I own my self a 2018 XR for the last 14 months with 14,000 miles later and can only share good impressions. This is so far the best bike I ever owned in terms of handling, braking, performance. Remember this is not your usual touring bike but a super bike dressed up in a up right position.
Interesting point of view. What about vibration? I tested one in 2018, and although I loved the performance, I didn't buy it just because the vibration
@@reduardocc On my 2018 vibrations weren't that bad. After that bike I got an RR however I am currently selling the RR for another XR. It is just a better bike for me. Today I was riding a newer XR and there are no noticeable vibrations. Ride safe my friend.
Just passed my unrestricted a license at 33 y.o. Waiting for delivery on a 750gs. Largely inspired to do it by your tour vids. Thanks. Can’t wait to have my own adventures!
@@TheMissendenFlyer You know your supposed to be the grab handle! That's why they make those handles hard to get too! Liked her quick to the point review.
You all probably dont give a shit but does anyone know of a way to get back into an instagram account..? I was dumb lost the login password. I would love any assistance you can offer me
@Alvaro Michael I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm trying it out atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
Re vibrations- Yes, yes! I went back to BMW and told the salesman, he looked at me like I just got off the boat. Angry engine- Same here, not stress free. Thin seat- what were you thinking BMW. These three things made me decide it wasn't the tourer I was looking for. Nice pillion review "Mrs Flyer" ;-)
100% agree with your review! I had one for the day when my 9t was in for some work, it was an absolute weapon and just goded you into riding harder and harder. The angry attitude started to do my head in after a while. Whilst it is amazingly capable it just has no chill about it whatsoever! Great bike but I'm with you on team "not for me". Keep up the great work dude!
Interesting review, thanks. A small point, but it's easy to get rid of the massive "REFUEL NOW" warning message on the TFT. A simple left push on the whizz wheel and it's gone.
Good to see a review not affraid to list the things they didn't like. For me the key thing for a touring machine is seat comfort and that bike looks like it would lock the rider into one position on that hard thin seat. On short test rides seat comfort is difficult to judge but has a major impact on how nice the bike is to own long term.
I took one of these out for 2 hours and found it pretty comfortable tbh but my wife on the back had abit of numbness. The seat does hold you like a bucket seat but there is room to move front to back and abit from side to side. I tried the standard seat on the demo and the comfort seat in the showroom and the standard seat is much better than the comfort seat on my current bike (mt10). The bmw comfort/high seat has 20mm more padding for rider and pillion and felt lovely as soon as i sat down. I wonder if the hard stock seat is abit of a ploy to sell the comfort seat.... even though i was offered one for free if i did a deal on the bike at the time.
@@CeeRTee Interesting you mention the comfort seat on the MT10. I've owned an MT10 for four years and find the stock seat really comfortable. Loads of folks on the MT10 FB groups hate it. That's why really before buying you need ideally a day with the bike, something most dealers won't give you.
I'm lucky enough to have three bikes, if I could only keep one it would be the XR, it just does everything with ease, it does vibrate but so does my K1600 it doesn't bother me at all, the seat is rock hard, but my bum never hurts? Some days I potter about at 30mph on single track roads and it's a joy, in town it flicks about like a 250, wind it up on the Twisties and it's a rocket ship, crazy fast! Inspires confidence, to beat it on the track you would have to be a very, very fast rider to pass it, look at Cuban rider. Carried luggage on the motorway and just cover huge milage 700 , 800 miles a day just isn't a problem and it's light enough to take off road on green lanes. Most of all, it makes me grin like a 10 year old.
Good review. Really wanted to love this bike but you are spot on: poor fuelling at very low speeds , that seat, and the vibration at 120 kph, about 4.5k revs and way too much plastic. Go again BMW. & nice to see the missus. Good quality review. Well done. J
Excellent review, as always, and I appreciate that you bring in Mrs. Flyer for the passenger perspective--she clearly knows her stuff when it comes to bikes, and like you, she gives an insightful, to the point opinion. Much appreciated, and all of us appreciate the two of you--ride safe, and we look forward to the next one!
I only noticed the integrated taillight when I saw one on the road. I'm not sure how I feel about it. What I am sure about is, I'm glad BMW made it so expensive to change to a new one from my 2017 as it helped me make my decision. If they had of just given a few minor styling changes and a TFT it might not have bumped the price up so much, but they did and I didn't :(
Dear TMF - Thanks for great review again, and the most brilliant thing in this video was having Mrs.Flyer giving a passenger review that was brilliant TMF absolutely brilliant. More of that please. Yours Sincerely The Danish Viking.
Interesting review from a pillion perspective. I own an 2020 S1000XR and my wife's only complaint as a pillion, compared with our old bike (2016 R1200R with "comfort" passenger seat), was the seat. It's wider and longer on XR than on our old bike, but much harder and triangularly shaped (narrows to the back), making its edges dig into pillion's bum :) The rest - pillion ergonomics, stability etc she says that it is much better on an XR. Same goes for me as a rider. Seat could definitely be more comfortable, and that's basically my only complaint. Well, maybe less heat from the engine at city speeds would be nice too. It cooks my legs at the moment I slow down, especially if I'm wearing jeans... I don't think that OEM "comfort" seat is much better, so I will probably add some more padding inside of it or get some seat pads. Or replace it entirely with an aftermarket and more comfortable one
Thanks, nice review. If I was 20years younger this would be a contender. At my age I'd prefer not to wrestle the machine out my garage, then I'd rather prefer the Yammy 900GT.
I find the XR such an odd beast... It's kind of billed as a sports tourer but, in reality, it's just a sports bike with luggage. I test rode one a year or so ago thinking that it would be my perfect bike, but although I was grinning like an idiot for the first 15 minutes of the demo hour, by the end of the test ride I was really looking forward to getting off and giving it back. My overriding impression of the bike is one of discomfort: the seat is *really* hard, the engine is vibey, the bike is too tall, the screen made the cruising worse by introducing buffeting. I'd love it if they fixed these issues, but for me right now this bike suffers from a bit of an identity crisis.
I get the impression they didn't want to set up in competition with the GS and they designed this for those people who wanted a sporty tourer with 4 cylinders. I'm pretty sure they were following a different design brief, probably hoping to make a mark in a slightly different market from the GS.
Sports tourer ? I know that category is a bit odd but this is definitely not a sports tourer, at best I'd say sports adventurer. Z1000SX, H2 SX, VFR are all sorts tourers, calling this one is like calling a tomato a fruit and putting it in a fruit salad.
@@polla2256 I know BMW call this "Adventure Sports" but, to my mind, this is not in any way an adventure bike. The only thing it has in common with something like the GS is that it's tall; the XR has no off-road abilities. I still think that it belongs in the sports tourer category, even though it doesn't have the fairing you'd normally expect from such a bike. If you take a sports bike and remove the fairing to get a street bike, then maybe if you remove the fairing from a sports tourer you get... a "street tourer"?
Very interesting review. I'm not in the market for a big beast like that, but still informative. Absolutely brilliant to hear from Mrs Flyer and her thoughts on the bike.
This bike has vibes because its an in-line four. Minimal to no handlebar vibes on the latest model. Its a tall bike for taller riders. If your usual bike is a GS then the XR is not likely to be something you would like. If you enjoy sports/tourers then there is nothing better.
Great review and video as always! Thank you for that! One of the reasons why i didn't buy a S1000XR (the old one) was the engine! xD I love this engine, i own a 1st gen. S1000R and i absolutely love this machine. But this inline four cylinder loves high rpm. It's always hungry for more. The higher, the better! It forces you to rev up all the time and that is not a thing i want on a touring bike. ... another reason was the chain! ;) So i bought a R1200GS Adventure (40000km in 2 years now xD) in addition to the S1000R and i'm absolutely happy with the two bikes i own now!
Will the frame dissolve? My xr the frame had a massive problem and my dealers and BMW were not interested. Blaming it on everything other than build quality.
Its nice to hear a pillion point of view, what a nice addition to your reviews, im loving the outakes at the end.. also my wife says you look better with that stubble. Lol
Great video. It would be nice to hear from your wife the best bikes up there from a passengers prospective. You never seen videos about that. Mostly the riders in focus. Maybe an upcoming video about that with some suggestions of brands. Thanks
I really appreciate Mrs. Flyer's opinion as it gives me an idea of what a bike is like from a position I don't occupy. An unhappy pillion is not a good thing on a long trip. Maybe there's a new video opportunity for the ever expanding TMF empire 🤗🤗
Great review as usual and it’s was great to see Mrs TMF again. And I enjoyed he honestly when you ask her the questions. Sadly this bike is not for me I’m afraid it’s too high and a bit clumsy to move around in tight places. But that said they are one hell of a bike and they come with all the bells and whistles. Thank you TMF
Excellent review, Mr. and Mrs. Fly! First pillion rider review I've seen, brilliant...so no " Vorsprung durch Technik". here?, perhaps... besides Anger Management Awareness to ride this bike it does seem like a lot of fun!!! ;-) Cheers TMF! ...you gotta have the bloopers! :-)
Joking aside, Mrs flyer top review, she covered all the aspects that a pillion wants to know, I've never been on the back for 40 years, I won't take a pillion either due to an accident that happened, not me a friend, not the riders fault but it cost a life, He's haunted till this day, usual story he didn't see him. Anyway cannot wait till the lovely Carol launches her channel TWOTMF, obviously The Wife Of TMF ! get onto it ! see who gets the most subscribers ? Great work as usual . If she launches with that I want the royalties
I do like the introduction of the passengers POV.... As Mrs M was a motorcyclist, she had a critical eye on both issues, from the bike itself and from being the passenger. The one thing she bemoaned at the most... the size bikes were becoming. The difficulties of getting on, remaining on and long term comfort. Many factors that we as the main rider wouldn’t normally consider. So, a damn good point, good review, like you, i’ll stick to the boxer unit for mostly the same reasons! And... Mrs M’s favourite bike for both riding and being a passenger? RD350LC.....bizarre choice.
Really good video. I’m contemplating this bike although I may wind up with the 24 MXR… one question for you, what is the name of that lock that you have for your garage door? The safety bar that runs across the entire width I really like that.
I have a test ride booked for Friday. I’ll be getting the ‘double high seat’ if I buy one because I have 37 inch inside leg and want extra comfort. I’ll report back to see if this helps with reducing vibrations.
Just took advantage of your Speedo Angels code to get a protector for the new Tiger 900GT. I reckon I'll be getting a LiteLock and probably a Monimoto too. So thanks for the codes/affiliate links, Andy!
Good review as always. I'm looking at a tourer and have admired the Kawasaki Versys 1000. Have you had any experience on this model? The part I like is that it is a 4 cylinder with all the bells and whistles. Be interested to know your thoughts.
I think you forgot to mention the fantastic wind protection for the rider when screen is in higher position. I did test if the bike has vibrations at around 120km/h and they are there but I don't know if they would bother me after some time, seemed like they wouldn't, my passenger felt the same. Not sure if every bike has the same level of vibrations or it depends from peace to peace, though. 😀 For me, as a sensitive rider, I liked it and ordered one (the same as this one you tested). I hope to be satisfied with long term riding. Nice video. 👍
Great review. It might be worth checking if this model has the 'low seat' option because the downside of making these an inch lower is reduced padding in the seat. With an inside leg measurement of 30inches I am aware of the compromise this option has. This might also account for more noticeable vibrations you are feeling at 70mph?
Going over some old videos, torn between S1000XR and 1290SuperAdventure. Weekend rides, bit of pillion, a trip or two a year. Which one would you go for?
Yet again, a superb overall review. Why on earth BMW don't ask your opinion before launching the model, beats me. The crits - positives and negatives - are so valid, I am concerned that BMW must be too arogant to iron out these foibles before they hit the Sales floors. Imagine how good this beautiful bike could have been if it had those issues sorted. Again I am thinking that BMW need to watch out, there are so many competitors offering more for less. Please BMW catch the wake up and restore my faith in the Brand. And I haven't even mentioned the premium price. In SA Rands, just that Pannier set and Top Box will cost more than the cost of many a 3-year old mainstream brand 500cc bike!
Great video,test rode it ended up with KTM SDGT, it’s my commuter 250 mile trip bike if I want to go further I jump on my 2019 H2 SX SE +.The one I tested vibrated a lot the plastic rattled and I didn’t care for how the wind came around the windscreen at 6’6” and 23 stone that seat was a female dog!🐩
Good review, would agree on vibration, they are a revvy engine, I love mine (18) model, tried the latest one last week, I was disappointed found the seat more uncomfortable than mine, it seemed heavier especially when straightening up off the side stand, and it didn't seem any quicker. But liked the improved dash and it seemed quieter than mine, I just love that performance, handling, gearbox and brakes, I used mine mostly two up and no complaints from the passenger, you do need a mortgage to buy the luggage though.
how does it compare to the tiger sport? does it feel better to ride and push?bet tigers got the comfort but when it comes to sport does it miss too much? (straight line acceleration aside)
The XR is much faster than the Tiger Sport - but I have a soft spot for the big Trumpet and would have one of those myself over the XR (but I know I'm in a minority there!!)....
TheMissendenFlyer Having had my S1000XR for 5 years, I’m seriously considering chopping it in for a 2020 model, so your review on the new one are most interesting. I think you’re spot on in your review. Great also to have Mrs Flyer’s review, which is a perspective often overlooked. Keep up the good work.
Love my 2019 XR, don't like the new one. The seat is too uncomfortable. I think you may have missed the point though, both variants are really upright sports bikes, even though BMW sell it as a sport tourer. The other day at Hartside, there were lots of XRs I only saw one with a pillion. Vibrations? I've had a few, but then again too few to mention, evo tech bar ends work on the older version.
Agree I have an 18 model, I rode the 20 model last weekend, didn't like the seat, didn't seem any quicker, seemed heavier when moving off side stand, but it was quieter and improved dash.
Thank you for the great review. Adding the passenger comments was much appreciated. I WAS considering this bike or K1600B as a retirement gift to myself. I'm only 5'7" so the 33" seat height would be a stretch for me. My wife particularly payed attention to your wife's comments about passenger accommodations . My wife is 5'2" so I would have to lean the bike towards her for her to get on the bike. Which might end up in tragedy lol. The K1600B is a heavier bike but much lower bike and weight is lower down in the frame. Thank you for making up my mind. 👏👏
Nice video, nice to see Mrs. Flyer coming through as well, have you done one of these for your GS? I think you should run Mrs. Flyer through all your reportoire :P On the S1000XR, be honest! Vibration... can be fun hahahahahha ^_^ Also, if it vibrates at 70 - dont go at 70 :P up or down, plenty to choose from ^_^ The GS also vibrates!
Regarding the tail lights; pretty sure that is not a US Federal thing - that is a very unusual arrangement. Passenger's opinion; that is really good feedback (I certainly can't use it, my wife refuses to ride!) and I think more channels could stand to provide that. Props! I sold the Griso because it was too hard to relax on her. She really wanted to be hoolligan.
Wonder if another tooth or two on the front sprocket would mitigate the vibe issue @ 70 mph without compromising the sport part of its touring abilities too much?
Do the panniers lock and unlock with the keyless system built into the motorcycle or do you have to physically put a key in each pannier to open them up?
Great to hear the pillion perspective from Mrs Flyer. You are one of the very few to have mentioned pillion comfort in your reviews. Thanks for that.
really good to hear from Mrs Flyer. not enough reviews give passengers perspective.
Looking forward to the Goldwing review
Stay tuned - lots coming on that beast!
@@TheMissendenFlyer I take it this is a reference to the Goldwing and not your good, lady wife?
I own my self a 2018 XR for the last 14 months with 14,000 miles later and can only share good impressions. This is so far the best bike I ever owned in terms of handling, braking, performance. Remember this is not your usual touring bike but a super bike dressed up in a up right position.
True
Interesting point of view. What about vibration? I tested one in 2018, and although I loved the performance, I didn't buy it just because the vibration
@@reduardocc On my 2018 vibrations weren't that bad. After that bike I got an RR however I am currently selling the RR for another XR. It is just a better bike for me. Today I was riding a newer XR and there are no noticeable vibrations. Ride safe my friend.
Just passed my unrestricted a license at 33 y.o. Waiting for delivery on a 750gs. Largely inspired to do it by your tour vids. Thanks. Can’t wait to have my own adventures!
Welcome to biking Norxman!
Great Review and good to hear from a passenger prospective
Thank you!
@@TheMissendenFlyer You know your supposed to be the grab handle! That's why they make those handles hard to get too! Liked her quick to the point review.
As always a good review and special thanks to Mrs. Flyer for her insights.
Our pleasure!
You all probably dont give a shit but does anyone know of a way to get back into an instagram account..?
I was dumb lost the login password. I would love any assistance you can offer me
@Layton Koa instablaster =)
@Alvaro Michael I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm trying it out atm.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
@Alvaro Michael It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thanks so much you saved my ass :D
Re vibrations- Yes, yes! I went back to BMW and told the salesman, he looked at me like I just got off the boat. Angry engine- Same here, not stress free. Thin seat- what were you thinking BMW. These three things made me decide it wasn't the tourer I was looking for. Nice pillion review "Mrs Flyer" ;-)
Thank you for watching once again!
tourer?
Thanks to Mrs Flyer for that perspective. As we ride two up mostly these days very useful.
100% agree with your review! I had one for the day when my 9t was in for some work, it was an absolute weapon and just goded you into riding harder and harder. The angry attitude started to do my head in after a while. Whilst it is amazingly capable it just has no chill about it whatsoever! Great bike but I'm with you on team "not for me". Keep up the great work dude!
Oh and you're missing a trick, your good lady should be called Mrs-den Flyer surely! 😁
Interesting review, thanks. A small point, but it's easy to get rid of the massive "REFUEL NOW" warning message on the TFT. A simple left push on the whizz wheel and it's gone.
If only I'd worked that out!!!
Your the first place I go when I want to get a snapshot on a bike. Nice one Andy!!
Good to see a review not affraid to list the things they didn't like. For me the key thing for a touring machine is seat comfort and that bike looks like it would lock the rider into one position on that hard thin seat. On short test rides seat comfort is difficult to judge but has a major impact on how nice the bike is to own long term.
I took one of these out for 2 hours and found it pretty comfortable tbh but my wife on the back had abit of numbness. The seat does hold you like a bucket seat but there is room to move front to back and abit from side to side. I tried the standard seat on the demo and the comfort seat in the showroom and the standard seat is much better than the comfort seat on my current bike (mt10). The bmw comfort/high seat has 20mm more padding for rider and pillion and felt lovely as soon as i sat down. I wonder if the hard stock seat is abit of a ploy to sell the comfort seat.... even though i was offered one for free if i did a deal on the bike at the time.
@@CeeRTee Interesting you mention the comfort seat on the MT10. I've owned an MT10 for four years and find the stock seat really comfortable. Loads of folks on the MT10 FB groups hate it. That's why really before buying you need ideally a day with the bike, something most dealers won't give you.
I’d defo go for the comfort seat!
Thanks for a great final wrap up for the review series, Andy. Enjoyed them all.
My pleasure!
Nice balanced review as always .good to have input from pillion Mrs missfly as well
I'm lucky enough to have three bikes, if I could only keep one it would be the XR, it just does everything with ease, it does vibrate but so does my K1600 it doesn't bother me at all, the seat is rock hard, but my bum never hurts? Some days I potter about at 30mph on single track roads and it's a joy, in town it flicks about like a 250, wind it up on the Twisties and it's a rocket ship, crazy fast! Inspires confidence, to beat it on the track you would have to be a very, very fast rider to pass it, look at Cuban rider. Carried luggage on the motorway and just cover huge milage 700 , 800 miles a day just isn't a problem and it's light enough to take off road on green lanes. Most of all, it makes me grin like a 10 year old.
Good stuff Jonathan - enjoy and thanks for watching....
Sounds exactly like my Yamaha Tracer 900GT
Good review. Really wanted to love this bike but you are spot on: poor fuelling at very low speeds , that seat, and the vibration at 120 kph, about 4.5k revs and way too much plastic. Go again BMW. & nice to see the missus. Good quality review. Well done. J
Excellent review, as always, and I appreciate that you bring in Mrs. Flyer for the passenger perspective--she clearly knows her stuff when it comes to bikes, and like you, she gives an insightful, to the point opinion. Much appreciated, and all of us appreciate the two of you--ride safe, and we look forward to the next one!
Many thanks!
love the 2 up reviews!
I only noticed the integrated taillight when I saw one on the road. I'm not sure how I feel about it. What I am sure about is, I'm glad BMW made it so expensive to change to a new one from my 2017 as it helped me make my decision. If they had of just given a few minor styling changes and a TFT it might not have bumped the price up so much, but they did and I didn't :(
Just ordered mine for March, Triple Black, can not wait.
Congratulaions!
Dear TMF - Thanks for great review again, and the most brilliant thing in this video was having Mrs.Flyer giving a passenger review that was brilliant TMF absolutely brilliant. More of that please.
Yours Sincerely
The Danish Viking.
Brilliant!
Interesting review from a pillion perspective. I own an 2020 S1000XR and my wife's only complaint as a pillion, compared with our old bike (2016 R1200R with "comfort" passenger seat), was the seat. It's wider and longer on XR than on our old bike, but much harder and triangularly shaped (narrows to the back), making its edges dig into pillion's bum :) The rest - pillion ergonomics, stability etc she says that it is much better on an XR.
Same goes for me as a rider. Seat could definitely be more comfortable, and that's basically my only complaint. Well, maybe less heat from the engine at city speeds would be nice too. It cooks my legs at the moment I slow down, especially if I'm wearing jeans...
I don't think that OEM "comfort" seat is much better, so I will probably add some more padding inside of it or get some seat pads. Or replace it entirely with an aftermarket and more comfortable one
Cracking little round-up. I was blinded a little by the performance over my old GS,this brought me back to ground level again.
Well a test ride is one thing (“wow what a beast!”) - actually living with it (that seat, that short stand, the weight, the vibes) another....
Just what we want, a real world opinion of experience of bikes. Very useful to any potential buyer.
Thanks, nice review. If I was 20years younger this would be a contender. At my age I'd prefer not to wrestle the machine out my garage, then I'd rather prefer the Yammy 900GT.
very good review, with everything we don’t want to hear ! i do appreciate most of your videos
Thank you Pascal!
I like the bloopers at the end. Thanks for sharing your wife's point of view. That XR is so tall.
I find the XR such an odd beast... It's kind of billed as a sports tourer but, in reality, it's just a sports bike with luggage.
I test rode one a year or so ago thinking that it would be my perfect bike, but although I was grinning like an idiot for the first 15 minutes of the demo hour, by the end of the test ride I was really looking forward to getting off and giving it back.
My overriding impression of the bike is one of discomfort: the seat is *really* hard, the engine is vibey, the bike is too tall, the screen made the cruising worse by introducing buffeting. I'd love it if they fixed these issues, but for me right now this bike suffers from a bit of an identity crisis.
I get the impression they didn't want to set up in competition with the GS and they designed this for those people who wanted a sporty tourer with 4 cylinders. I'm pretty sure they were following a different design brief, probably hoping to make a mark in a slightly different market from the GS.
Sports tourer ? I know that category is a bit odd but this is definitely not a sports tourer, at best I'd say sports adventurer. Z1000SX, H2 SX, VFR are all sorts tourers, calling this one is like calling a tomato a fruit and putting it in a fruit salad.
@@polla2256 I know BMW call this "Adventure Sports" but, to my mind, this is not in any way an adventure bike. The only thing it has in common with something like the GS is that it's tall; the XR has no off-road abilities.
I still think that it belongs in the sports tourer category, even though it doesn't have the fairing you'd normally expect from such a bike.
If you take a sports bike and remove the fairing to get a street bike, then maybe if you remove the fairing from a sports tourer you get... a "street tourer"?
Thanks a lot Andy! This bike is quite interesting... Maybe I should go for a test ride.
Cracking review. Not totally put off. Got the Honda 2019 ATAS at the mo and looking at the market when upgrading.
Very interesting review. I'm not in the market for a big beast like that, but still informative. Absolutely brilliant to hear from Mrs Flyer and her thoughts on the bike.
Cheers Cliff...
This bike has vibes because its an in-line four. Minimal to no handlebar vibes on the latest model. Its a tall bike for taller riders. If your usual bike is a GS then the XR is not likely to be something you would like. If you enjoy sports/tourers then there is nothing better.
Great review and video as always! Thank you for that!
One of the reasons why i didn't buy a S1000XR (the old one) was the engine! xD I love this engine, i own a 1st gen. S1000R and i absolutely love this machine. But this inline four cylinder loves high rpm. It's always hungry for more. The higher, the better! It forces you to rev up all the time and that is not a thing i want on a touring bike. ... another reason was the chain! ;) So i bought a R1200GS Adventure (40000km in 2 years now xD) in addition to the S1000R and i'm absolutely happy with the two bikes i own now!
Glad we concur!
@@TheMissendenFlyer absolutely!
Great to hear Mrs Flyer's feedback, well done :-)
Will the frame dissolve? My xr the frame had a massive problem and my dealers and BMW were not interested. Blaming it on everything other than build quality.
Oh dear....
Since we ride 2 up a lot I appreciate Carol’s views nice addition this would be a fairly major factor in me considering any new bike.
Cheers Richard...
Really appreciate Mrs' Flyers impressions. Tell her thank you!
Done!
Love the outtakes! So fun!
Always good to hear a pillions point of view 👍
Its nice to hear a pillion point of view, what a nice addition to your reviews, im loving the outakes at the end.. also my wife says you look better with that stubble. Lol
Ooh hello - is she a good judge of attractiveness??
@@TheMissendenFlyer indeed
Great video. It would be nice to hear from your wife the best bikes up there from a passengers prospective. You never seen videos about that. Mostly the riders in focus. Maybe an upcoming video about that with some suggestions of brands. Thanks
Good idea! Need to get a few more passenger miles under our belts and we’ll work on it!
How’s the engine heat ?Great review sir 😍
Didn’t notice any issues...
I really appreciate Mrs. Flyer's opinion as it gives me an idea of what a bike is like from a position I don't occupy.
An unhappy pillion is not a good thing on a long trip.
Maybe there's a new video opportunity for the ever expanding TMF empire 🤗🤗
Cheers Shane....
2:53 I remember the review of that blue beast not so long ago, now it’s just cast aside covered in grass clippings and forgotten about...
Awesome review from the Mrs!
I'll let her know!
Andy, Very good review as always.
Many thanks!
In regards to the vibrations, what’s it like in comparison to sitting on the washing machine?
Much more high frequency - I’ve yet to sit on a washing machine that feels like a 4 cylinder bike...most washing machines are singles or twins....
I’d say this is at the upper end of the spin cycle
Great review as usual and it’s was great to see Mrs TMF again. And I enjoyed he honestly when you ask her the questions. Sadly this bike is not for me I’m afraid it’s too high and a bit clumsy to move around in tight places. But that said they are one hell of a bike and they come with all the bells and whistles. Thank you TMF
Our pleasure!
Excellent review, Mr. and Mrs. Fly! First pillion rider review I've seen, brilliant...so no " Vorsprung durch Technik". here?, perhaps... besides Anger Management Awareness to ride this bike it does seem like a lot of fun!!! ;-) Cheers TMF! ...you gotta have the bloopers! :-)
Oops, I stand corrected...Mr. And Mrs. Flyer!
Joking aside, Mrs flyer top review, she covered all the aspects that a pillion wants to know, I've never been on the back for 40 years, I won't take a pillion either due to an accident that happened, not me a friend, not the riders fault but it cost a life, He's haunted till this day, usual story he didn't see him. Anyway cannot wait till the lovely Carol launches her channel TWOTMF, obviously The Wife Of TMF ! get onto it ! see who gets the most subscribers ? Great work as usual . If she launches with that I want the royalties
You must be in marketing - TWOTMF is a master stroke!
I do like the introduction of the passengers POV....
As Mrs M was a motorcyclist, she had a critical eye on both issues, from the bike itself and from being the passenger. The one thing she bemoaned at the most... the size bikes were becoming. The difficulties of getting on, remaining on and long term comfort. Many factors that we as the main rider wouldn’t normally consider.
So, a damn good point, good review, like you, i’ll stick to the boxer unit for mostly the same reasons!
And... Mrs M’s favourite bike for both riding and being a passenger? RD350LC.....bizarre choice.
Nice one!
Really helpful having the passenger comments....
Really good video. I’m contemplating this bike although I may wind up with the 24 MXR… one question for you, what is the name of that lock that you have for your garage door? The safety bar that runs across the entire width I really like that.
Should have your own show. Always good reviews
Thank you very much!
Nice review Andy 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
excellent review mate,, hope to ride it some day.... cheers from mexico.
Cheers!
Where can I get one of those anti ram garage door bars @2:50? Super nice that it lifts out the way.
Link in the description below together with a discount code (Image4Security)
Excellent review and as many have said, good to hear a passengers point of view.
Cheers Paul
Fantastic long term review as only TMF can do!
Thank you kindly!
I have a test ride booked for Friday. I’ll be getting the ‘double high seat’ if I buy one because I have 37 inch inside leg and want extra comfort. I’ll report back to see if this helps with reducing vibrations.
Blimey Andy, watch out, Mrs Flyer is going to put you out of a job with reviews like that! Good job :-)
Wouldn't that be good!
I just want a 650 cc version of this based off the CB650R’s engine. A bit peppier Versys 650 but at the same weight and with similar fuel range.
Watching from South Africa 🇿🇦 really enjoy your vids 👍
Thank you!
Just took advantage of your Speedo Angels code to get a protector for the new Tiger 900GT. I reckon I'll be getting a LiteLock and probably a Monimoto too. So thanks for the codes/affiliate links, Andy!
You’re welcome!
Good review as always. I'm looking at a tourer and have admired the Kawasaki Versys 1000. Have you had any experience on this model? The part I like is that it is a 4 cylinder with all the bells and whistles. Be interested to know your thoughts.
Great review Andy a very balanced appraisal thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
I think you forgot to mention the fantastic wind protection for the rider when screen is in higher position. I did test if the bike has vibrations at around 120km/h and they are there but I don't know if they would bother me after some time, seemed like they wouldn't, my passenger felt the same. Not sure if every bike has the same level of vibrations or it depends from peace to peace, though. 😀 For me, as a sensitive rider, I liked it and ordered one (the same as this one you tested). I hope to be satisfied with long term riding. Nice video. 👍
Hey, what about finding neutral? Is it difficult?
@@marekmach3896 i sold it some time ago, but as i remember it was okay to find it.
Very angry was my exact words when I tried this bike. I would be interested in your opinion on the BMW Connect app for turn by turn nav on the TFT.
Great review. It might be worth checking if this model has the 'low seat' option because the downside of making these an inch lower is reduced padding in the seat. With an inside leg measurement of 30inches I am aware of the compromise this option has. This might also account for more noticeable vibrations you are feeling at 70mph?
Only if BMW Canada allows motorcycle instructors and Motovloger borrowed press bike. Great video 👍🇨🇦
Cheers!
Going over some old videos, torn between S1000XR and 1290SuperAdventure. Weekend rides, bit of pillion, a trip or two a year.
Which one would you go for?
S1000xr probably
@@TheMissendenFlyer cheers. Trying to get some rest rides but all these pesky UA-camrs have them 😉
Great review but the vibration seems to be a big issue......stay safe......thanks for sharing
Mrs Flyer needs to be a permanent feature if your review bike has a pillion seat. She has a fan.
She has at least two fans - you and me!
Yet again, a superb overall review. Why on earth BMW don't ask your opinion before launching the model, beats me. The crits - positives and negatives - are so valid, I am concerned that BMW must be too arogant to iron out these foibles before they hit the Sales floors. Imagine how good this beautiful bike could have been if it had those issues sorted. Again I am thinking that BMW need to watch out, there are so many competitors offering more for less. Please BMW catch the wake up and restore my faith in the Brand. And I haven't even mentioned the premium price. In SA Rands, just that Pannier set and Top Box will cost more than the cost of many a 3-year old mainstream brand 500cc bike!
Very true! Luggage is ridiculously expensive for some reason...
Great video,test rode it ended up with KTM SDGT, it’s my commuter 250 mile trip bike if I want to go further I jump on my 2019 H2 SX SE +.The one I tested vibrated a lot the plastic rattled and I didn’t care for how the wind came around the windscreen at 6’6” and 23 stone that seat was a female dog!🐩
Crikey Steve - your twice the height and weight of me!!!!
PS ever ridden a grom?
TheMissendenFlyer I have and a Honda monkey.I just also bought a 1973 mini waiting for delivery.🚗👍
Good review, would agree on vibration, they are a revvy engine, I love mine (18) model, tried the latest one last week, I was disappointed found the seat more uncomfortable than mine, it seemed heavier especially when straightening up off the side stand, and it didn't seem any quicker. But liked the improved dash and it seemed quieter than mine, I just love that performance, handling, gearbox and brakes, I used mine mostly two up and no complaints from the passenger, you do need a mortgage to buy the luggage though.
Thanks for watching and for stopping by!
Great review, like always, thanks !
My pleasure!
Like the Neck scarfs .... where can we get one Andy?
Themissendenflyer.com
how does it compare to the tiger sport? does it feel better to ride and push?bet tigers got the comfort but when it comes to sport does it miss too much? (straight line acceleration aside)
The XR is much faster than the Tiger Sport - but I have a soft spot for the big Trumpet and would have one of those myself over the XR (but I know I'm in a minority there!!)....
great , balanced review. how do you think it compares to the Multistrada DVT?
I prefer the multi personally - but Ive not ridden one recently so need to have another go!!
Good summery video TMF.
Great review, Andy.
Thanks!
TheMissendenFlyer Having had my S1000XR for 5 years, I’m seriously considering chopping it in for a 2020 model, so your review on the new one are most interesting. I think you’re spot on in your review. Great also to have Mrs Flyer’s review, which is a perspective often overlooked. Keep up the good work.
How would you compare the s1000xr vs the Multistrada V2S? Is the BMW more sport feeling?
Yes marginally - but I prefer the V2S....
@@TheMissendenFlyer Thanks. Appreciate your opinion and experience. Really enjoy the channel. Cheers from the US.
No problem - and thanks for watching!
Great review cracking machine
Brilliant to hear from the pillion as well. Cheers!
Seems to have gone down well!
Love my 2019 XR, don't like the new one. The seat is too uncomfortable. I think you may have missed the point though, both variants are really upright sports bikes, even though BMW sell it as a sport tourer. The other day at Hartside, there were lots of XRs I only saw one with a pillion. Vibrations? I've had a few, but then again too few to mention, evo tech bar ends work on the older version.
Agree I have an 18 model, I rode the 20 model last weekend, didn't like the seat, didn't seem any quicker, seemed heavier when moving off side stand, but it was quieter and improved dash.
We need more Mrs. Flyer in your videos.
She’ll be back do t worry about that (tour of Wales coming soon!)....
The Misses just gave it the Kiss of death for passengers touring lol
It's only one opinion!
So, not comparable I guess but as an all rounder you would stick with a GS?
Video coming comparing the two soon - stay tuned!
That seat reminds me of my old Raleigh Grifter seat, but that was a lot more comfortable and didn't crush the family jewels every time i braked...
You had a Grifter? Damn, I really wanted one of those back in the day!
@@rimmer67 i was very lucky and had a red one with the early version of a quick shifter by Sturmey-Archer 😉
Thank you for the great review. Adding the passenger comments was much appreciated. I WAS considering this bike or K1600B as a retirement gift to myself. I'm only 5'7" so the 33" seat height would be a stretch for me. My wife particularly payed attention to your wife's comments about passenger accommodations . My wife is 5'2" so I would have to lean the bike towards her for her to get on the bike. Which might end up in tragedy lol. The K1600B is a heavier bike but much lower bike and weight is lower down in the frame. Thank you for making up my mind. 👏👏
Nice video, nice to see Mrs. Flyer coming through as well, have you done one of these for your GS? I think you should run Mrs. Flyer through all your reportoire :P
On the S1000XR, be honest! Vibration... can be fun hahahahahha ^_^ Also, if it vibrates at 70 - dont go at 70 :P up or down, plenty to choose from ^_^ The GS also vibrates!
All very true....
Enjoyable review as ever.
Had to laugh when the lovely Mrs Flyer said it was great at low speed- exactly the opposite of what you said 🤣🤣🤣
Rider v passenger perspective!
Regarding the tail lights; pretty sure that is not a US Federal thing - that is a very unusual arrangement. Passenger's opinion; that is really good feedback (I certainly can't use it, my wife refuses to ride!) and I think more channels could stand to provide that. Props!
I sold the Griso because it was too hard to relax on her. She really wanted to be hoolligan.
Thanks Ron!
Excellent review .
Thank you!
Wonder if another tooth or two on the front sprocket would mitigate the vibe issue @ 70 mph without compromising the sport part of its touring abilities too much?
Interesting idea....
Do the panniers lock and unlock with the keyless system built into the motorcycle or do you have to physically put a key in each pannier to open them up?
Have to physically use the key....IIRC
Another quality review. Now that you have rode the 1000 and 900 XR versions which would be your preference?
Personally I’d probably take the 900 - easier to live with and less likely to lose my license - less bragging rights at the pub though!
Is it possible the vibrations are to do with wheel balancing or perhaps steering damping required? Just a thought
Possible but doubtful as others report the same on other bikes....
Great sunglasses, could you tell what brand is it or a link where to purchase would be appreciated
Glasses direct....
@@TheMissendenFlyer Great, thanks, nice reviews mate!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Great, thanks, nice reviews mate!