By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer vs Adventure
BMW S 1000 XR (K69) vs Ducati Multistrada V4 (MY2025-S)
BMW S 1000 XR vs Ducati Multistrada V4: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
Hit a broken patch of pavement on the BMW S 1000 XR and its suspension doesn't give much: the jolt comes straight up through the seat. On the Ducati Multistrada V4, there's Skyhook damping that keeps adjusting as the surface turns ragged. The fork swallows the ruts and holds its line.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the S 1000 XR if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Clear edge: S 1000 XR
The S 1000 XR earns its keep in weekday traffic better than the other one. For a daily commuter, it's the clear choice.
The S 1000 XR has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
A touch ahead: S 1000 XR
Hour after hour, the S 1000 XR feels a little kinder to you. It's a close-run thing, though.
The Multistrada V4 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Narrow edge: Multistrada V4
On running costs, the Multistrada V4 edges it. Not by enough to bank on.
What makes each one tick
S 1000 XR
There's superbike-grade muscle inside the S 1000 XR's upright body. Each twist of the throttle gets a clean pull that keeps building until the inline-four screams toward redline. On the Blue Ridge Parkway, the bars need only a light push to swing the bike from one bend into the next. Up top, the four's growl won't let go.
Nils rode the S 1000 XR in 2020, and in Andalusia in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
Multistrada V4
The Multistrada V4's engine lopes along happily at low revs, yet it doesn't stop pulling as the tach needle swings high. On the move, the rear cylinder can shut itself off, and there's less heat rising off the engine. Your passenger's got room to stretch.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The S 1000 XR has the lower wet weight: 498 lb (226 kg) vs 511 lb (232 kg).
- The Multistrada V4 makes more peak torque: 91 lb-ft (124 Nm) vs 84 lb-ft (114 Nm).
- The Multistrada V4 has the larger engine: 1158 cc vs 999 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Neither one fits
A first bike should forgive mistakes, and these two don't do that well enough. Come back to them later.
For twisty roads, you won't find daylight between them. Let the test ride settle it.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
S 1000 XR
What owners say
Strengths
- Superbike-level engine performance
- Agile and precise handling
- Comprehensive standard electronics
- Powerful and progressive braking
Trade-offs
- Firm suspension even in softer modes
- Ineffective stock wind protection
Multistrada V4
What owners say
Strengths
- Flexible, charismatic V4 engine
- Comprehensive electronics package
- Premium build quality and touring capability
- Sophisticated semi-active suspension
What they share
- Seat height
- 33.1 in (840 mm)
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
Where the spec sheets split
| S 1000 XR | Multistrada V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 498 lb (226 kg) | 511 lb (232 kg) |
| S 1000 XR | Multistrada V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 999 cc | 1158 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | V4 |
| Power | 165 hp (121 kW) | 170 hp (125 kW) |
| Peak power at | 11,000 rpm | 10,750 rpm |
| Torque | 84 lb-ft (114 Nm) | 91 lb-ft (124 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,250 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| S 1000 XR | Multistrada V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 US gal (20 L) | 5.8 US gal (22 L) |
| S 1000 XR | Multistrada V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 330 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 | 120/70-19 |
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 | 170/60-17 |
| Wheelbase | 61.1 in (1552 mm) | 61.7 in (1567 mm) |
| Front travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) | 6.7 in (170 mm) |
| Rear travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) | 7.1 in (180 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| S 1000 XR | Multistrada V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Control | Option | Standard |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Option | Standard |
| USB Charging Port | Not offered | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Option |
| Adjustable Seat Height | Not offered | Standard |
| Cornering Lights | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
