Right here’s some information that everybody noticed coming—BMW Motorrad has lastly bumped up the capability of their standard middleweight journey bike. The 2024 BMW F900GS predictably borrows the bored-out 895 cc parallel-twin from its cousins, the F900R and F900XR. However what we didn’t count on, is how radically completely different the F900GS appears to be like from the outgoing F850GS.
The 2024 BMW F900GS stands alongside one other two new fashions—the BMW F900GS Journey, and the down-tuned F800GS (to not be confused with the F800GS that was discontinued in 2018). All three bikes share a number of upgrades, nevertheless it’s the F900GS that’s most noteworthy.
Journey bikes with rally-derived appears to be like are trending proper now and BMW Motorrad has taken word. Becoming a member of established bikes just like the Aprilia Tuareg and the immensely standard Yamaha T7, the brand new BMW F900GS stands tall and thin, with a forward-biased windscreen and an enduro-style seat. With no blocky twin headlights and solely the tiniest of headlight beaks, it barely even appears to be like like a BMW GS.
BMW’s intention is obvious: they’re pitching the F900GS at riders preferring grime to asphalt—or, on the very least, wish to appear to be they like grime to asphalt. The connection between the three fashions within the middleweight GS vary hasn’t modified although; the F900GS is the core mannequin, the F900GS Journey provides additional long-distance functionality, and the F800GS is a down-tuned model.
All three bikes have extra of a kick now. The brand new 900 engine is 10 hp up on energy from the outgoing 850, bringing its output to 105 hp at 8,500 hp, and it options up to date mapping. The torque bump is extra modest; a complete 1 Nm, bringing the 900’s torque to 93 Nm at 6,750 rpm. The F900GS Journey makes the identical numbers, whereas the F800GS clocks in at 87 hp (which, apparently, is 2 hp greater than the 2018 F800GS made).
Every bike comes customary with LED lighting, a TFT show with a Bluetooth connectivity suite, a keyless ignition, ABS, traction management, and a plethora of using modes. All of them put on redesigned physique panels and are available in new colours. However whereas the F900GS Journey [below right] and F800GS nonetheless loosely resemble their predecessors (the F850GS Journey and F750GS), the F900GS [below left] is a special kettle of fish.
The brand new BMW F900GS not solely appears to be like so much slimmer than earlier than, nevertheless it’s bodily lighter too. BMW has swapped the 850’s metal gas cell out for a 14.5 l [3.8 gallon] plastic reservoir, wrapped the bike in trimmed-down physique panels, and given it a brand new subframe. It additionally wears an Akrapovič muffler as customary, which is notably lighter than your backyard selection OEM can.
That’s introduced the burden down by 14 kilos, with the F900GS now tipping the scales at 219 kg [483 lbs] moist. One other improve is the Showa entrance suspension, which is now totally adjustable. The quantity of suspension journey hasn’t modified a lot although; 230 mm on the entrance, 215 mm on the again, and a seat peak of 870 mm (890 mm for those who get one with the rad-looking ‘rally’ seat).
BMW has tweaked its ergonomics too, decreasing the foot pegs and transferring the bars to optimize the F900GS for off-road use. Enduro-style foot pegs, an upgraded brake lever, and an aluminum facet stand are all customary on the F900GS, whereas all three bikes get a brand new folding gearshift lever.
There’s a hardcore improve package deal for the F900GS too, which incorporates every little thing from a heavy-duty chain to extra off-road-specific rider modes, and even a set of titanium nitride-coated forks. BMW’s wonderful dynamic digital suspension adjustment system can be out there, ex-works, for the F900GS and F900GS Journey.
Shifting to the F900GS Journey, you get an adjustable touring windscreen, a comfier seat, and a 23 liter [6.1 gallon] gas tank. The Journey additionally seems to share the core mannequin’s Akrapovič exhaust, 21F/17R wheels, and suspension. It’s additionally pictured with crash bars and baggage racks, which BMW has historically included on GS Journey fashions.
The F800GS [above] sits decrease, with 19F/17R forged wheels, much less suspension journey, and an 815 mm seat peak. As ordinary with these down-tuned fashions, BMW is pitching it at newcomers, smaller riders, or anybody who doesn’t fairly want the go-anywhere potential of its larger siblings.
Every bike is available in a spread of distinctive liveries, together with BMW’s conventional white, blue, and purple ‘GS Trophy’ scheme, and the unapologetic ‘São Paulo Yellow’ (which might be my decide, palms down).
There’s no denying that the brand new F900GS appears to be like rattling good (even when it does seem to have borrowed its headlight from the a lot smaller G310GS). What stays to be seen although, is whether or not it will probably tempt riders away from the competitors. The Yamaha T7’s low-tech vibe and sensible geometry have gained it legions of followers, and though the F900GS now makes extra energy than the much-lauded Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Professional and solely loses out on torque to the KTM 890 Journey R, it nonetheless doesn’t have the identical rally-bro enchantment because the latter.
How nicely it fares will rely solely on how nicely it rides.
Supply: BMW Motorrad
