RideFast Magazine March 2020

The F 900 R
This is the grin stretcher of
the two. They tell us that
everything is shared in terms
of performance but there
is just something that is so
much fun when you ride this
bike. It’s pokey, compact and
quite aggressive. The very
nature of the bike is like that
naughty oake on your shoulder
whispering to go faster or hoik
the wheel up into the air.
It is very sporty, but it is by
no means uncomfortable. Just
more aggressive and tight. It
feels more explosive in the
greatest possible way.
Instead of undertaking a
guided tour like we did on the
XR, the R kind of turned things
into a dice. And that was just
so brilliant!
There is not much else to
say. I was along on the launch
with the very experienced Dave
Cilliers and we looked at each
other and both agreed that it’s
really difficult to find anything
that we do not like. Fact.
Beemer has done an excellent
job with these two – and we
both reckon that both models
should sell really, really well.
Quality feel and finish.
Comfortable, nimble, sporty,
exciting… go and ride one when
they arrive, you’ll see exactly
what we mean…
www.bmw-motorrad.co.za
for your closest BMW dealer.
AT A GLANCE: THE TWO BIKES
THAT WE RODE WERE FULL
HOUSE WITH ALL EXTRAS.
1. Powering the F 900’s is the
same engine as the F 850 GS,
but it grows from 853cc to 895cc.
The parallel-twin now produces
105 horsepower at 8750 rpm and
92Nm of torque at 6500 rpm.
BMW says more than 83Nm of
torque is available from 4500 to
8500 rpm. The engine also uses
two opposed counterbalance
shafts to increase smoothness
across the rev range.
2. The base model is made
standard with minimal
electronics – two riding modes
(Road and Rain), ABS, and
traction control, which is
disengageable).
3. In typical BMW fashion, riders
can update the base models with
Riding Modes Pro and get all the
latest in savvy BMW electronics.
This adds two additional riding
modes (Dynamic and Dynamic
Pro), “dynamic” traction control
that provides other parameters
for measuring loss of traction,
and cornering ABS. New for 2020
is the addition of what BMW calls
“MSR”, an “engine drag torque
control” that prevents the rear
wheel from slipping as a result of
abrupt throttling or downshifting.
4. The chassis consists of a steel
frame that uses the engine as
a load-bearing element and
positions the fuel tank in the
standard place (not under the
passenger seat as on the F
GS series of yesteryears). The
fuel tank is made from welded
plastic – a first in this motorcycle
brands history.
5. The bolt-on steel rear frame
has also been newly developed
for the F 900 range. BMW says
this helps created a visually short
and slim rear.
6. Suspension duties are
handled by an upside-down
43mm telescopic fork and a fully
adjustable shock attached to a
double-sided swingarm.
7. BMW offers its electronic
suspension as an option. This
suspension, called “Dynamic
ESA (electronic suspension
adjustment), will control the
riding experience through
electronic damping of the rear
strut’s spring. The bikes we rode
all had ESA.
8. The bikes we rode all had
cornering lights, keyless ignition,
up/down quickshifter, and an
emergency call system.
9. The F 900’s boast a 6.5-
inch full-color TFT screen
that can connect to the
rider’s smartphone. From
there the options are literally
mindboggling. Go and look it up
for yourself.
10. Higher and lower seats are
available. We used the standard
ones and found them to be
really comfy.
76 RIDEFAST MAGAZINE MARCH 2020