Perhaps the XR appeals to those who have 'not quite' decided into which niche their riding enjoyment falls...
If you want an 'almost' great bike to commute, cruise, race and pose on, then it might not 'not quite' live up to your 'not quite' firm expectations. Almost!
If I want to kick back and cruise the field margins and impassable lanes of our 'not quite' United Kingdom then I'll take the 24bhp Honda out...
If I want to pose I'll put on my pouch and stand in the middle of the road...
If I want to race I'll upgrade the battery in my mobility scooter...
And if I want to get total involvement and enjoyment on the roads, I'll either take the car out at the dead of night and scare the bejeezus out of the doggers and other nocturnal wildlife or I'll go for a spin on the 'not quite' great at everything but quite great at the niche into which I fall, middleweight sports touring...the almost incomparable K.
But that is the conviction that comes from having been riding since 1964 and driving since 1966. And don't dare ask me what I went through in the intervening years to arrive at my conviction.
So, perfect car...Audi RS6. Enormously overwhelming and hugely capable but for a single guy with no dog, no income and few car related passions?
Perfect bike...well, I'm still living in the past, so it is a K13S until I can afford to upgrade or BMW (or someone else) produces a better bike that I can afford second hand in a few years.
But a 'not quite' bike. No thanks.