BMW hopes the S1000 XR Sportstourer will attract bikers who want to perform at the throttle's twist and have touring versatility. The latest generation has had a significant makeover, lost weight and gained some tech. Jeremy Webb attempts to find out whether it can come out fighting against KTM's 1290 Duke GT and Kawasaki's Versys 1000.

The BMW S1000 XR looks a bit like a modern adventure bike; one of these bikes that has wide bars and an upright riding position, and the adverts suggest many hours of riding your adventure. It is, in fact, a performance Sportstourer aimed at eating the miles and giving a thrilling journey. I took it on some awesome journies around the Surrey Hills and into West Sussex on the twisties that weave across the county lines.

When you straddle the BMW S1000 XR, you immediately feel at home, with an upright riding position, wide bars, and a wide, comfy seat suitable for a few hours of riding. The combination is ideal for a Sportstourer, which can be a Mustang or a mule when you want. You can precisely place the bike and feel confident in its handling; you can nip through towns with traffic, then power through twisties when you get out of the urban sprawl. BMW has made the S1000 XR feel better the faster you ride, which for a rider is bliss.

The suspension is semi-active, providing a pleasing ride, and you can adjust through the settings on the go. It allows any setup for comfort or control to suit your riding preference. The ride is firm because the BMW S1000 XR is aimed at a more sporty journey rather than relaxing.

The air intakes and engine mapping on the new BMW S1000 XR give an extra 5bhp compared to the previous model at 11,000rpm, which is difficult to judge because the bike flies when you apply a good throttle twist.

BMW's reliability means the bike will feel great after tens of thousands of miles, and the quality of the fixtures is supreme. The S1000 XR has many standard specifications, a boisterous inline-four motor and a corner-carving chassis, but it is worth paying the extra few thousand pounds for the TE variant, which is stacked with technology and extras.

Rivals come in the form of the Kawasaki Versys 1000 S, which doesn't have a semi-active ride but does have all the features and extras of the S1000XR TE for a grand less than the base-model BMW. The BMW S1000XR is faster than the Kwacker, although the Versys is smoother and more comfortable. The Kawasaki Versys is heavier than the BMW S1000 XR and grander in size. It has a softer seat, taller screen, lower revving engine, and softer suspension, and it is set up for touring rather than sports riding.

The BMW R1250 GS is another more Touring-orientated rival, which feels rawer at legal speeds and smoother with greater comfort. The Ducati Multistrada V4 S is significantly more expensive, but you can determine where the money goes. The V4 S has the speed and handling of the BMW S1000 XR but is classier, smoother, more civilised, more comfortable, better equipped, and a superior Touring machine.

The BMW S1000 XR is the perfect machine if you want a sporty bike but don't want the aches and pains in your wrists, back and bum. It has a fantastic engine with plenty of horses for thrills, comfort and practicality when you want to tour or take a quick ride to the local Bike Night.

The BMW S1000 XR has good specifications, horsepower, handling, and a list of rider aids and technology. Electronic suspension (ESA), cornering ABS, multiple riding modes (Rain, Rode, Dynamic, Dynamic Pro), phone connectivity, separate traction and wheelie control, self-cancelling winkers, in-built pannier lugs and simple screen height adjustment.

You can get turn-by-turn navigation on the display by downloading an app to your phone, which can be used for music and phone calls. Purchase the TE model, and your bike will have cruise control, scalding heated grips, a two-way quickshifter with blipping whatsit, daytime running lights, cornering lights, keyless ignition and more.

a Dynamic Package gives clutchless gear changes, traction control, cruise and LED indicators. The Sport package has a titanium exhaust and BMW three-colour race paint, while the Premium Package gets heated grips, pannier fastenings, a centre stand and GPS preparation.

The S1000 XR has the same styling as the previous generation, but the radiator cover has a textured surface, and the slimmer new tail section features air intakes. It has a 20-litre tank, and getting 45mpg gives a 199-mile range and 161 miles before the reserve.

The build quality on the BMW S1000 XR is superb, and you get a lot of tech as standard, but above all, it is an excellent, fun bike.

Prices for the standard S1000 XR £16,790

A trio of paint schemes on the BMW S1000XR - black and red or the HP Racing red, white and blue.

Keyless ignition, an adaptive lean-sensitive headlight system, daytime running lights, a 12 Ah battery and a USB charger are now standard on the base model (£16,790). That's on top of rider modes, cornering traction control, ABS and a tried-and-tested 6.5-inch colour TFT dash that's still the best in the business for its clarity.

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BMW’s Superb and Stylish S1000 XR Sportstourer.