BMW S 1000 XR: history, nicknames and how to spot one

At a glance

158–168 hpPower

3.1 s0–100 km/h

250 km/hTop speed

112–114 N·mTorque

226–243 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.^2,7,16

Engine: 999 cc liquid-cooled DOHC inline-four⁴
Layout: Aluminum bridge frame, chain final drive^4,11,15
Gearbox: 6-speed manual; optional up/down quickshifter^3,7,16
Built at: BMW plant, Berlin, Germany^4,16

The story

BMW built the original XR to challenge Ducati's Multistrada 1200, combining the S1000R's 999 cc four and S1000RR ancestry with an upright riding position, adjustable screen and luggage capacity.^1,3

GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones^{3,4,6,11,17,22,23}

Show the numbers

Year	What happened
2008–present	BMW S 1000 RR
2014–present	BMW S 1000 R
2015–2019	BMW S 1000 XR (first generation) (K49)
2020–present	BMW S 1000 XR (second generation)
2014	November 4: EICMA debut in Milan
2015	April 1: Berlin production begins
2015	10.95 seconds beats the Multistrada
2017	Euro 4 and revised handlebar mounting
2017	Alice rides the XR in Resident Evil
2018	MY2018 Style HP adds Motorsport colors
2019	Second generation unveiled at EICMA
2020	RR engine, longer gears, standard ESA
2024	168 hp, a wider seat and more equipment

2014
November 4: EICMA debut in Milan
BMW presents its S1000R-based sport-tourer in Milan, calling the new formula an Adventure Sport Bike.⁴
2015
April 1: Berlin production begins
Assembly starts at BMW's Berlin plant on April 1; the XR goes on sale on June 13.⁴
2015
10.95 seconds beats the Multistrada
At 243 kg fueled, the XR runs a corrected 10.95-second quarter-mile versus 11.48 for the Multistrada 1200 S; 97–129 km/h in top gear takes 2.8 seconds.⁵
2017
Euro 4 and revised handlebar mounting
Revised engine and exhaust meet Euro 4; output reaches 162 hp from 121 kW, while a new upper fork bridge targets handlebar vibration.^6,7
2017
Alice rides the XR in Resident Evil
Milla Jovovich takes the XR on screen as Alice in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.⁸
2018
MY2018 Style HP adds Motorsport colors
Style HP brings Light White, Racing Blue and Racing Red paint, plus a taller Pro Seat or an alternative Low Seat.⁹
2019
Second generation unveiled at EICMA
Revealed for 2020, the redesign weighs 226 kg: 2 kg less on paper, or 10 kg less with comparable touring equipment.^7,10
2020
RR engine, longer gears, standard ESA
The RR-derived engine skips ShiftCam. Fourth to sixth gears grow taller; Dynamic ESA is standard, with optional ESA Pro adding automatic load compensation.^7,11,12
2024
168 hp, a wider seat and more equipment
Reworked intakes bring 168 hp from 125 kW. A wider 850 mm seat, new rear panels and body-color beak join standard keyless ignition and adaptive lights.^13,14

Every generation

BMW S 1000 RR2008–present
BMW S 1000 R2014–present
BMW S 1000 XR (second generation)2020–present

Power over the years

From 158 hp to 168 hp in 9 years.

^7,11,12

Show the numbers

Year	Horsepower	Model
2015	158	2015–2016 model (118 kW)
2017	162	2017 model (121 kW)
2020	162	2020 model (121 kW)
2024	168	2024 model (125 kW)

Versions

11 versions worth knowing, with their power.

Standard

S 1000 XR (UK standard)

2015

158 hp
Standard

S 1000 XR (2017 update)

2017–2019

162 hp
Standard

S 1000 XR (second generation)

2020–2023

162 hp
Standard

S 1000 XR (2024 refresh)

2024

168 hp
Standard

S 1000 XR Sport (UK)

2015

158 hp
Standard

S 1000 XR Sport SE (UK)

2015

158 hp
Standard

S 1000 XR TE

2020

162 hp
Standard

S 1000 XR TE

2024

168 hp
Special

S 1000 XR Style HP

2018

162 hp
Special

S 1000 XR Triple Black MY19

2018

162 hp
Special

S 1000 XR M Package

2024

168 hp

How to spot one

Look for

Original XRs combine a tall, beaked profile with wide bars and an upright riding position.¹
First-generation headlights look paired, with asymmetry hidden inside the lamp units.^2,4
From 2020, slim LED headlights and rear indicators that double as tail and brake lights.^11,12
Second-generation bikes have a TFT cockpit screen and pannier mounts built into the bodywork.¹⁰
The 2024 nose has one short, body-color beak; slotted panels flank the rider's seat.¹⁴

Year by year

2017
Metallic blue joins the existing red and white color choices.⁶
2018
Style HP introduces white, metallic blue and red HP Motorsport paint in place of the earlier white, gray and red scheme.⁹
2018 (MY19)
Triple Black arrives in Black Storm Metallic with HP Seat Pro.¹⁷
2020
Redesign brings slimmer LED headlights, a TFT dash, fresh bodywork and integrated pannier mounts.¹⁰
2024
A single body-color beak replaces the twin-pronged nose; slotted panels flank a longer, wider and taller standard seat.¹⁴
2026
Style Sport switches to Sage Green metallic, replacing the discontinued Gravity Blue metallic.¹⁸

Don’t confuse it with

S 1000 XR
BMW F 900 XR
BMW F 900 XR
Check the engine layout: the F 900 XR uses a parallel twin, while the S 1000 XR uses an inline-four.^18,19,20
BMW M 1000 XR
On the 2024 M 1000 XR, look for M winglets and M brakes; the S 1000 XR's M Package is a separate option.^7,14,21
S 1000 XR
Ducati Multistrada 1200 S
Ducati Multistrada 1200 S
In 2015, the XR used an aluminum twin-spar frame; the Multistrada 1200 S used a tubular steel trellis.^1,5

Against its rivals

S 1000 XR vs Ducati Multistrada 1200 S

Quarter-mile lower is better

S 1000 XR11 s

Ducati Multistrada 1200 S11.5 s
⁵
S 1000 XR vs Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE

UK price lower is better

S 1000 XR16,220 £

Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE14,699 £
¹²
S 1000 XR vs Suzuki GSX-S1000GX

UK base price lower is better

S 1000 XR16,790 £

Suzuki GSX-S1000GX14,799 £
¹⁴

Prices

Price when newAuction sale

^{3,12,14,18,19,26,27,28,29}

Show the numbers

Year	Price	Amount	Detail
2015	Launch price	$18,972	UK base, 2015 MY; approx. USD at $1.53/£
2015	Price when new	$18,972	UK base; approx. $1.53/£
2015	Price when new	$20,877	UK Sport; approx. $1.53/£
2015	Price when new	$22,568	UK Sport SE; approx. $1.53/£
2020	Price when new	$18,285	UK base; approx. $1.28/£
2020	Price when new	$20,762	UK TE; approx. $1.28/£
2024	Price when new	$21,491	UK base; approx. $1.28/£
2024	Price when new	$23,475	UK TE; approx. $1.28/£
2024	Price when new	$30,031	UK M Package test; approx. $1.28/£
2026	Price when new	$18,825	US base MSRP
2027	Price when new	$18,825	US base, destination extra
2025	Auction sale	$8,500	2016 S1000 XR, 4,200 miles, replacement engine, BaT
2026	Auction sale	$12,250	2021 S1000 XR, 19k miles, BaT
2026	Auction sale	$11,500	2021 S1000XR Sport/Touring/Dynamic, 20k miles, BaT
2026	Auction sale	$11,770	2022 S1000XR, 12,334 miles, Iconic

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

Versions
- Why each of the 11 versions matters
Legend
- 12 stories from its legend
- “1,000 superbikes to satisfy World Superbike”
- “Ride to Pikes Peak, then strip it for racing”
Generations
- The story of each of the 4 generations
Market
- 6 things to check before buying one
- Where prices are heading, and why

Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 29 sources

BMW S1000XR (2015): First Test bennetts.co.uk
Pressepräsentation BMW S 1000 XR: Krasse Fugen, harte Phasen - Auto-Medienportal auto-medienportal.net
First ride: BMW S1000XR review | Visordown visordown.com
BMW S1000XR - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
BMW S1000XR & DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 COMPARED | Motorcyclist motorcyclistonline.com
The 2017 BMW S1000XR Gets More Power And Less Vibrations | Cycle World cycleworld.com
All roads Lead to the BMW S 1000 XR — a Buyer's Guide motofomo.com
BMW's S 1000 XR Featured in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter | Cycle World cycleworld.com
BMW Motorrad USA Announces Pricing and Product Details for the All-New HP4 Race and C evolution; Option Updates For Select 2018 Models theautochannel.com
2020 BMW S 1000 XR review, test ride | Autocar India autocarindia.com
2020 BMW S 1000 XR Review - Cycle News cyclenews.com
BMW S1000XR review (2020) | Should you trade up? bennetts.co.uk
BMW Motorrad presents the new S 1000 XR. newsroom.bmwgroup.com
BMW S 1000 XR (2024) – Review | Adventure with a sports bias bennetts.co.uk
BMW S1000XR (2015-2019) - Review & Buying Guide bennetts.co.uk
BMW S 1000 XR Mk I specs, 0-60, quarter mile, lap times - FastestLaps.com fastestlaps.com
2018 BMW S 1000 XR Triple Black MY19 redbook.com.au
BMW Adds Color and Package Updates for the S 1000 XR | American Sport Touring americansporttouring.com
BMW Motorrad USA 2027 Model Year Update. newsroom.bmwgroup.com
BMW afslører helt nye modeller på EICMA | BMW Danmark A/S mynewsdesk.com
BMWモトラッド、M1000XRとS1000XRを5月24日発売 | レスポンス（Response.jp） response.jp
BMW S1000RR - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
BMW S1000R - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
Twisted Throttle teams with MOA for Pikes Peak S 1000 XR - BMW Owners News bmwownersnews.com
BMW Automotive (Ireland) Limited recalls for repair S1000RR, M1000RR, S1000R and S1000XR motorcycles | CCPC ccpc.ie
No Reserve: 4k-Mile 2016 BMW S1000 XR for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $8,500 on July 6, 2025 (Lot #199,336) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
No Reserve: 2021 BMW S1000 XR for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $12,250 on April 24, 2026 (Lot #239,389) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
No Reserve: 2021 BMW S1000XR for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $11,500 on June 21, 2026 (Lot #248,727) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
2022 BMW S1000XR – Iconic Motorbike Auctions iconicmotorbikeauctions.com

bennetts.co.uk
auto-medienportal.net
visordown.com
en.wikipedia.org
motorcyclistonline.com
cycleworld.com
motofomo.com
theautochannel.com
autocarindia.com
cyclenews.com
newsroom.bmwgroup.com
fastestlaps.com
redbook.com.au
americansporttouring.com

At a glance

The story

November 4: EICMA debut in Milan

April 1: Berlin production begins

10.95 seconds beats the Multistrada

Euro 4 and revised handlebar mounting

Alice rides the XR in Resident Evil

MY2018 Style HP adds Motorsport colors

Second generation unveiled at EICMA

RR engine, longer gears, standard ESA

168 hp, a wider seat and more equipment

Every generation

Power over the years

Versions

S 1000 XR (UK standard)

S 1000 XR (2017 update)

S 1000 XR (second generation)

S 1000 XR (2024 refresh)

S 1000 XR Sport (UK)

S 1000 XR Sport SE (UK)

S 1000 XR TE

S 1000 XR TE

S 1000 XR Style HP

S 1000 XR Triple Black MY19

S 1000 XR M Package

How to spot one

Look for

Year by year

Don’t confuse it with

BMW F 900 XR

BMW M 1000 XR

Ducati Multistrada 1200 S

Against its rivals

Prices

The rest of the story is in the app

Versions

Legend

Generations

Market

Sources

Photo credits

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