2020 R1250RS vs 2020 S1000XR sport touring opinions/experience?

[stxman4]

Hi all,

I've been considering moving on from my mighty K1300S and am starting to search for a suitable sport touring replacement with all the modern bells and whistles. The newly revised 2020 R1250RS and S1000XR have piqued my interest now that they've dropped the pirate eyed fronts lights and gone full LED, TFT dash, riding modes, ESA, CRUISE CONTROL, etc. I have ridden an R1200RS but not the S1000XR. I've yet to ride the R1250RS with the shift cam engine or the new (reduced vibe) S1000XR. I feel like the R1250RS would be an easy move from the K1300S in terms of handling, weight, shaft drive, riding position, etc. but I fear I may miss the well of power the mighty K13S provides. The S1000XR may meet my speed expectations but may lack the torque of the K13S. Also, chain drive and the sit up and beg riding position may take some getting used to as well as the overall height of the bike. I'm 5'11" so I'm sure the S1000XR won't be "too tall" for me, just different to what I'm used to. Any thoughts or experiences for those that have ridden or owned one or both is appreciated. Thanks.

[aviator]

Ride the XR. It is a fantastic machine.

[Capnrip]

Hey Mike,
Hope you're doing well. As you know I have a K1300s. When I went to Australia I rented an S1000XR for 8 days. At first I wasn't crazy about it, felt really light. Sometimes I'd turn too quickly just being used to my K. After 2 or 3 days I got to really like it. It handles great, the engine is amazing. You won't want for power although it's a bit more of a screamer pitch wise than the K. Not bad just different. I traded back with Matt to ride his K13 after he had some major suspension work done and at first it felt like I was driving a barge going back to the K. Once we got in some sweepers it felt really good. So the XR is a different bike than the K but it's a nice bike. I only had it for a week so can't tell you about chain maintenance and all that. It is a bit of a tall bike. I'm 5' 10" and I couldn't flat foot it at a stop. I didn't have any issues with that and being significantly lighter it was easy to get off and push around if need be in a parking lot. It was a great rental and I really enjoyed it. Can't help you on the RS. For me every time I think about getting another bike I get on the K and realize how much stuff it does well. I may get something lighter in the next couple of years simply due to my age but then again maybe not. So I'll say one test ride might not give you a complete idea of an XR but it is a great bike. And I had no issues with the riding position.

[Pittsdriverwes]

Hey Mike! Hope you and yours are all well!

On the topic of performance - the XR is about 20 lbs lighter but is also down 20 ft. lbs on torque vs the 1250RS. That S1000 engine in the XR starts making serious power at around 9K but makes all that top HP goodness up at 11,000 rpm so I guess you have to think about is that where you like to operate on the street. I had a S1000RR for a few years and never rode it over about 10,000 rpm on the street (but those 13,000 rpm romps on the track were woody inducing) so for that it would have been better to have had the detuned engine in the R and XR. But neither makes the usable torque that's in the R engine.

Personally, I really like the R engine in my '16 GS which weighs about the same as the RS (mine a bit more because of the protection parts on it). My GS often inspires acts of hooliganism and I can only think that the 1250 engine would be even better. I won't lie to you though - passing power from 50 - 60 mph to 100 mph is where I feel like there's something not there. It's pretty quick but not K1300S or S1000 quick (if you're willing to rev the snot out of it).

I like how easy the R engine is to ride fast. The torque makes lets me scoot on through the twisties while being too lazy to constantly stir the gearbox to get those frenetic levels of RPM. Maybe I also got spoiled by my Super Duke on that. Speaking of that - have you considered a KTM 1290 GT? I had the 1290 R and with regards to the chain drive, I never gave it much thought. In the time I had that bike (~4,000 miles) I only adjusted it once and it cost me a few extra minutes only when I was cleaning the bike up anyway. Never spent really much attention to it.

Good luck! Researching a new bike purchase is just about the most fun a guy can have while not on the bike

[stxman4]

Thanks for the responses y'all. Wes, I have considered the KTM 1290 GT as it checks a lot of the boxes. I guess I will have to test ride it to see if it rides so good that I can overlook all the orange (not a fan) and some of it's fuglieness.

[Pittsdriverwes]

Thanks for the responses y'all. Wes, I have considered the KTM 1290 GT as it checks a lot of the boxes. I guess I will have to test ride it to see if it rides so good that I can overlook the all the orange (not a fan) and some of it's fuglieness.

It's a fugly bike but no more harsh on the eyes than my 1200GS. It's the functionally beautiful thing that did it for me - for both bikes.

The other bike that's just as unsightly (IMO) would be an H2SX. I'd want to take all the shiny bits and do a matte black bike out of an H2. That would be badass says I.

[beech]

I see you are looking for the flash of the new electronics. No way to work around that. But my personal problem solved with keeping my beloved K13S and adding a S1000R. Nasty little bugger that can scare the crap out of you if you let it.

[dynajohn]

I see you are looking for the flash of the new electronics. No way to work around that. But my personal problem solved with keeping my beloved K13S and adding a S1000R. Nasty little bugger that can scare the crap out of you if you let it.

Yep Beech my friends 2019 S1000R scares the crap out of me occasionally. Love the way it handles a curvy road. At 77 my old body just won't handle long rides on it though.

[aclearspot]

Ive done a few 12 hour rides on my XR with no problem. Im 6' and the seating on the RS killed my right hip, never mind I kept banging my shin into the head. You cant go wrong with either bike though. The RS is a looker

[cbejbl]

Latest addition was a 1250RS. Incredible bike! Fast and great in the twisties. I did add bar risers which put my riding position in a perfect place for me. Very comfortable for long sport touring days. Loads of tech too. That said, the XR is on my radar too!

[MattB]

[Lee]

I would consider both bikes street only.

[Bobby]

Food for thought. I got an r12rs but kept my k13s for the rides where I want rare power and the sound of an in line four.

[cabnfvr]

Maybe you just have the wrong inline 4.

[MattB]

Maybe you just have the wrong inline 4.

Tim, but even in this example, I'd want to be riding it at 7,000+ RPM. On the track that is fun, on the street it becomes nauseating to me.

I keep my little v4 Honda's wound at 8k - 11k, but somehow that just feels different to me (literally), and riding a slow bike fast is more fun than riding a fast bike slow. Additionally, the vibes off a v4 are very different and do not put my hands to sleep nearly as fast as the high pitched tingle of an Inline 4.

Different strokes for different folks (pun intended).