Manfred Von Targett: BMW S1000XR

Named after the WW1 fighter ace Manfred Von Richthofen, because he's red and German, Manfred became my (Tigger's) bike in March 2017 after I fell head over heels in love with him on an unintended test ride. Big Mac and I went to test ride the new liquid cooled GSA out of curiosity and ended up taking him out as well, as he was the Balderstone BMW's demo model. He wasn't for long.

Being fat, middle-aged and very broken, I need a sit-up and beg bike but was just bored with the on-road abilities and saggy engine performace of adventure bikes. The notable exception being the KTM 1190R but Big-Mac and I got into an argument with a KTM salesman and the Austrian build quality isn't the best. There was still a little hooligan left inside somewhere from back in the day and I remember my Fireblade fondly.

The S1000XR was a revelation! I hadn't thought of buying a four cylinder bike since my 'Blade. The S1000RR derived engine and the quickshifter, with the Akropovic can are a totally intoxicating blend of acceleration and sound. The ride, whilst firm compared to a typical adventure bike, is cosseting enough to allow for hundreds of miles a day in the saddle. The saddle, for a 'Beamer', is also comfortable and the rise to the pillion seat gives a back stop against all that acceleration tipping you arse over tit across the luggage rack.

Like BMW Motorrad or not, you can't knock the build quality. The standard ED Riders bike build quality tests of indicator switch feel and bolt head hardness were well satisfied.

In the end though it all comes down to that engine. With the Akropovic exhaust that came with Manfred he's said to be knocking about about 170BHP. My 'Blade only had 182BHP and that pipe really gives a throatier note that, being a V-Twin fan, I'd otherwise miss.

On the negative side, having to decide not only on when the gear change indicator comes on, one also needs to choose the frequency at which it flashes! I kid you not, this is an option in the menu. What is missing in this menu is someway to increase the heat output of the grips, which BMW designed to be less powerful than those on the GSA. The only other gripe is the handlebar vibration, which has been reduced to a buzz by the free BMW retrofit of different handlebar mount rubbers.

What the menus do give you is four choices of setup; Rain - all the gizmos and 100BHP (very useful); Road - full power and all the gizmos; Dynamic - less gizmos, firmer suspension and more aggressive throttle response and finally Dynamic Pro - I want to make sure I don't mess up and end up in ITU instead of the underworld. The only reason, apart from suicide, I can see from engaging Dynamic Pro mode is so you can wheelie because only in this mode is the anti-wheelie gizmo switched off.

So in summary what can I say? This is the first bike I have loved at first ride since Sir Humphrey Bikelby.

As you might have noticed the picture above of Manfred has him looking a tad different to how he came out of the dealership. There isn't a bike for sale that doesn't need at least a little tweak to be just right! 

Givi crash bars

No luggage rack back end

R&G pillion peg blank plate

R&G exhaust hanger

Beowulf radiator guards

Anti-vibration bar mounts

Paddock mushrooms

Givi bigfoot plate

Little Tigger - essential