BMW S 1000 XR versus Suzuki GS 500
BMW S 1000 XR
Suzuki GS 500
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
- Seating position fits small and big people
- High-revving motor
- Strong brakes
- Very good standard equipment
- Handy
- Low seat height
- Suitable for everyday use
- Value for money
- Excellent spare parts situation
- You just always want to step on the gas
- No electronic helpers
- Susceptible to rust
- Weak rear damping
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.156 mm Height : 1.460 mm
Seat : 850 mm
Weight : 227 (max: 450 ) kg
Seat : 790 mm
Weight : 174 kg
Engine
Displacement: 999 ccm
Hub: 50 mm
Hole: 80 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 487 ccm
Cooling: Luft
Drive: Kette
Performance
Performance: 170 HP at 11.000 U/Min
Torque: 114 NM bei 9.250 U/Min Tank contents: 20 Litre
Consumption: 6 l
Reach: 323 km
Performance: 45 HP Tank contents: 17 Litre
Chassis
Aluminium composite bridge frame, motor supporting (aluminium) Front suspension:
Upside-down 45 mm (travel 150 mm) Rear suspension:
Central strut (travel 150 mm)
Rear suspension:
Two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR 17
Rear tyres: 190/55 ZR 17
Brakes
Double disc brake, 4-piston fixed caliper (∅ 320 mm) Rear brake
Single disc brake, 2-piston floating caliper (∅ 265 mm)
Conclusion - what gets stuck
Man, we had fun with the XR! The standard electronically adjustable ESA suspension really irons everything smoothly and yet this bike still gives you the necessary feedback about the road condition for sporty driving. That's the biggest difference between XR and GS: The XR is always sporty on the road, even if the 4-cylinder can purr at least theoretically like a kitten, that's not what you want as a driver! Better to throttle and loseprint like a cheetah. GS on the other hand: Rather quiet as a lion.Whether the sportiness of the XR has a lasting effect or rather annoys, every driver has to decide for himself. What is clear, however, is that it travels more pleasantly on a GS, because you drive rather relaxed and there is no constant driving jerking or chain care.
The test motorcycle was provided to us by Bergmann & Söhne Pinneberg. There she stands as a guide and is happy about every test driver.
For beginners? Well, yes....
So what remains? In our case, the question of whether a motorcycle can work for only EUR 900 must clearly be answered in the affirmative. And more: Little Suzi is really fun. Of course, she is especially noticeable when it is brakes, but she has no real flaws. If you want or have to ride a motorcycle cheaply, you would have a long time with this Suzi for the narrow thaler.
Two things about it: It worked in our case, because the buyer had been informed exactly what to look for. It should not be concealed that a portion of luck can't hurt: If a previous owner often turned the Suzi out cold or driven it over the runway at full throttle, this conclusion would probably not be so positive.
The second is the concept of an entry-level machine, which is often attached to machines such as the Suzuki GS 500E. Of course, you don't want to spend a lot of money and gain experience first. But whether you should do this with a motorcycle that lacks any electronic safety feature?
Everyone has to make up that with themselves.
