By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
BMW S 1000 XR (K69) vs Yamaha Tracer 9 (MY2025)
BMW S 1000 XR vs Yamaha Tracer 9: which one's easier to live with on a long trip.
Roll the throttle open on the BMW S 1000 XR and it won't quit until it's howling at redline. The Yamaha Tracer 9 shoves hard from low revs.
So which one do you buy?
The S 1000 XR has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: S 1000 XR
On a winding road, the S 1000 XR comes out a touch ahead. What tips it: stronger brakes. You wouldn't bet much on a gap like that.
Comfortable long-distance riding
A touch ahead: S 1000 XR
The S 1000 XR should leave you a bit fresher after a long day. Should, not will: the margin is small.
What makes each one tick
S 1000 XR
The S 1000 XR's inline-four pulls cleanly out of the midrange and screams toward the top of the tach with a growl you won't tire of. Even with that tall stance, the bike changes direction with a light nudge on the bar. There's immense stopping power at the brake lever, and the bite builds progressively with plenty of feel. The lever keeps biting deeper.
Nils rode the S 1000 XR in 2020, and in Andalusia in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
Tracer 9
The Tracer 9's chassis carries real sport-bike sharpness into a bend, with a front end that keeps you posted on the tire's grip. At corner entry, the bar tips the bike in crisply and the front settles on its line. A loaded rack doesn't upset it. The triple's top-end rush keeps climbing.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tracer 9 has the lower wet weight: 487 lb (221 kg) vs 498 lb (226 kg).
- The S 1000 XR makes more peak power: 165 hp (121 kW) vs 119 hp (88 kW).
- The S 1000 XR makes more peak torque: 84 lb-ft (114 Nm) vs 69 lb-ft (93 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Neither is a natural fit
A first bike should forgive mistakes, and these two don't do that well enough. Come back to them later.
They come out level on commuting and running costs. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
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
Tracer 9
What owners say
Strengths
- Agile yet stable chassis
- Seductive CP3 engine character
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| S 1000 XR | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) | 33.3 in (845 mm) |
| Wet weight | 498 lb (226 kg) | 487 lb (221 kg) |
| S 1000 XR | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 999 cc | 890 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | Inline-three |
| Power | 165 hp (121 kW) | 119 hp (88 kW) |
| Peak power at | 11,000 rpm | 10,000 rpm |
| Torque | 84 lb-ft (114 Nm) | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,250 rpm | 7,000 rpm |
| S 1000 XR | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 US gal (20 L) | 5.0 US gal (19 L) |
| S 1000 XR | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 298 mm |
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 61.1 in (1552 mm) | 59.1 in (1500 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| S 1000 XR | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cornering ABS | Standard | Not offered |
| Electronic Suspension | Standard | Option |
| Cruise Control | Option | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Not offered |
| Navigation | Standard | Option |
| USB Charging Port | Not offered | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Option |
| Cornering Lights | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
