The Problems Of Owning A BMW 900 XR

[@dragoclarke9497]

Great video Scott, nice to have a real honest opinion from an owner rather than a journalist's hype after a 2 hour ride.

[@stephenchapman8344]

Think the TFT and the brake issue should be addressed Scott. I would persevere until the matter was resolved, especially the rear brake. Great honest review. 👍

[@nemozack3767]

My service tried to shorten the movement of the pedal whith a screw of regulation, but in a while the oil heat up because just a touch on the pedal pushed the brake and my wheel got almost blocked. I had to stop, wait a while for the oil to cool down, go back to service and set it as it was before. It's quite a pain in the xxx...

[@charl12]

Thank you for your honest review. BMW HQ should contact you and fix everything to your satisfaction. We are watching BMW.

[@Zimmermann310]

Der erste Test überhaupt, in dem jemand detailiert die Kosten für Wartung und die Intervalle erklärt, dafür ganz klar einen Daumen nach oben, denn das gehört genauso zu einem Motorradtest, wie Aussagen über Motor und Fahrwerk. Vielen Dank dafür.

[@drewmorg.]

Great honest review. This bike is NOT cheap that's for sure, and those issues all seem avoidable or something they should have ironed out over the couple years they've been offering this thing. Especially the rear brake issue. Heard so many people complain about the BMW comfort seat at this point there's no way I'd risk it.

[@joshnnik]

Despite the shortcomings of the X-R, I just love what I can only describe as it’s ride-ability. I don’t get out on mine much but when I do, it just feels so reassuring and easy to ride.

[@artmchugh5644]

Same with my multistrada 1200 !!!!! 😃😃😃😃😃😃

[@wolfganggesche7945]

This bike seems to be even worse than I would have expected. A superior quality than Suzuki or Kawasaki? With my Suzuki V Strom 650 I have had no issues at all. Everything works as it is has been designed. I have 12000km on it, two services and I could fetch the bike on the same day. And although I took the full accesory kit including a metal panniers and topcase I saved several thousands of euros to the BMW. All I need is a bullet proofed engine, a good working gear box and chassis and a comfortable seat and seating position. The comfort of the standard seat and even the lower seat option is awesome. I have no need to the features the BMW provides like a quick shifter, TFT-screen, Electronic suspension or keyless go. I think the base items has to work properly before adding such ammenities.

[@maldridge7630]

Even the shift-cam technology BMW brags about was first and foremost pioneered by Suzuki!

[@dougaugustine933]

I agree..... I have owned both Suzuki and Kawasaki (and Honda) bikes and have had NONE of the issues that Scott is having.... actually, absolutely zero issues with 4 of the these bikes that I have owned ove the last few year. Maybe I am not as picky and maybe the bikes are not as sophisticated..... but they are very solid bikes that perform "good enough" for the typical rider. Not glamorus.... but they don't do multi-night sleep-overs at the stealership.

[@ioandragulescu6063]

exactly, enjoying thorougly my 650 strom, have about 22 000 kms in two years, 0 issues, all of them through Schwarzwald (1st bike, need practice before going longer :) )

[@edteach3r]

Thanks for your honesty…. truly much appreciated. I was considering buying this bike based on your videos, but am now really rethinking following upon BMW’s lack of support regarding brake and TFT that are clearly faulty… not owner negligence.

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

Service in asia on screen , techy stuff is non existent . All parts, spares are 3 months, from germany !

[@kee7678]

Thanks so much for doing this review Scott. Tell, them, at the very LEAST...one potential buyer (ME) is now going with the Tracer 9 GT instead of this XR. They should have taken care of you. I've been on the fence for 9 mths on the Tracer Vs the XR and I think I just decided.

[@stevensullivan5287]

Likewise, considering the Triumph 900GT or the Yamaha 900Tracer, love triples anyway, started with a H1 Mach III when I was 15 years old, GT750 when I was 18. Now have an R18 Classic that needs a friend at night in the garage. How to choose....??? Thanks Scott for your honesty, it can be a little hard to maintain the boundaries as a reviewer from some that I've watched. Keep it safe.

[@DJDarkrobe]

Think you're missing out by not going with the F900XR though, best display in the bunch, great connectivity through the BMW Connected App, the suspension is still great on the rear shock for when you carry a pillion or luggage. I've never had any issues with it. It is a rare gem on the road too! Good luck with your purchase though and hope you can share your experience as well!

[@brunomartins8553]

I bought the Tracer 900 GT also because of maintenance costs vs the XR, for example i paid 70€ for the 1000km maintenance vs 160€ for the XR.

[@pirpiroglou1]

same by me . I have just decided , after that video .

[@sirikulsomsuwan]

@@DJDarkrobe I would opt for the Tracer especially with the F900 having a rear brake problem. You can’t beat the Japanese for reliability & after service. Ride safe

[@IanTed]

Sadly it appears that you have had my experience, great bikes but the dealers vary in quality. The dealer I have bought three GSs from have a great salesman but a very poor service department. I have my bikes serviced by another dealer, always found the dealer more important than the brand and I’ve had a lot of different bikes over the years.

[@MrSzalayl1]

Honest and well-intentioned review. BMW should learn how to keep its customers. It seems they do not learn much. They have lost me and now I'm riding my 3rd Japanese bike for my greatest happiness without any annoying issues. Service of course could be better at Japanese workshops too, but reliability eases the shortcomings.

[@CaptainFeathersword]

I think the BMW motorcycle execs are being mentored by their automobile counterparts.

[@sofocles1472]

Thanks for your honest and relaxed review. Relaxed even when remembering the coments of the dealer regarding your TFT screen 😆 👍

[@pardo94]

We want perfection in bikes and this is far beyond impossible. Enjoy the ride while you can!

[@zachmateer6531]

Great review, thanks for the in depth detail as always. There isn't a lot of content out there on these bikes, so I appreciate your feedback as I'm about 6km behind you (picked mine up Feb of 2021). It helps to know things to keep an eye out for. In general I'm still loving my XR, no issues to note thus far. Stay safe Scott!

[@Robrecht_van_Bethune]

So how's your experience so far?

[@grantgilfillan5557]

Great review Scott. For me the most significant issue with my 900XR was the front end dive under heavy breaking. At times I felt like I wasn't far off coming unhinged but learnt to feel that point and keep away from it. I did 30,000Km before I traded up to a 2023 R1250RT. Like you I just LUUUV the RT. The telelever front suspension keeps it solid upright under intense braking and that has really amplified what a weakness it was with the XR. Still the XR is a great bike and I miss some of the raw feeling I had when riding compared with the RT.

[@colinwyse5921]

Hi Scott, As a F900 XR owner I watch your informative contributions with great interest. I share most of your opinions about the bike but having only covered 1700 miles from new it’s been recalled by BMW for a new engine. And to further dampen my enthusiasm for the brand it’s currently back at the dealership with a flat battery fault.

[@SsiolisP]

Mystery of engineering: "How good are Brembo brakes if they don't work?' Fortunately BMW has been able to help us tackle this mystery and the conclusion is that they suck, they literally suck!

[@RuledByMars]

The brakes on my f700gs and now my 40th Anniversary 750 work GREAT. Brembos

[@jasonk7072]

I’ve got one of these and I think I’ve gotten really lucky, I’ve got none of the issues that others seem to experience. I completely agree about the engine sound, it’s not pleasant at idle and leaves me really envious of people on Yamahas and Ducatis. And you’re right about the seat, but stopping every couple of hours and having a drink or a little walk mitigates it a lot (and it’s important to stay hydrated so maybe BMW incorporated this as a wellbeing feature?). Is any bike perfect? I don’t know. This one has its flaws but overall I’m very happy with mine. I hope you get some good riding in this summer.

[@MilosPN035]

Wow I like this honest and no BS review! Subscribed.

[@brucekendall52]

Thanks for the honest feedback.

[@manardh7387]

Great work ! I hope more reviewers come clean and present the issues with bikes like you did here.

[@HappyAlexandros]

Due to this video, I will NOT buy this bike. Thank you so much, for mentioning the problems. You saved me a lot of money and time.

[@alandadban007]

Thanks, Scott for your honest opinion, I have a 1250RS and I will pay more attention to the issues that you mentioned, keep up the good work, disappointed with BMW. if BMW going to behave this way, this would be my last BMW.

[@roythompson6137]

Another great, honest review, thanks Scott. Many of us have been told the engine noise at idle is the clutch box. It's true that pulling in the clutch gets rid of it, but it's rather embarrassing all the same. Had a lot of clutch issues that were mostly sorted at first service. (163 euros here in Spain). The Wunderlich seat is infinitely better. The Givi screen throws wind onto my head shoulders (1m80) so will be swapping that out for something a little wider... Keep up the great work!

[@TheHomeExpert5]

Problem issues like you described are the reasons why it is scary for me to consider buying a BMW, a KTM, a Ducati, and a Moto Guzzi, and several other brands. Seems to me that the four Japanese brands are more reliable.

[@larryvanputten4048]

To me that’s an oldfashioned point of view. Reliability is good but not everything. Motorcycles are about emotion and the Japanese bikes can’t touch my emotions. And I had many of them!

[@TheHomeExpert5]

@@larryvanputten4048 Horsecrap, reliability is king.

[@zachmateer6531]

Reliability issues? Nothing failed to the point that anyone was stranded or major component failure I'm not sure what you're referring to here. It does come across as played out rhetoric. Seat is uncomfy, doesnt like tic noises, little cosmetics on a display, rear brake is too soft for his liking, the front caliper issue is a Brembo issue not a BMW issue, "big 4" use brembo too. I call hog wash to your horse crap.

[@TheHomeExpert5]

@@zachmateer6531 the Brembo issue is a BMW issue because it is on their bike. You just made a list of everything that has gone wrong in just a few thousand miles. If you don't think that reliability is important, go buy a BMW.

[@zachmateer6531]

@@TheHomeExpert5I guess we can agree to disagree, I have multiple bikes. I'll take the Brembos on my BMW over the Nissins on my Suzuki every day of the week though. No manufacturer is impervious to failure regardless how fast you drink the koolaid.

[@cc11cc11cc]

Welcome back !!! My dream bike...!! Got the gs310 and I cannot wait to upgrade to that beauty

[@PMitchell106]

One of the problems that premium brands have is that their customers often have very high expectations, and notice very small issues. That makes the list of problems seem much longer than the list on cheaper bikes, but at least part of that comes down to selling to a very discerning corner of the market. A related problem is that more features means more risk of an issue.

[@NothingToProve]

Agreed. I could not have said it better! 👍

[@stevensullivan5287]

Rear brake issues are NOT a small problem, any brake issue should be resolved period!!!. Someone needs to do due diligence in this process, you wouldn't accept this from your car with family aboard. Major whoa here 😳.

[@PMitchell106]

​@@stevensullivan5287 To say that very minor issues are more frequently scrutinized with premium brands is not to say that all issues scrutinized with premium brands are very minor.

[@stevensullivan5287]

@@PMitchell106 Agree with you, as a 58 year, million miles under the belt rider (not driver egads), had brake issues only once, rear locked up on my XS11 with my deaf brother on board. Needless to say, I fixed it myself at that time. I do all my services as Im capable of splitting cases and whatever. I'm not the norm, but I've had too many service shops not up to standard minimum and never go back unless it's warranty coverage.

[@PMitchell106]

​@@stevensullivan5287 Poor braking feel and catastrophic braking failure are dramatically different issues. Of the dozens of bikes I've ridden over the decades, many had mediocre to poor rear brake feel, vanishingly few had ideal rear brake performance, and none have ever had a catastrophic lockup or failure to engage. Of those that had poor rear brakes, most other people who rode the same bikes never noticed any problem.

[@neverdrive5571]

Problems like this in relation to what one pays for a Bmw, is the reason why I switched from R1200gs to Yamaha xt1200zsuper tenere

[@larryvanputten4048]

Sorry, I don’t agree. I had a XT1200ZE and this bike is so plump, heavy with a high center of gravity, really hard to handle. Can’t stand in the shadow of a GS!

[@dragoclarke9497]

It's not the handling that is a problem but the quality issues. I have to concur with NeverDrive55, after two BMWs both having rear brake issues the same as Scott (and corrosion of forks and engine) I bought a Honda VFR1200X, 80,000 km with no issues and it looks as good as new.

[@martyn_g]

BMW car division is also suspect on some of their models. Once upon a time, German engineered or made used to mean quality. Not any more! It’s why I stick to Japanese. My one bike I had a warranty claim on, was European - a KTM. Condensation in the dash. Replaced, and it was even worse then the first one. Buy Japanese. Be happy.

[@bigred8438]

Would love to have been able to afford a Super tenere, and if l could, l was concerned about the extra 20kg it had on my R1150GS. But it certainly seemed like the dream bike.

[@bigred8438]

Did you finally think the rear brake line was not rigid enough? I fixed my BMW brake problems with braided lines.

[@johnDukemaster]

Thank you for an honest review. I think we all can relate to dealers not doing what we thought they should. The trick is to find one that takes care of both bike and customer. I've been a BMW customer...never again. And at the back of my head there's a "made in China" chanting...

[@pistolpete6321]

I’m really surprised that BMW didn’t replace TFT for you, that is not how you create customer loyalty. Great looking motorcycle!

[@sofocles1472]

Specially when the client is a well -known KZbinr specialized in reviewing motorbikes

[@maldridge7630]

For this reason it is the final nail in the coffin for BMW, as far as I am concerned!

[@DaveKay-u4l]

Great rider review , it is cool to watch an experience rider's review summing all the faults, from a honest point of view - Thanks.

[@hypurpadre2288]

Thanks for the review. Guessing you have the rear brake fixed by now. But if not, Brake pedal or lever sponginess ( it is not fade) is almost always caused by air in the brake system and yours sounds like a classic case. I bet the dealer did a poor job when they changed your brake fluid. In addition, I have seen Brembo rear brakes seem to create their own air which does not make sense, but happens none the less. Sometimes you have to mess with them and even pull the caliper and tilt it around and tap it to get the air out of the bleed screw. Find another dealer, this is common knowledge. As to the engine noise, clicking and ticking of valve train is common on KTM and Ducati as well. It is the sound of high performance haha.

[@Gr1mSkull]

Nice review, hope this will help a lot of people in their decision. My previous bike was an f800 GT, it also had the "clicking" in idle. I had no major issues with it except that it does not sound as something at the price of BMW should do. The main reason why I did not stay with BMW for my next bike was the over te top maintenance costs (hourly rate and "BMW" parts) charged at the official dealership compared to 3rd party garages and other brands. I never liked the whole "You should be lucky to be allowed to buy from us" atmosphere surrounding my particular dealership at the time.

[@marcelcoenen1437]

A well done en unbiased review, Scott! What can we learn? Cheap can be expensive, nobody and no bike is perfect, costs for 1.000km-service at the same dealer can vary (I had to expend more than 200€)

[@maldridge7630]

Why not buy Japanese; never need the crooked service department, whose only claim to fame is all the lies they can tell...

[@markhyoutube]

Fantastic summary of your experience! I've been riding an S1000XR for the past 3 years and have been trying other bikes, including this. I found the F900xr to be a good bike, but coming from its bigger brother, missed the performance and found the suspension a little off when pushing the bike hard in the corners. I enjoyed it more than the gen2 s1000xr however! Crazy that bmw didnt reace your screen and this sort of service is offputting. I stick with bmw because of the dealer network and service I get from my local dealer.

[@AlastairT00]

I purchased the f900r and after 6 months decided to sell and upgrade to the s1000r. Quality on the bike is excellent but when comparing quick shifter with s1000r I was so disappointed with the f900r. Thank you for excellent reviews

[@kevinmobile]

Thanks for your 13,000 km review. I too own the 900 XR and after 13,000 miles (20,800 km) over two years I agree, the quick shifter is somewhat clunky moving up through lower gears though strangely goes down nicely through ALL gears. And slowly improving. One issue for me was an OEM chain stretched beyond adjustment at around 1000 miles (1600 km) and replaced with a good Japanese DID chain which has been good to the present day. Beyond that, the only problem was flaking paint on both front fork lowers (mentioned by others on US forums) which BMW have agreed to replace under warranty without quibble. We have a good dealer network in the UK though this sort of replacement has to be cleared with Berlin. Yes the bike audibly 'ticks' a little under initial start up (even with an Akrapovič slip-on) and rear brake is 'fair to middling' rather than your experienced poor. Overall, the love at first site has remained. It's a great bike. Finally, you're the first person I've heard on a KZbin bike channel pronounce 'Wunderlich' properly!

[@NothingToProve]

🤣🤣 that's only because I'm currently living in Germany, so I hear it pronounced "correctly" all the time. Thanks for your input, it's always good to hear from other owners! take care, Scott

[@tedi6032]

Great review. I decided to go with the Tracer 9 GT. Thanks a lot for the comparison

[@acherouvis]

You review is spot on. I have a 2020 F900 XR, after 3000 miles I noticed spots on my garage floor. At first I thought no way can that be my F 900 XR. After closer look, I noticed the entire undercarriage had blue residue from the coolant. I notified the dealer and in turn they came and picked up the F900XR. I was told that the water pump went . It been going on 4 weeks , the dealer is still waiting for parts. I Checked BMW f 900 XR owner groups it seems that the water pump is a common problem. At first I thought the F 900 Xr was a well rounded bike. It has great handling, 51 mpg, low cost insurance, the riders mode and the TFT screen are amazing, fit and finish is second to none. I loved the bike. But after having a water pump go in 3000 miles and noticed that this was a common problem has turned me off to BMW. Another issue was finding neutral. I can't get into neutral from shifting up from first gear. The only way I can get into neutral is down from second. Other than the Tiger 900 , the F 900 XR is in a class of its own. I just wish my experience was different with this bike, it checked all the boxes.

[@JMeyer-qj1pv]

I feel like the manufacturers don't put their best stuff on their 900cc bikes, so I like the 900cc class only for naked bikes, but not for adv/sport touring. For adv/sport touring I think it's better to go for flagship bikes like the 1250 GS, Multistrada V4s, KTM 1290 SA, and then you don't get irked by the compromises of stuff like non-adjustable front suspension. But that's a higher cost route to go. I just had my KTM 1190 Adv in for it's big 18,600 mile service and the stealership hit me up for $2400 U.S. since I also needed a new front tire and the fork seals replaced. I bought it used for a reasonable price and love the bike, but the service cost sure ain't cheap.

[@fyorbane]

Wow. That's outrageous. I know KTM's parts and servicing are pricey but that is taking the mick.

[@Alan-bz1ed]

Thanks, I was seriously considering this bike but have decided to look elsewhere. I appreciate the owner viewpoint and headaches.

[@tonifuso71]

I love the seat of the xr, soft seats hurts me more than hard seats.I don't understand why there is no usb charging port on the cockpit, a 2020 sport tourer bike should have one.

[@maldridge7630]

cheap miserly infidels, constantly cutting cost :-|

[@rolan2dr]

Same thing happened to me with KTM. Condensation in my TFT and under warranty KTM said they’re not replacing it. They lost a customer. I’ll buy a Yamaha in the future.

[@SmokeyStoner]

Thanks for the video. This bike was on my bucket list as I have a dealer 2 miles away from me but I think I will now seriously reconsider.

[@doodle0007]

Scott I have the same issue with my XR, I ride a lot through mountains (home terrain) and sometimes I feel the rear brake petal is touching the pavement…

[@prep4evac]

Thanks for the honest review, not the first one I have seen re F900XR quality. Hope it works out, cheers from UK

[@cengizkurban]

I had an issue with getting the gear to Neutral. This problem was always there. I took the bike for the 10K maintenance and explain the problem that it was hard to get the gear to Neutral. BMW called the bike for inspection and decided to replace the gearbox and bowl free of charge. This issue was obviously a fabrication error and BMW makes a free of charge replacement.

[@DJDarkrobe]

Thanks for the feedback, good to know what to watch out for. I find that getting it going if I don't let the engine warm up that I can stall it out leaving in first gear right away, seems the clutch is very temperamental on start.

[@barryjmarling]

Great honest long term review.agree about the MRA screen,got one on my Bandit had one on my previous Transalp as well. 👍🏻

[@ewooll]

No bike is perfect, especially the budget ones. My SV650a drives like crap around town; so jerky, even dangerous when applying the throttle in the rain. But!.... it is totally on song at speed, and in 78,000 km it never broke down and left me stranded. So, be grateful for your bike getting you home each time. I'd never buy another SV, though. But i won't sell it, it will outlive me [unfortunately!], the engine sounds like new still.

[@ne21]

Excellent video, really enjoyed that and very informative. Thanks. Just purchased a Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports, we'll see how that turns out over time.

[@grizzlystr3445]

Great honest review, I’m looking at buying one shortly & given me plenty of food for thought 👍

[@marcinb2083]

I have to say this is a very sad state of affairs when a brand new bike (and not a budget one, too) has issues like this. No wonder people still buy Suzuki's SVs and V-Stroms.

[@ioandragulescu6063]

hear hear, happy with my v strom 650, chuging nicely over 20k kms in two years with 0 issues. At almost half the price as this F900

[@G91YS]

I love your reviews. I bought my Honda VFR800X Crossrunner in 2019, before the F900XR was announced. But even then, for the same price, the Honda seems such a higher quality, not all plasticy looking too. I'm at 24k km and not a single issue so far. But since the model has now been removed, there isn't any touring trail on Honda's catalogue (Africa Twin are oriented off-road)...

[@hawkwood6405]

I have had success improving rear brake performance by giving the brake rotor a thorough scrubbing with a scotch bright pad with isopropyl alcohol to remove the glaze and then replacing the brake pads with EBC double sintered pads. That can make a big difference, really. The noise you hear IMO is unlikely the valves, is is more likely the cam chain or possibly the clutch rattling. To test if it is clutch rattle, at an idle, pull in the clutch and put it in gear, then slightly load the clutch with the front brake applied. If the noise goes away it is certainly a rattling clutch. That doesn't mean it is defective, it just means the damping springs are a little loose, it is more annoying than anything. A defective hydraulic cam chain tensioner will rattle at first start then usually quickly go away as it pressurizes. If is is just normal cam chain noise for the model it will usually be quieter under light load and then louder upon deceleration/overrun.

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you!

[@manardh7387]

Never heard of anything like that. Valve noise happens frequently on all engines. Usually the mechanics tell people it's the nature of the beast. Not good to remove the valve lash, burn - BURN. I thought the same thing recently hearing an old BMW GS, it sounded like it would fly apart any minute.

[@maldridge7630]

I honestly believe this will work as it did on my leaky fork oil soaked new brake pads on 2013 Ninja 1000

[@alex230ro]

Sound like a valve noise , same noise on my F900R with only 200 km . No issues with rear brake or the quick shifter.

[@alex230ro]

Update, 1800km now noise almost disappeared , no problems with rear brake or the quickshifter - for the quickshifter is very important to read the manual :) .

[@markellott5620]

This is interesting. I've not come across the brake problems on my BMWs. My XR only has 4,000 miles so far, but certainly no sign of any issues there. That said, the clutch was grabby shortly after getting it and the dealer replaced the clutch without any quibble. Turned out it was one of a faulty batch. It's been fine since. On the TFT, I'd have got really stroppy. That said, I have an anti-theft bracket fitted, so it's protected and unlikely to be a problem. The quickshifter is the same as the RT - clunky. I think that they are never as smooth with twins as they are with multis. I generally don't use it.

[@BigChill73]

Quick shifter only after 3rd gear from my experience

[@vfortwins]

Hi Scott, I would like to ask, if you know, if any of these problems have been fixed in the 2024 models or just the colors changed and everything else is the same. I would also like to ask you if you think a transparent screen protector would protect the TFT from what is happening to you. I have ordered the new model 2024 in blue and would like to preempt any problems I have seen on you.The saddle is the first one I will replace with a hand made one from local shops that make double gel saddles for both driver and passenger. I'm afraid I won't avoid the issue of the brakes, but it may have been an isolated incident. Although, as you mention in the video, it is a general manufacturing error that they do in all models, so I predict that it will happen to me at some point. Thank you very much for your time!

[@WanderingDane]

Having owned an 2021 F900XR for 14 months and 18,000 miles (28,900 km), I agree with Scott about the poor rear brake, non-functional quick shifter and the hard seat, I ordered a Sargent replacement during the first week of ownership. But my experience of maintenance cost was much different than Scott's or for that matter compared to other Euro bikes that I have owned, exceptionally expensive at US $3,660 for dealer maintenance, tires and new chain and sprockets that I replaced myself at 10,000 miles (!). But worse yet, three water pumps replaced under warranty in 18,000 miles is unacceptable and so was the oil consumption: 3 quarts consumed in 550 miles (880 km) of moderate riding. Many parts of the bike are brilliant (ESA, instrument display, riding position, ease of handling, front brake performance and the hard bags). I bought my first BMW in 1980, this one will be my last; I replaced F900XR with a Yamaha Tracer 9GT.

[@chrishart8548]

Looks like you finally have all the parts you ordered with the bike.

[@Thorsten_Kueppers]

Very honest review👍🏻 The TFT issue and how BMW reacted to it is as arrogant as it gets. No words... And a bike for over 14k € should come with a working rear brake!

[@zrx12gs650g]

Thank you Scott for the video! I agree with your nitpicks.

[@532vs]

Wow, loved your honesty about the good things and the bad things. This will definitely help me in my purchase decision.

[@danmaria1239]

That's a shame, Scott. Your frustration is very apparent and rightfully so. The big question is...... What's the next bike gonna be?

[@xrhst0s2114]

First time i unrderstand a German that speeks English very good explanation and very good cinematography

[@TimRHillard]

Hey brother, what mic and video equipment are you using? Your video is very good quality as well as being entertaining.

[@NothingToProve]

Mic is a zoom & just a smart phone camera. Simple is sometimes the best answer 😌

[@mardelplatalimousines3423]

A well done en unbiased review.

[@pelegrinsamblas]

Thank you very much for the honest review ✌

[@m4ci3j72]

Man, I really understand Scott, you buy a new bike and you get ton of quirks like you would buy a used one. That's sad, unfortunately in my country BMW Service also likes to wash hands during warranty period when there is large repair cost. I don't think they should offer to replace (it would be nice ofc) but since we can't really tell with 100% certainty if it was mechanical issue or quality issue they should offer participation in cost. I know case when they refused warranty repair on very expensive k1600. The issue was that bike couldn't be turned off. They checked it but eventually refused to repair. After posting few videos on yt they finally helped the owner. It is really sad that you are good client when you buy a bike and then you are bad client when you demand for repair on warranty 😔

[@sergiuulici3908]

in my honest opinion...there is no Perfect motorcycle. but this xr900 would be 9.5/10. this is the only motorcycle that has so much tecnology on it and after all the extra packs i put on it today when i ordered it, the final price was 13.300 euros. i was between tracer 9 vs tiger 900 vs xr900. the yamaha is 810 mm height, to much for me and 14,500euros , the tiger pro 900 is 17.000 in my town, come on, to expensive, but this xr900 with the LOW SUSPENSION (50mm less) was only 13,300 . in my opinion BMW has a great engine, amazing tecnology, impressive TFT, and looks amazing. i know the seat is bad, not the best rear brake, but overall is an almost perfect machine. i am pretty sure that tiger 900 and the yamaha tracer 9gt has other kind of problems ... be happy with what you have in life, the main objective is to get up every morning and when you start the engine of your motorcycle , get a smile on your face.

[@JeanChristopheBch]

Thanks for the full review. Did you finally buy another confort seat ? And if yes, wich one ?

[@johnormsby9903]

Interestingly, I took a F900XR for a test ride and noted the rear brake was terrible (almost non existent). On another occasion I picked up my R1250R from the dealer after the 10,000 km service and the rear brake was absent, I could literally stand on the brake lever with no braking whatsoever, took the bike straight back to the dealer and 15 minutes later the braking system was back to normal. On a positive, I find BMW very good when it comes to any warranty claim and that is over 40 years of BMW ownership.

[@theeezog2428]

You are 👌🏾 awesome. You are calm even when you are mad... lol. Great reviews keep it up.Liked and subscribed all the way from South Africa.

[@johnrocker2986]

Good appraisal I own. The same machine but without the trick rear shock absorber but the noise and seat issue obviously effect all F900R and XR machines, I live in hope a replacement seat due to arrive Monday will cure the 40 min riding issue I have! Other than some small issues the general dynamics of the model are very good.

[@johnrocker2986]

The Wunderlicht seat has helped immensely.

[@johnrocker2986]

I've since sold my 2021 model but recently tried a 2023 model the difference is light and day, even the seat now is better, the engine also is smoother, in future I will wait before buying a new model!

[@sv7017]

Agree 100% My Top 3 annoying things on this bike are 1. Engine bells and whistles 2. Seat Comfort 3. Quickshifter But what really bothers me, is that BMW just doesnt give a Sh** about the OEM Seat, that is horrible, specially as a Tourer. After I had that infamous clutch issue, BMW replaced it and now the Quickshifter is little better. Last but not least, the maintenance costs here in Nuremberg are ... All the numbers you told what I payed without Tax. Im not amused.. 1.Service 200€ 2. Service 354€ BTW: That location is great, but you probably already know. I honestly thought that you would sell the bike for the new Tracer 9 GT, but seems not.

[@tonifuso71]

wow, here in north of Italy: 1 service for free 2 service 220€ The 1st could be related to the selling price of the bike, i mean maybe in Italy they sell the bike at a slightly superior price and you have the first service for free, but 354€ for the second are really a lot of money.

[@CorsairMaverick]

Hi NothingToProve, I know I am a year late to this video, but regarding the quickshifter issues: I'm studying this bike and learning about it and yesterday I read about it on the Italian online forums. It seems that a LOT of users have issues with the quickshifter, but that almost all of them were caused by a faulty clutch. People went 4 times to the dealership to fix the issue, until they admitted and accepted to change the clutch and users say that this fixes almost all the issues with the hard clutch (sometimes it was impossible to put it in neutral too). They say that it looks like it could be a "mass recall situation" that the company refuses to do, but that they now internally about it and so they do it only when the user requests it or that it needs to be done. Hope this helps, but I've just seen you traded it for the 1250 RT! Thanks and great videos!

[@grahamgraham4263]

Great to see this real life, post 10k km review of a bike purchased with your own money from someone who has ridden so many bikes.

[@JPHOT100]

I've got an S1000XR that I've done 16,000 miles on. Ok, so it has a lot of good points.... But the engine mechanical noise is just awful. On cold mornings it sounds like the cam chain is trying to escape. The rest of the time it sounds like a metal dustbin full of rusty bolts. But it all "normal" according to the dealer. Well, fair enough Mr Dealer, but the XR is my first and will be my last BMW.... I'm going to be buying a Kawasaki in November.

[@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff]

🤣 metal dustbin and rusty bolts - that’s the classic sound of an early 90’s Triumph!

[@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff]

That rear brake only is dead handy when riding with pillion, that’s a great shame.

[@clawbass888]

I'm F850GS owner, mileage is about 10k km now. Same complains, seat is not great, but I upgraded it with gel, worth it, costed about 100-120 euro for me in Russia. Quickshifter is not great too yes, had a ride on new S1000XR yesterday and OMG this QS on S1000XR is gorgeous! On 850GS it is rough but I use it on every gear up and down, it it designed to work like this, so ok. I talked with BMW guys about front suspension, the answer why they didn't make it ESA is the price and only price. So it is just as it is, they just not want to make F900XR and F850GS to cost 1000-2000 euro more. I had two problems on F850GS for 10000km: 1) That central traverse nut, big one in center near on off button had loosen a bit 2) Seat lock had broken All done by warranty.

[@eyeballpaul5028]

I have the same bike and have done 7000 miles , back brake has always been shocking. The dealer has been great to deal with. No brake problems but guess that can happen.I have done track days , long tours etc and it’s been a good bike. Quality of finish has been very good. That’s a shit attitude about the TFT gonna check mine now. My dealer is Roy Piddcock UK,

[@childofthe60s100]

Enough information to dissuade me from this bike, in which I was quite interested. I have had three Beemers and this lack of corporate support is an issue. Thank you for the heads up!

[@raywite6665]

There are certain callipers that require "burping" I've had to do it , you need to turn the unit up and down slowly to get the air to exit the unit, it finds a valley and hides from a standard brake bleed.

[@stevesanelli90]

Thanks for opening up Scott about your pride & joy. Every motorcycle has its shortcomings. But, the dealership is the primary place & the brand is the second. Because unless it’s a recall to save their bacon, it’s the dealership that can try to make changes. Perhaps, the rear master cylinder is too small for the load? The brake fluid boils being near the engine? Maybe the rear pads have glazed on them? Sometimes, if the brand doesn’t help you, then it’s time to help yourself without telling them!😉 The rear brake is very important in a sharp curve to wash off some speed especially in a tightening curve.🙌

[@tomtraynor5384]

So it's about like a KTM reliability-wise without the thrills, playfulness, punch, responsiveness and wheelies. ;)

[@disekjoumoer]

and KTM dealers have never been problematic in my experience.

[@SW-yz4fv]

You lost me at the wheelies…

[@mrriesen9004]

I never let dealers touch my cars or bikes for general maintenance, I don't need a hack apprentice screwing shit up. The first and last time a took my honda to the dealer for its "free" oil change I marked the filter and of course it was not changed. When a confronted the service manager he said Honda are so good the filter only needs to be changed every second change. Do your own fluid changes, its super easy and you will know its actually been done.

[@bigred8438]

The cost of servicing of my BMW R 1150 GS has always been a big problem for me. I have had services done that have cost me over Aus $1,500, primarily because they find something that is amiss like a fork seal, a wheel bearing etc. The first thing I replaced was the clutch servo unit and that was very expensive. Probably the biggest ongoing cost though of riding this bike since 2011, is the replacement of tyres as these get punctures regularly and cannot be repaired, even with low kms on them. That is very frustrating. I retired a few years ago and wondered if I would ever be able to afford the servicing costs for the BMW. As I mentioned in my response to your last video, I opted for a different bike instead. It is a costly exercise owning a BMW that is for certain.

[@roythompson6137]

BTW.. What's the brand/ model of those jeans your wearing ? Thanks!

[@mpimpaophoto2075]

As a BMW prospective customer... I consider this video public service. I have been hearing quite a few stories of BMW poor service and reliability (not to mention cost), which makes me treasure the good memories I have of Honda's reliability, in my 3 bike only experience. Thank you.

[@surferdude642]

I had a 2009 BMW F650GS Twin. It had a few problems and several recalls in the first year, fortunately all were minor and rectified. It was a really good bike to ride. I traded it in on a 2015 R1200r and it's been excellent so far. It seems that BMW has a better standard of quality for their higher end models.

[@aweson7302]

You should ride an old oil head you wanna talk about engine noise at idle lol, it’s just it’s character. My F800ST had some character too. I got to race a new electric Harley they other day, crazy fast and silent.

[@mabsbry1318]

Think it’s Bmw, not the brembo. My Ktm has brembo and it is set up well, no brake issues. Do you still have improving impressions of the bike or are you getting a bit fed up? Is the quality beginning to agitate? Excellent video, as normal so thank you.

[@JohnMFlores]

Thanks for this honest review

[@disekjoumoer]

I don't really understand BMW's customer approach. The Missenden Flyer and another English vlogger in Germany had similar problems with BMW service and warranty. It seems that BMW has become too big and complacent and no longer cares about customer retention. KTM is always the standard bearer of new bike technical problems but I've never heard of them treating their customers like this.

[@BlueAlgon]

Thanks for the video. Really nice shooting location. When I got my 750gs a year ago (almost), the engine sound/noise hit me right away, too. My hearing is very good and I don’t enjoy standing next to the idling bike. No problem once going, as you mention. How is the boxer engine compared?

[@mrswinkyuk]

I'm a long-term BMW rider. Since the early 1990's. I think BMWs have been over-rated for the last 15 years. For the price we pay for that badge I don't think they match Honda. They _definitely_ don't come near Triumph in fit, finish and quality. For the most part the dealers have been good at addressing issues, but that is usually down to the dealers being good advocates. BMW themselves can sometimes seem to be dismissive of the customer.

[@19motya69]

Thanks for the video. I have the same exact rear brake issue on my K1300S. At least now I know I’m not alone :). Good luck 👍

[@allans7281]

you have an eloquent way of speaking ! Just saw that Bike in person wow is it a looker. I also only use the rear brake if I’m on unstable terrain i.e. sand on payment etc and I want to I have no chance of the front wheel sliding out. If the rear wheel slides I can always recover I recently just rode the 2023 Harley sportster and it had no rear brake feel similar to yours . Your light on the subject opened my eyes I’m reluctant to buy a BMW now. You live in Germany you can just drive there and get a new part

[@arnomaas6452]

That has been a very useful video !

[@Bashe1965]

BMW and BRP products have constantly ranked near the bottom on quality and reliability over the past 15 or so years I’ve been keeping track, even lower than HD. Yamaha has had the top spot for years . The Boxer is quite expensive to work on versus the BRP products. I love all motorcycles and don’t have a favorite brand per say all brands have their quirks .😊