Holy s**t - BMW F800S RRP $19k!!

[Motu]

What market..cheap? BMW price themselves on the market as they see fit.If you can't afford to buy one you can't have it.Why complain if you are a loser with no money?

[The Stranger:Me]

The ABS on them is bad and downright dangerous so you are better off without it!

On that model or on BMW's in general?
Why do you say they are dangerous?

[Quasievil]

Rode a F800 last week, worst piece of shit imaginable, gutless, vibrations, handling horrible, total crap !!

thats about all the best things I have to say about it

[Motu]

Well,that's pretty positive coming from you Quasi.

[sAsLEX]

On that model or on BMW's in general?
Why do you say they are dangerous?

That model, as a budget version , the ABS increased stopping distances by letting off rather big on a lock up instead of nice rapid pressure modulation.

[unhingedlizard]

What market..cheap? BMW price themselves on the market as they see fit.If you can't afford to buy one you can't have it.Why complain if you are a loser with no money?

Would have thought that was a perfect reason to complain.

My understanding is that this bike is an entry level machine to encourage more of the younger up-and-comers to have a brand that is more associated with the older generation.

[crshbndct]

the only bmw bike riders i know are one eyed homos

[Bonez]

Rode a F800 last week, worst piece of shit imaginable, gutless, vibrations, handling horrible, total crap !!

Hmmm so is my CX500, but apperenently they're attributes of a m/c with character don't you know.

[Bonez]

the only bmw bike riders i know are one eyed homos

I should introduce you to my father.

[MD]

Rode a F800 last week, worst piece of shit imaginable, gutless, vibrations, handling horrible, total crap !!

thats about all the best things I have to say about it

Your impression took me by surprise Quasi. I rode the ST today and really liked it. Grey colour - yuck. But the red S model in the shop - that's a stunner.
I pushed it as hard as you should on a borrowed shop bike and found heaps of lean angle, stable- especially with touring tyres on! Quick to turn in and change lines. Motor was pleasant shall we say, no mind blowing rushes of acceleration, but not a slug either. This bike pulls at the logical side of your brain (a first for me to discover I had such a brain function!). First gear wheelies are a breeze, I tried. Maybe 2nd but I would need to own the bike before trying more silly stuff.
I've not ridden a BMW but the switchgear operations were like second nature. All those practical bits appeal. Like a centrestand, hot grips, no oily chain, good luggage (OK, like all brands you pay extra), good dash layout with everything there.
Argh. Why am I always tempted by every shiny peice of new metal in a bike shop. The shop made me an offer I have to say made me ...well I'm tempted. Lucky for my spontaneous shopping habit that they only had a red S with ABS and some other extras that I don't want. So it cost about $18,900. At $17,300 for the base model without ABS I may have fallen victim to sponaneous buying again.
Might be a good thing to do more touring in comfort than racing around for a change....
Takes note- avoid walking past any more bike shops.

[scracha]

Your impression took me by surprise Quasi. I rode the ST today and really liked it. Grey colour - yuck. But the red S model in the shop - that's a stunner.

There was a chap on a bright yellow one in Te Aroha yesterday. They do look much nicer in "the flesh" than on paper. Sounded awful though....

Can someone tell Quasi that parallel twins are meant to vibrate.

[PZR]

the only bmw bike riders i know are one eyed homos

Are we to seriously respect the opinion of a 20 year old 250 rider
Is that because you hang out in mens toilets a lot after dark and speak from personal experiance?

[PZR]

My understanding is that this bike is an entry level machine to encourage more of the younger up-and-comers to have a brand that is more associated with the older generation.[/quote]

Im with you. The average age of a Beemer rider is in their late 50s early 60s.
Both companies are trying to atract younger riders with a new range of bikes. Look at the ads for the K1200 and R1200S. Guys doing wheelies and getting their knee down on ciy streets. Unfortunatly they are just too damn expensive compared to similar Jap models. I was talking With the guys at Newmarket about the new R1200S which I like and they were comparing it with the MV Augusta and Ducati range cause thats similar to where it falls price wise. But the latest AMCN did a comparo with the S, a unfaired SV1000, and a Firestorm. both of which are 12 to 13 grand cheaper. Someone at BMW must have been gutted.
I like the Beemers because of the service and backup and they have looked after me well with a problem where the japs would have told me to bugger off, so I'm a fan but the prices are just too high. Probably because
A/ They keep the prices high to go with that exclusive BMW market, (tho that argument falls apart in Germany where they are just an ordinary car)
B/ German's have one of the highest hourly wage rates in the world (do'nt mention the war) so that makes them expensive to manufacture.
But if you want to attract a young market you have to get to their price range.
The comparisons to do not stack up in BMW's favour Im sorry.
They will have to try harder

Oh by the way the average Harley rider is in his early to mid 60s so they have an even bigger problem cause all they have to offer a younger set is a Buell ( which is probably why they bought out Eric Buell) and while I like Buells as well they have their (shall I say) shortcomings????

[MD]

Yippee!!. Got the demo F800St for the long weekend. Don't you love shops that do that, give you a $19,000 machine to play on for a 5 day weekend.
I did the Gladstone hill area yesterday and must say this bike is growing on me fast. Bridgestone tyres are my pet hate and this baby has BT020 (touring) tyres.
Did the really tight blue mountain loop and this is where the bike shined. Turned with an ease and speed no 187kg bike has any right too. As I headed up a new-ish R1 follows me. Oh bugger I think, I'm not out to push a demo bike hard and now I have a boy racer on my tail with no doubt hopes of embarrassing me. Well bugger me after a few tight bends and he's disappeared from my mirrors. Next came the Takas that were soaked so it was a crawl and the wet confirmed my distrust of all things Bridgestone. Inexcusably slippery in the wet. My 636 with Pirellis would have run rings around me.
Anyway, back on to dry roads and time to enjoy what I liked about this 85hp puppy.
DISPLAY. My pet hate No. 2 about bikes - they should all have a gear indicator and the F800 dash has a beaut. So easy to read and lots of fun stuff to pass the time. Air temp! Cool, leave Tawa 15c , around Whitby 16c the Hutt drops to 10.5c and colder up the summit. Now you have proof when you 'feel' cold.
Other useful stuff like ave. fuel use etc.. And a fuel guage that seemed damn accurate. At a certain point when the fuel light comes on another display appears counting down how many kms you have left. I'm told by another BMW owner that this is very accurate to 'get off and push time'.
I am seriously thinking of changing to one of these bikes. On average country backroads it's as fast as I would usually ride a sportsbike, simple as that. If full race pace comes into play, sure then it's lack of ponies and not so sticky rubber will be the limiting factor- eventually, and not by much. But the test was sweeping around bends I usually take at about 160kph and doing the same speed on the BMW without any drama.
FUEL. I did 290 km yesterday of thrashing it and still haven't had to re-fill the tank. It is down to 18km left but it was a fast day of thrashing it. Let's not mention the average speeds, those who ride with me sometimes have an idea. Lets just say there was no way I was going for an economy run. So to get 300kms out of 16 litres- FAST riding up and down hills is bloody fantastic.
I now believe one test claim that at 90kph it will travel 470km on a tank.
LEAN. This thing leans brilliantly and the suspension does a top job. I kept thinking how fast this would be over hills if I had Pirrellis - that I personally get more confidence out off. This bike is just as much fun on hills as the sportsbikes I've owned. The twin motor provides instant go when it's time to overtake.
ABS- well not on my Christmas want list but have to reluctantly say it works a treat. Weird feeling when the foot pedal starts pumping your foot up and down as it releases-enguages-releases... Does seem to stop a bike very quickly and works safely while cranked over. (Bugger it, I wanted to rubbish this as technology for technologies sake)
These observations are all my personal taste so who cares what others think but I like the look of the bike, I like the comfort without giving away any ability to ride bloody fast. No I wouldn't even bother trying it on a track day- 85hp is just not going to cut the mustard. I like the odd ball aspects like tank under seat, belt drive. I like the luxury of full info display, factory built in heated grips that work a treat! A CENTRE STAND, shit are they handy or what and this one does not touch down in corners. I'd attach some pics but all I have are from other official sites - see mcnews.com.au for a full test and lots of pics if interested.
Oh and Speedking jumped on it and immediately takes off through the gears on one wheel. Then rides up his long curving driveway in a standup wheelie. Stoppies are not going to happen with ABS but we all know a certain world champion stuntsmaster who uses a F800.
To me it's a well put together package but I still think BMW are asking too much but I'm weakening. Another tank full ride and I might be convinced.

[Highlander]

Good write up MD.

I like the look of the R1200st in the flesh, but think the photos look naff.
I too have issues with price.
I'm not yet at the test riding stage but am looking at options for my next bike.
Reality is I could have a Blackbird AND Hornet for similar money to the R1200 (listed $28000 ish)

Or a Triumph Sprint ST, new (his and Hers) leathers, Luggage, keep my current bike and still have money left over.

Give it a couple of years and see what happens.