By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
BMW S 1000 XR (K69) vs Kawasaki Versys 1100 (MY2025)
BMW S 1000 XR vs Kawasaki Versys 1100: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
Deep in the throttle, the BMW S 1000 XR doesn't ease off, and its growl climbs into a scream at redline. The Kawasaki Versys 1100 pulls early and stays silky.
So which one do you buy?
The S 1000 XR has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Small edge: S 1000 XR
On the way to work, the S 1000 XR asks a little less of you. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
By a nose: S 1000 XR
The S 1000 XR nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. What tips it: a sportier chassis and harder acceleration. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Nose ahead: S 1000 XR
Long days lean slightly toward the S 1000 XR. Thank more stability at speed for that. Your own body is the better judge of a gap this small.
What makes each one tick
S 1000 XR
Tall as it sits, the XR changes line with a light nudge on the bar and holds steady once it's leaned over. Broken pavement isn't kind to it, because the semi-active suspension stays taut even in its softer modes and thuds over each bump. Dynamic mode firms it further. Its front brake bites hard and still keeps its feel.
Nils rode the S 1000 XR in 2020, and in Andalusia in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
Versys 1100
The Versys doesn't mind a second rider: the seat's roomy, there's legroom for two and the screen keeps the wind off. There's barely a buzz through the pegs while quickshifter upshifts slip by almost unnoticed. On the SE, the Showa semi-active damping keeps the chassis composed in bends, and the brake lever stops it through cornering ABS from a six-axis IMU. Bumps barely reach the SE's seat.
Nils rode the Versys 1100 in Croatia/Dalmatia in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The S 1000 XR has the lower wet weight: 498 lb (226 kg) vs 562 lb (255 kg).
- The S 1000 XR makes more peak power: 165 hp (121 kW) vs 135 hp (99 kW).
- The Versys 1100 has the larger engine: 1099 cc vs 999 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both fall short
For a brand-new rider, both are the wrong place to start. Learn the basics on a smaller bike first.
Count running costs as a draw. The deal on the table and the condition of the bike matter more here.
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
Versys 1100
What owners say
Strengths
- Creamy, torque-rich engine
- Exceptional two-up comfort
- Plush electronic suspension (SE)
What they share
- Seat height
- 33.1 in (840 mm)
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| S 1000 XR | Versys 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 498 lb (226 kg) | 562 lb (255 kg) |
| S 1000 XR | Versys 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 999 cc | 1099 cc |
| Power | 165 hp (121 kW) | 135 hp (99 kW) |
| Peak power at | 11,000 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Torque | 84 lb-ft (114 Nm) | 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,250 rpm | 7,600 rpm |
| S 1000 XR | Versys 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 US gal (20 L) | 5.5 US gal (21 L) |
| S 1000 XR | Versys 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 | 180/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| S 1000 XR | Versys 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quickshifter | Option | Standard |
| USB Charging Port | Not offered | Standard |
| Luggage System | Option | Standard |
| Cornering Lights | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
