INSTANT CRUSH

BMW forays into the middleweight sports-tourer segment. And we totally dig it

- Janak Sorap

Every once in a while you get a motorcycle that just feels right in the very first few minutes of riding. The BMW F 900 XR is one of those bikes. My time with this motorcycle started at the dealership that’s located on the western side of Andheri, Mumbai, an area that is infamous for exasperating traffic jams. There’s ongoing road-repair work every 100 metres, and autorickshaws and two-wheelers scrambling to squeeze through every possible gap. One needs every trick in the book to make his way forward or be stuck forever in this congested maze.

Before I dived into the mess, my concern was the F 900 XR’s 825-mm seat height. Standing 5’7” and tip-toeing in bumper-to-bumper traffic is not what I wanted with a bike that costs ` 11 lakh! Thankfully, the seat is contoured so well it allowed me to reach the ground with firm footing on both sides. Phew! Well thought, BMW. Also, as I was making my way through gaps, I realised how slim and compact the motorcycle is. I was able to squeeze through the same openings that motorcycles 1/8th of the F 900 XR’s displacement and less than half the weight were clearing.

The reason for this agility is its excellent weight distribution. BMW may be new-ish to the middleweight sports-touring segment, but it’s been making bikes for nearly 100 years, after all. The weight is present in the bike’s lower half, while the raised fuel tank and the stepped seat along with the wide handlebar keeps you in the centre of the motorcycle. A place of zen for effortlessly manoeuvring a motorcycle.