BMW M 1000

Bravo Mike Whiskey, taxing. The Mike 1000 X-Ray Romeo is ready for take-off.

That's the feeling you get when you strap on your helmet and climb aboard BMW's latest high-speed machine. The BMW M 1000 A properly designed sports tourer that thrives as well on a long, leisurely ride with sidebags as it does on a tough track day at Rudskogen.

The sight of this engineering masterpiece is stunning in itself. Sharp edges. Dark colours. Hot headlights. The hall is raised to the right. The carbon wings and rims say this bike is made for speed – and there's no doubt that it delivers.

You will find out who should buy MXR in the article. Photo: Andreas Schell/FinanceAffairs

Vapors in motion

The 201bhp means the 220kg-plus bike barely evaporates completely while in motion. It's like stepping into – or rather climbing into – the cockpit of a fighter jet. The test driver in this test stands 185cm tall on the stock bar and can barely put his heels on the ground from a normal seating position.

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The fighter jet comparison continues to shine as the beast of speed gets up to speed. As if accelerating in one gear isn't enough, the quickshifter means the time between gear changes is completed in a fraction of a second and provides seemingly constant traction across all gears.

For starters, Quickshifter can be compared to Porsche's ultra-quick dual clutch, which delivers smooth acceleration. Photo: Andreas Schell/FinanceAffairs

You can lose the patch in the first speed

The sound of the Akrapovic exhaust that hits between each gear makes it tickle deep in your bones and propel you towards the next turn.

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Here you fly low and can lose slip in first gear – which alone exceeds the speed limit on Norwegian roads, when you reach the redline of 14,500 revs.

When you feel it's time to shift gears, you only have about 8,000 revolutions to go – and that's when the party begins. The sound in the exhaust changes noticeably and the bike and rider turn into a floating state. This is where the MXR was designed to ride. Corners go by at breakneck speed, the exhaust howls and we have to admit a primal scream or four during a test weekend that was thankfully full of sun and dry roads.

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MXR gets the M brakes of the M1000RR race monster, as well as carbon wings that create ground pressure for increased stability and reduced lift on the front wheel. We didn't notice anything in particular about it and we were always on one wheel in the spring sun without complaining about it. It also comes as a natural consequence of sitting upright in the hall and pushing well back in the hall when 200 sets are allowed to run freely.

In the fighter school, there is a saying repeated: “There are old pilots, and there are brave pilots. But there are no old and brave pilots.”

The same can be said about MXR – if you are young, bold (stupidly) and don't know how to hold with your right hand, the risk of not aging is high.

The thick carbon rims, wings and calipers from the M-double-R and M logos give the MXR's racing sibling an aggressive impression. Photo: Andreas Schell/FinanceAffairs

Wheels technical support

BMW has also loaded up with a number of technical aids to help you – well… not die. Most of all, you'll probably appreciate the wheelie control, because the front wheel tends to stop as soon as you think about it. This applies from 1st to 3rd gear, and possibly 4th as well.

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The tilt-sensitive traction control system also provides assistance when you need it. The test bike was equipped with track tires that need speeds well above those allowed on Norwegian roads to warm up, and we were somewhat concerned about not gripping well on a cold spring day. However, we did not receive an on-screen message stating that this had started during the beta weekend.

Extra pounds, the Germans also added Slim angle-An indicator that shows you how far you are in turns. This can be somewhat counterproductive – it becomes easy to want to compete against yourself and constantly push yourself further and beyond your skills. Smart to monitor the cursor though. The large display also shows you how hard you are pressing the M brakes, and gives you an insight into how fast you can actually drive around the next corner.

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The different modes mean that the MXR radically changes its character. We started in rain mode to get used to the bike, but quickly transitioned to road mode. Here, the bike is comfortable, the dampers are soft and the engine response is compliant. In Dynamic mode (BMW's lingo for sport) the bike comes alive, while in Race Pro 1 it unleashes everything it's got. Here you can also adjust exactly how high you want the front wheel to be raised before the electronics engage, the amount of traction control, and much more.

The MXR does everything from long-distance riding, track driving, to milk movement. Photo: Andreas Schell/FinanceAffairs

Cute as a cat

Despite all these ferocious images of how incredibly fast this motorcycle is, at the same time we can't get over how light and easy to control it is. The MXR is forgiving when you're in town and need to buy some milk and a loaf of bread at the store, or drive in line at low speed. Heaters, cruise control and a powerful TFT display make driving comfortable and clear, even when the sun shines directly on the screen. No need to fight with the clutch, the ShiftCam gearbox keeps the engine moving like a cat, even when you sense a certain throttling risk.

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The aforementioned gearbox technology also ensures strong torque from low revs, making the engine feel more agile and responsive than a classic four-cylinder.

Every time we test BMW's top models, we're surprised at how well the Germans squeeze the engine block. Four-cylinder bikes are tamed like kittens at low revs – but not at BMW. Instead, it can be compared to two words that don't usually go together: buttery-smooth V-Twin.

This is a touring machine that pulls you to the back wheel more than you might like. Image: BMW

High hall

If you drive with a passenger in the back, we can be happy with 100 hp per head is more than enough. 0-100 still gets thrown out ugly quickly. However: Our female passenger particularly complained about the high seat, which felt very exposed to the wind and was somewhat uncomfortable. It may also be a matter of getting used to it, but we noticed that the driver sits in a good position between the fuel tank and the passenger seat, which provides good conditions for the driver, although perhaps not ideal conditions for your better half.

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But the driver also found something to complain about. The MXR is an extreme touring machine and is built for speed and long-distance driving, too. So it is comfortable to sit without the wind blowing on your face, and the German engineers naturally thought about this and installed it on a single adjustable windshield. The problem is that when we raised the windshield, a kind of turbulence occurred between the screen and the driver, which led to an increase in the wind force, not the other way around – which is the desired effect. There's a little drag in the fringe from us there, but if you're used to riding a naked bike, this is still less exposure. It may also be that fewer drivers have a better experience.

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The MXR is designed for adrenaline enthusiasts with wallets deep enough to afford it. Photo: Andreas Schell/FinanceAffairs

Who should buy MXR?

If you're in the target group to buy an MXR, the price can tell you a lot. The Competition version costs NOK 439,150. It's still less than its rival, the Ducati Multistrada V4 RS, which starts at NOK 507,000 and has 20 hp less power. The MXR is a mid-life crisis bike for when you feel you need speed and excitement in a fun everyday life, and at the same time have a wallet with a few hundred thousand dollars to spare.

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If you mainly want to ride long distances, but are also interested in the occasional track ride to get your adrenaline pumping, this is the bike for you. We think the bike is well suited for longer trips in Europe with slightly higher speed limits than here in Norway, but if it can stay in control, there's no doubt who's at the top of the food chain in the Norwegian road sports touring sector in 2024.

This article was previously published in Finansavisen engine.