

Seating , Shaft drive , Valve service ease , engine heat . 

The XR seat is horrible , and engine heat off the XR is like all inline fours hear in south Texas . Just to dang hot to ride in our triple digits with 80% humidity . 

My RS was ordered with the factory handlebar option and the comfort seat . The seat was sent to Jay @ Russel day long and wow its a mile muncher now .  My 730 mile day was like a 100 mile day .  
Touring for 20 plus years with chain driven bikes was such a hassle to clean / lube on the road .  Auto chain oilers are such a mess . 
Shaft wins for Sport touring while Chain wins for SPORT use and Track .

[Lee]

OK - I'll try to post a couple pictures of the bike. It is beautiful.

Check the hat in the first image...

Seeya
 ATB

Nice i-BMW hat from the Sierra Gold Rush rally.

[Becksy]

“ The XR had great performance, but it was always kind of "busy." ….. The XR screamed that I should be going way faster - right NOW! “

That’s why I changed too. Though found on the RS I am as fast if not faster on the roads, but more relaxed and less tired when I get there.

[Duccrazydave]

Great story, Paughco!

[strubes250]

Yeah, but why would I lend yet more monetary support to the marketers that decided the S1000RS should be scrapped in favor of the XR? (Still waiting....)

If there had been a S1000RS available when we bought the R1200RS I would have given that a serious look.
I never considered a XR. I'm not a fan of any Adventure styled Sport Touring bikes.

Me neither. At 70 years old and very arthritic, I realized I am much better off with a bit of forward lean, and a seat I can move around on. In other words, traditional ST ergos. I thought the upright riding position would be best, but definitely not for me. It made me slower and more tentative in the twisties, and irritated my sciatica.. And visually, I prefer the lower look .

[strubes250]

The XR is like a way more powerful Tracer, and maybe it was no coincidence that I leaned in that direction when I was looking for my second bike. I have no issue with the adventure-style sport tourer, but for me when doing long distance riding, the revs have to be lower and that is where the boxer comes into its own. The Tracer's triple is smooth and quiet enough and the transmission is geared low enough that it is equal to the RS as a long-distance machine, and from that standpoint is a better fit for me than the XR.

Yes that is important to me. My RS 1200 is barely turning 5K at 90 MPH. Loafing.

[Oldrider51]

Neither one is better than the other, just different. One maybe better is some areas the the other one in different areas. It really depends on what the owner wants. I personally prefer the RS and in this case the RS1200, not the 1250. The S1000XR is too hyper for me as I don't need or would I use the HP, but others would. Also, the RS1200 is easier to work on. My 2 cents on the subject as I am doing nothing else today.

[mspratz]

I swapped my R1200RS for a friend's S1000XR for a brief ride on a twisty road. I was not that impressed.
He now rides an R1250RS. Several others in my BMW Wednesday ride group have recently traded S1000XR for R1250RS.

[Grumpy Goat]

Neither one is better than the other, just different. One maybe better is some areas the the other one in different areas. It really depends on what the owner wants.

Of course one is better than the other … for each one of us, not absolutely, unless one OSS talking about a totally crappy bike, which we’re not. Each of us has our own specific needs/wants/use case, and any bike is designed the way it is, and it either fits that need better than another bike, or it doesn’t.

I had an S1000R for a year, and while I liked that bike I didn’t love it as it made no sense to my use case, and like the XR it was sort of hyper for my tastes. I traded it for the Tracer 900GT which was the better bike, for me. I loved that bike.

I then traded the Tracer for the Tiger, and so far that is a better bike for my needs. The Tracer and Tiger are similar but quite different. And both are quite different from the RS, but I won’t get into which of these two is better.

[Grumpy Goat]

I swapped my R1200RS for a friend's S1000XR for a brief ride on a twisty road. I was not that impressed.
He now rides an R1250RS. Several others in my BMW Wednesday ride group have recently traded S1000XR for R1250RS.

Riding like a bat out of hell every time gets old pretty darned quickly, and even when ridden gently the engine character is such that it wants to be ridden like that. Also for me, riding curve after curve after curve gets boring as hell for me after 15-20 minutes but that’s just me. The RS is a better fit for me even if it is a bit stiff to change direction, unlike the Tiger and the Tracer before it. Not surprised people trade XRs for RSs.

[Toruk]

I really love my new 2023 RS Sport. I came off a 2004 Kawasaki ZRX 1200R, like the XR it was a bit top heavy and loved to be rung out and driven fast. It served me well for 9 years as the 2nd owner. At 73 years young the RS is the cycle that fulfills my needs! Hermy's let me configure exactly what I wanted and had it built to order. The wait was worth it.

[Lee]

Welcome to the site Toruk.