I've been riding my GS all winter whilst the S1000XR was being repaired after a little knock off and I got the XR back a few days ago .... on the way home I thought I would sell it because the GS is just that much better, but I've been out on the XR again today and it's definitely a keeper for now. It just needed a little more time I reckon and the grins are back. Perhaps it was memories of being knocked off. It's a dirty bitch tho' with that chain flicking road crap all over the back end. You can't deny that it's a really good bike and it gave me a couple of good tours last year down onto the Mosel River, and on the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. Probably better suited to the longer days out where you can let that big engine work.