BMW F 900 GS Review: Specs, South African Price, and Whether to Buy New or Used
The F 900 GS is the bike BMW sells to riders who want a GS that will actually go off-road without weighing a quarter of a ton. It replaced the F 850 GS in 2024 with 42cc more, 10 kW more and 14 kg less, and it has been in South African showrooms for over a year, so there are now local tests and used examples to judge it by.
BMW Motorrad South Africa lists it from R253,450, with the bigger-tanked F 900 GS Adventure from R250,300. This is what the bike is, what South African and British testers found, and how it compares with the Ténéré 700, the Transalp and the new wave of cheaper rivals.
This is a research based review. Scooter125 has not ridden the F 900 GS and the bike was not supplied by BMW or a dealer. Specifications come from BMW Motorrad South Africa and BMW’s press release. Riding impressions come from AutoTrader South Africa’s test of the Enduro Pro, ZA Bikers’ test of the F 900 GS Adventure and Bennetts BikeSocial’s launch review in Spain. The running cost sums are our own, at the October 2026 fuel price. BMW prices are “from” prices and the options add up quickly, so get a written quote.
What you need to know first
The F 900 GS is an 895cc parallel twin adventure bike making 77 kW (105 hp) at 8,500 rpm and 93 Nm at 6,750 rpm. It weighs 219 kg fully fuelled, has an 870 mm seat, a 14.5 litre tank, a 21 inch front wheel and 230 mm of fork travel. BMW claims about 4.4 litres per 100 km.
BMW Motorrad South Africa lists the F 900 GS from R253,450 and the F 900 GS Adventure, with a 23 litre tank, more weight and more comfort, from R250,300. Both come with BMW’s five-year warranty in South Africa. Three styles are offered: Basic in Blackstorm metallic, Passion, and GS Trophy in white and Racing Blue.
The tests agree that the 900 is a big step up from the 850: lighter, stronger, better off-road and better equipped. The reservations are the same in each: the base price is only the start, the plastic bodywork feels less solid than the old steel-tanked bike, and it is good at everything rather than brilliant at one thing.
What changed from the F 850 GS
BMW calls it a new bike and the numbers back that up:
- Engine up from 853cc to 895cc, with a bigger bore, forged pistons and 13.1:1 compression. Power up 10 kW to 77 kW; torque up to 93 Nm, spread wider and peaking later.
- Weight down 14 kg to 219 kg: a plastic fuel tank saves 4.5 kg, a new rear subframe 2.4 kg, an Akrapovič titanium silencer 1.7 kg, with a lighter swingarm and battery making up the rest.
- Suspension: a new 43 mm Showa upside-down fork with 230 mm of travel, up from 204 mm, and a more adjustable rear shock.
- Electronics: cornering ABS Pro and traction control standard, with a 6.5 inch TFT.
- Ergonomics: the seat is 10 mm taller, the bars 15 mm higher and the footpegs lower, for a better standing position; the rear brake lever is higher with a folding tip.
- Equipment: heated grips, hand guards, enduro footpegs, the Akrapovič silencer, a new LED headlight and a phone holder are standard.
- Tank half a litre smaller at 14.5 litres.
Bennetts summed it up as a significant improvement with better road manners and more composed off-road performance, and a more premium feel than the 850.
The 895cc twin
The engine is the same 895cc parallel twin BMW uses in the F 900 R and F 900 XR, with a 270/450 degree firing interval that gives it a V-twin beat, two balance shafts, and in this tune 77 kW at 8,500 rpm and 93 Nm at 6,750 rpm.
Every tester praised it. Bennetts called it smooth and torquey with a useful midrange punch, strong in the first three gears off-road and effortless when overtaking two-up and loaded. AutoTrader found the low-down torque useful on gravel and said the spread lets you accelerate hard even a gear or two high. ZA Bikers called it punchy, smooth and characterful, with linear, unfussy delivery, and noted that it feels a little less quick than 77 kW suggests because it is so benign.
The one niggle, from Bennetts, is a slightly sharp throttle pick-up from closed in Enduro Pro mode. Power builds smoothly after that.
At Highveld altitude a naturally aspirated engine loses roughly 15 percent of its power, so in Gauteng this is about a 65 kW bike. That still leaves it ahead of a Transalp or Ténéré at the coast.
Chassis, suspension and brakes
The frame is a steel bridge type with the engine as a stressed member, a 1,585 mm wheelbase and a 21 inch front wheel on spokes with a 17 inch rear. The fuel tank sits under the seat, which keeps the weight low.
The standard fork is a 43 mm Showa upside-down unit with 230 mm of travel; the rear shock adjusts for preload and rebound. The Enduro Pro package replaces both with a fully adjustable 45 mm Showa fork in gold and a fully adjustable Sachs shock with a remote reservoir, and adds 24 mm handlebar risers and an M Endurance chain. AutoTrader tested that version and called the Showa suspension excellent off-road and smooth on the road, with enough adjustment for a passenger.
The brakes are twin 305 mm front discs with Brembo calipers and a 265 mm rear, with cornering ABS Pro. Bennetts found the ABS unobtrusive on the road and helpful on rough surfaces; in Enduro Pro it eases off at the front and disengages at the rear.
The standard tyres are Metzeler Karoo 4, a proper 50/50 adventure tyre. AutoTrader found them poor on tar, which is the price of that off-road grip. A road-biased owner will want a Karoo Street or similar.
How it rides, on tar and on dirt
On tar, Bennetts found the bike composed on rough roads, more stable the faster it went, and surprisingly nimble for a 21 inch front wheel. ZA Bikers described the Adventure’s steering as neutral and predictable and its road manners as near perfect, but found the handling competent rather than exciting. AutoTrader called the standard bike quick and nimble enough for the city but said it leans towards off-road use.
Off-road is where the 900 earns its keep. Bennetts said the front end feels confident and does not wash out or push wide, with the standard set-up soft for extreme riding but friendly for most owners. AutoTrader found it light on its feet on trails and singled out Enduro Pro mode. Traction control can be adjusted on the move, which Bennetts noted helps both beginners and experts.
Comfort is good without being exceptional. The riding position is spacious, the bars wide, and cruise control makes highway work easy; the seat is firm for a 500 km day, and the standard screen does not adjust. ZA Bikers found the Adventure’s wind protection and comfort strong.
F 900 GS or F 900 GS Adventure?
BMW sells two bikes under this name and they suit different riders.
- F 900 GS: 219 kg, 14.5 litre tank, Akrapovič silencer, enduro pegs and a short screen. The lighter, sharper bike for gravel and trails.
- F 900 GS Adventure: about 246 kg, a 23 litre tank, a bigger fairing and screen, an aluminium engine guard and a plusher seat. The touring bike, with the range for the Northern Cape.
In South Africa the Adventure is listed from a lower price than the standard bike, R250,300 against R253,450, because it does without the Akrapovič silencer and some of the standard bike’s off-road kit. ZA Bikers’ test of the Adventure found it beautifully balanced, comfortable and well equipped, but asked whether the plastic shrouds and fairing would survive a crash or ten years of corrugations as well as the old steel-tanked bike did.
The honest rule: if most of your riding is loaded, two-up or long distance, buy the Adventure. If you ride solo and want the bike that goes off-road best, buy the standard bike with the Enduro Pro package.
Electronics, packages and the options trap
Standard on both bikes: Rain and Road riding modes, cornering ABS Pro, Dynamic Traction Control, a 6.5 inch TFT with phone connectivity, heated grips, LED lighting and an adjustable gear lever. The important extras are sold as packages:
- Riding Modes Pro adds Dynamic and Enduro modes, Enduro Pro, engine drag torque control and Dynamic Brake Control.
- Dynamics package adds Riding Modes Pro and the up and down quickshifter.
- Enduro Pro package (F 900 GS): the adjustable Showa fork and Sachs shock, bar risers and the M Endurance chain.
- Ride Pro package (Adventure): cruise control, keyless ride, navigation preparation, auxiliary LED lights, Riding Modes Pro, the quickshifter, a case holder and the chain. ZA Bikers quoted it at R43,700.
- Dynamic ESA electronic suspension, on the Adventure.
This is where BMW pricing bites. Bennetts’ road-spec test bike was about 18 percent over the base price in Britain and the off-road one about 26 percent over. AutoTrader’s Enduro Pro test bike was R271,000 against R253,150 for the base at the time. ZA Bikers added the Ride Pro pack and luggage to the Adventure and passed R300,000. Decide which package you need before you walk in, because the base bike has no quickshifter, no cruise control and only two modes.
Seat height and comfort
The standard seat is 870 mm. BMW offers seats from 815 mm to 890 mm, and the Adventure can be specified lower, which ZA Bikers said makes it manageable for shorter riders. The bike is narrow where your legs go down, and the low-slung tank helps.
The standing position was praised in every test, which is what the taller bars and lower pegs were for. Seated, the position is roomy. The firm seat and the fixed screen are the two things most owners change.
Price and availability in South Africa
BMW Motorrad South Africa lists the 2026 F 900 GS from R253,450 and the 2027 F 900 GS Adventure from R250,300, with finance offers and test rides on both pages. Both carry BMW’s five-year warranty in South Africa, which no rival matches. BMW’s site warns that some standard and optional equipment is in short supply worldwide and that delivery dates should be confirmed when ordering.
For reference, AutoTrader quoted R253,150 for the F 900 GS, R288,700 for the Adventure and R271,000 for the Enduro Pro in April 2025, so the standard bike’s price has barely moved in 18 months and the Adventure’s base price has come down.
At the base price the F 900 GS costs about the same as a Yamaha Ténéré 700 and R40,000 more than a Honda Transalp. The CFMoto 1000MT-X, with more power and more standard equipment, is about R55,000 less. BMW’s answers are the dealer network, the warranty and the resale value.
See the BMW adventure bikes for sale on Scooter125.
Buying one used
Because the F 900 GS has been on sale here since 2024 there are already used examples on Scooter125, with 2024 and 2025 bikes listed from around R182,000 with low mileage. That is a R70,000 saving on a bike with the balance of a five-year warranty, which is the strongest argument ZA Bikers made against buying new.
What to check: that the Enduro Pro or Ride Pro package is actually fitted if the price assumes it (look for the gold fork and the remote-reservoir shock), the condition of the plastic tank shrouds and fairing after any drop, chain and sprocket wear, and that the service book shows the 10,000 km services at a BMW dealer, which keeps the warranty intact.
The older F 850 GS and F 800 GS are also on the site from around R100,000 to R180,000. They are heavier and slower but have the steel tank and a long record of durability, and for a gravel-road tourer that is not a bad trade.
What it costs to run
Petrol is at a record. The October 2026 adjustment, effective 7 October, took inland 95 unleaded to about R30 a litre.
BMW claims about 4.4 litres per 100 km. Bennetts averaged about 5.2 on a brisk road test, and that is the figure to plan with. We have used 5.0.
- A full 14.5 litre tank costs about R435; the Adventure’s 23 litre tank about R690.
- Range is roughly 290 km on the standard bike and about 460 km on the Adventure.
- Fuel costs about R1.50 a kilometre.
- A 40 km round-trip commute costs about R60 a day, or roughly R1,320 over 22 working days.
Services are every 10,000 km or 12 months. BMW dealer servicing is not cheap, but the five-year warranty depends on it and the dealer network is the biggest in the country. The 21 inch front and 17 inch rear are standard adventure sizes with wide tyre choice.
Licence requirements in South Africa
South Africa has two motorcycle licence codes. Code A1 covers bikes up to 125cc from age 16. Code A covers everything else from age 18. The F 900 GS needs a full Code A, and a car licence does not cover it.
This is a bike for a rider with some experience. It is tall, it weighs 219 kg and it makes 77 kW. A rider coming off a 310 or a 450 will find it friendly thanks to the electronics; a complete beginner should look at the F 450 GS instead. Our guide to what a motorbike licence costs in South Africa covers the fees and the tests.
F 900 GS versus the alternatives
South African prices below are importer list prices or Scooter125 listings at the time of writing.
Yamaha Ténéré 700
Listed from about R259,950. A 689cc twin with 54 kW and a reputation for being unbreakable. The Yamaha has far less power and far fewer electronics and costs about the same as the base BMW. It is the simpler, tougher bike; the BMW is the faster, more comfortable one. See the Yamaha motorbikes for sale.
Honda XL750 Transalp
Listed new on Scooter125 from around R215,000. A 755cc twin with 67 kW, softer suspension and a more road-biased set-up. It is about R40,000 cheaper than the BMW and the better commuter; the BMW is the better bike on dirt. See the Honda adventure bikes for sale.
CFMoto 1000MT-X
Advertised at R199,900 with 83 kW, KYB suspension, Brembo brakes and a quickshifter, cruise control and heated grips all standard. On paper it beats the BMW at R55,000 less. What it lacks is BMW’s dealer network, warranty and resale record. Read our CFMoto 1000MT-X review.
Ducati DesertX
Advertised at about R323,000, the DesertX is the premium option: an 890cc V-twin, fully adjustable KYB suspension and far better off-road ability than the BMW, for R70,000 more. Read our Ducati DesertX review.
KTM 890 Adventure R and Triumph Tiger 900 Rally
The two bikes Bennetts compared the BMW with directly. The KTM is the more serious off-road bike with better suspension; the Triumph has a smoother triple and more comfort. Check current South African pricing with KTM and Triumph, as both change often. We covered the Triumph range in our Tiger 900 Alpine and Desert editions piece.
Full specifications
| Engine | 895cc parallel twin, liquid-cooled, DOHC, eight valves, 270/450 degree firing interval |
| Bore and stroke | 86 mm x 77 mm |
| Compression ratio | 13.1:1 |
| Power | 77 kW (105 hp) at 8,500 rpm |
| Torque | 93 Nm at 6,750 rpm |
| Gearbox | Six-speed; up and down quickshifter optional |
| Clutch | Wet multi-plate, slipper |
| Frame | Steel bridge frame, engine as a stressed member |
| Front suspension | Showa 43 mm upside-down fork, 230 mm travel (45 mm fully adjustable with Enduro Pro) |
| Rear suspension | Monoshock, preload and rebound adjustable (fully adjustable Sachs with Enduro Pro; Dynamic ESA optional on Adventure) |
| Front brakes | Twin 305 mm discs, Brembo calipers |
| Rear brake | 265 mm disc |
| ABS | BMW Motorrad ABS Pro (cornering) |
| Wheels and tyres | Spoked, 21 inch front and 17 inch rear; Metzeler Karoo 4 |
| Wheelbase | 1,585 mm |
| Seat height | 870 mm (815 mm to 890 mm with options) |
| Kerb weight | 219 kg (F 900 GS); about 246 kg (Adventure) |
| Fuel tank | 14.5 litres (F 900 GS); 23 litres (Adventure) |
| Fuel consumption | About 4.4 l/100 km claimed; 5.2 measured by Bennetts |
| Instruments | 6.5 inch TFT with connectivity |
| Riding modes | Rain and Road standard; Dynamic, Enduro and Enduro Pro with Riding Modes Pro |
| Service interval | 10,000 km or 12 months |
| Warranty | Five years in South Africa |
| Styles | Basic (Blackstorm metallic), Passion, GS Trophy |
| South African price | F 900 GS from R253,450; F 900 GS Adventure from R250,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is the BMW F 900 GS in South Africa?
BMW Motorrad South Africa lists the F 900 GS from R253,450 and the F 900 GS Adventure from R250,300. Those are base prices; the Enduro Pro, Dynamics and Ride Pro packages add between about R15,000 and R45,000.
How much power does the F 900 GS have?
77 kW, which is 105 hp, at 8,500 rpm, and 93 Nm at 6,750 rpm. That is 10 kW more than the F 850 GS it replaced.
What is the difference between the F 900 GS and the F 900 GS Adventure?
The standard bike weighs 219 kg, has a 14.5 litre tank, an Akrapovič silencer and off-road ergonomics. The Adventure weighs about 246 kg, has a 23 litre tank, a bigger fairing and screen and an engine guard, and is the touring version.
Is the BMW F 900 GS good off-road?
Yes. A 21 inch front wheel, 230 mm of fork travel, Enduro Pro mode and a low fuel tank make it one of the more capable bikes in its class on dirt, and the Enduro Pro package with fully adjustable suspension takes it further.
What is the seat height of the F 900 GS?
870 mm as standard, with BMW seat options from 815 mm to 890 mm.
How far will the F 900 GS go on a tank?
About 290 km from the 14.5 litre tank at a realistic 5 litres per 100 km. The Adventure’s 23 litre tank gives about 460 km.
Does the F 900 GS have a quickshifter and cruise control?
Not as standard. The quickshifter comes with the Dynamics package and cruise control is an option or part of the Adventure’s Ride Pro package.
What warranty does the F 900 GS have in South Africa?
Five years, unlimited distance, with roadside assistance, provided it is serviced at a BMW dealer.
The verdict
The F 900 GS fixed what was wrong with the F 850 GS. It is lighter, stronger, better suspended and better equipped, and every tester found it easy to ride fast on gravel and composed on tar. With the Enduro Pro package it is a genuinely capable off-road bike, and with the Adventure’s big tank it is a genuine tourer. The five-year warranty and the dealer network are worth real money in a country this size.
The reservations are honest ones. It is good at everything rather than brilliant at anything, as Bennetts put it. The base price buys a bike without a quickshifter, cruise control or the good suspension, and the packages push it past R280,000 quickly. The plastic bodywork is lighter than the old steel tank but ZA Bikers doubted it would age as well. And the market has moved: the CFMoto 1000MT-X offers more for R55,000 less, and a used F 900 GS with warranty left is R70,000 cheaper than a new one.
For the rider who wants a GS that goes off-road, can be serviced in any big town, and will hold its value, it is the right bike. Decide between the standard and the Adventure by how you ride, choose the package before you visit the dealer, and look at the used ones first. Then compare them with the adventure bikes for sale on Scooter125.
Sources referenced
- BMW Motorrad South Africa, F 900 GS and F 900 GS Adventure model pages: prices, specification, warranty
- BMW Group South Africa press release, “BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW F 900 GS, F 900 GS Adventure and F 800 GS”, 7 September 2023
- BMW Motorrad USA, F 900 GS model page
- AutoTrader South Africa, Lawrence Minnie, “BMW F900 GS (2024) review”, 22 April 2025
- Bennetts BikeSocial, Adam Child and Ben Purvis, “2024 BMW F 900 GS review”, 28 February 2024
- ZA Bikers, Harry Fisher, “BMW F 900 GS Adventure test: more questions than answers”, 10 October 2024
- BMW F 900 GS, F 850 GS and F 800 GS listings on Scooter125; Yamaha, Honda and CFMoto dealer pricing
- Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, October 2026 fuel price adjustment
