Test rode a BMW F900XR/Stonesies next new bike

[Monty]

The next time I buy a bike I'm going to get you to buy it first and own it for a few weeks

[Stonesie]

I always leave bikes better than I find them

KTM, Kawasaki and sprint all got new front discs and pads

[kiwikrasher]

The next time I buy a bike I'm going to get you to buy it first and own it for a few weeks

But it won't have the rear shock changed out for a race grade and a higher profile rear tyre fitted

[Cav]

Today I had a ride down to Wisbech to see Alistair of Else made seats, 215 miles up and down the A1 to get a gel pad put in the XR's seat because the foam is pretty hard, so much so that a proper foam saw struggled with it.

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The result? MUCH better but still a chore to do 100 miles on the motorway non-stop, If I want better comfort then it's a full custom seat to get rid of that factory foam.

100 miles? I was in pain from 5 miles on the motorway with my ZX6R! But I could do 300 miles a day every weekend if it was on A and B roads

[Stonesie]

Todays mod was a paint protection kit after a nice 3 hour ride and a good wash... Not an easy one to photograph.

I also fitted the tanklock ring and flipped the gps mount as it wouldn't let me fit a tank bag.

[Kwacky]

I need to put the protection kit on the SX

[Stonesie]

Today turned in to a tinker day after laying under the car for a bit, trying to find an intermittent clonking noise which turned out to be the spare wheel...

I fitted a sat-nav relocation kit to put it above the dash, re-routing the cable took a while as it's a job for baby hands and I don't have those. And I fitted the GIVI tinted screen which looks like it will do a good job, might give it a test run after dinner... and get it filled up

[Stonesie]

Today I fitted the GIVI top box rack which should have been sooo easy, 4 bolts to remove the factory pannier frame and bolt a couple of plates in it's place then 4 more bolts for the arms, 6 for the ebay bargain aluminium top box plate. Should take all of 15 minuets including a cup of coffee I thought

One of the 4 factory bolts had about half a bottle of thread lock on it and took an age to get out working it back and forth as I was very aware that it is threaded in to aluminium, other than way more finesse than expected being required it went well.


So what better to do on such a fine October Sunday then a run to the coast with some friends, they decided I was leading to see what the little XR could do. It did very well setting a decent pace and dispatching slow cars with ease when the chimp on it's back remembered that 6th is not this bikes ideal overtaking gear, 3rd or 4th work way better




I was pleasantly surprised at just how evenly matched this bike is with Sergio's V-Strom 1000 Our friends on IL4's (Z900 and Hyabusa) got left behind in the twistys as the twins grunted from corner to corner, soon caught up on the straights though

[duke63]

It's a smart looking bike, Stonesie. Hope to get to see it next spring.

[Perkles]

Yes that’s a pretty bike

[kiwikrasher]

Does look smick!

[Frankie]

Cant remember if i have said or not, but i booked one for a little test while mine goes in for a service next month

[Stonesie]

Today I refitted the rear wheel with a new Road 5 tyre thanks to an unrepairable puncture and fitted some hand guards which look like OEM

Then up to meet a friend for a ride to Bridlington to pick up another part I bought online, a spray catcher that sits behind the rear tyre.

I took a quick snap at Fimber Cafe on the way home.


The only negative so far is my own fault, the givi screen is causing some strange buffeting so has to go, lots of people recommend the same one, the MRA Vario so that's on my Christmas list

[Cav]

Windscreens and buffeting are a strange thing mate. Sometimes the smaller screen is the better one. It all depends on the individual rider.

Glad you got a tyre sorted.. enjoy ridding it of the chicken strips haha

[Stonesie]

Thanks to the "sport" dash mode I know that I got up to 35° both left and right, not bad for the first ride on new rubber .

It's a fun bike to throw around and is doing what I want, more corner speed, my powerful bikes were making me lazy in that regard.

[Kwacky]

38/41 are my high scores on the SX. I won't be beating those until the spring.

[Stonesie]

Today the bike got a good foamy wash to get all the mud off from the last ride, that's the down side of sticking to minor roads this time of year




Then found the torque settings for the top/rear engine mounts so I could fit the Hepco & Becker engine bars and bungs, then the MRA screen. The GIVI was worth a try but I got too much buffeting at speed.

[Stonesie]

I thought I might update this now that I have the seat back from Else Made.



Only done 2 rides on it and I am having to get used to it all over again, so far it seems much better than the factory plank so I'm happy with it

The next mod will be a Radiator guard tomorrow, I got one from Evotech as I love the quality of their products and then on Wednesday the bike is in for it's 1 year service at a disappointing 2600 miles I need to get more riding in this year.

My biggest decision is which of the demo bikes I will take out for a few hours, I'm thinking a boxer, R1250R or the GS

[Kwacky]

The seat works really well.

I think most of us are guilty when it comes to the low miles

[Stonesie]

No demo ride today so I'm just sat sipping free coffee listening to a couple of other BMW owners, chatting about money in amounts that I've never had like it's nothing. I moved outside when they started laughing about people who have to finance nice bikes.

I'm still wincing at refilling my car yesterday, £95.55

Might bug my friendly salesman for a ride on the GS Adventure just to get away from that pair.