Had an F900XR testride today

[croyde]

Offered by the dealer after I rode the R1250GS a couple of weeks ago, and a Tiger 1200 from a Triumph dealer.

Really didn't think I'd like it but I had nothing better to do

I really liked it, thought it was great fun. It had a low seat which I don't need but it put you into more of a racer crouch and I started reliving my youth.

I'm 60 next week.

I was thinking that this is all I really need to be honest and that the round the world abilities of the GS and the Tiger would be wasted on me.

Also there was a massive snarl up on the motorway and filtering was a breeze. I know I just would have hesitated on the GS.

So I got back to the dealer almost in the mind to order the TE version that I had tested but thanks to the chip shortage BMW can't get them nor can you spec up the base model.

Plus I don't like the white of the basic bike. He was trying to get me to say yes to a one year old XR TE but it was white with white panniers, me no like.

I'd prefer a top box anyway, somehow the white panniers made it look like one of the big Honda tourers.

Well it was a heart vs head moment which was dashed, oh well.

Oh, the seat was like a slab of concrete but I could move around a lot.

Anyone here got one, do you get used to the seat?

[scorcher]

I sat on one last weekend and thought the seat had some off a KTM dirt bike. Looks a bit cheap in places, guessing they’re made somewhere in Asia?

[croyde]

Made me look.

"Berlin, Germany

The BMW-designed, DOHC, 4-valve-per-cylinder twin is made by Loncin in China, and bikes are assembled in Berlin, Germany. In addition to an unbalanced 270/450-degree firing order for a better sound and feel, it has new dual counterbalancers ffor smoothness."

So it's a Chinese engine, well I never.

Still it felt nicer than the Boxer twin and the new T Plane crank Tiger triple.

To me anyway.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Everyone complains about the quality of Chinese bikes...



Then you get those who say it's not the location it's the QC audit process..

It's still a Chinese engine.

It's what put me off a F850GS.

I don't want shaft issues, rattles leaks etc.

[Electric Blue]

Do some research about their clutch problems

[croyde]

Uho

[Herr Schnell]

I was considering one of these but a bit of digging into the longer term ownership experience put me off:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RpLAI2n8XE

A search of f900xr.com for "problems" suggests that experience is not an isolated one.

[croyde]

Cheers, I tried to watch that video earlier but boy! did that guys delivery pee me off

Just doesn't get to the point and what's with the turning to the slightly different angle camera position but the same size flipping shot.

As a cameraman it really throws me, it's so wrong

Anyway back to the point, lots of YouTube videos and written reviews singing the bike's praises but no one with anything positive to say on here

[TT1138]

croyde said:

Cheers, I tried to watch that video earlier but boy! did that guys delivery pee me off

Just doesn't get to the point and what's with the turning to the slightly different angle camera position but the same size flipping shot.

As a cameraman it really throws me, it's so wrong

Anyway back to the point, lots of YouTube videos and written reviews singing the bike's praises but no one with anything positive to say on here

I’ve written on here about mine before. Had it for 6 months, about 18 months ago. I also own an F850GS.

The good is the engine, the technology and the brakes. All excellent. Seat is firm but very comfortable for long distance. Riding position good, decent comfort for 100 miles plus in one go. For a road rider a great long distance tourer. Available relatively cheaply.

Cons for me were suspension was crap, too firm and under-damped. Bike throws road muck over itself, absolutely filthy. Road mode is hopeless, the throttle goes 80% nothing then a final 20% of everything. Dynamic mode is a must. Weight balance is a bit odd too, high centre of gravity.

The engine is made by Loncin is China. Some people get funny about this. I couldn’t care less. Bike still built in Germany. Ultimately a good bike, but the F850GS is much better. Does everything the F900 does, plus more.

[Herr Schnell]

I know, he is annoying and a few of the things he goes on about wouldn't really bother most people but some of the other stuff got me asking questions.

The answers from reddit and owners forums put me off. Shame really because it seems a great bike but reliability is a big thing for me.

Explains why there are some great deals on 3000 mile plus bikes though.

[croyde]

TT1138 said:

croyde said:

Cheers, I tried to watch that video earlier but boy! did that guys delivery pee me off

Just doesn't get to the point and what's with the turning to the slightly different angle camera position but the same size flipping shot.

As a cameraman it really throws me, it's so wrong

Anyway back to the point, lots of YouTube videos and written reviews singing the bike's praises but no one with anything positive to say on here

I’ve written on here about mine before. Had it for 6 months, about 18 months ago. I also own an F850GS.

The good is the engine, the technology and the brakes. All excellent. Seat is firm but very comfortable for long distance. Riding position good, decent comfort for 100 miles plus in one go. For a road rider a great long distance tourer. Available relatively cheaply.

Cons for me were suspension was crap, too firm and under-damped. Bike throws road muck over itself, absolutely filthy. Road mode is hopeless, the throttle goes 80% nothing then a final 20% of everything. Dynamic mode is a must. Weight balance is a bit odd too, high centre of gravity.

The engine is made by Loncin is China. Some people get funny about this. I couldn’t care less. Bike still built in Germany. Ultimately a good bike, but the F850GS is much better. Does everything the F900 does, plus more.

Interesting, thanks for the input.

But are they not the same engine basically?

Both have the option of ESA on the rear shock but just standard non adjustable on the fronts.

I should have tried dynamic but being new to all this tech on bikes I didn't want to fiddle with stuff on the move, just wanted to concentrate on riding

[TT1138]

croyde said:

Interesting, thanks for the input.

But are they not the same engine basically?

Both have the option of ESA on the rear shock but just standard non adjustable on the fronts.

I should have tried dynamic but being new to all this tech on bikes I didn't want to fiddle with stuff on the move, just wanted to concentrate on riding

F900 engine is tuned a bit differently and has supposedly 10hp more but I couldn’t really tell the difference.

The F850GS has superior suspension. Plusher and much better damped. Copes with potholes and rough roads well. I don’t have ESA so can’t comment on that.

The F900 is a great bike though so don’t let what I said put you off, as a commuter/ tourer it works very well. I just didn’t gel with mine so I didn’t keep it long and bought another adventure bike. The F850 I’ve had for over 2 years and can’t find anything to replace it with.