BMW F900XR (2025) – Technical Review

Pros & Cons

2025 BMW F 900 XR - Price & PCP Deals

Kicking off at £10,890 the 2025 version of the F900XR is £330 more than its predecessor would have set you back a few months ago – although if you can find one of the last 2024, non-Euro5+ models still in dealer stock, you’ll probably get a substantial discount now – but as ever that starting price can rise rapidly when you tick a few options boxes.

The base RRP will only get you one colour, ‘Racing Red’, and if you want the ‘Triple Black’ or tri-tone ‘Sport’ schemes, there’s a premium to pay: £220 for the former, £360 for the latter.

Then there are the optional packages. A ‘Comfort Package’ with keyless go, cruise control, luggage fastenings, GPS preparation and a taller screen comes in at £835 and a ‘Dynamic Package’ with more riding modes, a quickshifter and electronic suspension adjustment adds £830. Or you can pick-and-mix from the options to create your own ideal version.

2025 BMW F 900 XR- Engine & Performance

The 2025 F900XR’s 895cc parallel twin engine is essentially carried over from the previous generation, with the same claimed 105hp (77kW) at 8500rpm as before and an imperceptible torque increase from 92Nm (67.9lbft) to 93Nm (68.6lbft) at 6750rpm, as a result of revised tuning to suit the new Euro5+ emissions rules, which demand catalyst monitoring and misfire detection to ensure bikes continue to hit their emissions targets even when they have a few miles under their belts.

The powertrain changes that riders will notice aren’t mechanical ones so much as software differences, most notably the addition of Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), which is BMW’s term for cornering traction control, monitoring not only front and rear wheel speed but also lean angle. It’s switchable if you prefer to live dangerously.

On the physical side of things, BMW has added a new Akrapovič silencer as an option extra, although it’s claimed to have an effect on the bike’s sound rather than its performance.

2025 BMW F 900 XR - Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

While the F900XR’s powertrain changes are minimal the updates on the chassis side of things are much more substantial – headlined by new adjustable forks in place of the old model’s non-adjustable versions.

They’re still 43mm, upside-down units, but instead of making do with factory settings you get the ability to tweak the compression and rebound damping as well as the preload on the new bike. The 2025 F900R roadster also gets the same update, albeit with 135mm of travel where the F900XR has longer versions with 170mm of movement.

As before, there’s adjustable preload and rebound at the rear, as well as the option of adding Dynamic ESA electronic suspension – albeit only at the back.

One of the few visual updates for 2025 comes in the form of new wheels with a simpler five-spoke design than before. Again, featuring on both the F900XR and the F900R, the 2025 rims are 1.8kg lighter than the old ones, helpfully reducing rotating and un-sprung mass as well as contributing towards an overall weight reduction of around 3kg for 2025.

That weight now clocks in at 216kg ready-to-go (208kg for the 2025 F900R), instead of the previous 219kg including fluids.

Although the mechanical components in the braking system remain the same with 320mm front discs and Brembo four-pot calipers, aided by a 265mm rear disc and single-pot caliper, the 2025 version uses the same lean-sensitive electronics that allow the cornering traction control to enable cornering ABS in ‘BMW Motorrad ABS Pro’ form, along with Dynamic Brake Control that prevents the throttle from being accidentally opened when you’re braking harder than a predefined level.

2025 BMW F 900 XR - Comfort & Economy

A subtle change to the 2025 F900XR is a fractionally revised upper fairing to improve the bike’s aerodynamics and reduce the strain on the rider, who also benefits from standard-fit hand protectors on the new model.

Optionally, a 30mm taller screen can be added to the mix, too, as well as existing add-ons like a higher or lower seat, the latter of which can be paired to reduced rear suspension height for an additional £180 to make the bike more accessible.

The Euro5+ engine tweaks haven’t impacted the bike’s claimed economy figures, which remain the same as 67mpg, allowing a theoretical 229 miles of range from brimmed to dry.

2025 BMW F 900 XR - Equipment

Tweaks to the 2025 F900XR’s kit include a new battery, 0.8kg lighter than the previous one, contributing to the overall weight reduction, as well as changes to both the front and rear lights.

At the front, you now get Headlight Pro as standard. That’s BMW’s adaptive headlight kit, adding extra LEDs to the light units and working alongside the new lean-sensitive electronics to tweak the headlight beam as you turn. BMW says the revised beam kicks in at lean angles above 10 degrees provided you’re going over 10km/h (6mph), and works at its best up to lean angles of 25 degrees.

Moving to the rear, the F900XR now has new taillights that integrate the brake and rear lamps into the indicators, eliminating the central rear light/brake light altogether. The 2025 F900R also gets the new taillights and lighter battery, but not the Headlight Pro kit.

Finally, the F900XR gets an onboard USB-C charging socket on the right-hand side of the dashboard for the 2025 model year.

2025 BMW F 900 XR - Rivals

The F900XR’s rivals depend to some extent on the intended use of the bike. BMW categorises it among its ‘Sport’ range, but it’s clearly a versatile all-rounder, with elements of adventure bike in its riding position and the clear ability to be tailored into a tourer with the judicious application of optional extras.

Buyers will surely also be weighing up options from Triumph – the new Tiger Sport 800 comes closest on paper and price – and Yamaha’s Tracer 9, with a similar combination of tall suspension and 17-inch wheels, must also be in the mix, both adding a charismatic triple into the equation. More leftfield alternatives might include bigger-engined machines like Honda’s more touring-biased NT1100, while Kawasaki’s newly revised Versys 1100 offers a four-cylinder take on the same idea, but both are heftier than the BMW.

Triumph Tiger Sport 800 | Price: £11,095

Read more

Power/Torque

113bhp / 62lb-ft

Weight

214kg

Yamaha Tracer 9 | Price: £11,300

Read more

Power/Torque

117bhp / 68.6lb

Weight

219kg

Honda NT1100 | Price: £12,679

Read more

Power/Torque

100.5bhp / 82.6lb-ft

Weight

238kg

2025 BMW F 900 XR - Verdict

We’ll give a verdict after riding it

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2025 BMW F 900 XR - Technical Specification

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