The New BMW F 900 R Looks Like It Was Made For Captain America

BMW Motorrad has just pulled the covers off of its 2025 F 900 road bikes, and I’m sorry, I just can’t wrap my head around the Sport colorway on the F 900 R. It’s loud, eye-catching, and maybe even gaudy. It immediately reminds me of Captain America’s colors, and quite frankly, looks like something he would ride in some low-budget spinoff…only it isn’t American, like at all.

Now, I get it. BMW's trying to attract younger riders into the fold, perhaps folks who like loud and lively colorways that are sort of, but not really, reminiscent of BMW's racing colorways. And regardless of how I feel about the new F 900 R's colorway, there's no denying that beneath the surface, the 2025 F 900 road bikes mean business.  

You see, like before, the German company’s middleweight models are rocking engines made by Chinese motorcycle giant Loncin. For 2025, the punchy parallel twin has been refined with some extra electronics. It now comes equipped with an as-standard Dynamic riding mode and traction control, allowing riders to make the most out of its 105 ponies and 69 pound-feet of torque.

And given the styling update and the new electronics package, maybe this is exactly what BMW’s going for with the 2025 F 900R. Maybe it wants to give it some character development and transform it from a well-mannered, middleweight naked bike into a wheelie-popping hooligan.

But hey, if you’re not a fan of the loud colorway, BMW offers the 2025 F 900 R in more “sensible” colors, too. Triple Black and Snapper Rocks Blue Metallic trims continue to be optional for the updated middleweight naked bike.

And if you’re a bit on the more senior side of the spectrum, or perhaps you’re just looking for a bike to go long-distance touring on while still being able to tackle the twisties at a spirited pace, the F 900 XR is back for 2025, boasting all the same updates as that of the F 900 R. It gets adaptive headlights, a USB-C charging port, and even heated grips for extra long-distance convenience.

Like the F 900 R, the XR is also powered by a punchy twin that’s been sweetened with as-standard Dynamic mode and traction control. Like its naked sibling, it also receives ABS Pro and Dynamic Brake Control as standard—something a lot of folks who got the previous generation model missed out for if they didn’t opt for it as an optional extra.

Lastly, both the R and XR have been put on a diet, shedding weight by rocking a set of new wheels which BMW says is 3.97 pounds lighter than the previous generation. The bikes also get a new battery, which is claimed to be 1.7 pounds lighter than before. The bikes are underpinned by new suspension bits, too, with a revised upside-down telescopic fork with adjustable rebound as standard.

So yeah, all in all, BMW’s 2025 F 900 R and XR just might capture the attention they’ve been looking for for years. They’ve pretty much been overshadowed by other players in the game—bikes like the Yamaha MT-09, Ducati Multistrada, and Triumph Street Triple stole the spotlight thanks to their value, tech, and performance. But now, maybe BMW’s clean and surgical approach will finally pay off.

Only time will tell.