By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
BMW S 1000 XR (Mark 3) vs S 1000 XR (K69)
2024 BMW S 1000 XR vs 2020 BMW S 1000 XR: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
Hit broken pavement on the 2024 BMW S 1000 XR and its suspension's already smoothed it out. The 2020 BMW S 1000 XR's firm damping kicks back.
What makes each one tick
2024 S 1000 XR
The 2024 S 1000 XR's inline-four saves its real pull for high revs, where the rush turns ferocious and you'll keep chasing it. At highway speeds there's a tingly buzz in the bars and footpegs, and it gets tiring on long trips. With bags and a pillion aboard, the semi-active suspension adapts to the load and doesn't let the bike get unsettled under the brake lever. The exhaust snarls for more revs.
2020 S 1000 XR
The 2020 S 1000 XR's inline-four pulls clean and screams to redline, and despite the tall stance, it doesn't take much effort to swap from one lean to the next. On the Blue Ridge Parkway, corner entry doesn't take more than a light push on the bar. Once it's leaned, the front holds. Its brakes bite hard and build with feel.
Nils rode the 2020 S 1000 XR in 2020, and in Andalusia in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- USB Charging Port: standard on the 2024 S 1000 XR, not offered on the 2020 S 1000 XR.
- Heated Grips: standard on the 2020 S 1000 XR, option on the 2024 S 1000 XR.
- Cornering Lights: standard on the 2024 S 1000 XR, option on the 2020 S 1000 XR.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Neither one fits
As first bikes, both are a stretch. Starting smaller isn't a step down.
Count commuting, twisty roads, long days, and 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
2024 S 1000 XR
What owners say
Strengths
- Comprehensive electronics package as standard
- Excellent semi-active suspension for real-world comfort
- Superbike-derived engine with addictive top-end power
Trade-offs
- Noticeable high-rpm vibration through bars and footpegs
2020 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
What they share
- Seat height
- 33.1 in (840 mm)
- Wet weight
- 498 lb (226 kg)
- Displacement
- 999 cc
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 11,000 rpm
- Torque
- 84 lb-ft (114 Nm)
- Peak torque at
- 9,250 rpm
- Fuel economy
- 38 mpg (US) / 6.2 L/100 km
- Fuel capacity
- 5.3 US gal (20 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 190/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| 2024 S 1000 XR | 2020 S 1000 XR | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 170 hp (125 kW) | 165 hp (121 kW) |
| 2024 S 1000 XR | 2020 S 1000 XR | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 59.9 in (1522 mm) | 61.1 in (1552 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2024 S 1000 XR | 2020 S 1000 XR | |
|---|---|---|
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
| Cornering Lights | Standard | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
