Is This Now the Best-Looking High-Octane Sport Touring Motorcycle You Can Get?

As the cult classic Office Space taught us many years ago, “it’s up to you whether or not you want to just do the bare minimum.”

If that is the case and you’re in the market for a sport touring bike, there are plenty that will get the job done for a pretty reasonable price.

Heck, Honda’s rider-friendly NT1100 DCT checks a ton of boxes for less than $12,000.  

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However, if you’re looking to hit the road with a bit more … flair — and your wallet’s fat — BMW’s over-the-top M 1000 XR humbly requests loudly demands your consideration.

After all, what the brand itself calls “the lightest and most powerful production crossover bike in the world” just got even more compelling with its fresh new look.

Style points

For the record, the M 1000 XR was already pretty snazzy. But there’s no question that its white and black base colors, accented with lots of red and blue, both carry a strong racing vibe.

Which makes sense because, loaded with track-ready parts as it is, this bike really puts the sport in sport touring. 

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However, when it’s time to ditch the leathers and go for longer distances (not in a circle), a more refined vibe might be desired.

That’s exactly what the new paint scheme, dubbed Aurelius Green Metallic, delivers. 

Extending out over the top of the bike (and dripping down to the front fender), this deep, dark shade delivers understated class. 

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Accented by minimal red and blue and complemented by black and silver hardware, the whole package brings to mind James Bond.

You know, equally comfortable tackling pulse-pounding action or rolling up to a black-tie affair.

Performance overload

Of course, that debonair disguise makes it all the more shocking for bystanders (and smugly satisfying for you) when you twist the throttle.

After all, that beautiful 999cc engine makes a beastly 201 hp at 12,750 rpm and 83 lb-ft of torque at 11,000 rpm, translating to a 0 to 62 mph or 3.2 seconds — and 0 to 124 mph in 7.4. 

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Meanwhile, a host of M-branded components make longer-distance missions more pleasurable. 

Fire it up, and the M start-up animation welcomes you into this wild world via the crisp TFT display between the bars. 

As the miles pile up, the M Sport seat eases fatigue (as does the contour and grab handles and rear footrest bracket for your passenger). 

At the same time, the M winglets boost aerodynamic downforce, meaning more engaged and powerful contact with the road, held back only by the precision M brake. 

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Even if you’d never dream of buying this bike, I encourage you to scroll down to the “Sound of M” section of the product page, where you can click to start the engine — and soak up the adrenalized Akrapovič slip-on rear silencer-honed rattle and hum.

From the jump, you’ll feel how quickly this bike leaves the bare minimum in the dust, never to return.

Availability and pricing

The 2026 BMW M 1000 XR rolls into dealerships with a base MSRP of $25,475. The Aurelius Green Metallic option costs an additional $95, bringing that figure up to $25,570.

BMW Motorcycles

2026 BMW M 1000 XR

• Starts at $25,475

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