It had rained over night so the roads weren't in the best condition for a test ride on an unfamiliar and pretty powerful machine. Especially as when you go though the paperwork they point out the £2,000 excess if you stack it ! Anyway onto the bike.
I will say from the outset that it's not my favourite colour, but as time passed it grew on me. Coming from an XR it was immediately a familiar place, the controls are virtually identical with only the addition of the SOS button that is on all new BMWs. Like all new bikes these days it has a large TFT display, which I forgot to take a picture of. It's very well laid out with good use of colour, it's very easy to find the information you are looking for while on the move. There are a couple of layouts as well, a standard road one and a sports screen which I was on. This shows you the usual speed, RPM, fuel, but also the percentage of traction control usage, lean angle (both left and right), and breaking force used. Each of these also remembers the max for the ride, I manages 35 degrees of lean on both sides.
The riding position is quite different from mine. It's a more compact and a more sports focussed position, but not in an uncomfortable way. The seat feels like it grabs your arse and puts you in the right riding position. I tried out all manor of roads, from boring dual carriage ways, fast sweeping A roads, to narrow bumpy back roads. The XR takes it all in its stride, it feels noticeably lighter and more agile than the previous version. It still has that feeling of riding a sports bike, but just being sat more comfortably.
The biggest (and probably only) negative to the bike is the noise, or lack of. My bike, especially in dynamic and pro modes, give a decent amount of popping and burbling. There is also a very satisfying sound when clicking down the box on the blipper. The 2020 bike is noticeably quieter, to the point where you really feel you are missing out.
The only thing I'm not 100% convinced about is the decision to remove the rear light. This is now basically built into the indicators, and looks to be a new standard for BMW bikes as I noticed the 2020 RR has got the same setup.
I'm sold, but I know I have a 2 year wait to pay off my bike first. It will also allow for any teething issues of a new bike to work themselves out.
it did look better in person than in pictures, still not my favourite. Looks like they've primed it but forgot to paint it.
