@@Tony-yl1yotrue. But it def wasnt in a disparaging way. Just said hey I think this is weird or doest function exactly as an adventure bike rider would want it. I took one on a demo ride. To me it’s feels small and nimble. Quickshifter flawless as he mentioned. Engine is fine. I prefer the tiger 900 engine or even the vstrom 1050 de. Fuel tank size is kinda criminal. Seem to just be better option no matter what u want. Want the same or more off readability, better fuel range, at a cheaper price? Ktm 890/890r, norden 901/expedition, Honda Africa twin base. Want cheaper and the same or more off road ability? Aprilia Touareg 660, T7. Want a premium bike with the same or more off road ability with a more fun engine? Tiger 900 rally pro Ducati desert X. Want a cheap reliable bike that is less off road focused and probably as fun on road? Suzuki vstrom 1050 de, vstrom 800 de, Honda transalp. This bike is great and feels good in almost every aspect but other bikes can be had that are better, cheaper, or more fun
I own a 2021 F850GS and his complaints are justified. I have also shopped it against an Africa Twin and Tiger 900 and the BMW was still a better bike for the prices of what I purchased mine. The ATwin is a bigger and faster bike but it's incredibly tall and when I bought mine there was no factory cruise control and the seat was worse than BMW. The T700 was never in my mind since it is not an adventure tourer but just an adventure bike so basically a 700cc dirt bike.
@@blakethornsbrough1528 I just struggle to see who the bmw is for. It looks good off road but to really take advantage of the suspension you have to be a very skilled rider, especially to wrangle a nearly 500 pound bike. I feel like the people that buy them think they're going to be riding it like a 250 pound dual sport. It looks cool, I'll give it that. But if it was me I'd get the T7, save 9 grand, and not feel bad about dumping it.
@@brumfiba I think the intent is for people who want capability closer to the T7, but also want more creature comforts a la quickshifter, cruise control, etc and decent highway manners, even though yes there are other options that do that pretty solidly as well.. Also for people who are already more familiar with or currently under the BMW wing and want to stay there but have good offroad capability.
@@Tarukai788 that's fair. I just think that if you have 18 grand to spend you can probably find a 1200 or 1250gs or just save a bit and get a 1300 and get the whole bmw experience. It's not like it weighs that much more and for 99% of riders, they'll probably cover the same terrain/use case. I just think anyone who thinks they're going to wrestle a 500 pound bike around anything more than a dirt road is lying to themselves, so you might as well get the big boy and get it over with.
Wouldn't the most direct competitor be the 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro or the road oriented GT Pro. Surprised those were not mentioned as they match favorably in features and cost.
Sold these as well as KTM/DUCATI for 6+ yrs.... Always asked customers to test ride KTM 790/890 as well as 1200GS....... People interested in touring always picked the 1200....late model used to keep price similar. As 1200GS easier to handle. Off road riders world end up in the KTM . only people picking this bike were people that just had to have BMW or experienced the KTM electronic gremlins..... Or end of year buyers taking advantage of crazy 850gs factory discounts to move them off floor.
I bought RT for long road trips, Super Tenere for forest roads (semi regret) and bought KLR300 for technical off road/BDR. My dream bike was KTM 690R Adventure. But being short i have passed every time. I almost bought last years KTM890S because it was lower than all previous years. I regret not buying it and ended up with KLR300
I'm off-road focused and ended up with AT DCT. Best decision eva. Wouldn't touch perrier bikes with 10m stick, ESPECIALLY 790. electronics issues are just tip of iceberg of that dumpster fire. With AT my only worry is where I'll go next trip:) and dct is game changer and improves safety
@@beamdoctor5637 yeah I ended up with an RT after several GS's...I wasn't even doing forest roads and finally made peace with that. I am always smarter AFTER I try something. Hey you can obv always consolidate... 2 for 1. ....RT and Tenere for a low suspension GS/GS adventure...I loved long trips on the GSA...I am 5' 7" on a good day . Then eventually trade in the KLR.... Or not....
All BMW bikes can be resumed to this: good motorcycles, very expensive to buy, very expensive to maintain, very reliable if you keep with the maintenance and don't go bankrupt. Personally for off-road I would go with any Japanese, Yamaha, Suzuki or Honda, they're reliable and closer to my budget.
@@Angry-Lynx to each their own, but that's how I ride my adventure bikes! I'm only on the pavement long enough to find the next trail. If I wanted a bike that prioritized pavement I would look at sport touring bikes.
I'd say under 5% of all moto riders buyers are as skilled as him at riding bikes offroad. Not many people will even come close to using the f900 to it's capabilities.
I bought this bike a couple months ago, I was kind of in the same camp as Zack and not super loving it. I also got the off road tires (it was what the dealer had). I don't do a ton of trail riding, so I swapped them out for some 80/20 road tires after about 6 weeks and it's like a completely different bike. Much better on the highway, corners a lot nicer, etc etc. It's still tall, and heavy, but with good tires on it it's a lot more fun.
Thanks for skillfully telling a complete story. Your reviews are trustworthy and informative! Being relatively new to “motorized” two wheel adventure, your reviews and The Shop Manual, have saved me time and money! Thank You!! 🧐🏍✅👏🏻
I bought this bike when it first showed up at the dealership and am very happy with it. It's for a specific type of riding and not for everyone. It's got a similar vibe to a Tenere 700. If you like day rides down dirt roads in the country, then zipping home on the highway at the end of the day, this is the bike for you. I would get something else for long cross-country expressway rides. It does eat through gas, so that's something to keep in mind. The shocks and wheels are durable. I hit a pot hole going about 45 mph that would have damaged a lesser bike. It's a little on the tall side but there is a lower seat option available. If the cost is prohibitive, maybe go with the Tenere if you can find it.
Another excellent review! I ran a 2009 F800 GS for ~67,000 mi before moving on. Interesting that a lot of the quirks I found with that bike remain - final drive ratio must be about the same - mirrors fogged >75 mph, seat was controversial [I liked it, others didn't], older ones had 4.2 gals of fuel, similar range issue. The older Rotax engine was *very* torquey down low. Even from sub-2000 rpm in the lower gears it would pick up and pull well. I put the Remus header on it, dropped about 15 lbs., and improved power throughout the curve. Wind protection was fine with the stock screen. Also, with Zach's no-touch stops - they were routine for me - that was the best balanced bike I've ever ridden - fore/aft, left/right weight balance was just perfect. Hadn't ever experienced that. Kind of miss the bike, but the power boost of the new one would have been welcome. I think my F800 after the header was laying down ~85 hp at the wheel, and over 5500 rpm it was very vibey.
Had a Super Tenere and sold it after 7yrs bc it was tall and top heavy. This bike has cruise control and a quick shifter, and is 100lbs lighter than the Super T, but at $18k--no tks BMW. Perhaps a cruiser with cruise cont with a lower seat height. Current ride, 2022 Burgman 200--80mph/70mpg+ and I won't use it as a trade. It's fun and has huge underseat storage.
Man, I would love to see more moto vlogs from Zack! The first encounter with the bike, the offroad testing and maybe even some personal riding. More motovlogs from Zack please!
You say high end suspension, but can it hang with an 890 Adventure? I’ll never understand anything that hints at touring and doesn’t get over 200miles from a tank.
Nice review, one of the best reviews truely...it would be great if you could have a running tally including previous year bikes, i.e. how would it rank compared to the Transalp, last years winner.
I agree! I know they arent the same price bracket, but I'm cross-shopping the F900 with the TransAlp anyways! Coming from a '16 F800GS but always a Honda guy at heart. Tough choice.
Hi Zack, I was wondering, why are these 'lightweight' bikes heavier then a 'heavier' bike like the R1200GS DOHC from 2010 (seen from dryweight) Greetings from The Netherlands.
The often overlooked cousin to the F900GS, the F900XR solves many of the issues Zack found with using this bike as a daily rider. Also, lower seat height, less expensive, lighter weight...of course if you want the offroad capability, it's not going to be there...but as a solid BMW commuter, it's tough to beat.
It’s really interesting, hopping from this bike to the Desert X, how much lighter and more balanced the Ducati feels, especially in picking them up off the side stands, despite the almost identical weight and height specifications. It may be illusory, but the R1250GSA feels lighter than the 900GS in that regard. I bought the Desert X, and routinely get well beyond 200 miles per tank.
Thanks. Yes, I know (have owned it). My point is that it is interesting how big a difference that makes (900GS and 850GSA vs 1250GSA) and that the Desert X has a completely different feel, possibly also due to the engine configuration (L-twin). It’s not a bash on any of the bikes, just an observation.
As a guy with a 17 GSA, I agree with you, but I might be biased. 😁 These bikes don't get a fair shake, but they are good daily riders, good overlanders, and maintenance data shows them to be the most reliable machinery BMW has sold in the US over the last 30 years or so.
Is a 900cc, 500lb bike really a midsize? Or maybe a 1250, 600+ is an oversize, a 900, 500 a fullsize, and then maybe a 5-600, 400 being a midsize, with a 3-400, 350 being a small?
It’s nice to have a tall bike with street tyres for the road. The long suspension will let you roll over every kind of tarmac and in the city riding you see all cars that go in your lane in front. The bike is nimble enough to filter well traffic and the bars are kinda clearly above the level of height of all car mirrors, so filtering the traffic in town these kind of bike is buttery’s job to do. I like it a lot. Very beautiful bike too!
Long suspe being comfortable on potholes in road etc is a myth unfortunately. Most adv bikes have so bad valving and cheap suspension they don't isolate road better than any road bike with 10cm of susp travel. GOOD suspension with good tune is the key, but you won't find that stock on bikes
Thanks again Zack…buuuuut I cant see or have rode any bike in this segment to distract me from my 22KTM890 until KTM releases the new 990adventure later this year. For me the KTM total experience checks the most boxes. I can say after riding the new 900gs, its soooo much better than its predecessor but no match for my 890, with me at the helm.
Wow what a smart comment, so edgy. Because engine configuration have anything to do with bikes value 😂 And my 2018AT engine is best engine I experienced, smooth as silk happy in every rpm range ;
probably an odd question, but does the ADV version have lower suspension/more weight? in side by side pictures the f900 ADV looks so much larger and street oriented
I noticed there is a lamba sensor in front of the first cat, the one behind doesn’t look like a lambda sensor, what is it, I imagine it’s for emissions?
Regarding the big GS...The 2009 R1200GS has exactly the same power (105), more torque (>80 ft-lb), approx. the same weight (~504 wet), more fuel (5.3 gal), and amazing passenger accommodations. It seems to be a much better touring bike too and is (very likely) more reliable and easier to work on with the air cooled boxer while still being able to do off road very well. Why would the F900 be a better choice when it seems to be only just keeping up with another BMW they made 15 years ago and is now 1/3 of the price?
Because this bike is much more capable off-road than that R1200GS. If your priority is touring and two-up riding, the R1200GS is the better option. This bike has a different target market.
I have the 850gsa and think it's great,I would imagine the 900 will be better except for the seat. You don't need to turn off the quick shifter,just use the clutch if you want
Thank you for evaluating “buzz” at 75-85 range…. I wish that was done on every test. Those buzz miles will eventually get to you, and hard to know the effect, until you already own the bike and do enough of them… In my view, if “freeway buzz” is evaluated by more reviews, manufactures will be motivated to give a 6th gear that gets us to the destinations in comfort and ready to go! First review I have watched where I can make my decision off of the review! Thank you!
Does this bike come with a center stand? Looks like you can add one on their configuration website, but only if you apt for the lowered suspension. Hopefully it does come with, and I'm just missing it.
It depends on the options. The bike he's riding has the Enduro Package Pro while is targeted towards off-road capability where the center stand robs ground clearance. The center stand is a ~ $500 option.
A friend of mine bought it as a lighter option for more off roading than the 1200gs. He kept it 3 days and 400km he brought it back and lost 3000€ but he said it was so bad he couldn’t have kept it.
I'd be interested in the why. Seems like it would be much more capable off-road than the big GS. I do love how easy the R1250GS (and new R1300GS) are to pick up because they don't fall flat.
Did you guys change the camera set-up? Looks more crisp but also a lot more fish-eyed. But I'm watching this a few days after release instead of 20 minutes after launch. So maybe I'm just not used to watching these fully rendered.
Should i sell my Ducatic desert X for it? My only real negative with the Desert X is the engine heat. I live in Bangkok, and it's really hot all the time.
Regarding seat preferences and how varied they are, another example: You love the stock gen 3 Hayabusa seat calling it "Just excellent" and while I agree for the first 30 minutes I get 2 back pressure points on it soon after. So yeah, we're all different.
Yeah, at 65 70 … the ambient sound is quieter (at least that’s how it seems) from other recordings / footage of other bikes you’ve reviewed. Maybe it is the windscreen. Your voice sounds clearer, with barely any background wind noise. Interesting.
Who knows. With chinese production and more and more aggressive planned obsolescence and cost cutting.... Corporations are getting way too bold with this crap in recent years. Probably designed to last 50-100k km and about 4 years. Still, can't be worse than perrier group shite
I think it’s okay for Zac to not recommend a bike. That’s the reason for a review. A 18k bike from BMW not taking a podium seat is a huge indicator there are better options.
Reminds me quite a bit of a lighter 1250 gs. Having just sold my r1250 GSA I’m so glad. I only rarely used it off road and it was a terrible bike for commuting. Despite their best efforts the bike feels heavy and I’ve owned much heavier bikes that didn’t feel that way. God forbid you just filled up the huge tank and it’s heavier. Shorter friends? They can’t ride it probably. They are great bikes with tons of technology but a little overkill for just riding around. Mine would get lost in gear sometimes. I’d get a dual sport or for more effective off roading.
Probably should get GS and not gsa. The constant whining about weight on the nets is so annoying. Learn proper riding and energy conservation techniques and weight is almost never the issue
If you haven't yet had the pleasure, spoon a set of Dunlop's new Trailmax Raids on this motorcycle. I have a set on my personal f800GS Adventure, and Dunlop has finally cracked the code creating an offroad tire that doesn't s*ck on the street. Dunlop's tire nerds spend a lot of time on the design of the tire's shoulder, so that the bike still behaves when leaned over on pavement, while still being open and getting good grip off the macadam. One can be a trail rider that doesn't want to cut one's own head off on paved corner entries.
Has anyone out there experienced the F900GS on Metzeler Karoo 3 and 4's? ...Michelin Anakee Wilds? ...big block knobs? My 2021 F800GS has a lot of issues with wobbles on semi-knob tires at highway speeds. The new F900 has increased rake angles (24.3 vs 24.8º), less ground trail (110 vs 104mm), and more offset (37 vs 40mm). These all contribute to quicker steering, at the expense of stability.
Airbags Save! Learn more: rvz.la/3R8SW4x
Read more about the F 900 GS on Common Tread: rvz.la/3X1Tn4w
When will we have a list of the top bikes of the years? I’d love to see the rankings of the #1, 2 and 3 bikes of each year.
I didn't think I'd ever seen Zack struggle to not say how much he disliked a bike. Those diplomatic skills working overtime
Agreed - so I guess I will say it for him! LOL
Yeah it was very evident within 10 minutes
Yea... i mean if your going to honestly review a bike, then honestly review the bike...
@@Tony-yl1yotrue. But it def wasnt in a disparaging way. Just said hey I think this is weird or doest function exactly as an adventure bike rider would want it. I took one on a demo ride. To me it’s feels small and nimble. Quickshifter flawless as he mentioned. Engine is fine. I prefer the tiger 900 engine or even the vstrom 1050 de. Fuel tank size is kinda criminal. Seem to just be better option no matter what u want. Want the same or more off readability, better fuel range, at a cheaper price? Ktm 890/890r, norden 901/expedition, Honda Africa twin base. Want cheaper and the same or more off road ability? Aprilia Touareg 660, T7. Want a premium bike with the same or more off road ability with a more fun engine? Tiger 900 rally pro Ducati desert X. Want a cheap reliable bike that is less off road focused and probably as fun on road? Suzuki vstrom 1050 de, vstrom 800 de, Honda transalp. This bike is great and feels good in almost every aspect but other bikes can be had that are better, cheaper, or more fun
I didn’t think so?? Seemed normal, said what he liked and didn’t like…
Tank size is fine, your average GS owner never lives more than 5 miles from a Starbucks anyway.
Sincerely, KTM rider
Zack is a better rider with no hands than I am with both hands. Impressive as always.
If only Corvette Guy knew how famous he really was....
Corvette guy has seen the videos before! He commented saying that he appreciates it
@@LizzyB123 Think of all the awesome bikes he could buy if he sold some of those Corvettes? 😆
F800 motor is a Rotec motor. Is the 900 something different?
@@seymoreduless8920 prolly same 🤮
Lol was just about to make this comment
Zakc is the kind of guy who would know how the three sea shells work.
Seems like the overall tone is "save some money and get a T7 or Africa Twin"
The price is way too high for what you get.
I own a 2021 F850GS and his complaints are justified. I have also shopped it against an Africa Twin and Tiger 900 and the BMW was still a better bike for the prices of what I purchased mine. The ATwin is a bigger and faster bike but it's incredibly tall and when I bought mine there was no factory cruise control and the seat was worse than BMW. The T700 was never in my mind since it is not an adventure tourer but just an adventure bike so basically a 700cc dirt bike.
@@blakethornsbrough1528 I just struggle to see who the bmw is for. It looks good off road but to really take advantage of the suspension you have to be a very skilled rider, especially to wrangle a nearly 500 pound bike. I feel like the people that buy them think they're going to be riding it like a 250 pound dual sport. It looks cool, I'll give it that. But if it was me I'd get the T7, save 9 grand, and not feel bad about dumping it.
@@brumfiba I think the intent is for people who want capability closer to the T7, but also want more creature comforts a la quickshifter, cruise control, etc and decent highway manners, even though yes there are other options that do that pretty solidly as well.. Also for people who are already more familiar with or currently under the BMW wing and want to stay there but have good offroad capability.
@@Tarukai788 that's fair. I just think that if you have 18 grand to spend you can probably find a 1200 or 1250gs or just save a bit and get a 1300 and get the whole bmw experience. It's not like it weighs that much more and for 99% of riders, they'll probably cover the same terrain/use case. I just think anyone who thinks they're going to wrestle a 500 pound bike around anything more than a dirt road is lying to themselves, so you might as well get the big boy and get it over with.
The giggle at the end of the intro is the best splash ever. Change my mind
The "I'm goofing off on a bike" giggle never gets old.
I wanted to point out what a polite driver you are.
Wouldn't the most direct competitor be the 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro or the road oriented GT Pro. Surprised those were not mentioned as they match favorably in features and cost.
def. its really the only one that matches that close in faetures and price
Hey Zac, think you could start mentioning how the wind noise compares on different bikes that have a windshield?
Sold these as well as KTM/DUCATI for 6+ yrs.... Always asked customers to test ride KTM 790/890 as well as 1200GS....... People interested in touring always picked the 1200....late model used to keep price similar. As 1200GS easier to handle. Off road riders world end up in the KTM . only people picking this bike were people that just had to have BMW or experienced the KTM electronic gremlins..... Or end of year buyers taking advantage of crazy 850gs factory discounts to move them off floor.
I bought RT for long road trips, Super Tenere for forest roads (semi regret) and bought KLR300 for technical off road/BDR. My dream bike was KTM 690R Adventure. But being short i have passed every time. I almost bought last years KTM890S because it was lower than all previous years. I regret not buying it and ended up with KLR300
I'm off-road focused and ended up with AT DCT. Best decision eva.
Wouldn't touch perrier bikes with 10m stick, ESPECIALLY 790. electronics issues are just tip of iceberg of that dumpster fire.
With AT my only worry is where I'll go next trip:) and dct is game changer and improves safety
@@beamdoctor5637 yeah I ended up with an RT after several GS's...I wasn't even doing forest roads and finally made peace with that. I am always smarter AFTER I try something. Hey you can obv always consolidate... 2 for 1. ....RT and Tenere for a low suspension GS/GS adventure...I loved long trips on the GSA...I am 5' 7" on a good day . Then eventually trade in the KLR.... Or not....
@@rxyz123 totally agree and i am same height
I wanted KTM 890 Adv, but have you seen the amount of complaints on camshafts? I’ve got this one instead and do not regret it.
All BMW bikes can be resumed to this: good motorcycles, very expensive to buy, very expensive to maintain, very reliable if you keep with the maintenance and don't go bankrupt.
Personally for off-road I would go with any Japanese, Yamaha, Suzuki or Honda, they're reliable and closer to my budget.
Yay, corvette guy!
The ARiemann1 off road test of this bike is the best one on RUclips with comparisons with the T7 and everything…
Nah mate. I like him, but hes not testing adventure bikes as adventure bike. Having fun in woods isn't reliable way to review adv bike sorry not sorry
@@Angry-LynxYou don't know the guy too well, huh
@@Angry-Lynx to each their own, but that's how I ride my adventure bikes! I'm only on the pavement long enough to find the next trail. If I wanted a bike that prioritized pavement I would look at sport touring bikes.
I'd say under 5% of all moto riders buyers are as skilled as him at riding bikes offroad. Not many people will even come close to using the f900 to it's capabilities.
I bought this bike a couple months ago, I was kind of in the same camp as Zack and not super loving it. I also got the off road tires (it was what the dealer had). I don't do a ton of trail riding, so I swapped them out for some 80/20 road tires after about 6 weeks and it's like a completely different bike. Much better on the highway, corners a lot nicer, etc etc. It's still tall, and heavy, but with good tires on it it's a lot more fun.
Thanks for skillfully telling a complete story.
Your reviews are trustworthy and informative!
Being relatively new to “motorized” two wheel adventure, your reviews and The Shop Manual, have saved me time and money! Thank You!!
🧐🏍✅👏🏻
The headlight seems to be leveraged from the G310 GS.
I love my regular fixes of two-wheeled journeys through Long Beach! 🇬🇧
Zack is well qualified to represent the LBC
He and Ari are gonna run to the party and dance till the rhythm it
Gets
Harder
I bought this bike when it first showed up at the dealership and am very happy with it. It's for a specific type of riding and not for everyone. It's got a similar vibe to a Tenere 700. If you like day rides down dirt roads in the country, then zipping home on the highway at the end of the day, this is the bike for you. I would get something else for long cross-country expressway rides. It does eat through gas, so that's something to keep in mind. The shocks and wheels are durable. I hit a pot hole going about 45 mph that would have damaged a lesser bike. It's a little on the tall side but there is a lower seat option available. If the cost is prohibitive, maybe go with the Tenere if you can find it.
Another excellent review! I ran a 2009 F800 GS for ~67,000 mi before moving on. Interesting that a lot of the quirks I found with that bike remain - final drive ratio must be about the same - mirrors fogged >75 mph, seat was controversial [I liked it, others didn't], older ones had 4.2 gals of fuel, similar range issue. The older Rotax engine was *very* torquey down low. Even from sub-2000 rpm in the lower gears it would pick up and pull well. I put the Remus header on it, dropped about 15 lbs., and improved power throughout the curve. Wind protection was fine with the stock screen. Also, with Zach's no-touch stops - they were routine for me - that was the best balanced bike I've ever ridden - fore/aft, left/right weight balance was just perfect. Hadn't ever experienced that. Kind of miss the bike, but the power boost of the new one would have been welcome. I think my F800 after the header was laying down ~85 hp at the wheel, and over 5500 rpm it was very vibey.
I've been waiting months for this review! absolutely love this bike. thank you Zac.
Do you still like it after the review?
Had a Super Tenere and sold it after 7yrs bc it was tall and top heavy. This bike has cruise control and a quick shifter, and is 100lbs lighter than the Super T, but at $18k--no tks BMW. Perhaps a cruiser with cruise cont with a lower seat height. Current ride, 2022 Burgman 200--80mph/70mpg+ and I won't use it as a trade. It's fun and has huge underseat storage.
Just get the goldwing theres nothing better ;
The passenger pegs are also probably set wider for the saddlebags that all GSs eventually have.
Quick walkaround of the XL250?
At this point you have to wonder if it's a running gag.
Waiting for your review of the cf moto ibex 450
Would love to see a full edit of the offroad portion of the video that was at the very end.
Man, I would love to see more moto vlogs from Zack! The first encounter with the bike, the offroad testing and maybe even some personal riding. More motovlogs from Zack please!
3.8 Gallons? 🤨
Should have called it the F900 Sportster
The F900GSA has 6 gal tank but still they should have given the GS a bigger tank.
It’s capable of 44mpg or 170mile range
@@a9503128 sugar coat all you want.
even 5 gallons is iffy
LOL, it still holds more than the Sportster.
@@viperq
You say high end suspension, but can it hang with an 890 Adventure? I’ll never understand anything that hints at touring and doesn’t get over 200miles from a tank.
Looks A LOT better than previous two generations.
My Monster is quite the scalpel in traffic because of how the seating position is. I find it makes getting around not just easy, but fun.
Nice review, one of the best reviews truely...it would be great if you could have a running tally including previous year bikes, i.e. how would it rank compared to the Transalp, last years winner.
I agree! I know they arent the same price bracket, but I'm cross-shopping the F900 with the TransAlp anyways! Coming from a '16 F800GS but always a Honda guy at heart. Tough choice.
Hi Zack, I was wondering, why are these 'lightweight' bikes heavier then a 'heavier' bike like the R1200GS DOHC from 2010 (seen from dryweight) Greetings from The Netherlands.
The often overlooked cousin to the F900GS, the F900XR solves many of the issues Zack found with using this bike as a daily rider. Also, lower seat height, less expensive, lighter weight...of course if you want the offroad capability, it's not going to be there...but as a solid BMW commuter, it's tough to beat.
I totally agree. The F900GS may be my next adventure bike, but a F900XR would make a better "daily rider" if pavement is your priority. Mine isn't. ;)
It’s really interesting, hopping from this bike to the Desert X, how much lighter and more balanced the Ducati feels, especially in picking them up off the side stands, despite the almost identical weight and height specifications. It may be illusory, but the R1250GSA feels lighter than the 900GS in that regard. I bought the Desert X, and routinely get well beyond 200 miles per tank.
R1250 has a Boxer twin that sits down low and lowers the Center of Gravity my friend 👍
Thanks. Yes, I know (have owned it). My point is that it is interesting how big a difference that makes (900GS and 850GSA vs 1250GSA) and that the Desert X has a completely different feel, possibly also due to the engine configuration (L-twin). It’s not a bash on any of the bikes, just an observation.
@@bsmukler Desert X prolly feels like a dirt bike compared to similar ADV bikes in the class LOL
@@anthonysilvestri4946 Yes, in a great 👍
Good weight distribution is the answer
Please review the Aprilia RS 457!
I wonder how this would stack up against the Suzuki 800DE (no 2 of the 2023 DR board) as a daily rider and a 70/30 touring bike.
Proving once again the 2017 F800GS was the best in the line. If it had cruise control then it would be the perfect bike.
Rear fuel tank was not the best solution weight distribution wise.
@motolover5697 True. It makes it harder to break traction but you get used to it. It's only noticeable after a fill-up.
As a guy with a 17 GSA, I agree with you, but I might be biased. 😁 These bikes don't get a fair shake, but they are good daily riders, good overlanders, and maintenance data shows them to be the most reliable machinery BMW has sold in the US over the last 30 years or so.
Totally agree. Swooping my 800 gsa for a 900 next week...will probably keep it for a commuter
Pease give us a review of the new BMW F800 GS 🙏
The 900 really surprised me, such a fun bike to ride, enjoyed it much more than the 1300gs
I Would Love to See, F 800 GS, AND M 1000 XR Reviews From You!! 😊😊😊😊😊
Damn that GPS mount ruins your visibility - and looks kinda stupid too! 😞 Still rather have an Africa Twin AS
Is a 900cc, 500lb bike really a midsize?
Or maybe a 1250, 600+ is an oversize, a 900, 500 a fullsize, and then maybe a 5-600, 400 being a midsize, with a 3-400, 350 being a small?
Welcome to 2024 where 500s are beginner bikes and 1000s are midsized.
Need a review of the 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
What about the new 800? As an adventure/gravel bike?
It’s nice to have a tall bike with street tyres for the road. The long suspension will let you roll over every kind of tarmac and in the city riding you see all cars that go in your lane in front. The bike is nimble enough to filter well traffic and the bars are kinda clearly above the level of height of all car mirrors, so filtering the traffic in town these kind of bike is buttery’s job to do. I like it a lot. Very beautiful bike too!
Long suspe being comfortable on potholes in road etc is a myth unfortunately.
Most adv bikes have so bad valving and cheap suspension they don't isolate road better than any road bike with 10cm of susp travel.
GOOD suspension with good tune is the key, but you won't find that stock on bikes
@@Angry-LynxCan’t say the opposite but all adv bikes I’ve had felt very well on suspension capabilities for road riding and soft off road trails
Please get your hands on a Stelvio if you muster it.
Great review can you please test F800GS 2024 10k
Thanks again Zack…buuuuut I cant see or have rode any bike in this segment to distract me from my 22KTM890 until KTM releases the new 990adventure later this year. For me the KTM total experience checks the most boxes. I can say after riding the new 900gs, its soooo much better than its predecessor but no match for my 890, with me at the helm.
I am constantly amazed that this bike is still in their lineup.
I really really want to like this bike but between the small fuel tank and the vibrations I just cant get on board with it.
$18k for a parallel twin. Let that sink in.
Much like a Africa Twin AS...
You're getting a bimmer around that let thát sink in.
What does engine configuration have to do with price? Nothing. Your a moron with strange opinions
Africa twin engine isn’t made in 🇨🇳
Wow what a smart comment, so edgy.
Because engine configuration have anything to do with bikes value 😂
And my 2018AT engine is best engine I experienced, smooth as silk happy in every rpm range ;
do you think you going to do a review of the honda NX500 2024?
'A quick walkaround the XL250' is the segment summary at the start of the timeline, sure is a fancy XL250
Is it Rotax motor again?
17:22
Described my Jeep Rubicon perfectly 😂
Mine does get abused off road though, and still factory original.
probably an odd question, but does the ADV version have lower suspension/more weight? in side by side pictures the f900 ADV looks so much larger and street oriented
I noticed there is a lamba sensor in front of the first cat, the one behind doesn’t look like a lambda sensor, what is it, I imagine it’s for emissions?
Sensors behind the car are usually always for emissions
Both are oxygen sensors. The first is to regulate the fuel mixture and the second to check if the cat is working correctly
Regarding the big GS...The 2009 R1200GS has exactly the same power (105), more torque (>80 ft-lb), approx. the same weight (~504 wet), more fuel (5.3 gal), and amazing passenger accommodations. It seems to be a much better touring bike too and is (very likely) more reliable and easier to work on with the air cooled boxer while still being able to do off road very well. Why would the F900 be a better choice when it seems to be only just keeping up with another BMW they made 15 years ago and is now 1/3 of the price?
Because this bike is much more capable off-road than that R1200GS. If your priority is touring and two-up riding, the R1200GS is the better option. This bike has a different target market.
It’s obvious Zack LOOOOVES this bike lol 😂
🤮
Not
I have the 850gsa and think it's great,I would imagine the 900 will be better except for the seat. You don't need to turn off the quick shifter,just use the clutch if you want
This colour scheme is nice. Good review
So does the mirrors micro vibrate with street tires?
Thank you for evaluating “buzz” at 75-85 range…. I wish that was done on every test. Those buzz miles will eventually get to you, and hard to know the effect, until you already own the bike and do enough of them… In my view, if “freeway buzz” is evaluated by more reviews, manufactures will be motivated to give a 6th gear that gets us to the destinations in comfort and ready to go! First review I have watched where I can make my decision off of the review! Thank you!
14:48 was that 1st gear to 4th on purpose?
Honestly for that price, the fuel storage is a joke.
The price isn't for fuel storage. It's for the badge on the tank.
I owned a BMW f800.
Spare me your wisdom.
It’s an excellent off-road bike like the 890 adventure r which Zack also doesn’t love offroad. I don’t think it sucking onroad means it’s bad though
Does this bike come with a center stand? Looks like you can add one on their configuration website, but only if you apt for the lowered suspension. Hopefully it does come with, and I'm just missing it.
It depends on the options. The bike he's riding has the Enduro Package Pro while is targeted towards off-road capability where the center stand robs ground clearance. The center stand is a ~ $500 option.
A nice detailed review of a chinese Loncin. :D
It is time to start calling them what they are... I'm talk to you KTM too.
Just a thought: when it comes to seat height you tell us you’re six-two but maybe it would be more useful to tell us your inside leg measurement..? :)
Its 32 inches - he's mentioned it several times before
@@anthonysilvestri4946 Same as me and I’m 5’10” which was my point :)
A friend of mine bought it as a lighter option for more off roading than the 1200gs. He kept it 3 days and 400km he brought it back and lost 3000€ but he said it was so bad he couldn’t have kept it.
Yeah I don't think it's gonna be better off-road than GS. The only advantage I see is bike being not so wide as gss side tits.
I'd be interested in the why. Seems like it would be much more capable off-road than the big GS. I do love how easy the R1250GS (and new R1300GS) are to pick up because they don't fall flat.
Did you guys change the camera set-up? Looks more crisp but also a lot more fish-eyed. But I'm watching this a few days after release instead of 20 minutes after launch. So maybe I'm just not used to watching these fully rendered.
Should i sell my Ducatic desert X for it? My only real negative with the Desert X is the engine heat. I live in Bangkok, and it's really hot all the time.
Zak even grew some gray hairs in the beard to make it more legit ADV bike review!
ARI n ZAC are not kids any more or young men they are officially middle aged experts. I have enjoyed the past 14 years listening to them.
Regarding seat preferences and how varied they are, another example: You love the stock gen 3 Hayabusa seat calling it "Just excellent" and while I agree for the first 30 minutes I get 2 back pressure points on it soon after. So yeah, we're all different.
How about the F800 GS as a better daily rider?
Yeah, at 65 70 … the ambient sound is quieter (at least that’s how it seems) from other recordings / footage of other bikes you’ve reviewed. Maybe it is the windscreen. Your voice sounds clearer, with barely any background wind noise. Interesting.
Just started the viddy and i know already its gonna go on top.
on the upside.....
The cams probably won't delaminate. 😏
Who knows. With chinese production and more and more aggressive planned obsolescence and cost cutting....
Corporations are getting way too bold with this crap in recent years.
Probably designed to last 50-100k km and about 4 years.
Still, can't be worse than perrier group shite
I have a F900r and like you mentioned here, the tank range is quite short. The R has even less fuel in the tank. 130miles is all I dare to go.
F900r?
BMW has also made a new F 800GS with the same 900ccm engine a bit tuned down.
Who and what is that bike for?
It's cheaper, it has a 19 inch front, it will be more comfortable for a pillion and looks less aggressive
I think it’s okay for Zac to not recommend a bike. That’s the reason for a review. A 18k bike from BMW not taking a podium seat is a huge indicator there are better options.
Hey Zack, please review and ride the CF Moto ibex 800 t
Nice in the canyons and especially nice when your 6'6" 365# with a 5x head and 16" foot.
Damn, that final jump off the bike was soo sleek. Can't get used to this stuff from Zack.
What is the ground clearance?
Would you more likely Tiger 900 it or go with the F 900, if you had both sitting in your garage?
Tiger all day - no question
The Tiger 900 would probably be the better daily rider and the F900GS a better daily off-road rider. :)
Yet another great MC Commute!
Plz do a review on the 2024 tiger 900
its not even out yet
@@jakob8372 the 24? My local dealer has one
@@codydavis4513 i might be retarded i read 400
@@codydavis4513 I have 900GT PRO 2024 - love that bike, quite a step up from previous generation
@@marowak87 Still loving my Tiger 1050 for "street duty" only - it's a beast 🙂
Zac what does the GS stand for on the BWM family?
It's German for Gelände/Straße (terrain/street)
Reminds me quite a bit of a lighter 1250 gs. Having just sold my r1250 GSA I’m so glad. I only rarely used it off road and it was a terrible bike for commuting. Despite their best efforts the bike feels heavy and I’ve owned much heavier bikes that didn’t feel that way. God forbid you just filled up the huge tank and it’s heavier. Shorter friends? They can’t ride it probably. They are great bikes with tons of technology but a little overkill for just riding around. Mine would get lost in gear sometimes. I’d get a dual sport or for more effective off roading.
Terrible for commuting? LMFAO Please stop talking...
Probably should get GS and not gsa.
The constant whining about weight on the nets is so annoying.
Learn proper riding and energy conservation techniques and weight is almost never the issue
Really want to see a daily ride of the
GSXS 1000 GX
If you haven't yet had the pleasure, spoon a set of Dunlop's new Trailmax Raids on this motorcycle. I have a set on my personal f800GS Adventure, and Dunlop has finally cracked the code creating an offroad tire that doesn't s*ck on the street. Dunlop's tire nerds spend a lot of time on the design of the tire's shoulder, so that the bike still behaves when leaned over on pavement, while still being open and getting good grip off the macadam. One can be a trail rider that doesn't want to cut one's own head off on paved corner entries.
Has anyone out there experienced the F900GS on Metzeler Karoo 3 and 4's? ...Michelin Anakee Wilds? ...big block knobs? My 2021 F800GS has a lot of issues with wobbles on semi-knob tires at highway speeds. The new F900 has increased rake angles (24.3 vs 24.8º), less ground trail (110 vs 104mm), and more offset (37 vs 40mm). These all contribute to quicker steering, at the expense of stability.
Thank you, Zack. I would love to see the KTM 690 Enduro R on Daily Rider. I think it is kind of a "sleeper, do all" in the world of KTM offerings.
500 lb and 100 hp is also the specs of the 1st-gen R1200GS
The midsize gs are the real ADVs of the bmw lineup
My experience is that the big GS are better in every way but price. And I'm a short guy. That low boxer engine does wonders for power and handling.
Great video as usual. The new 800 is more suited for daily use