So what did I like, bearing in mind that I am mostly comparing it to the Sprint ST.
The riding position is relaxed but not full on adventure bike and it's easy to handle at below walking pace with a good turning circle.
That dash is the best in the business, clear and informative although the sport display showing your max lean angle does make me try for a new high score (35° each way seemed reasonable for damp roads). I find the controls and menus easy and intuitive to navigate through.
The handling is nice, it seems to soak up the bumps well while handling in a confident and predictable manner, impressive for totally non adjustable forks paired with an active rear shock on this one and the brakes are very powerful, it also feels light on it's feet without ever getting unstable although I didn't go into triple digits.
I also liked the V-Twin sounds coming from that 270° parallel twin, the engine character in general pleased me and there was very little vibration.
Anything I didn't like?
The brakes overheated in the hilly areas whilst keeping pace with Sergio on his V-Strom 1000, he really does treat that thing like a big supermoto. They did get better again as the ride progressed as I occasionally gave them some hammer.
The engine is quite tappety sounding, all 3 demo's they had were all the same so it's probably just how these engines are, an exhaust will help.
Oh yeah just one other gripe, the standard seat is very firm and ok for an hour or so, after that it's just no good and not being a full on adv riding position standing on the pegs feels a bit awkward.
Other stuff
The screen was the taller one, the Red/Silver gets a shorter sport screen, so it was best in the down position, Up caused a bit of buffeting on my helmet on the motorway but less noise so I just ducked down a little.
Fuel economy is boring but with a smaller 15.5 Litre tank it is good that it will get into the 50's mpg even with spirited riding by a chimp, when I topped up the tank the range said 215 miles, very useful amount of range.
Also aftermarket accessories are reasonably priced, for the price of a BMW luggage set I could get.
Givi mount for my top box
Pair of SHAD panniers (SHAD make the BMW stuff)
MIVV exhaust
Re padded seat
Did I order one today?
No
They have my unicorn in and I just have to try it before I commit to a 900, a Black R1250RS with all the options and a Full Ti Akrapovic exhaust, even the headers look gorgeous, no luggage though
But it's the same price as a spec'd up F900XR which in black, I might not get until April.
