BMW F900 XR

Is there room for another roadbiased upper-middleweight adventure touring machine in the market? BMW certainly thinks so – and we think they could well be right. The new F900 XR uses a new 895cc version of the F850GS engine, with more power and torque, in a slick S1000 XR-type design, and seems to be aimed at the likes of Ducati’s Multistrada 950 and Triumph’s Tiger 800.

That new engine puts out 10bhp more than the 850 – that’s a healthy 105bhp peak power at 8,500rpm and 68ft-lb of torque at a low 6,500rpm. And with a 219kg kerb weight, the 900 XR should be more than lively enough. The engine is used as a stressed member in a steel tube bridgetype frame, and the running gear is decent sporty-road kit. The front fork is an unadjustable 43mm USD design, while the rear monoshock has preload and rebound adjusters, with a dualsided swingarm.

Novel tech highlights include an all-new welded plastic fuel tank design, which is a world first in motorcycles (it’s also used on the new F900 R roadster). The XR tank weighs just 2.8kg, and is 60 per cent lighter than a steel part. One massive plus point for BMW’s bikes is the huge range of optional accessories, and the F900 range is no exception. You can give your XR a massive

spec, adding on useful stuff like keyless ignition, electronic semiactive suspension, cornering headlight, cruise control and higher-spec ‘Pro’ riding modes and ABS systems. BMW’s heated grips, hard luggage, taller windscreen and the likes are top drawer too, and will let you build just the right level of touring/ adventure/commuting/sporty into your own personal F900 XR.

Price starts around £9,500 for the base model, but you’ll definitely be adding a load of goodies to that…