{"id":6056,"date":"2020-08-10T16:29:34","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T10:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xbhp.com\/machines\/?p=6056"},"modified":"2022-03-01T12:09:29","modified_gmt":"2022-03-01T06:39:29","slug":"bmw-f900r-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xbhp.com\/machines\/bmw-f900r-review\/","title":{"rendered":"BMW F900R Review: Heady cocktail of complexity and ease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You are out on the road on your motorcycle, in your zone and someone overtakes you aggressively\u2026 and you\u2019re okay with it. Someone turns without signalling and you narrowly avoid an accident\u2026 and you just deal with it. You are just riding to ride, not riding to reach. That\u2019s you taking it easy. BMW F900R<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is the right motorcycle to take it easy on. But there\u2019s a lot more going on than just that so let\u2019s dive in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Text: Karan Singh Bansatta
Photos: Sundeep Gajjar\/MotoGrapher<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I started with taking it easy because of a lot of reasons. The persistent horsepower battle, the reliance on spec-sheets, the general mindset of newer riders, and for the most part BMW Motorrad\u2019s own history. Even their design language spoke volumes about their ethos. An example could be the goofy-looking F800R which we got to see most often on one wheel with Chris Pfeiffer onboard. It was a very busy motorcycle which kept the rider busy as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The BMW F900R changes all that. With the state-of-the-art electronics (for a mid range motorcycle), the F900R is still a busy motorcycle but it does not keep the rider too busy. Busy and engaged are different things in motorcycling, mind you. Out of the roadster class of Beemers, the F900R looks like a bulked up (quite a bit) G 310 R. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The F900 R is like that perpetually shirtless model muscles here, muscles there and all out there for a good show. The high and muscular tank (which is plastic welded, a world’s first), the busy front fascia, and minimalistic tail paint a picture of a well proportioned motorcycle. It is not over-the-top like a few out there but it holds its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The problem is that it is a BMW. It is not something special, or quirky or distinct. It is a good looking motorcycle, no doubt about that but it is because of the badge and what it calls for, that it falls a little short. Despite that, if viewed simply as a motorcycle and not a BMW, the F900R is a very handsome and muscular streetfighter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are quite a few talking points when it comes to the BMW F900R but the engine is not on the top of that list. But it is rather important when motorcycles are being discussed so\u2026 An 895cc, water-cooled inline-twin powers the F900R and is rated for 105 bhp of power and 92 Nm of torque. There\u2019s a version with around 93 bhp as well which can be further limited to 46.9 bhp for A2 license holders. In India, we scoff at such rules. Got cash? This 200 hp motorcycle is yours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anyway, as the numbers say, the motorcycle is no rocket ship with warp drive, but it can be satisfactorily fast. \u2018Can be\u2019 because in lower revs, it does not even feel like it has a 100 horses under the hood. But with the throttle open wide, it suddenly goes from \u2018meh\u2019 to \u2018whoa\u2026 this is fun\u2019. This is both, a good thing and a ‘not-so-good\u2019 thing because the throttle feels jerky. But then, BMW intentionally made it that way to make it less intimidating for newer riders. Fair enough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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All in all, there is usable power all across the rev range and the motorcycle is capable of keeping the enthusiasts entertained as well. What\u2019s even more entertaining is the exhaust note. The reason for that is the 270\/450-degree firing order which helps the inline-twin mimic V-twin. A nice bark on startup, mild rumble at idle and spirited-snarling with blips. So full marks for the exhaust note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now, the riding modes, well, rain is a bit disappointing really. The throttle feels almost bland in this one. Road is decent but the real fun lies in the Dynamic and Dynamic Pro mode. Throttle is much more crisp and that jerkiness is more or less gone. You may want to appreciate the rain mode in, well, rains but the choppy response makes it more a liability than help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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