Test: BMW F 900 R (2020) // Seemed Impossible

It is the successor to the F 800 R, but has nothing to do with it. Somehow they managed to put together a package that is very light and lively on the go.. It works very well in almost all conditions. It's just big in the city, so I easily avoided the crowds, being extremely tireless behind the wheel. The geometry of the frame is sporty. The ancestor of vertical forks is short, and all of them, together with the length of the swingarm, form a fun motorcycle that rolls easily between cars on city roads and holds the line in slow and fast corners with amazing accuracy and reliability.

This is the holy grail of a two-wheeled world. The desire to capture in one motorcycle all the features that make the driver smile behind the wheel under the helmet.... That being said, I must say that the seat is low, which makes it very interesting for anyone who likes to step on the ground when they have to wait in front of traffic lights. When I later looked through the BMW catalog, I realized that finding the perfect driving position really shouldn't be a problem.

In the standard version, the seat is from Height 815 mm and not adjustable... However, for an additional fee, you can choose from five additional heights. From 770mm lowered suspension to 865mm for the optional raised seat. For my height of 180 cm, the standard seat is ideal. This is more of a problem for the back seat, as the seat is quite small, and a trip for two to go somewhere further than a short trip really isn't superfluous.

On the test F 900 R, the back of the seat was cleverly covered with a plastic cover, giving it a slightly poached sporty look (like a fastback). You can remove or secure it with a simple elastic fastening system. Great idea!

When I talk about great solutions, I should definitely point to the front end. The light is a bit cosmic, let's say it adds character to the bike, but it is also very effective at night as it shines even more around the corner when cornering (the adjustable headlights refer to the secondary axle). The chapter itself is also a great color screen with all the information you need while driving.... The TFT display connects to the phone, where you can access almost all driving data through the app, and you can also customize the navigation.

As standard, the bike is equipped with basic electronics that keep the engine running in road and rain mode, as well as a rear wheel anti-slip system during acceleration. At an additional cost for ESA dynamically adjustable suspension and optional programs such as ABS Pro, DTC, MSR and DBC, you get a complete safety package that is 100% reliable while driving. I was a little less impressed with the switch assistant, which is also available at an additional cost.

At lower revs, it doesn’t work the way I would like it to, and I preferred to use the clutch lever to shift the gears in the sturdy gearbox every time the gear lever is moved up or down. This problem was completely eliminated when I gasped the 105 horsepower two-cylinder engine and drove it more aggressively, at least above 4000 rpm when I upshifted. It would be great to drive this BMW all the time cornering at wide open throttle, but the reality is that that we drive most of the time in the low and mid engine speed range.

Otherwise, the degree of comfort in these types of motorcycles is above average, although there is definitely not much protection from the wind, which is actually known only above 100 km / h.That this is not a harmless car is evidenced by the fact that it accelerates to over 200 km / h. The F 900 R has always filled me with a sense of control and reliability, whether I drove it around town or around corners.

If I add to that the workmanship, the nice and aggressive looks, the agility and, of course, the price that is not overpriced, I can say that BMW very seriously entered the mid-range car market without armor with this bike. ...

• Basic data

  Sales: BMW Motorrad Slovenia

  Base model price: 8.900 €

• Technical information

  engine: 895-cylinder, 3 cc, in-line, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, XNUMX valves per cylinder, electronic fuel injection

  Power: 77 kW (105 km) at 8.500 rpm

  Torque: 92 Nm at 6.500 rpm

  Growth: 815 mm (optional lowered seat 790 mm, lowered suspension 770 mm)

  Fuel tank: 13 l (test flow: 4,7 l / 100 km)

  Weight: 211 kg (ready to ride)

We praise and reproach

excellent color screen

different sporty look

reliable in driving

brakes

Equipment

small passenger seat

lack of wind protection

shift assistant works well just above 4000 rpm

final grade

A funny car with an interesting and unique appearance and a very attractive price. As it should be, BMW has taken care of excellent driving performance and a variety of safety features.