Motorcycle specifications BMWM 1000 XR 2024 The Rafale is on a roll....

Motorcycles are synonymous with freedom...
Trail riding implies escape, versatility, simplicity...
With the M 1000 XR, all this becomes relative. It represents the ultimate mutation of the crossover category, the extrapolation of a hybrid concept towards the culmination of human folly. This time, they've done it: the fusion of a Superbike machine and a trail bike. Improbable a short while ago, unreasonable yesterday, on sale today.

The M 1000 XR prototype unveiled before the summer of 2023 opened the door to all manner of speculation. The bike was there, ready and waiting, releasing this prequel on the roads of the TT for the sole purpose of building anticipation and excitement. All we had to do was give it its definitive colors and tease its arrival in 2024.
Here it is, make way, widen the road, get the G-suit, forget all notions of relativity and open up the throttle. The sports cars around this XR won't understand what's going on when the 201 horses start talking!

That's right: 201 hp. Or 148 kW, if you prefer. That's the power of an R1 or a ZX-10R. Not surprising, given that the engine is closely derived from that of the S 1000 RR. Unlike the S 1000 XR, BMW has left the Shiftcam technology to the S 1000 RR. This variable valve timing system gives this 4-cylinder its dementia. The M 1000 R roadster knows all about it. At low and mid-rpm, the torque-optimized cams are in place, making the engine as full as the S 1000 XR. Then, at 9,000 rpm, the fuses blow. The camshaft moves, the "power" profile is engaged in 1 tenth of a second, and from there, it's hard pedaling all the way to 11,000 rpm. At this point, the variable intake cones also change profile to boost airflow. There's no stopping the cylinders in their mad rush to 14,600 rpm.

The rider will certainly have shifted up a gear earlier, towards 12,750 rpm, where the power peak is located. A flick of the shifter (standard) and it's off again for a wild ride. As if the M 1000 XR's double-hundred grunt weren't enough, it also features a larger rear-wheel sprocket (47 teeth, vs. 45 on the S), while shortening the gearbox's last three ratios. It's no longer a cannonball, but a catapult disguised as a sporty adventurer. It takes just 7.4 seconds to go from 0 to 200 km/h, 2 tenths less than a Ferrari 488 Pista. As for the S 1000 XR, it takes 1.3 seconds longer to do the same. This is an explosive M trail, and fortunately it's electronically perfused to prevent it from becoming a satellite.

BMW has put in just about everything it has. From racing-derived systems to on-road comfort crutches. These range from the Hill Start Control Pro assistant (which detects the slope and self-activates if the bike is at an angle of + or - 5°) to the speed limiter in the pits, via Launch Control for sprinter-like starts; not forgetting cruise control, the Pro Up&Down shifter, traction and wheeling controls, engine brake adjustment and Brake Slide assist. This function slows down rear-wheel drift by maintaining a controlled glide, adjusting braking pressure and controlling rear-wheel spin.

as the M 100 XR claims a certain versatility, its Driving Modes are grouped according to two themes. For what it considers standard use, which means nervous use for most of its peers, 4 Modes are available: Rain, Road, Dynamic and Race. Then, when it's time to get excited on the track, the rider can opt for the 3 additional Race Pro Modes. Depending on one of these 7 Modes, you can adjust traction control on 4 levels, fine-tune wheelies to limit or eliminate them, choose one of 4 throttle settings, from soft to extremely direct, and adjust engine braking on 3 levels.

As the frame of the S 1000 XR is particularly strong, even more so when the engine is used as a structural element, BMW has kept it as it is for the M's skeleton. However, the suspension benefits from DDC dynamic damping as standard. The 45 mm inverted fork and its rear shock absorber counterpart are coached according to the chosen Driving Mode. From the most comfortable to the firmest, with real-time adaptation to the road profile. Of course, it's possible to fine-tune damping in each of these modes, depending on the load, solo or with passenger. On this M 1000 XR, the fork spring is adjustable in conjunction with the pilot-controlled damping, and the front axle is reinforced by a new steering damper.

in addition to all these aids, winglets will also be used to prevent take-off attempts. Every member of the M family is equipped with winglets. On the most powerful XR, they start to generate downforce from 100 km/h onwards. Further and faster, the load reaches 11.4 kilos on the front axle at 220 km/h. Enough to prevent wheelies before the electronics take over. This way, a few more horsepower and more traction are transmitted to the ground. But to fully appreciate the benefits of these fins, and to gain the thousandths that go with them, you need to have quite a technical background.
And before you check whether they're the same as on the M 1000 R roadster (they're not), get ready to brake with the big blue M calipers. They're identical. 4 pistons enclosed in a Nissin clamp, monobloc design and radially fixed. Triggering the action of the radial pump, each one bites a 320 mm disc with an efficiency designed in the forge of Superbike. With the experience gained from the official race bike, BM has developed the braking system that will calm its big, fast neutron trail. Suffice it to say, it's going to relax.

Any technical enthusiast will be able to see the deceleration on the dashboard. The handsome 6.5-inch screen displays this kind of data, as do the angles taken during qualifying... rides, DTC action, trips, lots of data, and of course the rev counter. The latter features a dotted area where you can't go while the engine is cold. The display options are more comprehensive than on other models. A large M greets you when you switch on. Then 4 types of display invite you to take a look.

don't forget one essential element: being at the level of a hypersport doesn't prevent you from riding every day. It's on a daily basis that everyone appreciates the little things like heated grips, a USB socket (at the rear), M embroidered upholstery, which the factory will offer in three different heights, and Keyless Ride keyless entry. Not to mention premium parts that flatter the machine, such as the Endurance M chain, lightweight lithium battery, Akrapovic muffler, milled handlebar mount, laser-engraved M XR lettering and adaptive cornering lights.

the M 1000 XR is offered in two finishes. Here, we can't just talk about colors. All the standard equipment is in Motorsport white. On the other hand, the black version, 5,150 euros more expensive, comes with the Competition pack. The forged aluminum wheels are replaced by carbon models. The weight saving is considerable: 1.5 kg. Added to this are adjustable footrests, GPS-Laptrigger data analyzer, milled aluminum levers and a few carbon parts (mudguards, fairing sides, cockpit interior trim and ignition button trim).

bMW would be wrong to deprive itself of a very high-performance trail bike. All the ingredients are available in its range, the concept perfectly matches its definition of sport, whether on a motorcycle or in a car, and when it comes to image, it's a no-holds-barred uppercut. It's not so much the sales figures that are important, but the demonstration made by this M 1000 XR. It's not every day you get to scratch a Porsche while sitting on a GS.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos