Hello from sunny Scotland

[Alpine Joe]

Hey there fellow XR riders ... how are you ?  I can't tell you a lie, I've been a Kawasaki guy forever. Bar my XR the last non-Kawa I had was a Suzuki GT380 so you'll know how long ago that was. My last bike was a Z1000SX which I absolutely loved, sadly though 'er indoors HATED it and was screaming for mercy after as little as half an hour on the back. So given that the comfortable Kawa, (the Versys) only has around 112 brake that was never going to be enough since I sometimes like to 'make good progress' when I'm out solo with my mates. So enter the XR which I've found I like nearly as much as the SX and she loves too ... so we're both happy. The XR is a slightly faster but I feel that I could hustle to SX along a wee bit better. It's all good though, the XR is the business so I'm quite happy to keep it until they give the Versys another 50bhp 

[Mareng1]

 

The SX seems to be a great sports-tourer, but I think the XR is a better two-up machine. 

If you find the XR lacking - try an R1250GS/GSA for decent grunt and great 2-up travels.

Anyway - welcome and enjoy the forum and the bike.

[Alpine Joe]

The XR is in NO WAY lacking either in performance or comfort either for me or my pillion ... it's a great bike in every way. I just felt that I could ride the SX faster especially through the twisties. Maybe I'm wrong ... maybe it's just that since it was closer to the ground, it felt faster 

[brickit]

 
I came from a Z1000sx as well and it took me 15,000 miles and 2 years to get fully converted.
There is no way I would go back now........though I do sometimes hanker after the value for money and that proper growly exhaust note.