By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer vs Adventure
BMW S 1000 XR (K69) vs Ducati Multistrada V4 RS (MY2024)
BMW S 1000 XR vs Ducati Multistrada V4 RS: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
Rolling on from the midrange, the BMW S 1000 XR's inline-four pulls clean and doesn't let up until it's howling at redline. The Ducati Multistrada V4 RS erupts once the revs climb high.
So which one do you buy?
The Multistrada V4 RS has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: Multistrada V4 RS
In the twisties, the Multistrada V4 RS asks a bit less of you to go quickly. Put it down to more feel through the bars and better suspension. Call it a modest edge.
What makes each one tick
S 1000 XR
For all its tall stance, the S 1000 XR doesn't need more than a nudge at the bar to swap from one bend to the next. Into a corner, the steering stays light enough that you'll keep trailing the front brake while its lever bites hard and progressively. Broken pavement thumps through the seat. The front tire holds its line right through the apex.
Nils rode the S 1000 XR in 2020, and in Andalusia in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
Multistrada V4 RS
Long days in the saddle don't wear on you aboard the Multistrada V4 RS, with its upright bar and well-padded seat. A mid-corner bump won't unsettle the rigid chassis, because the Öhlins suspension keeps it composed. Its weight hardly shows. The desmo V4 snarls through its intake.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Multistrada V4 RS makes more peak power: 180 hp (132 kW) vs 165 hp (121 kW).
- The Multistrada V4 RS has the larger engine: 1103 cc vs 999 cc.
- The Multistrada V4 RS has the larger fuel tank: 5.8 US gal (22 L) vs 5.3 US gal (20 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Daily commuting & city riding
Off its turf: Multistrada V4 RS
There's no daily-ride verdict for the Multistrada V4 RS. Getting to work isn't its job.
Keeping running costs low
Wrong tool: Multistrada V4 RS
Upkeep on the Multistrada V4 RS works by different rules, so it isn't rated here.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both miss here
Both of these ask too much of a rookie. Spend your first year on something lighter.
These two run dead level on long days. Sit on both in the showroom and trust what your body says.
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 RS
What owners say
Strengths
- Exhilarating Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine
- Supremely comfortable riding position
- Surprising agility for its size
- Top-shelf electronics package
What they share
- Seat height
- 33.1 in (840 mm)
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 190/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| S 1000 XR | Multistrada V4 RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 498 lb (226 kg) | 496 lb (225 kg) |
| S 1000 XR | Multistrada V4 RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 999 cc | 1103 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | V4 |
| Power | 165 hp (121 kW) | 180 hp (132 kW) |
| Peak power at | 11,000 rpm | 12,250 rpm |
| Torque | 84 lb-ft (114 Nm) | 87 lb-ft (118 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,250 rpm | 9,500 rpm |
| S 1000 XR | Multistrada V4 RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 US gal (20 L) | 5.8 US gal (22 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| S 1000 XR | Multistrada V4 RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Control | Option | Standard |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Option | 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.
