Buyer’s Remorse with My BMW S1000XR

When I first bought the 2025 BMW S1000XR, I was buzzing. On paper, it’s everything I love in a bike — superbike power, long-legged touring comfort, all the latest tech, and that BMW badge on the tank. But within days of picking it up, I found myself thinking… have I made the wrong choice?

Yeah — I’ll admit it. I had buyer’s remorse.

Why I Bought the XR

You lot know me — I’ve had plenty of big bikes over the years. ZX-12Rs, GSX-Rs, Fireblades… I like something with real muscle and a bit of personality. The S1000XR appealed because it seemed like the best of both worlds: superbike engine with adventure-touring comfort.

170 horsepower, semi-active suspension, all the clever rider modes, cornering ABS, traction control, cruise control — the works. It looked like a bike that could do it all: touring, fast road blasts, even the odd track session if I fancied it.

So why the regret?

The First Few Rides

Right away, a few things got under my skin.

First, the engine. Don’t get me wrong — it’s a rocket. But it’s a rev-happy motor, and to really feel the magic, you’ve got to keep it singing above 7,000 rpm. At everyday road speeds, it felt a bit flat — like it was waiting to wake up. I’m used to grunt lower down, like on my GSX1400 or ZX-12R, so this felt… different.

Then there’s the seat height and weight. It’s a tall bike, and at slow speeds or awkward parking angles, it feels it. I remember thinking, “This thing’s a bit of a handful in the tight stuff.”

And the vibration. BMW have improved it over the older models, but you still feel some buzz through the bars and mirrors on longer rides. After a 100-mile motorway stint, my right hand was tingling, and I thought, this isn’t ideal for touring.

Add to that the premium price tag, and for a moment I genuinely thought I’d over-bought — too much bike, too much tech, not enough connection.

When It All Changed

But here’s the twist — after a couple of weeks, I started to get it.

Once I spent some proper time with the XR on my favourite B-roads, everything clicked. The chassis, the quickshifter, the suspension — it all came alive. With the revs up and the roads flowing, the XR absolutely ripped. It’s fast, precise, and so confidence-inspiring once you trust it.

The semi-active suspension smooths out the rubbish UK tarmac, and when you’re on it, it feels light and agile despite its size. Suddenly that “too tall” feeling disappeared, replaced by an I can take this anywhere vibe.

Then I tried it for what it was built for — a bit of touring. Upright position, cruise control, decent wind protection… it all just worked. Once I’d adjusted the screen and seat, it was actually really comfortable. The more I rode it, the more I realised it was me that needed to adapt, not the bike.

Living With It Now

The S1000XR’s grown on me massively. It’s one of those bikes that takes a bit of time to understand — especially if you’re used to old-school muscle bikes. But once you do, it’s hard not to love it.

It’s got that mad top-end rush when you want to let it rip, but it’ll also cruise all day when you just want to take it easy. It’s become the bike I grab when I don’t know where I’m riding — because it’ll handle anything I throw at it.

So yeah, I had buyer’s remorse at first. I’ll own that. But I’m really glad I stuck with it, because now I get what the XR’s all about.

My Honest Verdict

The S1000XR isn’t perfect. It’s tall, a bit vibey, and not everyone will gel with the revvy motor. But once you find its rhythm, it’s a seriously capable machine. It’s quick, comfortable, and surprisingly practical — the kind of bike that makes you want to keep riding.

So if you ever buy a new bike and get that little whisper of doubt in your head… give it time. Sometimes you’ve just got to get to know the machine before it shows you what it can really do.

Video about this is live on my YouTube channel – Mid Bike Crisis
Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever had buyer’s remorse on a bike, and whether it turned out like mine did.