How would you make a mXR?

[ROKIN]

I love my XR more than any other bike I have tried a bunch of other bikes and nothing feels close. But I like my track riding as well as the bike being my daily rider. So I want to kit my XR out to make it as good on the track as possible. I am actually just selling my 2020 XR and am going to buy a brand new one that comes with the forged wheels and billet pack. But what other things are worth doing? Brentune and full exhaust of course. I'm also thinking of removing passenger pegs, the middle stand, and any extra things on the bike that I can. But I wonder if there are suggestions from any of you on how to get the absolute best performing XR as possible.

I Have considered maybe going back to the 2019 model because the aftermarket options were so much more for it. I also have heard the possibility of better performance out of that engine but I don't know for sure. What do you all think would be the best MXR build.

[Antares]

If you're only about track riding, the Gen 1 is a better bike without a doubt. Suspension could be something to look at but people like Cuban rider have bone stock XR for the track with only exhaust and brentune and a higher footpeg, the other mods are superficial, no upgraded MCs, no wheels, no CF bodywork. The base bike is more than up for the job.

Generally though I assume you'd go for upgrades in this order, ignoring comfort bits like grips, levers, footpegs etc:

Suspension (tractive or wilbers if electronic, bunch if you wanna do away with electronics)
Brakes (Brembo RCS 17 or 19 depending on your flavour)
Wheels (Dymag, BST)
Loads of CF bodywork available out there.

[Winger]

Anyone who has had any dealings with all things BMW will know they have a habit of digging very deep holes and then jumping into them, just reading about Scott Reading and what is going on with BM comes as no surprises.

I’ve no knowledge of the Gen2 and it’s going to stay that way....re- the gen 1 ordered a non ESA and as soon as it arrived fitted a rear Wilbers, of the 6 bikes I run 5 have either Carbon BST’s or M/A Dymags the X/R has The later,Akra headers with MIVV end can, their is plenty posted on this site about aftermarket fuelling, what isn’t said the various fuelling options do not all feel the same, my preference Power Commander V and a custom dyno run.

Seat wise best of luck, not sure if I had 3 or 4 before I was happy and I didn’t start with the stocker either.

Another mod I found worked for me which after market levers, I use a different one on the front brake to the one on th clutch.

Rear sets?? Gilles....bought a secondhand set....needed half a dozen new bolts and washers £92 😂

And probably a million other mods i’ve Forgotten 😜

[Mitch]

A gen 1 would imo be better for track since it has shorter gearing in 4, 5 and 6. And there are far more performance options available for that model.

Also it isn't ridiculously electronic restricted like a gen 2.

[bazzer]

Interesting one really, my two passions on bikes are touring and trackdays. I use the XR (Gen 1) for touring and a 2019 Triumph 765 RS that has daytona fairings on it etc that is a dedicated track bike.

Everyone always uses Cuban Rider as an example of how good Cuban Rider is on track, I think we have to remember he is a pretty talented rider and he does make the XR look good.

If you want to ride around well well inside your comfort zone then I think you would have a laugh on the XR, I think if you really started to push hard you would find it less rewarding.

I would love to do a few laps on the XR, but would not want it as my only bike I used on track. The front end feel on the limit is just not going to be there. It's also quite an awkward riding position for hanging of the bike. Though the riding position would mean I would not get off thinking God I feel old :-)

If you want to do it though I guess the one thing you will need to do is lift the pegs a bit, they are going to be the first limitation.

Main important thing is if you enjoy it, if you do then its perfect and do let anyone tell you otherwise :)

[Winger]

Having been on here longer than most, always makes me smile when I see Cuban mentioned...cuz what he was famous for was which crashbars to fit or more to the point fitting crashbars full stop cuz after his vid we were all in a rush to fit e’m 😂

Great day at Donington WSB today but BM still have a way to go before they get that engine sorted.

[Sthap]

Originally Posted by bazzer

Interesting one really, my two passions on bikes are touring and trackdays. I use the XR (Gen 1) for touring and a 2019 Triumph 765 RS that has daytona fairings on it etc that is a dedicated track bike.

Everyone always uses Cuban Rider as an example of how good Cuban Rider is on track, I think we have to remember he is a pretty talented rider and he does make the XR look good.

If you want to ride around well well inside your comfort zone then I think you would have a laugh on the XR, I think if you really started to push hard you would find it less rewarding.

I would love to do a few laps on the XR, but would not want it as my only bike I used on track. The front end feel on the limit is just not going to be there. It's also quite an awkward riding position for hanging of the bike. Though the riding position would mean I would not get off thinking God I feel old :-)

If you want to do it though I guess the one thing you will need to do is lift the pegs a bit, they are going to be the first limitation.

Main important thing is if you enjoy it, if you do then its perfect and do let anyone tell you otherwise :)

I watching this thread, I was thinking about what to wright and you nailed it. I agree with everything you stated

I will add one other discipline, and that is adventure riding which I picked up a few years ago and find it as a great addition to the other types

I originally bought my XR (gen2) as a back up track bike to my older RR and something I could do some high speed touring with as I run 90/10 tires on the GS and they have a lower speed limit and move around a bit over 80

The XR is lacking feed back the more you push it and for me a little soft at those speeds (exactly what you stated)
It's unfortunate the XR doesn't have the manual preload adjustment like the new RR has
That being said if I were to make any improvement for track day riding I would start with suspension and not wheels or exhaust
I have the forge wheels on my bike and they look cool but for me the suspension is lacking and regarding the exhaust, while I do agree the emission tuning is hurting the performance, meeting noise limits on some tracks may be an issue