TECH-PACKED BMW’S ONE FOR THE ROAD
It was freezing, raining and blowing a gale, and I was on a BMW with zero miles and new tyres. Perfect conditions, then, for pushing the limits of the Bavarian firm’s naked roadster.
A quick toggle of the mode button through Road, Dynamic and Dynamic Pro into Rain, three presses of the heated grips button to get them up to the maximum 3 setting, and I was off.
Good points so far: the quickshifter on the SE model I was riding was perfect, snicking seamlessly through the six-speed box, and handling was light and neutral, although I was still taking it relatively gently on those shiny new tyres – even though with traction control I was unlikely to come a serious cropper.
The Brembos and big twin discs up front made stopping linear and progressive, with cornering ABS on the SE model to give me a nice warm feeling of safety.
Oh, wait, that nice warm feeling wasn’t the ABS; it was the heated grips which were so good that even in sub-zero temperatures my pinkies were in danger of bursting into flames. I had to wind back to the 2 setting.
Right, that was it: I was bored with Rain mode, and the roads were drying out, so it was toggle time again, to Road mode, and while I was at it, changing the suspension from Road to Dynamic.
Now that was more like it – progress became satisfyingly swift, with a meaty rasp from the exhaust. And, with the bike hunkered down and firmed up, it flung itself into corners with a nice combination of enthusiasm and precision.
Things got even better in Dynamic mode – and I think once the tyres were scrubbed in, I’d leave it in that all the time and use Road if it was raining.
On the base model, you only get Rain and Road riding modes, sadly, and no electronic suspension adjustment. The verdict? The Yamaha MT-09 is more powerful and aggressive, but the BMW offers peak power and torque at lower revs.
It’s also cheaper and has more tech. The electronically adjustable suspension makes it more user-friendly with a slightly plusher ride – and with BMW luggage attached it’s more suitable for touring.
I still prefer the dearer Triumph Tiger 900, but then I was just about to get off the F900 R and onto the more adventurous F900 XR. Watch this space... ■ Bike supplied by BMW Motorrad Belfast, charleshurstgroup. co.uk/bmw
BMW F900 R
Price: From £8,660
Engine: 895cc liquid-cooled inline twin Power: 103bhp @ 8,500rpm Torque: 68 lb ft @ 6,500rpm Colours: blue, black, red/pearl white
I’m not sure where I stand on fitting classic cars with electric motors, but this conversion has a lot of appeal. It’s a 1966 Volkswagen T2 ‘Samba’ bus that’s been fitted with a 80bhp electric motor where the original flat-four petrol engine lived.
The e-BULLI, as it’s called, is a one-off