Long-term test: BMW F900XR
Sports-touring GETS SPORTIER
Editor Matt gets to know the F900XR – and finds it to be a sweet-handling, fun mile-eater
The D940 in France. It’s a stone’s throw from the tunnel.
THE FACTS:
£13,495
103bhp
216kg (kerb)
SINCE LAST UPDATE: 602 miles
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 54.2 MPG
COSTS THIS MONTH:
£91.91 fuel, 50.69 litres @ £1.79/litre
“An F900XR? Why?” scoffed a workmate, unenlightened by his time with BMW’s sport-touring middleweight. Few bikes that have come into contact with the obsessive motorcyclists and opinionated idiots who populate the kit-strewn offices of RiDE like the XR. Some road testers wax lyrical for its handling and midrange shove; others just don’t get it, citing a lack of comfort or range.
Me? I didn’t know what to believe. You see, despite the XR launching in 2020 and having been at the helm of biking’s biggest consumer title during the whole of that time, I shamefully hadn’t ridden one.
But after my first week of use, which included a red-eyed day trip to France and plenty of B-road enjoyment, I reckon I’m definitely in the more positive camp. As a sporty, fun way of getting about, the XR has a huge amount going for it.
The first decent trip was my kind of tonic – a smash-and-grab to Pas de Calais for a touring feature in a future RiDE. Over the past few years I’ve undertaken a couple of memorable off-roading trips to this area and each time I was surprised and impressed by the scenery and riding challenge of a very underrated area.
There’s some spectacular tarmac – the D940 coast road is brilliant almost as soon as you roll out of the Eurotunnel, somehow feeling like a French version of California’s Highway 1, and the flow suits the XR perfectly. Shellgrip twists further on provided enough purchase to duff the BMW’s pegs and show 50° of lean on its built-in leanometer. On the road. In October. If that’s not testament to the confidence the XR gives you, I don’t know what is.
BMW class the XR in their ‘Sport’ category – and they’re not wrong. In a world inhabited by the likes of the Triumph Tiger Sport 800 and Yamaha Tracer 9, it feels sportier, more eager to turn and has a chassis that floods with feedback. Fully adjustable forks have lots of composure, and even in the ‘Road’ setting the shock seems to aid mechanical grip. It means the XR sniffs out traction and lets you know exactly what the Continental ContiRoadAttack tyres are doing. It’s a welcome bonus that I wasn’t suspecting. What an inspiring bike.
It’s still pretty good over distance as well. Maligned by other testers, a lot of the issue is down to the spec of previous XRs supplied to us to test – with lower seat options, they don’t really work for larger road testers. My termer has the taller seat (a £0 option at purchase) and an extra 25mm of seat height isn’t much of an issue. It’s still not perfect, but not a fatal flaw for taller riders.
At 6ft 2in, I initially felt a bit big for what is ostensibly a compact motorcycle, but rolling the bars forward helps. The Comfort Pack’s addition of a taller screen and cruise control means an unflustered and easy 180 miles between motorway fill-ups. It meant my 400‑mile day to France and back wasn’t an issue.
Of course, I’m not totally in love with a few things. The gearbox and quickshifter are typically BMW-slow, and the front brake could do with better feel. The brake has improved with miles, to be fair, and I’m looking for more progress as the pads deglaze. Having a semi‑active shock, but not forks to match, is a little penny-pinchy, too. The XR isn’t exactly cheap either – in the spec tested here it costs £13,495 – but it does have a quality and presence that makes a Tracer feel built-down.
As I write this, I’ve only had the XR a week, but after the first 600 miles I’m impressed – I think the naysayers have got it wrong.
the details
The engine is bloody good: With 103bhp and broad spread of torque, the F900 motor, also seen in the GS, works brilliantly in the XR. It drives out of corners well and makes usable, effective power from about 4000rpm.
Rolling the bars forward helps: Comfort is good, but not outstanding. The picture above shows the ‘+’ marking in the OE position, but I’ve rolled them forward 3mm. This raises the bars and gives you more room.
Short tail restricts luggage size: It looks great, but if you want to carry luggage you may be better to use BMW’s cases (hard and soft options available) rather than a tailpack. My pack interfered with my rucksack as it was too close.