A bike finally worthy of the GS name... The F 900 GS Review
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- čas přidán 23. 06. 2024
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The BMW F 900 GS is a turnout for the ages. The biggest turn around in a bike I've ever seen and something worth paying attention too. Is it my favourite bike? No. But it's objectively really good and that's all that matters.
In this review we compared the F 900 GS to the Tiger 900 RP, probably the most expected comparison in the market and the difference was startling. Not just in performance, but character, finish and experience.
Triumph and BMW once appeared to be chasing each other and now, they're playing different sports. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
It is because of reviews like this that I pay for internet and wait for every new review from you… For me… you are the best. Keep it coming pls
Wow, thanks! That's really kind word man!
Well written, presented and informative bike content as usual man. Thanks 👍
Thanks for watching!
@@BrakeMagazine One of the best reviews I have watched...well done
Thanks!
16:22 the answer to all the questions I had about the GS 900 vs Tiger 900.
The only thing I would worry about is that if it takes someone with your abilities to come to terms with the GS how would someone with more average skills cope. Even just dialing in suspension is beyond many of us. Nice review and fantasitc scenery.
Llel it’s cool how you added a bit of adventure to this review video. Bike seems interesting. Keep up the good work bro 👊🏻
Guys, i have a kriega us20 and I'm a HUGE fan of their stuff! The design is simple yet complex where it needs to be, and I absolutely swear by them. Give my love to the kriega team
I will do. We’re really proud to be working with them!
Informative review and great footage. Thanks for NOT being a bland, insipid journalist who references only the bylines and tech specs. Feeling that little something on a bike is exactly why we ride-subjectivity appreciated!
You’re welcome! I try!
Great review, and its great to see you do it in my area. I recognize the landscape on every frame of the video. It would be great if you could share the track you followed. I'd love to do it, but by how the video is edited, I can't really conect different places you went in a logic order. You went to many more places than just the Gorafe Desert, and the are many more to see here. Keep coming every now and then. Maybe one day we´ll cross paths on the tracks. ✌
We did indeed. We rode Alhuerin El Grande to Baza using some sections of the TET.
From Baza we went cross country to join the TET to the both of Gorafe, did a loop there and the road south on the road toward the TET route again in Gorafe.
Really enjoyed this. You mostly ride motorcycles I do not find very interesting, in ways that have no overlap with my own riding, but I always learn something from your videos. Well done.
Cheers man! That means a lot!
awesome review! Honest and true. When your videos pop up i know it will be a good time! Keep doing it man! You are a friend that we speak about bikes for years!
I appreciate that!
I Bought the the yellow passion model with all the packages and i just love it. I come from a dirt bike background and found the suspension so good with its adjustability and it just works. i love the dynamic mode on the road and fixed the seating position by buying some handlebar rear offset mounts from Ali express. the only downside was the seat height for me due to being short and coming off a gs750 but I fixed that with low seat and a few adjustment. I find if you don't over think it and just enjoy this fantastic machine
I'm already an extremely happy owner of a 21 T900RP, so the subject of the video doesnt interest me all that much (but I am a former GS and GSA owner so...). What I really enjoy is the quality of your presentations. Excellent product sir. Enjoyable, informative, typically fair, but you are not afraid to respectfully and artfully share your opinions. Thank you! We really have it good with so many choices of good machinery.
And as for Gorafe...wow...Europe's Utah =)
Well said on the bike but thanks for the kind words, it’s really nice of you to say!
Brilliant Llel - I rode the F900GS after the R1300GS two weekends ago and really didn't like it at first and the dynamic shift assist was flashing clutch messages at me. Then over the group demo it grew on me a little - hinting at something. Thanks for the confirmation of what I got hints of on my short demo.
Glad to hear it Al!
Such a great review and video, thank you.
Hi Llel. Awesome production. Great journalism and a fantastic, honest review! Not sure the 900 is necessarily for me (although a test ride would not go amiss), but man-oh-man is that scenery out of this world! Super-jealous about that. Keep up the amazing work. Greetings from Johannesburg.
Thanks for the kind words and I love the scenery too! I’ll do my best to keep going!
Spot on the bmw options! I got interested in this bike, started to think it could happen! I went to the website, started to “spec” it, and in just a few minutes I hit £16k+… no way… it isn’t happening at that price…
Cheapskate !
😂
If they didn't do the better version people would complain they don't do a better version. When they do it's to expensive. At least there is a choice.
@@chrishart8548 ok but I prefer the approach of most manufacturers where options are just options (say colour, seat, quickshift, …) not fundamental components that entirely change the nature of the machine (say suspension, …). These should be different models.
@@miro_s but don't KTM do that with the adventure R version. And yamaha with the SP version.
That looks like an incredible place to ride! Epic video Llel👌
It really is! and thanks!
Awesome video and review, well done Llel and brake magazine team! 👍👍
Thanks!
Great content and constantly getting better. Thanks!
Much appreciated!
Great review, your best yet.
Wow, thanks!
Hi!
Very interesting review....I tried the desert X, toureg, 890r, tiger x and the f900gs and as a former f800gs owner and in your own words my inmediate subjective impresion on the f900gs where that (with some design issues such as the width of the tank, footpegs and no lugage pannier) this bike is amazing, super fun to ride, powerful engine, great suspension and very nimble.
For the last 2 months Im a current f900gs owner. 😊
*As always, great videos!
Very nice! Glad to hear you’re enjoying!
I tested many of the same bikes and ended up with the Desert X. What didn’t you like about it?
@@AVRides I found the desert X less nimble than the f900gs, felt kind of a "bigger bike" in general and heavier.
And even with the amount of options of adjustability it had I couldnt find a setting to make it a "smooth engine" for off road whilst the 900gs after touching here and there you can make it a smooth but powerful bike specially for offroading.
I guess it depends in style of riding, how are you phiscaly built and taste...desert x is a great bike anyway.
I agree with what you're saying though. The DX is a bigger bike for sure.
@@agus8080 I see what you’re saying. I think a lot of it has to do with the Desert X’s long wheelbase. It’s also a fairly high center of gravity compared to the KTM’s. The long wheelbase does seem more forgiving off-road though.
A comparison between the Ducati DesertX and the brand new BMW F900GS would be very interesting I suppose.
It probably would be 👌
Besides the location of the air filter and general Italian maintenance crap, the desert x seems like a better package?
More characterful. The GS is objectively probably very comparable.
L, I’m guessing bmw took a good look at the desert x with the design of the f900
Maybe. I think it rides more like they benchmarked the 890 ADV R. It’s much more aggressive feeling than the Ducati.
This is an amazing review! You are the best! I watched it three times! I want to apply the suspension settings you used to my F900GS Enduro. Could you tell me what they are?
Excellent video mate, masterpiece.
Thanks 🙏
Great review! ..Again!
Thanks!
I saw a yellow one in the dealership today. Looks pretty good to me, not too massive (saying this as a 310GS owner). Read somewhere that it needs RON95 fuel. This is another thing to worry about, especially in combination with the smallish range.
Another great review 👏
Thanks 🙏
I expected a comment about the just-okay headlight from the 310. Great review, as always. Thanks for sharing.
It’s just okay 😂
What a review 🎉❤ very well made. Really really good
Glad you liked it!
Some interesting names in your Patreon Crew. Good review.
Thank you kindly!
Ha, ha... not Adam Riemann style... good one! :)
😁
Exactly. I'm not feeling guilty about how I'm not out there doing it
Great video 😊
Thanks! 😊
Love many things about this bike. Love the Showa enduro spec forks, over the wheels, and really love the styling. The range, knockoff rear shock, and the weak looking subframe are all things that that turned me off of it.
I get it, everyone wants a lightweight bike. For those people, theyre in luck. Manufacturers are now making bikes with thin walled tubing, tiny subframes, no frame cradles, and ridiculously small fuel tanks(for an adv bike)
Saving weight comes at a compromise, guys.
I think you make some good points. I'm not sure the subframe looks any weaker than other bikes and Sachs aren't a 'knock off' brand. They're pretty proven, they just don't care a ton about racing.
Great review!
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for the review. What app are you using for the suspension tuning @BrakeMagazine?
It’s the Motool Slacker Assistant
@@BrakeMagazine Thanks! Mind sharing the settings you came to settle on?
beautiful roads, the tiger 900 looked quite well rounded throughout the video
It is a nice bike!
Last weekend, At Cascade Moto in Portland OR., I had the pleasure of riding both bikes back to back,.. on the road of course, but that said I felt like the Tiger was the better bike, for me anyway. The Tiger had a better quick shifter, better seat, better ergos all around.
I definitely is better at those things.
Thank you for another great video and review. Once again I'm intrigued by how similar our impressions of some bikes are given the worlds of difference in experience. During my short ride of the F900 I also found the bars to be too far front and up which forced me into a weird seating position and a not-confidence-inspiring standing position. While I like the overall looks of the front end, the headlight seems like a complete oposide of a well thought out dash with a brilliant ui, barely a copy of an underwhelming Honda headlight. As for the rear end I can't for the life of me figure out why they forgot to design and mount the rest of the tail section 😂 Luckily, Perun Moto came out with a solution for the luggage. Those flimsy signal/stop light are a monthly subscription item I guess... Given that I also like the old F800 and think of it as a direct successor to the Africa Twins of old, I too share the opinion that this is the step in the right direction, to filling the currently empty spot in the market od an well rounded up big dualy that can take it all and still get you everywhere, smiling.
Well, sorry for the long post, can't wait to see what next you have for us, cheers!
Pretty cool to be on the same page!
It's just the headlight strait off the G310gs
@@chrishart8548 A poor choice really.
@@ortoacija I think it looks OK. No idea of it's performance
I think the Tiger has it for me better as the GS might be.
Well done.
Thanks Brad
Nice vid, thanks! Tuareg 660 review. please!!!!!!!
I did it already. Look for the dark thumbnail on our page.
Llel, very interesting review. Any comparison thoughts vis a vis the Norden 901E?
Need to back to back then. The off road ability is probably similar, Borden a little better set up for travelling and the GS a little less so.
I was going to get this bike and specification but glad I didn't, it's two expensive with to many compromises and isn't forgiving for a average rider. Also a bike at that price with a Chinese built and supplied engine is quiet frankley taking the piss.
Well done video and storytelling! So the big question is… Tuareg or 900GS?
Thanks! Mmm, objectively it’s probably close but personally I really enjoyed the Tuareg.
@@BrakeMagazine I love the Tuareg as well, that’s why I bought one haha. Really appreciate all your tip videos as well.
Great review, if you ever get the chance, do a AJP PR7 review😃
I just did. Review coming soon
@@BrakeMagazine cool, im curious what you think of it 😄
Dear Lal, what do i need to know as a prospective buyer of the f800 gs? I love the way they look, for context i ride a 500 exc and i want to add an ADV and the BM seems to be the one calling to me - just don't want to make the wrong move when i can save 2k more and get an 2017 Africa Twin - loved this vid btw
The Africa twin is, in my opinion quite a different machine. If I were to buy an 800 GS I would upgrade the suspension.
Beware that the clutches need looking after and that’s it.
@@BrakeMagazine oh yeah totally different bikes, 2 good lookers is why I mention them, that and the AT us my childhood dream . It would be one or the other, cheers for info on clutch
Do you mean the old F800GS these are much cheaper than an Africa twin. 16 year old tech. Or do you mean the new one that's not even an off road bike at all. More like a 650 v strom
I'll be buying another tiger then!
I really like both bikes, but I went with the Tiger 900 RP and love it.
Does sound more comfortable and forgiving. That's probably what most of us want really
A both bikes are a great choice
Can you share the route you took? It looks incredible! Calimoto would be amazing if you have it.
I don't have Calimoto, but if you drop me an email I can help.
@@BrakeMagazineamazing. What’s your mail address?
@@BrakeMagazinewhat’s your address and I’ll drop you a line. Cheers
Use the contact form on Brake-magazine.com
I'm tired of tearing down the bike doing valve inspections. So this is a no go. My next bike will be an r1250 GSA.
Fair enough
So were you off road in the dynamic setting? I hope not.
Dynamic is a road setting.
Enduro Pro with adjusted settings.
No. I was off road in Enduro Pro. In each mode you can adjust the throttle response separately. You can see me showing this in the video ☺️
The Enduro Pro mode came with the throttle setting in The dynamic option and I preferred the throttle in the softest option.
maaaaav! He's famous! :)
😂😂
It's the best middle weight adventure bike they've ever offered but it's still not top of the class. Definitely a step in the right direction.
Exactly.
Great work as usual!
Also: first!
There are luggage tie downs on the rear subframe, it’s the round silver bolts and you attach the mx straps or kriega rack loops
Ours didn’t have any from memory
Did you find it awkward in the tight single track stuff? It's steering geometry is very very lazy.
A little yes. it's not dramatically bad, but the tiger did handle that stuff a little better.
Interesting that the bike came out surprisingly "racey", at least with these pro packagaes.
I immagine lots of people will spec it up fully and the be surprised that it's stiff and harsh compared to their 1250 😆
I think like a lot of bikes, it mostly just needs setting up right but dealers aren’t always the best at that.
"Why did they do that?!" Every German/Austrian bike owner. Some design decisions make you go "a mechanic/rider designed this..." and other decisions make you curse the designer to eternal damnation. No middle ground.
😂
please do a video on the new himalyan 450
I’m trying but Royal Enfield don’t make it easy 😂
@@BrakeMagazineI'd personally be pretty interested in the Beta Alp 4.0 or Alp X. Especially in regards to adventure riding. They are quite the option for shorter people. I just wonder, how good of an option?
I’ll take a look. Sometime getting Beta to test is really difficult.
@brakemagazine The new CFmoto 450 looks way better, I think Royal Enfield maybe in trouble with this one 😮
What app is this? 9:45
Motool Slacker V4 and the Motool Setup Assistant App
How much would the bike as tested here cost please?
Around £16k
It starts around £11k
I think it starts at £11,995 for the most basic model. As tested in this colour - £15,300.
@BrakeMagazine I think £12k is very good for such a bike. I would want the suspension up grade but probably have to lose any other options. I have a f800gs with the dynamic pack and comfort pack. I would have to work out what things I'm willing to miss over that bike.
@brakemagazine I had a quick test ride at the ABR, only on the road. What a fantastic bike, rapid is the word I’d use.
What about the f650 dakar?
Discontinued
1/2 the HP.
A legendary bike.
3 RE bikes in the top 10 😮😮
Missing 'That little bit of magic'?.... its called a KTM690
That’s not the magic I was thinking.
It's 50% more than a Tuareg.
Does it beat the Aprilia in any other aspect than sheer horsepower?
Mmm, road presence, looks. Power on the road. Otherwise probably not.
Looks better than the Tuareg, but it’s so much more expensive!
Paying for good looks and a good dealer network !
Fun fact: GS stands for get some…parts. Expensive parts.
😂
Perhaps the term you were looking for was "je ne sais quoi".
I had that in the script but didn't like how I butchered a French term 😂
@@BrakeMagazine Being American - I don't worry about it. LOL However; spelling it - HUGE problem! (and I don't have to speak it in public so.......)
😂
Sounds like a way better looking and way more expensive 890R. But with less range. something tells me bmw would sell tons of these if they had a 20L tank. glad to see BMW are starting to make more exciting bikes now!
Totally agree. The range is not the best.
Wait for the F900 GSA :)
F900 GSA is already out... But its a whole other bike...
I agree. I'm keen to ride the 'stock' forks and see how they affect the whole thing.
I slightly disagree. The 890R has more suspension travel and a significantly larger tank while still being lighter.
I agree tho that the BMW is much better looking haha
If this is not your favourite bike which one it is?
My personal favourites? Probably the Tuareg, and DX. I like the 890 and T7 a lot too. They all have their quirks, but they all also have a lot of character.
@@BrakeMagazine What about the V-Strom 800? That really grew on me after your review.
It's a great bike. I personally enjoy bikes that are more leaning toward off-road performance and the V-strom is a little more road focussed. I loved the engine though.
@@BrakeMagazine not the 1300 GS? I guess it is in a different category?
@@BrakeMagazine ahh, I didn’t quite pick up on that. It seemed so capable. Thanks!
BMW comes with a plethora of options, all of them expensive. Glad it shed some weight 🙂
I’m glad too. I actually think the base model is well priced.
I'm not sure that the somewhat enduro focused 900GS is that good for the "Strasse" part of the name though, that bike can't really do long stretches of highway or work as a good commuter bike.
I think saying it can't probably isn't accurate. We did a couple of 250km highway stretches. It could do with a bit bigger screen, and a softer seat but it's still very capable of doing that. There are bikes that are better, but I'd still take it over a KTM 690 on the highway.
I don't think the range is so important for someone riding offroad. HP2 has 13l tank and does 270km with it without any problems. Road riding on highways is different, but this bike is not made for this purpose. A boxer GSA is BMWs weapon for long distance riding in comfort.
It definitely is if you ride in Australia. I've had trips off road that have been 600km between fuel stops.
@@jayd3931 then get another bike. It is good enogh for us Europeans.
@@motolover5697 true, the off road riding in Europe is shit. You could do it on a Vespa.
I dunno man, I think it’s could be a bit irritating for a lot of people.
You clearly haven’t done much riding in Europe 😂
How much engine heat?
Nothing like the KTM 😂 I didn’t notice it even in 30c temps.
For me, the 800GS was so boring on the road. What is the 900GS like? Does it lack character like its predecessor?
I agree, the 800 GS was a flat road bike. Depends what you mean by character. It's a far better road bike than the 800 on twisty roads.
@@BrakeMagazine By character, I mean when I got onto it after my street triple, I cut my test ride on the 800 short because it lacked any x-factor. I then got onto a the R1200GS , this is in 2013 when they released they first LC and it was night and day better
Yeah, it’s incomparable
It's a dressed up chinese Loncin with a BMW badge, same bike also sold by Loncin under a different design... Next.
That's inaccurate. if you look at the Loncin closely it's different. Looks similar, is not the same.
Its only the engine. It does exactly what bmw wanted it to do. Gives the power and has proved to be reliable. Its bmw's design. And obviously the materials of of high quality.
really disapointed to hear the engine is made in china ,ok you could argue chinese quality is fairly good but its not priced as a chinese engined machine and whats its long term wear going to be like? theres an f650 gs on ebay with 110k on it ,would this manage that?
Off to the T7 shop then!
@@BrakeMagazine not for me pal
get the Transalp
The engine has been in the f750gs the f850 gs the f900r and f900xr and people aren't really having any big issues.
Its stripped of any good components and filled with aoftware. Anywhere bmw coukd cut costs on this thing they did. New bmw bikes are pretty nuch garbage.
How do you figure it's 'stripped of good components?
Have you even taken it for a test ride, or did you read that somewhere and trusted it before your own experience?
I thought you meant me for a second 😂
@@BrakeMagazine 😂
Too similar to VOGE 900 for twice the price, not my cup of tea
Congratulations to China for the The F 900 GS 😡
Why? Can someone explain the China hate to me?
Chinese engine and BMW tag price? no thanks. I'd rather get almost same bike, same engine but better specs - Voge 900DS
Except it doesn’t have the same specs. What is wrong with an engine being made in China? Triumph’s are made in Thailand
@@BrakeMagazine absolutely nothing wrong but but this engine is designed and build by Loncin not BMW so I wouldn't pay BMW price. Also I'd expect better longevity of original BMW engine (like old F800GS) then one from China, until they prove themselves. So far stats were not so great for F850GS
Save 20 mins... The bike is garbage, get a Tuareg instead.
Llel, how would you compare it to the Norden 901 Exp?
You were looking for some “feeling” from the bike? What do you expect? You rode the bike on gravel road at a snails pace. Instead of wasting time setting up shots for instagram, perhaps you should have set the map to enduro pro, found a better place to ride, and let her rip. She would have gave you the “feeling” your bum was looking for. Otherwise, fantastic cinematography.
Maybe you should check yourself before your comment habibi. Wouldn’t want you writing things that make you look silly now.
@@BrakeMagazine Ok, will do.