2025 BMW F900 XR First Ride Review: The Ultimate Sport Touring Bike?

First Impressions and Ergonomics

• 🏍️ The 2025 BMW F900 XR features a parallel twin engine, offering a pleasing sound and good low-end power delivery.
• ⬆️ The rider, 5'10" with a 32" inseam, found the bike surprisingly easy to flat-foot, with a comfortable body position that is slightly sporty on the lower half and upright on the top.
• ⚠️ The mirrors are noted as a drawback, being small and requiring extra effort to get a full picture of the surroundings, potentially distracting from the road ahead.

Performance and Riding Modes

• 🌧️ The bike offers multiple riding modes: Rain, Road, and Dynamic, with Rain mode noticeably cutting down power for gentler response.
• 🚀 In Dynamic mode, the F900 XR delivers strong acceleration, with the parallel twin providing a punchy feel off the line.
• 💨 The bike's 895cc parallel twin engine is rated for approximately 105 horsepower and 68 foot-lbs of torque, with a wet weight of 477 lbs, which felt surprisingly well-balanced once moving.

City and Highway Riding Experience

• 🏙️ Maneuverability in the city is excellent, with handlebars that don't feel overly wide, allowing the bike to be easily directed through traffic and around obstacles.
• 🚦 The brakes are strong, particularly the front Brembos, though the rear brake lever has a noticeable throw before engaging.
• 🛣️ On the highway, the F900 XR performs exceptionally well, maintaining a comfortable cruising speed at around 5,000 RPM for 80 mph, with minimal vibrations and effective wind protection from the adjustable windscreen.

Suspension, Handling, and Technology

• ⚙️ The suspension is manually adjustable, offering a plush yet comfortable ride without compromising sporty handling or causing oscillations when leaned over.
• 🕹️ While the throttle response in Dynamic mode is good, the quick shifter exhibits a slight electronic disconnect, with a noticeable lever push before the shift engages.
• 📱 The TFT dash is a highlight, featuring a high-quality design, intuitive menu system navigated by a scroll wheel, and useful features like lean angle display and GPS mounting.

Chase Score and Value Proposition

• 📊 The F900 XR received a total Chase Score of 69, with scores of 7 for throttle response, agility, brakes, suspension, comfort, and versatility, an 8 for tech, and a 6 for acceleration and ease of use.
• 💰 Priced around $15,600, it's considered competitively priced within its segment, offering strong looks and performance against competitors like the Multistrada V2 and Yamaha Tracer 9 GT Plus.
• 🤔 The reviewer questions the high pricing of sport-touring bikes in general but acknowledges that their dual capability justifies the cost.