Thanks for the mention bike’s on 19700 miles now, as for your comment on it being a great commuter then I’m testament to that because that’s what I use mine for travelling from prescot on Merseyside to my place of work in Wrexham a round trip of 84 miles all year round. I don’t have a problem with the seat being uncomfortable it seems fine but getting neutral is still a bit iffy sometimes but not half as bad as it used to be so I reckon the mileage has helped it in that regard. It’s a good bike with plenty of power and the connectivity between it and my schuberth is spot on and I love how the BMW connect app log’s your rides and is a good little sat nav as well 👍
Hi Mike! Thanks for the re appearance! I've pinned your comment so more people will see it. Glad you're still enjoying it. Love how you're munching the miles! 💪
I also ride the F900XR, I bought a young second hand at the dealer as upgrade from F800st with now a little over 10000kms (19000kms plus total) on it. I use it mostly to commute to work and a few funrides in ardennes (belgium). I'm loving the bike just I replaced the seat with a wunderlich low seat for my little legs which is now good for me and replaced the windshield with a bigger one from MRA. The use of the quickshifter is growing on me so for most of the time works excellent for me. I'm loving the cruisecontrol for the highwaytrips. For the negatives for me are fueltank is too small for my liking (20L would be fine for me) and would like have a shaft like the moto guzzi v85tt. Otherwise fantastic bike to ride with.
Just brought myself a 2021 TE with 1800 miles on it. Absolutely loving it. Very very underrated bike. No, it’s not the fastest, got the greatest range etc, but it just does everything rather well. Great bike with useable power and very flickable.
Thank you Kate. You are a real one. The combination of your cool, unique personality and passion for motorcycles of all brand makes you one of the best motorcycle content creators I’ve seen on UA-cam. I absolutely love my F900xr TE and regularly get 60 plus US mpg. It’s a dope bike to look at and ride even two up with side and top cases🤗
Ive owned both a 2022 Tracer 9 Gt and a BMW F900XR. The BMW has a great TFT screen. It was very comfortable to ride and planted. The engine was ok. It just seemed like a tractor motor. Finding neutral was difficult. The BMW has a nice windscreen. My personal favorite is the 20:38 Tracer 9GT. The 3 cylinder Yamaha engine is flawless. Plus Yamaha valve adjustment is at 20,000 miles. The F900xr had waterpump issues. I had to wait 3 months in the states for parts from BMW.
Another entertaining and Informative video Kate. I’ve had my F900xr TE for nearly a year. Unfortunately, it’s been back to the dealer twice. The first visit was for an engine replacement after 85 miles. The second visit was a starting fault. Not what I was expecting from BMW.
Ah that might explain the mad woman that pulled up next to me at the lights near Salford Uni and shouted "snapsies" at me. Had a sneaky feeling it may have been you. Not that I'm biased but I love the F900XR and glad you sold me one. Keep up the good work!
Excellent review there Kate!, your empathy with the broad range of your viewers and potential purchasers is first class! Enjoyed your concise dulcet tones!
Well I did it. I sold the triumph 660 and brought this bmw. I got it with all the packs. It is brilliant. I love it. I'm still running it in but I would say this bike is a long ride cruising tourer for the older mature rider like me. The seat is hard tho. The quick shift is a little loud and clunks through the gears. Well worth the $23.000 aus price.
Hi there. The triumph was a great bike but after doing a very long trip with mates I found it to small and was sore and tired. Also not enough power to keep up with my mates. The BMW is extremely powerful and I can sit upright and out of the wind.
I do like the bmw I passed my test last week and finally got my zx6r all road legal was even on about selling my car and get a decent commuter bike and save my old girl for the sunny days cant believe took me so long to do it lockdowns never helped but went for a play yesterday and was shocked on the mpg my bike does and it's a 96 not that I bought it for that as it's a supersport lol keep up the good videos
Didn't like the styling when it came out, but when I got my bike serviced on Monday, the BMW dealer had a black one and a blue one which looked incredible. The launch colours did it no favours
I really love this video. I like these types of moto videos; riding around, talking to us, showing us the physical bike and it's parts. Just chatting away without a care in the world - lost, riding aimlessly. I'm not being cheeky as I really enjoyed it. Plus, in this care, the added benefit is that it's you - Username Kate!!!!!!!! Cheers! :)
I had a 2009 F 650 GS with 799 cc and never knew why they called it F 650,the engines on F series are bullet proof. That being said I loved the bike great in Urban and on the Highway, really did well at 120KPH. I didn’t do any more than gravel roads with 50/50 tires. You should’ve taken it out on the M65 around Blackburn and put it through its paces. Great review on features of the bike Kate!!
Excellent review Kate. Spot on with every item. I am a 74 yr old ex commercial deep diver so not risk averse but life is all about risk evaluation. They say there are old divers and there are bold divers but very few old, bold divers and this can be applied to bikers. I have a 900 XR TE with 80 miles on the clock and bits from all the other packages like gear shift assist, keyless, panniers, centre stand and in Red. Great bike and you have covered everything. I have 30 inch inside leg so appreciate your comments on seat height. Have added Motech back brake raiser to give better pressure plus a home modified side stand raiser of 20mm as lean on high camber a bit much getting 219kg upright. Added TPS as retrofit £500 plus GS spots. Have been out of the game for 6 months with septicaemia but looking forward to some late summer riding now 👍
Good review , thanks for all the details . I am an older rider ( 72 yrs) and have just bought the 2023 Triple Black 900 XR . Currently riding the 1250 RS and have put 12,000 km's on it . Selling it in the spring , live in central Canada , no riding till May . The main reason for the switch is the riding position , the RS is very much a sport bike position and on 3 - 6 day trips that position wears me out after 5-6 hours ( even with bar risers and Grip puppies ). The riding position of the 900 XR is much more like the 750 GS I owned before the RS !! My question to you and your viewers is : Can anyone comment on the riding position for day long touring rides . I already organized a Corbin like custom seat and MRA Vario Wind screen , hoping those mod's are all I need . By the way my BMW hard Case luggage from my RS fits the New 900 XR with the change of a $35.00 C$ bracket on the inside . Comments on the riding position on long rides welcome !
Great review Kate. I have a gs1200 which I love but in my mid 60s it’s now a tad heavy when fully loaded. Wonderful when moving but difficult when stationary. I reckon the 900 would be a great move. I don’t commute but we love touring for 2 weeks at a time. I also have a v strom 650 but now find that too light for long trips. So seems like the 900 is right for me…
Had mine (F900xr te)since launch covered 8000 miles and done NC500 twice . Love it but have just ordered a 1250 gs te as I’m doing a lot more touring . The F900xr has been fantastic and I can’t fault it. Did try the previous tracer and loved the engine but preferred the build quality and brakes on the BMW. None adjustable front has never been an issue either,the front is brilliant.
Thanks for this honest review. I have a F900XR "Triple Black" on order (but with no fancy options or packages), I really hope I'll not be disappointed since - even if I'm nearly sixty - it's my very first bike... 😉
@@applecorp 👍I went to see many dealers (Honda, Yam, RE, CF Moto, etc.) before deciding but it quickly became apparent to me that BMW was another world, on another level. Unfortunately, even though I'm 59 years old, I just got my driving license a few weeks ago so I have to make do with an F900XR of only 48 HP for 2 years before it gets all its power back.😒
@@garybarnes3975 Hi Gary used CM Seats in Leicestershire. They have web site etc. Sent off my original and back the next week, really nice job and cost £260.
Thanks for your review Kate, very informative as usual I have the XR TE version with just about every extra thrown at it and done 14,000 miles on it alternating with an RT when I want a bit more weather protection and no chain to lubricate/clean after a ride through the puddles! For anyone who is around Kate's height but has an inseam of 26-28 inches, the factory lowered version works well but bear in mind that you can't have a centre stand or the electronic suspension. In that case use something like the excellent ABBA stand to get the bike off the ground for chain cleaning/inspecting oil levels etc. I've not missed the ESA and would not want to pay for a replacement out of warranty if it failed...
Test rode one of these a few weeks ago and was really impressed about how effortless it all was compared to the sporty Japanese bikes I usually ride. Amazing high speed handling and so easy to get round tight corners at low speed. Good video and a pleasant surprise to see roads a few minutes away from where I live, we're nearly neighbours! Might see you out and about, cheers.
Yes a great bike to grow with. It’s a good bike for when you come across any surprises, such as adverse camber at junctions. It carries the equivalent of it’s own weight 219 kg so good for pillion and luggage. Paintwork scratches easy, so put a tank decal on it to avoid zip scratch. See also videos by Nothing To Prove.
My local dealer loaned me one for a long group ride while I awaited an insurance claim and new bike. I really enjoyed the engine character & sound & handling. My only complaint was the seat which was getting to me at the 200k mark. Also, for such a versatile design, the lack of any decent pillion accommodation is surprising.
I'm enjoying mine on every ride, after having a gel insert put into the seat it's much more comfortable and I can easily get over 150 miles to a tank depending on the ride, over 200 is very possible on a chilled out ride but not when taring up the back roads. It seems to be a pretty even match to a friends V-Strom 1000 so not slow. Just not a top speed machine.
Love the comments on this blog True statement a bout the bike being a twin engine (engine braking) No not the fastest of the bunch ( hp and speed ) Reminds me of my f800 gt so much One day may. Trade her in 🏍👍🤔
Thanks Kate. I enjoyed your review in particular how you describe the bike. I have the F900XR TE (with all the extras and more including a very beefy sounding Akrapovic exhaust) in red since March and have done nearly 6k on it. I passed my test 2 years ago, and so this is my second bike, my first big bike was a Suzuki Bandit 650 (still have her) so this was a treat for me. I love this bike and I completely get your description of what the bike is about. I’m a fairly sensible rider but not afraid of speed and this bike is awesome around the corners, I feel much more confident on this than my Bandit. I have changed the seat to the Wunderlich as the factory one was too uncomfortable, yes the neutral and 1st is sticky but everything else about the bike makes up for that. I’ve toured on the bike this year to Wales, Northern Ireland, and some Scottish islands and it’s great for touring, so looking forward to doing the Adriatic coast next year and really testing out the bike.
Hi Victoria! Thank you so much for the input! So nice to see what owners think of the bike as you guys ride it far more frequently than me! Glad you are loving it 😊 ride safe!
Considering this as my next bike as finding 1200gs too heavy. I test rode XR and really liked it. Couple of minor gripes, seat firm & it leans over a long way on/off the stand. Sat Nav position daft too compared to Gs although you can get brackets to go behind the screen....BMW pull your finger out 😜. Great review as usual 👍.
I can imagine that for smaller people, who have no intention in going ofroad, this is a much better package then a GS, certainly for commuting. I know I would never trade my S1000XR for a GS. (i don't qualify as small, being 6'3 and 18 stone)
Great, and accurate comment Peter. I often wonder (when I see guys out on their big GS) if it really is the bike to suit their needs, or just the bike to suit their dreams....
I rode one for an afternoon after dropping my R1250R in for service and software update, and found it really underpowered, so agree with your “tame” description. Granted, my shift-cam R has a great deal more torque and hp so perhaps the comparison isn’t fair, but still…not a particularly satisfying ride. Enjoyed the review, though.👍🏻
Nice quiet outing Kate. Hope you didn't have to work this weekend too. BMW did screw the pooch because the F900XR TE need at least ten more letters and numbers in it's name. Too simple to just call it a 9T with the base model a 9t ... big 'n little.
F9xr maybe. Bmw seemed to have added the extra zeros now days. R100 r80 k75 k100 etc was the old way remember the r rs xr gs rt St gt is the type of bike the g f r s is the type of engine. Even now the numbers are not always the actual cc seems to define the horsepower.
Hi Kate I believe there is also 3.5 reserve fuel in the tank making it 19 litre. I’m waiting for mine to arrive in November so can’t wait till April ish to ride it. Keep up the reviews I do enjoy them.
Are you sure? I thought if you used the fuel in a 15.5 litre tank down to the reserve level and then topped it up you would still only have 15.5 litres? If you drink three quarters of your pint of beer and then pour a new pint of beer into it you’ve still only got a pint and wet feet! Perhaps someone knows?
@@grahamwoliter9649 I didn’t say that. If you run a 15.5 litre tank down to a reserve of 3.5 then you can only fit 12 litres back in so how are you going to fit 19 litres into a 15.5 litre tank?
I really like your honesty! If one wanted a lighter bike, more road oriented than a R1250GS, but with the performance and maybe more nimble handling, what would you recommend?
Enjoyable review again. I must say I do like the look of this bike, often the middleweights are better looking than the big ones.. Stop sniggering at the back.
Great bike, I would prefer the 1000 though. I remeber you did a review on an Electric Scooter, can't find the video or remember the brand name. Was it NIU? I'm wondering if you could do a review on the C-Evolution or the new electric scooter when is out.
Hi Luis! I have ridden both the SuperSoco scooter and the Sunra. The Sunra was the white scooter. I am getting a Sunra Miku Super soon so will be vlogging about that :) I'd love to review the CEVO but production has stopped and I will definitely ride the CE04 when it lands in Feb 2022 :)
There should be more heated seat options across the entire range to help extend the riding season of the more temperate latitudes. Eg, Burnley...:) That short shift overtake; I looked at your revs and for the gear you were in and the way you made pace I would say that’s about a similar performance to '99 vfr. The engine sounds a bit agricultural though. Nice bike but still like the syncopation of my V4
Got put off f series bikes when I had one a while back, gearbox was too clunky and the engine ran too lean... occasionally cutting out. Too much choice these days, lots of decent stuff.
Nice one Kate, im interested to see what you think of its compared to the s1000xr? i know power wise they are miles apart, but both in the same adventure/touring category, i have ridden both and loved both, but thought the 900 would be better value for money, spec`ing a TE up for touring, Im looking at buying an ex demo model, to replace my 02 VFR. Are you likely to get your leg over the new Suzi GSX S1000GT?
Kate I have only just passed my test and I am not a spring chicken I am 38. I am looking to get a big bike but wanted to go test ride some. I have been told by a couple of people that for the first 2 years of having a license no garage will let you test ride. Do you find this to be true? Ps loved the review
You can demo with us at a £250 excess if you've had a full bike licence for at least 1 year. You can demo with us at a £500 excess if you haven't held a full bike licence for at least 1 year BUT you're over 30 years old 👍
hello good afternoon Kate is too expensive for a two cylinder the four cylinder is not bad because it is almost similar to my K although with less displacement 1000cc but it has the power of mine 167 CV Ok 👌😀 greetings from Valencia 🙏 Spain
Took one out two up from our local dealer. Unfortunately we found the seat too hard and short to be comfortable (we both have back issues) shame because other than that couldn't really fault the bike for what it is
Aye, I've heard a few people say this, I'd be interested to hear if anyone commenting on this vlog has put a comfort seat on it 🤔 I wonder if it makes a big difference!
Buy an adventure bike with greater suspension travel, a GS model, Triumph Tiger 900, or similar. I have arthritis in my back and that’s what did the trick for me.
Looking at this bike but can’t believe how many bad reviews I’ve come across. The Yamaha Tracer GT isn’t perfect, but so far all the reviews are pretty positive. Bit disappointed as I’ve had BMW bikes the last 20 years, but the reviews are killing it. The seat seems to be the number one issue, and if that’s bad, forget touring on the bike. Seems that BMW are cutting corners. Also the engine is low on power and sounds dreadful. Feel this is a commuter bike rather than a sports tourer?
@@applecorp I did take one out last week for two hours in South Devon. It’s a good bike in lots of ways but it really didn’t give me what I was looking for which is a shame as I think it looks really nice. I couldn’t really tell where the bike was sat as in was it trying to be sporty or touring, in the end I couldn’t work it out. That’s only me, and as I say it’s actually a great bike. The seat is beyond ridiculously hard and uncomfortable there’s no getting away with it, but as you say change that and it’s fine. As for the engine, it’s a parallel twin so I guess that’s something to get used to. Over all I think it’s a pretty decent bike but not for me. I come from a GSA and I think that’s where I’m heading for again.
Hi Kate, i’d love to hear from your opinion on the vibrations between this XR and the Vstrom 800RE. I rode the 800 and it vibrated too much too my liking. Can you tell how they compare? Looking for a bike to replace my “09 R1200GS with maybe a XR or Multistrada 950/V2S. Greetings from The Netherlands Maarten
Yea blackistan is a bad area for good roads , Burnley is much better or for you blackburn hospital but go over m65 head for ratenstall over the tops . The whole of Lancashire on that side has few good bike roads
I've been watching your channel for awhile and I have seen it grow. I'm going to start my own motorbike channel soon, do you have any tips for me please ?
Hey Rachid! My biggest tip is.. An inch of movement will get your further than a mile of intention. It wont be perfect right away, but that's fine. Upload something even if you doubt yourself and be as consistent as you can.
@@UsernameKate Thanks my camera and mic is coming tomorrow. Planning to record this weekend and upload during the week, and make that a thing every week. I am just worried because when I look at other channels everyone seems to have access to lots of bikes, they do bike reviews etc. Or they live in the city and do daily observations. I live in the countryside and only own one bike and do not have access to anymore because im not a famous youtuber haha. So content wise I'm struggling for ideas unfortunately. But I am excited to get started this weekend. Just need to think of a channel name haha
Love this bike after my test run...thinking of buying it...the only thing i struggling with is the afwul neutral position, i ended up standing on red lights with the clutch engaged...is it just me or is it a thing?
Hi Kate, I bought my R1200rt s/h it came with a single bench lowered seat, is there a way I can find out if it has a factory lowered chassis or if someone just stuck a low seat on it ? Thanks for your time, keep up the good work, Mark
The fuel belongs below the seats! The tank should be a baggage compartment... this new model is already 10 years behind modern standard! How old fashion is that?
Aw, Kate, please leave work before you take us out. MCN is all sales hype. Do something different cos you do such a good job of Cadwell or the like. I hope not to have been offended by what I hope was constructive criticism. Thank you for some great things.!
Hey dude, thanks for the feedback but we will have to agree to disagree. If i didn't vlog about bmws, I'd probably post about once every 3 months. It is what it is and if it loses a few, that's unfortunate!
Thanks for the mention bike’s on 19700 miles now, as for your comment on it being a great commuter then I’m testament to that because that’s what I use mine for travelling from prescot on Merseyside to my place of work in Wrexham a round trip of 84 miles all year round. I don’t have a problem with the seat being uncomfortable it seems fine but getting neutral is still a bit iffy sometimes but not half as bad as it used to be so I reckon the mileage has helped it in that regard. It’s a good bike with plenty of power and the connectivity between it and my schuberth is spot on and I love how the BMW connect app log’s your rides and is a good little sat nav as well 👍
Hi Mike! Thanks for the re appearance! I've pinned your comment so more people will see it. Glad you're still enjoying it. Love how you're munching the miles! 💪
I also ride the F900XR, I bought a young second hand at the dealer as upgrade from F800st with now a little over 10000kms (19000kms plus total) on it. I use it mostly to commute to work and a few funrides in ardennes (belgium). I'm loving the bike just I replaced the seat with a wunderlich low seat for my little legs which is now good for me and replaced the windshield with a bigger one from MRA. The use of the quickshifter is growing on me so for most of the time works excellent for me. I'm loving the cruisecontrol for the highwaytrips. For the negatives for me are fueltank is too small for my liking (20L would be fine for me) and would like have a shaft like the moto guzzi v85tt. Otherwise fantastic bike to ride with.
Test ride on one next week for me! Vs tiger 900 GT low 😊
Hi Kate, well done you for stopping and asking those 2 blokes if they were okay 👍 that’s a sign of a true biker 👊
Just brought myself a 2021 TE with 1800 miles on it. Absolutely loving it. Very very underrated bike. No, it’s not the fastest, got the greatest range etc, but it just does everything rather well. Great bike with useable power and very flickable.
Glad you love it! 😁
Thank you Kate. You are a real one. The combination of your cool, unique personality and passion for motorcycles of all brand makes you one of the best motorcycle content creators I’ve seen on UA-cam.
I absolutely love my F900xr TE and regularly get 60 plus US mpg. It’s a dope bike to look at and ride even two up with side and top cases🤗
Wow, thank you! That means so much Cosef! Hopefully I can keep putting out videos that you enjoy :)
Ive owned both a 2022 Tracer 9 Gt and a BMW F900XR. The BMW has a great TFT screen. It was very comfortable to ride and planted. The engine was ok. It just seemed like a tractor motor. Finding neutral was difficult. The BMW has a nice windscreen. My personal favorite is the 20:38 Tracer 9GT. The 3 cylinder Yamaha engine is flawless. Plus Yamaha valve adjustment is at 20,000 miles. The F900xr had waterpump issues. I had to wait 3 months in the states for parts from BMW.
Ok, I really like this review style. Great information and some unique perspectives. Bought an F900XR after viewing this. Helped me decide!
Another entertaining and Informative video Kate. I’ve had my F900xr TE for nearly a year. Unfortunately, it’s been back to the dealer twice. The first visit was for an engine replacement after 85 miles. The second visit was a starting fault. Not what I was expecting from BMW.
Ah that might explain the mad woman that pulled up next to me at the lights near Salford Uni and shouted "snapsies" at me. Had a sneaky feeling it may have been you. Not that I'm biased but I love the F900XR and glad you sold me one. Keep up the good work!
Excellent review there Kate!, your empathy with the broad range of your viewers and potential purchasers is first class! Enjoyed your concise dulcet tones!
Hi Kate, I enjoyed your review, you covered everything for would-be purchasers, pros and cons. and I always enjoy the ride and chat.💗
Well I did it. I sold the triumph 660 and brought this bmw. I got it with all the packs. It is brilliant. I love it. I'm still running it in but I would say this bike is a long ride cruising tourer for the older mature rider like me. The seat is hard tho. The quick shift is a little loud and clunks through the gears. Well worth the $23.000 aus price.
Hey, why did you sell T660? I have one now (tiger 660), and also thinking of buying XR.
Hi there. The triumph was a great bike but after doing a very long trip with mates I found it to small and was sore and tired. Also not enough power to keep up with my mates. The BMW is extremely powerful and I can sit upright and out of the wind.
Another absolutely excellent video. Thank you for helping me get one step closer to my next bike. 👍
I do like the bmw I passed my test last week and finally got my zx6r all road legal was even on about selling my car and get a decent commuter bike and save my old girl for the sunny days cant believe took me so long to do it lockdowns never helped but went for a play yesterday and was shocked on the mpg my bike does and it's a 96 not that I bought it for that as it's a supersport lol keep up the good videos
Didn't like the styling when it came out, but when I got my bike serviced on Monday, the BMW dealer had a black one and a blue one which looked incredible. The launch colours did it no favours
Another great bike in the BMW range. Great honest review Kate
I really love this video. I like these types of moto videos; riding around, talking to us, showing us the physical bike and it's parts. Just chatting away without a care in the world - lost, riding aimlessly. I'm not being cheeky as I really enjoyed it. Plus, in this care, the added benefit is that it's you - Username Kate!!!!!!!! Cheers! :)
I had a 2009 F 650 GS with 799 cc and never knew why they called it F 650,the engines on F series are bullet proof. That being said I loved the bike great in Urban and on the Highway, really did well at 120KPH. I didn’t do any more than gravel roads with 50/50 tires. You should’ve taken it out on the M65 around Blackburn and put it through its paces. Great review on features of the bike Kate!!
Excellent review Kate. Spot on with every item. I am a 74 yr old ex commercial deep diver so not risk averse but life is all about risk evaluation. They say there are old divers and there are bold divers but very few old, bold divers and this can be applied to bikers. I have a 900 XR TE with 80 miles on the clock and bits from all the other packages like gear shift assist, keyless, panniers, centre stand and in Red. Great bike and you have covered everything. I have 30 inch inside leg so appreciate your comments on seat height. Have added Motech back brake raiser to give better pressure plus a home modified side stand raiser of 20mm as lean on high camber a bit much getting 219kg upright. Added TPS as retrofit £500 plus GS spots.
Have been out of the game for 6 months with septicaemia but looking forward to some late summer riding now 👍
Good review , thanks for all the details . I am an older rider ( 72 yrs) and have just bought the 2023 Triple Black 900 XR . Currently riding the 1250 RS and have put 12,000 km's on it . Selling it in the spring , live in central Canada , no riding till May . The main reason for the switch is the riding position , the RS is very much a sport bike position and on 3 - 6 day trips that position wears me out after 5-6 hours ( even with bar risers and Grip puppies ). The riding position of the 900 XR is much more like the 750 GS I owned before the RS !! My question to you and your viewers is : Can anyone comment on the riding position for day long touring rides . I already organized a Corbin like custom seat and MRA Vario Wind screen , hoping those mod's are all I need . By the way my BMW hard Case luggage from my RS fits the New 900 XR with the change of a $35.00 C$ bracket on the inside . Comments on the riding position on long rides welcome !
Kate, I tend to agree with your recomendations/findings. Thanks for another good honest review, audio was fine.
Never ridden one, never going to. But I still love this channel....and enjoyed this review...
Great review Kate. I have a gs1200 which I love but in my mid 60s it’s now a tad heavy when fully loaded. Wonderful when moving but difficult when stationary. I reckon the 900 would be a great move. I don’t commute but we love touring for 2 weeks at a time. I also have a v strom 650 but now find that too light for long trips. So seems like the 900 is right for me…
Had mine (F900xr te)since launch covered 8000 miles and done NC500 twice . Love it but have just ordered a 1250 gs te as I’m doing a lot more touring . The F900xr has been fantastic and I can’t fault it. Did try the previous tracer and loved the engine but preferred the build quality and brakes on the BMW. None adjustable front has never been an issue either,the front is brilliant.
Nice to hear you guys encouraging people to test ride, some places become really awkward when you request a test ride
Awesome job! Love your bike reviews. So much information, but practical real world interactions too.
Thanks for this honest review.
I have a F900XR "Triple Black" on order (but with no fancy options or packages), I really hope I'll not be disappointed since - even if I'm nearly sixty - it's my very first bike... 😉
@@applecorp
👍I went to see many dealers (Honda, Yam, RE, CF Moto, etc.) before deciding but it quickly became apparent to me that BMW was another world, on another level. Unfortunately, even though I'm 59 years old, I just got my driving license a few weeks ago so I have to make do with an F900XR of only 48 HP for 2 years before it gets all its power back.😒
Great review, convinced me to trade in VFR800 , after 2hr test ride - TE with every extra on it , can't wait for delivery now 🏍
Hi Kate, great review, and I always get a chuckle from your cheery personality!
Ride safe, Annie from Oz 🇦🇺🏍💨💨✌
Thanks Kate, got the TE myself and love it. Got a custom seat made as my only gripe was seat comfort. Nice reviews and channel.
Hi Nick just wondered where you got your custom seat from.
All the best
Gary
@@garybarnes3975 Hi Gary used CM Seats in Leicestershire. They have web site etc. Sent off my original and back the next week, really nice job and cost £260.
Great review Kate open and honest
Take care out there
Thanks for your review Kate, very informative as usual
I have the XR TE version with just about every extra thrown at it and done 14,000 miles on it alternating with an RT when I want a bit more weather protection and no chain to lubricate/clean after a ride through the puddles!
For anyone who is around Kate's height but has an inseam of 26-28 inches, the factory lowered version works well but bear in mind that you can't have a centre stand or the electronic suspension. In that case use something like the excellent ABBA stand to get the bike off the ground for chain cleaning/inspecting oil levels etc. I've not missed the ESA and would not want to pay for a replacement out of warranty if it failed...
Thanks for the tip on the ABBA bike stand! I have a low suspension F900R and chain maintenance can be a pia.
Test rode one of these a few weeks ago and was really impressed about how effortless it all was compared to the sporty Japanese bikes I usually ride. Amazing high speed handling and so easy to get round tight corners at low speed. Good video and a pleasant surprise to see roads a few minutes away from where I live, we're nearly neighbours! Might see you out and about, cheers.
Yes a great bike to grow with. It’s a good bike for when you come across any surprises, such as adverse camber at junctions. It carries the equivalent of it’s own weight 219 kg so good for pillion and luggage. Paintwork scratches easy, so put a tank decal on it to avoid zip scratch. See also videos by Nothing To Prove.
You can see why you're the top sales person, I thought you'd sold it to those under the bridge, good effort🤣🤣🤣👍
LOL always trying. But usually its everyone's patience haha.
My local dealer loaned me one for a long group ride while I awaited an insurance claim and new bike. I really enjoyed the engine character & sound & handling. My only complaint was the seat which was getting to me at the 200k mark. Also, for such a versatile design, the lack of any decent pillion accommodation is surprising.
Great review Kate
Thanks!
I'm enjoying mine on every ride, after having a gel insert put into the seat it's much more comfortable and I can easily get over 150 miles to a tank depending on the ride, over 200 is very possible on a chilled out ride but not when taring up the back roads.
It seems to be a pretty even match to a friends V-Strom 1000 so not slow. Just not a top speed machine.
Thanks for your comment stonesie! Always nice to hear what owners think 😊
Love the comments on this blog
True statement a bout the bike being a twin engine (engine braking)
No not the fastest of the bunch ( hp and speed )
Reminds me of my f800 gt so much
One day may. Trade her in
🏍👍🤔
Love these bmw motorcycles.
😊
Nice 'review' Kate, a perfect touch of comedy repeating everything twice to the guys under the bridge and a nice judicious use of the term plonker :)
Thanks Kate. I enjoyed your review in particular how you describe the bike.
I have the F900XR TE (with all the extras and more including a very beefy sounding Akrapovic exhaust) in red since March and have done nearly 6k on it. I passed my test 2 years ago, and so this is my second bike, my first big bike was a Suzuki Bandit 650 (still have her) so this was a treat for me. I love this bike and I completely get your description of what the bike is about. I’m a fairly sensible rider but not afraid of speed and this bike is awesome around the corners, I feel much more confident on this than my Bandit.
I have changed the seat to the Wunderlich as the factory one was too uncomfortable, yes the neutral and 1st is sticky but everything else about the bike makes up for that. I’ve toured on the bike this year to Wales, Northern Ireland, and some Scottish islands and it’s great for touring, so looking forward to doing the Adriatic coast next year and really testing out the bike.
Hi Victoria! Thank you so much for the input! So nice to see what owners think of the bike as you guys ride it far more frequently than me! Glad you are loving it 😊 ride safe!
Considering this as my next bike as finding 1200gs too heavy. I test rode XR and really liked it. Couple of minor gripes, seat firm & it leans over a long way on/off the stand. Sat Nav position daft too compared to Gs although you can get brackets to go behind the screen....BMW pull your finger out 😜. Great review as usual 👍.
When pushing a bike right up from the side stand, turn the handle bars all the way to the right… makes it much lighter to do
Comedy gold that under the underpass.
I can imagine that for smaller people, who have no intention in going ofroad, this is a much better package then a GS, certainly for commuting. I know I would never trade my S1000XR for a GS.
(i don't qualify as small, being 6'3 and 18 stone)
Great, and accurate comment Peter. I often wonder (when I see guys out on their big GS) if it really is the bike to suit their needs, or just the bike to suit their dreams....
Hey Peter, why you will prefer it over the GS? Thinking of buying XR.
Great review answered my questions!
Awesome, I'm glad to hear it 😊
Super review Kate 👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏
I rode one for an afternoon after dropping my R1250R in for service and software update, and found it really underpowered, so agree with your “tame” description. Granted, my shift-cam R has a great deal more torque and hp so perhaps the comparison isn’t fair, but still…not a particularly satisfying ride. Enjoyed the review, though.👍🏻
I understand your point dude!
Excellent review
Nice quiet outing Kate. Hope you didn't have to work this weekend too.
BMW did screw the pooch because the F900XR TE need at least ten more letters and numbers in it's name.
Too simple to just call it a 9T with the base model a 9t ... big 'n little.
F9xr maybe. Bmw seemed to have added the extra zeros now days. R100 r80 k75 k100 etc was the old way remember the r rs xr gs rt St gt is the type of bike the g f r s is the type of engine. Even now the numbers are not always the actual cc seems to define the horsepower.
Thanks for showing how you fit on the bike, that is very helpful. Liked and subbed. 😊
Hi Kate I believe there is also 3.5 reserve fuel in the tank making it 19 litre. I’m waiting for mine to arrive in November so can’t wait till April ish to ride it. Keep up the reviews I do enjoy them.
Are you sure? I thought if you used the fuel in a 15.5 litre tank down to the reserve level and then topped it up you would still only have 15.5 litres?
If you drink three quarters of your pint of beer and then pour a new pint of beer into it you’ve still only got a pint and wet feet! Perhaps someone knows?
@@aunoates6617 That’s correct, if you use 15.5 then obviously you can only put 15.5 back in
@@grahamwoliter9649 I didn’t say that. If you run a 15.5 litre tank down to a reserve of 3.5 then you can only fit 12 litres back in so how are you going to fit 19 litres into a 15.5 litre tank?
@@aunoates6617 sorry my mistake
@@grahamwoliter9649 No prob. Good luck with the new bike, I’m very envious but don’t think I could wait until April though! 😎
Great channel Kateb -could we have some love for the F850gs by any chance ?Would love to see a review .
Hi Kate hope you are well good videos, I feel like bmw have more options for shorter riders then other manufacturers
I really like your honesty! If one wanted a lighter bike, more road oriented than a R1250GS, but with the performance and maybe more nimble handling, what would you recommend?
👍👍
Enjoyable review again. I must say I do like the look of this bike, often the middleweights are better looking than the big ones.. Stop sniggering at the back.
After many years of riding I agree with you. Middle weight bikes have a lot going for them...
Good review Kate
Great bike, I would prefer the 1000 though.
I remeber you did a review on an Electric Scooter, can't find the video or remember the brand name. Was it NIU?
I'm wondering if you could do a review on the C-Evolution or the new electric scooter when is out.
Hi Luis! I have ridden both the SuperSoco scooter and the Sunra. The Sunra was the white scooter. I am getting a Sunra Miku Super soon so will be vlogging about that :) I'd love to review the CEVO but production has stopped and I will definitely ride the CE04 when it lands in Feb 2022 :)
Great review Kate!
Similar price to a s1000gt or a z1000sx both better bang for buck bikes arguably if beemer dropped this a grand it'd make more sense.
🙏❤️ Love from Scotland ❤️🙏
I do like the look of this bike; would it not be a Triumph 900 Tiger competitor, please show us more of Blackburn area Kate.
I'd have thought the Tiger 900 would be more comparable with an F850GS as its more of an adventure bike. I will have to explore Blackburn more!
There should be more heated seat options across the entire range to help extend the riding season of the more temperate latitudes.
Eg, Burnley...:)
That short shift overtake; I looked at your revs and for the gear you were in and the way you made pace I would say that’s about a similar performance to '99 vfr. The engine sounds a bit agricultural though.
Nice bike but still like the syncopation of my V4
Could you have a word with God, as the issue for me is the amount of rain in the UK...not how cold it is...
Pump, pump, squirt! nice phrase Kate 😂😂 .
Got put off f series bikes when I had one a while back, gearbox was too clunky and the engine ran too lean... occasionally cutting out. Too much choice these days, lots of decent stuff.
Not a fan off a chain.
I did 17000 km last year and a shaft drive is great for that.
Good looking bike...💪
Shaft drive all the way! 🤣
Nice one Kate, im interested to see what you think of its compared to the s1000xr? i know power wise they are miles apart, but both in the same adventure/touring category, i have ridden both and loved both, but thought the 900 would be better value for money, spec`ing a TE up for touring, Im looking at buying an ex demo model, to replace my 02 VFR.
Are you likely to get your leg over the new Suzi GSX S1000GT?
Great vedo, as always. I'm already considering selling my new triumph 660 for a bmw f900.
Nice vid😎🇨🇦
Thanks Agent J
Kate I have only just passed my test and I am not a spring chicken I am 38. I am looking to get a big bike but wanted to go test ride some. I have been told by a couple of people that for the first 2 years of having a license no garage will let you test ride. Do you find this to be true? Ps loved the review
You can demo with us at a £250 excess if you've had a full bike licence for at least 1 year. You can demo with us at a £500 excess if you haven't held a full bike licence for at least 1 year BUT you're over 30 years old 👍
Nice bike 😎🤙🏼
Hey 🐊, did you syphon the fuel off. Fancy putting a full tank in a demonstrator!
No but I took it home all week 🤣
@@UsernameKate at least you got to use it. Useful information in the video Kate. Ride safe.
nice gerl&you bike
hello good afternoon Kate is too expensive for a two cylinder the four cylinder is not bad because it is almost similar to my K although with less displacement 1000cc but it has the power of mine 167 CV Ok 👌😀 greetings from Valencia 🙏 Spain
Took one out two up from our local dealer. Unfortunately we found the seat too hard and short to be comfortable (we both have back issues) shame because other than that couldn't really fault the bike for what it is
Aye, I've heard a few people say this, I'd be interested to hear if anyone commenting on this vlog has put a comfort seat on it 🤔 I wonder if it makes a big difference!
Buy an adventure bike with greater suspension travel, a GS model, Triumph Tiger 900, or similar. I have arthritis in my back and that’s what did the trick for me.
Looking at this bike but can’t believe how many bad reviews I’ve come across. The Yamaha Tracer GT isn’t perfect, but so far all the reviews are pretty positive. Bit disappointed as I’ve had BMW bikes the last 20 years, but the reviews are killing it. The seat seems to be the number one issue, and if that’s bad, forget touring on the bike. Seems that BMW are cutting corners. Also the engine is low on power and sounds dreadful. Feel this is a commuter bike rather than a sports tourer?
I must admit, after commuting on this bike a lot with work, the seat is pretty bad 😮💨😮💨
@@applecorp I did take one out last week for two hours in South Devon.
It’s a good bike in lots of ways but it really didn’t give me what I was looking for which is a shame as I think it looks really nice.
I couldn’t really tell where the bike was sat as in was it trying to be sporty or touring, in the end I couldn’t work it out. That’s only me, and as I say it’s actually a great bike.
The seat is beyond ridiculously hard and uncomfortable there’s no getting away with it, but as you say change that and it’s fine.
As for the engine, it’s a parallel twin so I guess that’s something to get used to.
Over all I think it’s a pretty decent bike but not for me. I come from a GSA and I think that’s where I’m heading for again.
Hi Kate, i’d love to hear from your opinion on the vibrations between this XR and the Vstrom 800RE. I rode the 800 and it vibrated too much too my liking. Can you tell how they compare?
Looking for a bike to replace my “09 R1200GS with maybe a XR or Multistrada 950/V2S.
Greetings from The Netherlands
Maarten
Yea blackistan is a bad area for good roads , Burnley is much better or for you blackburn hospital but go over m65 head for ratenstall over the tops .
The whole of Lancashire on that side has few good bike roads
when is the F850 coming up Kate- a GS1250 is far too heavy fully loaded up for real adventures for me lol, the F850 is 30 kg lighter..........???
Need to get on one don't I! I just always seem to take the 1250s lol
Is it really 30kg lighter. I thought the f850gs was 229kg and the r1250gs was 242kg . I think the r1200gs was 236kg?
@@chrishart8548 look at the website- I don't sell them!
244kg and 268kg
for the Adventure models 24kg difference
Very spandangely👍
I've been watching your channel for awhile and I have seen it grow. I'm going to start my own motorbike channel soon, do you have any tips for me please ?
Hey Rachid! My biggest tip is.. An inch of movement will get your further than a mile of intention. It wont be perfect right away, but that's fine. Upload something even if you doubt yourself and be as consistent as you can.
@@UsernameKate Thanks my camera and mic is coming tomorrow. Planning to record this weekend and upload during the week, and make that a thing every week. I am just worried because when I look at other channels everyone seems to have access to lots of bikes, they do bike reviews etc. Or they live in the city and do daily observations. I live in the countryside and only own one bike and do not have access to anymore because im not a famous youtuber haha. So content wise I'm struggling for ideas unfortunately. But I am excited to get started this weekend. Just need to think of a channel name haha
suits a sensible rider... best be handing it back now then kate 😂😂
😇😅
Between the 900FXTE and the 1000FX which would you buy?
Does the TE come with the quality piece of tape that covers half the speedo 😂👍🏻
Extra £40
@@UsernameKate thats BMW for you, all the good bits are extra 😌
Why would they put the lever for the windscreen on the right 🤦♂️
Love this bike after my test run...thinking of buying it...the only thing i struggling with is the afwul neutral position, i ended up standing on red lights with the clutch engaged...is it just me or is it a thing?
Think it would be better if your head cam was mounted a little higher cos I see too much bike and less of where your going.
I assume the screen adjuster was designed in Germany for left hand drive 🤪
Is it bad that I thought, he has a point 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ then it clicked LOL
@@UsernameKate 😂😂😂👍
Touring comfortable for a 6 feet person. This or an adv bike? Im not looking for power. Im looking something comfortable for hours on saddle
Hi Kate,
I bought my R1200rt s/h it came with a single bench lowered seat, is there a way I can find out if it has a factory lowered chassis or if someone just stuck a low seat on it ?
Thanks for your time, keep up the good work,
Mark
Email me your reg - kate.ralph@williamsmotorcycles.co.uk I'll have a look when I'm back in 👍
Thank you Kate, will do.
Mark
Is it still the Rotax engine?
Specs are for your area. Each country is different
Yes I believe so! I am UK based.
Does this model have the Chinese Loncin engine like the GS 750 & 850?
Same engine just different bore and stroke
I didn’t know the chuckle brothers rode motorcycles 🤣🤣
The fuel belongs below the seats! The tank should be a baggage compartment... this new model is already 10 years behind modern standard! How old fashion is that?
Aw, Kate, please leave work before you take us out.
MCN is all sales hype.
Do something different cos you do such a good job of Cadwell or the like.
I hope not to have been offended by what I hope was constructive criticism.
Thank you for some great things.!
Hey dude, thanks for the feedback but we will have to agree to disagree. If i didn't vlog about bmws, I'd probably post about once every 3 months. It is what it is and if it loses a few, that's unfortunate!
Mexican Standoff....one of the Classic Kate comments- who is going to shoot first?😀😁
Seemingly me!
stupid question. why double u, and not double v? 😀
No wonder you struggled finding and good roads only good road in Blackburn is the one leading out 😜😜