F900XR test: the new Sport GT BMW motorcycle
In 2020, BMW stops the F800GT but does not abandon the segment of sporty road bikes of medium displacement. The German manufacturer launches a new F900XR inspired by the S1000XR and based on the F900R… Site was able to test it for half a day. Report.
F900XR test page 1: The replacement for the F800GT
The Sport GT is dead? Long live Sport XR! This is the slogan that BMW is trying to impose by offering a new F900XR instead of the F800GT which disappears from the catalog this year, pushed towards the exit by Euro5 … and the disaffection of bikers for road sports cars !
- MNC special file :
- MNC F900R test :
According to the German manufacturer, the XR suffix previously carried by the S1000XR alone is "the uncompromising concentrate of sportiness and Touring aptitude". A busy schedule to which this second member of the family must respond, built from the new F900R roadster…
Widely used in automobiles and increasingly used in motorcycles, the common platform policy allows manufacturers to achieve substantial economies of scale. They are then free to reduce the prices of their motorcycles … or increase their profitability. !
Like the F900R, the F900XR takes the frame and the swingarm of the F850GS released in 2018 and shares with the roadster a new version of the engine of the same GS. However, the officials of the German brand that suits us at the simultaneous launch of these two motorcycles beg us to believe that they are very different…
"The XR is not just about an R on which we would have planted a bubble and a high handlebar," says BMW supporting evidence: the rider and passenger footrests, saddles, suspensions, fuel tank and protection have been modified (read our technical point to know all these details and many others).
Of course, what distinguishes the XR from the R at first glance is the appearance: higher on (on) legs, the road trail has a fairing inspired by that of the S1000XR … vintage 2020 , the one with small mandibles and symmetrical optics !
Extremely simple and fluid, the lines of the F900XR should appeal to bikers who have remained insensitive to the very trendy charm of "off-road" type trails or to the often more tortured Japanese style … Fans of the wise F800GT will undoubtedly find their account there. "Sehr Gut".
A little sister for the S1000XR
"The account is good" also for bikers who dreamed of affording the S1000XR but could not afford it: offered from € 10,995, the F900XR costs around 5,000 euros less than its big sister, or even 7,000 euros less by selecting the majority of options on both models. But the little one can be aesthetically illusory.
As on the F900R, BMW Motorrad France offers XR buyers a "First Edition" offer: for any order placed before February 29, 2019 (this weekend!), The "Active Pack" is free. This includes ABS Pro, DTC, Pro Riding Modes, Case Racks and Heated Grips.
Site notes in passing, to the attention of those who find the White color of the F900XR too pale, that the other two colors are invoiced at 205 euros, under the pretext that the yellow "Exclusive" includes black rims and hand guards and the red "Sport" of the black rims, a golden fork and a short and tinted screen.
More affordable and just as elegant, the 900 is also a little more accessible than the 1000 with its full weight of 219 kg (Vs 226 kg) and its saddle located at 825 mm (Vs 840). In addition, the F900XR is available in A2 version (95 hp therefore can be restricted to 47 hp), which is not the case with the S1000XR (165 hp)..
The F900XR tries to entice the barge by exhibiting beautiful finery: solid inverted fork at the end of which we find a pair of Brembo "Bitte Schon" radial calipers, beautiful aluminum footrest plates, a compact and stylish silencer , a well-cut front plastic and a lightweight rear buckle.
Once at the controls, the rider who discovers the – brand – BMW can be ecstatic in front of the large color TFT screen which sorts through the tons of accessible data and retains the essential. Reviewing the information and adjusting your bike is easy thanks to the left stalk equipped with its brilliant "Multi Controller" ring..
Thanks to its Bluetooth connection, the motorcycle can be paired with a smartphone. The BMW Connected app then allows you to record and relive your trips and trips. "Users can know the distances covered, the maximum and average speeds, the consos, the angles taken, etc.", enthuses Roman Vilimek, BMW expert on the subject..
The German manager questioned by Site then becomes "unstoppable": "for example, you can challenge your friends by seeking to become the first to climb more than 10 km in the mountains, or ride as long as possible, as far from home. . The potential is endless! "
After testing the F900R in the morning, MNC takes control of the F900XR in the afternoon. MNC immediately realizes that the talk of the brand’s managers at the propeller was not the wind: it really feels like riding on a completely different motorcycle !
A road trail rather than a GT sport
The driving position clearly evokes that of a trail: heavy riders will probably prefer it to that of the F800GT! The high handlebars project towards the rider so that the latter keeps the back straight and the footrests are placed so as to open the legs properly.
More intended for the duo than the roadster, the road trail accommodates the possible passenger better thanks to its slightly lower and advanced footrests. The thicker saddle should allow it to stay longer without moving, well secured to the handles supplied as standard. "Danke Schon" !
By leaving the bubble in the low position, the pilot (of 1.80m who is writing this test) has his chest protected but no more! Very early on, therefore, and very quickly also thanks to the clever handle, the Journal moto du Net lifts its bubble: two-thirds of the helmet are then protected, as well as the shoulders.
Due to the limited bubble size – and again, "our" red model did not have a short bubble! – you have to bend down to isolate the top of the helmet from the wind. It is harder, however, to protect your arms from turbulence. Note also that the hand guards do their job well: a pity that they are optional !
The fairing is nicely designed and carefully crafted: the outer layer is completely flat and devoid of screws. Simple and effective since the air is correctly diverted around the shins and knees. One can clearly consider long walks and even beautiful trips.
The only criticism that the Journal moto du Net formulates in terms of comfort: the original saddle, although 5 mm thicker than that of the roadster, does not seem soft enough to satisfy lovers of long rides, whatever their pace. . Future customers would do well to test before ordering, as higher and more comfortable saddles are available !
To go on an adventure, you will necessarily have to invest in a pair of suitcases and / or a topcase. Some options could also be welcome such as cruise control, heated grips and a center stand … to service the chain that replaces – unfortunately ?! – the belt of the F800GT.
Another option to which the most travelers – and the most affluent! – future owners of F900XR may consider: the ESA system, selectable alone or included in the Comfort pack with the central stand – we were just talking about it – and the Keyless device ("keyless" in the ignition). What does it bring? Click on the next page !
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