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F800GT --> F900XR

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4.8K views 26 replies 9 participants last post by  Daboo  
#1 ·
SteveT said:
900XR! Nice (y)

I've test ridden one (some years ago when they 1st came out) and found it quite an enjoyable machine.
Have been giving some serious consideration to part exchanging both my current machines in against one that doesn't have any excess electronic stuff on it . . . but I know I'll miss the F8GS and the mud it finds :)

SteveT

:cool:
Click to expand...
It took awhile, but Steve finally noticed a change in my pictures with an F900XR in it, instead of the F800GT.

A little backstory. When I first started riding again, I bought a Suzuki Burgman 400 scooter. I had sold the idea to my wife...who wasn't pleased about this at all...as a means to save money. Shortly after that, I picked up a nail and had to replace the rear tire. Her comment was, "I thought this was supposed to save us money." The glare and tone of voice were...well, I never want to experience that again. Fast forward to when I took a test ride on a F800GT and liked it. I asked her, "If I find I like this BMW enough, would you mind if I bought one." Her answer was, "Yes, I mind. But I know you're going to do it anyway." And then last week, she tells me she wants me to buy a new motorcycle. And when I waivered a bit, she was adamant that I get a new bike. Miracles do happen. And so I did.

I'd been "window shopping" for awhile. There are some interesting bikes out there, but some are available only in Europe so far, and most were heavier than I wanted. My criteria has always been:
  • Under 1000 ccs.
  • Under 500 lbs.
  • Fairing to keep the cold and wet off me.
  • Shaft drive preferably or belt drive. With the realization that few shaft or belt drive bikes exist. Almost all are chain driven.
So I was pretty much settled on the Yamaha Tracer GT and the BMW F900XR. But when I looked at a Tracer GT, both the current version and the last version...I thought they were ugly. Personal opinion, and some will disagree with me. That left the F900XR.

I took the F800GT over to the dealership and test rode the XR. I was surprised. The XR seems more stable at starting or coming to a stop. I didn't expect that. The COG is supposedly higher with the gas tank up high, yet I can be almost at a standstill and perfectly balanced. The seat is higher, so I traded for the low seat and it is surprisingly comfortable. The ride up to the Rainbow bridge was about 5 hours, yet I didn't have a sore tush.

The electronics are easy enough to maneuver through. And all that stuff I've said before about not needing cruise control, etc...well, forget I ever said it. :D They did a nice job of making it work. I've not used it yet, but it has cornering LED headlights. Cornering ABS and cornering traction control too.

The throttle modes, Rain, Road, Dynamic and Dynamic Pro...they actually do something. I've used only the Road and Dynamic modes so far. Road seems much like the GT. Nice engine braking. About the same throttle response. But Dynamic...wow! It is addictive. I believe the way Dynamic works, is by sensing how fast you twist the throttle...not how far you twist the throttle. It's a different feel altogether. Twist the throttle only a little bit...but do it quickly...and the bike's response is immediate. It'll bring a smile to your face.

Wind management seems better than on my GT with the Madstad windshield. That surprised me. Coming up alongside a semi or getting some strong side winds doesn't seem to affect the bike.

Negatives...none about the bike itself, only about the purchasing process, the licensing and getting the accessories. I went in on Tuesday to finalize the sale and the salesman told me it would cost me $500 for the low seat. What!?!?! I was pissed and ready to walk out. They changed their minds on that one. Then when I went online to report the sale of the GT, I found they've tacked on a $14 fee now. $8 of it was for new ferries. What does my selling a motorcycle have to do with the ferry system? And lastly, when you feel like you've been nickel and dimed to death on purchasing the bike...you're not done. I had SW-Motech Trax side cases on the GT and had planned to put them on the XR. Nope. SW-Motech doesn't import the mounting hardware to the US market for the XR. So then I'm looking at what other alternatives I can get reasonably that will do the job. Revzilla gave me the wrong mounting hardware link when I asked for their advice. It wouldn't have worked at all for the bags I had chosen. So I'm still working some of those details out.

But I'm happy with the bike. And my wife hasn't complained once about how much it is costing. That's a win in itself.

Image


Image



Chris
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
You'd have to be very careful of what lights you install. The front fender could smash against them if the front wheel bottoms out.

Chris
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
The Tracer models, new and older models, have great reviews. But I just couldn't get over the looks. I really liked the earlier Tracer 900 GT. Side bags. Nice styling...in the pictures. I saw one at Artist Point...and was totally unimpressed. It was like function took over form or styling. And the latest model...I might be great on the spec sheet, but I would never get excited walking out to the garage and glancing at the bike.

The Ducati Multistrada 950 is interesting...but if it still has the Desmodromic valves...it isn't a question of do you need the valve adjustment...but can you afford it. After a couple valve adjustments...you've bought a new bike...except you still have the old one.

I was surprised when I read the reviews on the F900XR. When it first came out, I wanted nothing to do with it. Of course...I loved my F800GT. But when I started seriously looking, I found the reviews were actually pretty positive. The XR doesn't have the engine of the Tracer...but its not bad at all. In fact some reviews said the XR was a better day to day ride than the Tracer.

But the only thing in the end that matters is what you yourself like. That's why there are choices.

Chris
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
We have a tendency to hear what someone else has and think that what we have is not nearly as good. And if you talk to someone who just paid about $18K for their new motorcycle...don't expect them to say they made a bad choice. ;) The F800GT is a great bike. It's different from my F900XR, just as a Yamaha Tracer is different, or a Triumph Tiger is different. It all depends on what you are wanting in a bike.

"Modes" aren't nearly as important for low powered bikes as the marketing folks and salesmen try to make them out to be. If I had 160 hp at the rear wheel...sure. You have to restrict the immediate output to the rear wheel, or the new owner won't get out of the parking lot without wiping out. But on a 90-100 hp bike? You should be able to tame your right hand enough.

To meet the latest Euro specs, the manufacturers had to go to throttle by wire. That opened things up to creating "modes". If they got forced into making these changes...they might as well make some money off it.

And Mrs. Daboo is doing fine. In fact, she hasn't complained at all. :giggle:
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Sundog52 said:
Did you test ride the F750 GS? It meets all your criteria mentioned above 🏍
Click to expand...
I didn't. Probably should've. For my riding, the XR would still be the choice. The GS doesn't have much of a fairing. The XR doesn't look like it does either, but it actually does work. I think if I did more local riding on the forest roads, the GS would be the smart pick. Since most of my riding is touring in the summer, the XR fits the needs better.

Chris
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Europe has their own emissions standards. In this case, Euro 5 took effect in 2011. Euro 6 took effect in 2015. If you want more info, just look up "Euro 6 emission". Basically, the regulatory agency tightened the standard so the vehicle manufacturers had to get more precise in how they controlled the throttle. To do that, they went to "throttle by wire".

F800Rider said:
(Until I found this forum, I didn't relaize how ignorant and mechanically dumb I really am 🧠😅...)
Click to expand...
It's just a matter of reading. ;)
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
@rapiersurfer - The Fuelly numbers don't tell the whole story. I track the numbers through the winter months when I'm not traveling, simply to keep all the fillups recorded. They are meaningless.

Traffic in the last couple years has gotten worse, rapidly. This place is perfect for my wife's Prius. It's stop-n-go everywhere with more stop than go. The Prius's engine shuts off...the XR's engine is still idling. I've taken long day trips and the average fuel mileage displayed in the low 50s...till I get back in town and in a couple day's commuting, the mileage is down to 43-45. The traffic is that bad. I think local commuting out of the traffic lights and construction delays will get you in the high 40s, like 48. Backroad riding is in the low 50s. Long riding will get you to the high 50s and maybe low 60s. I'm guessing at the last estimate. I've not taken a trip on it yet. It seems like it is about 2 mpg less than my GT was in the same conditions.

If you've just paid $10-16K for a motorcycle...fuel economy probably won't stay at the top of your priority list. I grew up in the days when we'd drive across the street because the gas was 2 cents cheaper. And gas was 17 cents a gallon! But with the way gas prices fluctuate nowadays??? It goes up above 4.50 a gallon one week...and then down below $4 a gallon the next. I normally buy my gas at Costco, but on trips I'll buy from whoever has a station at 180 miles on my route and is a major supplier so I don't get bad gas.

FWIW, I was riding in some high winds Thursday. We were up at Gale Warning levels earlier and were still up at that level or under it. My route took me into headwinds and then later they were a cross-wind. The XR cut through those winds like they were only a breeze. BMW did their homework in the wind tunnel.

Chris
 
Discussion starter · #22 ·
Don't be jealous. I'd still have my GT and been perfectly happy with it if She Who Must Be Obeyed hadn't told me to buy a new motorcycle.

And I have ridden in some pretty severe winds for hours on end with my GT. It's a great bike and everyone who owns one should feel proud of what they have.

Chris
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
The other consideration I thought of after sending my previous reply was that if you compare my GT's MPG with the XR, there's another real difference. The GT's MPG includes tens of thousands of miles of touring, mixed in with the in town MPG. The XR's MPG includes only 2000 miles of in town miles. The difference will be like night an day.

BTW, the XR uses Regular fuel, not Premium like the GT.

Chris
 
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