Being a sport bike guy all my life, and hitting 45 laps around the sun, I have a newfound appreciation for sporty touring bikes. I would still prefer a full-on race-style motorcycle for my track experiences, but suddenly I started to question myself when I’m crunched over a superbike on the 405 freeway or a chill coffee run with buddies.
No, I’m not getting old. I’m just investing in myself by trying to save my lower back for when I do get older—keep reminding yourself of that. I indulged my curiosity by testing the sportiest touring bike—the 2025 BMW M 1000 XR. Now in its second year of limited production and sold out in most dealerships, it wouldn’t be fair to call the M 1000 XR a sport-touring bike; it’s almost in a class of its own—a hyper-touring bike. The only comparable bike is the 180-horsepower Ducati Multistrada V4 RS, a motorcycle with a starting price of over $30k.
The BMW M 1000 XR features the 999cc inline-four, 201 horsepower engine that is exclusive to BMW’s coveted M family of motorcycles. It benefits from the ShiftCam technology, providing ample torque down low and absolutely ripping from 10,000 to 14,600 rpm. I expected that I would become familiar with the sheer power after a few rides—we all want more and more, right?
Nope. The M always surprised me with the aggressive acceleration. Every time I decided to make a quick pass, intending to advance from 65 mph to 85 mph, I found myself way into triple digits using the Dynamic and Race ride modes.
For those who enjoy life on the edge, BMW added Pro ride modes that allow you to individually adjust all your electronic riding assistants and remove the restrictions. There is only one word that comes to mind to describe the Pro mode: “violent.”
With the twist of the throttle, the front wheel lifts up immediately off the ground, gets to 130 mph in the blink of an eye, and the front of the bike shakes from the wind. If you have fulfilled most of your bucket list, you can continue accelerating. Until 160 mph, there is no sense of slowing or losing momentum. After that, well, you might meet with your God or Gods, depending on your beliefs. I had to abort. Remember, I’m still young and haven’t ridden a MotoGP bike (bucket list #3).
The constant mesh six-speed transmission with the quickshifter is one of M 1000 XR’s best features. It operates smoothly in different modes, providing a civilized feeling in low-speed traffic. Once you switch to the aggressive modes, the M shifts with light-speed quickness, holding the RPM in the sweet spot.
The biggest distinction comes during downshifting. The BMW blips the throttle higher than other brands, resulting in a smoother transition while flawlessly blending the electronically adjustable engine braking.
Combine that with the XR’s M calipers, which harmoniously work the front and rear brakes as a linked system. Add in the adjustable ABS Pro system with Brake Slide Assist, and you get the most rider-friendly and drama-free deceleration in the business. The ability to trust the transmission and brakes with such a powerful engine gives a huge confidence boost in the overall package.
BMW developed interesting ergonomics for the M 1000 XR. Looking at the geometry, it’s hard to see what’s really going on here. While the XR gives you plenty of legroom and you’re not crunched over, the seat pitches you forward on the bike. While this is useful in those aggressive acceleration stints, during the chill cruises, the comfort is not as good as you would expect from a touring bike.
From a safety perspective, it’s imperative to be able to apply weight on the front of the motorcycle this powerful. That takes us to the difficult task of designing such a motorcycle to find the best compromise between performance and comfort. The same can be said about the two-position windshield, as even the high setting still requires me to tuck my helmet behind it to avoid strong wind flow.
The BMW M 1000 XR comes with Marzocchi’s Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) electronically damping-adjustable suspension. Charged with handling the XR’s special configuration, the suspension performs exceptionally well. It’s the most successful feature of this motorcycle, as it provides sharp cornering with ample feedback, as well as decent road-trip comfort.
Doing its part for the XR’s exhilarating handling is the 485-pound curb weight with the 5.3-gallon tank filled. That weight is achieved through the extensive use of carbon in the trim, bodywork, fenders, and chain guard, as well as the M Carbon wheels, which are part of the M Competition Package for $5495, resulting in a seven-pound weight savings. Your motivation for ordering the bike that way might be about shaving every gram of unsprung weight. Or, you can do it for the looks alone because it makes the M 1000 XR an even more handsome motorcycle. Either way works. The use of carbon panels, sharp edges, and M graphics makes this flagship XR stand out.
Who would enjoy the 2025 BMW M 1000 XR? If you live near twisty roads with some good straights and ride for a couple of hours, this might be the bike for you. If you’re looking to do long-distance sport touring and want to do track days, keep in mind that it doesn’t perform at 100 percent in either venue. Regardless, with 201 horsepower on tap and superb semi-active suspension, the M 1000 XR stakes a compelling claim in the rarified luxury hyper-touring territory.
2025 BMW M 1000 XR Specs
ENGINE
- Type: Inline-4
- Displacement: 999cc
- Bore x stroke: 80 mm x 49.7mm
- Maximum power: 201 horsepower @ 12,750 rpm
- Maximum torque: 83 ft-lbs @ 11,000 rpm
- Top speed: Over 170 mph
- Compression ratio: 13.3:1
- Valvetrain: DOHC; 4vpc
- Transmission: Six-speed w/ quickshifter
- Clutch: Wet multiplate w/ slipper function
- Final drive: Chain
CHASSIS
- Frame: Aluminum bridge-type w/ load-bearing engine
- Front suspension; travel: Electronically adjustable inverted 45mm fork; 5.4 inches
- Rear suspension; travel: Linkage-assisted electronically adjustable shock; 5.4 inches
- Wheels: Forged aluminum (carbon fiber optional)
- Front wheel: 17 x 3.50
- Rear wheel: 17 x 6.00
- Front tire: 120/70-17
- Rear tire: 200/55-17
- Front brake: 320mm discs w/ M 4-piston calipers w/ radial master cylinder pump
- Rear brake: 265mm disc w/ M single-piston caliper
- ABS: ABS Pro standard
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 60.9 inches
- Rake: 25.1 degrees
- Trail: 4.6 inches
- Seat height: 33.5 inches
- Fuel capacity: 5.3 gallons
- Estimated fuel consumption: 36 mpg
- Curb weight: 492 pounds
COLORS
- Light White/M Motorsport
- Blackstorm Metallic/M Motorsport
- Aurelius Green Metallic Matte2025 BMW M 1000 XR Price: from $25,475 MSRP
