The BMW S 1000 XR sports tourer is set to get massive updates for 2020, claims a new report from Bennetts. The litre-class sports tourer, which uses the same engine as BMW’s flagship supersport motorcycle, the S 1000 RR, will pack an updated motor and revised styling for 2020. For starters, the 2020 S 1000 XR will benefit from the company’s latest litre-class engine that has already made its way to the new S 1000 RR. The newest iteration of the litre-class motor packs the BMW Motorrad's ShiftCam variable valve timing technology. The new mill already complies with the Euro-V emission norms.

There may be a slight revision of performance numbers to ensure that the power figures are at par with the new Multistrada V4. For reference, the current S 1000 XR draws 165 PS at 11,000 rpm and 114 Nm at 9,250 rpm from its 999 cc, inline four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 16-valve, DOHC motor. The motor will be accompanied by an updated frame that will feature the revised mounting points. The road-focused motorcycle will retain the 17-inch front and rear wheel combination. Hardware specifications will most likely retain the 46 mm inverted front forks and central spring strut (monoshock) at the back – both manually adjustable. It will be interesting to see if BMW Motorrad introduces a premium version of the S 1000 XR that will feature semi-active suspension setup. A similar feature is already available on the Ducati Multistrada 1260 S as the Skyhook Suspension.

The braking department will retain twin-discs (320 mm) at the front and a single rotor (265 mm) setup at the back that will be governed by features such as standard ABS and cornering ABS. Other electronic rider aids on the motorcycle will include traction control and stability control. The 2020 iteration may also benefit from a Bluetooth-enabled TFT display. BMW Motorrad’s rivals such as Ducati and KTM are already testing the radar-assisted cruise control and safety systems. Given that the Bavarian brand has been setting benchmarks with its electronics package, it will not be a surprise to see more in that aspect on the 2020 S 1000 XR. It will be interesting to see if the company sources Bosch-developed components for the radar-based electronic aids for its next-gen motorcycles.

The S 1000 XR, like the new S 1000 RR, may drop the asymmetrical headlight design for a pair of sleek LED illuminators. The new design may be inspired by that of the Concept 9cento. BMW Motorrad is yet to officially confirm the new S 1000 XR for 2020. However, we expect to hear more details at the 2019 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in November (5-10) this year.