Words: Akshay Jadhav | Photography: Saidatta Naik
Adventure motorcycles are not just about the taller stance, high ground clearance or the inches (Hey, I am only talking about wheel sizes!). Not everyone gets the difference between Adventure Tourers and Adventure Sport motorcycles. So much so that the F 850 GS had to bear the brunt as BMW found convincing buyers a challenge. The bike couldn’t decide whether it was an Adventure Tourer or an Adventure Sports machine. So this time, BMW decided to address this by making the all-new F 900 GS!
At first glance, you won’t assume it to be a BMW, as the bike does not look bulky enough to deserve the GS suffix! That’s because BMW has gotten rid of the half-fairing, even the large beak is gone. The multi-panel shroud on the shoulder has been replaced by a single plastic and admittedly, this shredded avatar looks good. The headlight is compact and looks straight off the G 310 GS. Effectively, the F 900 does away with the traditional ‘GS’ big bike feel. The windscreen uses a beveled edge to deflect the wind, instead of blocking it. BMW has also gone in for a plastic fuel tank instead of a metal one, which saves 4.5kg. I particularly like the exposed rear subframe—it is as minimalistic as can be and helps the bike look sporty, along with the integrated tail light bracket. In fact, the bracket also doubles up as a luggage rack and can take the weight of saddle bags. Overall, the slim look helps the 900 feel more approachable and adhere to its identity as a more outgoing and adrenaline-seeking motorcycle.
The bike comes with lots of equipment, in typical BMW fashion. You get a 6.5-inch TFT display with BMW Motorrad Bluetooth Connectivity, ABS PRO, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Road and Rain riding modes, an Akrapovič Titanium exhaust with a carbon fiber tip, engine guard, knuckle protectors and heated grips—all as standard! You also get keyless ignition as standard. Not enough? BMW also offers two optional packages—Dynamic and Enduro Pro. The Dynamic Package is road oriented and brings with it additional riding modes—Dynamic and Enduro Pro, while the Enduro Pro package is for those who like to go off-roading. This packge includes 45mm adjustable Showa forks, an M Endurance chain, 24mm handlebar risers and cosmetic changes though admittedly, the standard package is sufficient!
The F 900 GS is powered by an all-new, 895cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin twin cylinder engine that churns out 106PS at 8,500rpm and 93Nm at 6,750rpm. Performance in Road mode is impressive, but switch to Dynamic and the engine changes character dramatically, letting you experience the aggression and raw performance that European motorcycles are known for. While power delivery is linear, the engine truly comes alive at high revs and also sounds very good, making the F 900 GS a hoot to ride hard. On the flip side, there is some buzz at higher revs which can be felt when riding for longer durations, besides which the engine also heats up quite a bit in traffic. More importantly, despite the taller stance and 21/17- inch wheel setup, the F 900 handles impressively on tarmac, feeling like a sports tourer.
The low centre of gravity and impressive handling, offers lots of confidence, even on tarmac, as the engaging power delivery and able chassis ensure you’re hunting for corners more than straights. This, despite the fact that the F 900 GS is shod with Metzeler Karoo 4 tyres, which are meant for off-roading, though you do have to deal with tyre noise at speeds. The front suspension (with Dynamic package) is not adjustable, and feels a tad too soft. The F 900 GS thus takes getting used to around corners given the nose dive. The stiff rear suspension impresses on straights though by helping you hold a line when you wring the throttle open. Road and Rain modes have the bike feel docile given the intervention from the electronics, but Dynamic mode is where the fun begins! Braking is excellent, courtesy dual discs at the front with Brembo 2-piston floating calipers. Brakes provide enough bite, but given the knobby tyres you need to modulate the brakes.
However, it is off the road where the F 900 GS comes alive. The light rear end and balanced geometry help you take on obstacles with utmost ease, plastering a smile on your face. Enduro Pro mode lets you switch all electronics off, meaning you can play with 105 horses in the dirt! The tyres provide excellent grip and offer confidence to reach triple digit speeds on mud, while the tank design and Enduro footpegs let you to stand up, grip the tank and ride confidently on trails. I found the front suspension too soft for my liking once again, taking too long to settle down after larger bumps. This can be mitigated by the Enduro Pro package with fully adjustable 45mm Showa front forks.
BMW Motorrad’s engineers have really put in their heart and soul into developing the F 900 GS. Not only is it very good looking and approachable, it also hits the ball out of the park with its packaging, abilities, and pricing as well! The bike retails at ₹13.75 lakh ex-showroom, thus feeling like a cat amongst pigeons. So, if you’re looking for a hardcore adventure machine, you probably need to look no further.
