Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1337686
The 895cc twin produc- es an almost robotic drone, very much like the flat-twin brothers in the BMW line- up, and there's plenty of torque on tap. The motor pulls nicely from as low as 2500 rpm but runs out of puff once you hit about 8000 rpm. It's best to keep the revs to around 7000 rpm, which is just past the peak torque point. There, performance is always on tap, and it's surprising how quick you can hustle a 900 XR around. However, I would be remiss not to mention lack of finesse with regards to the gearbox. Our test bike was not fitted with a quickshifter, and although the XR didn't suffer any miss-shifts, the gearch- ange was heavy, a touch notchy and stubbornly refused to go into neutral at the traffic lights if ridden for more than five minutes. The only time it would go into neutral was when I switched the engine off. Not an ideal situation. This gripe aside, the base model XR is a good thing, especially when you consider the vast BMW aftermarket catalog at your disposal. Everything from luggage to performance add-ons is at your service, and you can option the 900 up to the same spec as the 1000 XR (minus the engine, of course). As for getting new bums on seats, the 900 XR has as good a chance as any to do so for BMW. That said, it is a big, full size bike, so perhaps the smaller F 750 GS variants would work better in this regard. BMW's lineup is now pretty much complete, and if you're dreaming of crossing the country in record time on a 1000 XR, the 900 XR is a good place to start. CN 2021 BMW F 900 XR ($11,695) ENGINE TYPE In-line, 2-cylinder, 4-stroke DISPLACEMENT 895cc VALVETRAIN DOHC, 8-valve COOLING SYSTEM Liquid BORE X STROKE 86 x 77mm HORSEPOWER (CLAIMED) 99 hp at 8500 rpm TORQUE (CLAIMED) 68 lb-ft. at 6750 rpm COMPRESSION RATIO 13.1:1 ENGINE MANAGEMENT EFI TRANSMISSION Constant mesh 6-speed CLUTCH Multi-disc, wet clutch (anti-hopping), mechanically operated FINAL DRIVE Chain FRAME Bridge-type, steel shell construction FRONT SUSPENSION Inverted 43mm telescopic fork REAR SUSPENSION Cast-aluminum dual swingarm, central spring strut, spring preload hydraulically adjustable, rebound-damping adjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 6.7 in. FRONT BRAKE Dual floating discs, 320mm, 4-piston radial brake calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE Single disc, 265mm, 1-piston floating caliper, ABS WHEELBASE 60 in. RAKE 30° TRAIL 4.1 in. FRONT TIRE 120/70 ZR 17 in. REAR TIRE 180/55 ZR 17 in. SEAT HEIGHT 32 in. / 32.5 in. WEIGHT (WET, MEASURED) 495.1 lbs. FUEL CAPACITY 4.1 gal. SPECIFICATIONS Short screen is great for riders over six feet tall. P94 QUICKSPIN I BMW F 900 XR