2020 BMW F 900 R & F 900 XR
R I D E R E V I E W
P44
On the open road, the 900 is
very comfortable, too. It hums
along without a care at a steady
70 mph with rpm holding ap-
proximately 4-4500 rpm. Vibra-
tion is all but non-existent. And
there is always plenty of at-speed
roll-on power on hand whenever
needed.
The small windscreen does a
nice job fending off windblast. It's
also two-way adjustable (full up
or full down) which you operate
by hand via a well-thought-out
lever that you can easily operate
on the fly.
The R is a comfortable motor-
cycle. At 6'1" I had no negative
issues whatsoever. It has a very
relaxed fit that works well for both
casual (touring) and sport riding.
The clutch has a feather-light
pull and offers a good feel, and
both hand levers are adjustable.
I found the gearbox to be a little
notchy but nothing to be con-
cerned with; it didn't take away
from the 900's otherwise excel-
lent powerplant and solid drive-
train experience.
Braking isn't spectacular but
plenty sufficient. Experienced
riders might want more initial bite,
but the way it is now is probably
better suited for newer riders,
anyway. ABS, which is non-
switchable, performs well.
The F 900 R feels light and
extremely agile. It meanders ef-
fortlessly through the twisties at a
comfortable clip and doesn't balk
one bit when the more agro side
of you starts kicking in. And the
suspension can hang, too, which
is a good thing because of its
limited adjustability. You probably
wouldn't even think about making
any adjustments anyway until you
Both the R
(pictured) and XR
are absolute blasts
on twisty back
roads, thanks to a
torquey and spunky
895cc parallel-twin
engine (that also
sounds wonderful)
and solid yet agile
handling.
