BMW F800GS - first test review

**ducatijim** · 21st February 2008, 10:58

Originally Posted by Pex Adams

I really don't want to know how you came to see a yellow calfshit, but can't help but ask????

Well, as an agricultural kinda guy, I get to work amongst more shit in a day, than you will dump in your lifetime

So....I consider myself as an expert, a kind of ambassador for the stuff if you like-there is probably NOTHING I couldn't tell you about the various grades of bovine excrement.

**clint640** · 21st February 2008, 12:10

They do look nice! Good to see a bit of a performance injection in the mid weight adv bike range, lots of grunt, better suspension, proper 21" front & a similar weight to the old 650GS has got to be good, especially when other brands are going heavier & more 'roady' with the likes of the new Transalp etc.

Originally Posted by cooneyr

F800GS for $18-19k vs KTM 990 ADV or ADV S for $23.5 or $24 respectively. I think the pricing of the F800GS is a little off - I'm pretty sure I would for the KTM for those prices. Of course there would be plenty of test riding first though

Cheers R

Yeah, but BMW seem to sell most of their stuff for 5k more than the opposition. An R1200GS is around $30K, the G650X-Challenge: $17K vs it's closest competitor the Husky TE610 at $12K. Mind you I think there are quite a few X-Challenges sitting around unsold.

Cheers
Clint

**Mr Triple** · 21st February 2008, 20:29

Originally Posted by peachvw

What will they cost?

I've only got two kidneys

I went into Canterbury Rides and they said around $20000 and be here later inthe year

**pampa** · 21st February 2008, 20:55

Originally Posted by clint640

They do look nice! Good to see a bit of a performance injection in the mid weight adv bike range, lots of grunt, better suspension, proper 21" front & a similar weight to the old 650GS has got to be good, especially when other brands are going heavier & more 'roady' with the likes of the new Transalp etc.

Yeah, but BMW seem to sell most of their stuff for 5k more than the opposition. An R1200GS is around $30K, the G650X-Challenge: $17K vs it's closest competitor the Husky TE610 at $12K. Mind you I think there are quite a few X-Challenges sitting around unsold.

Cheers
Clint

Wouldn't the ktm 640 (the non-adventure one) be a close competitor as well (i believe is around 16k)?

cheers,
Pampa

**young1** · 21st February 2008, 21:01

I like this quote from the Motorcycle daily test (but I am biased);

On well maintained gravelled roads the F 800 GS is the best travel enduro I have ridden since the KTM 990 Adventure.

I do like the look of the fairing and lights though and it looks very smart in yellow.

**warewolf** · 21st February 2008, 22:23

Originally Posted by pampa

Wouldn't the ktm 640 (the non-adventure one) be a close competitor as well (i believe is around 16k)?

The 640 Adventure is $17K but the last 640 Enduros were going for $11K-ish.

The lads down here who get to play with the tour fleet really rate the F800 bikes. I take that as a good sign in its favour.

MD · 22nd February 2008, 05:57

Originally Posted by warewolf

The lads down here who get to play with the tour fleet really rate the F800 bikes. I take that as a good sign in its favour.

My old F800S is now part of a rental fleet for those near Wgtn wishing to experience the 800cc motor, go hire it for a day - you wont be disappointed. It's that outfit on Dixon Street.
I was approached by a m/c mechanic who hired my bike and he raved about how good it was. Another guilt trip for selling it

**cold comfort** · 23rd February 2008, 15:06

Hey guys wrestling with the choice of "the perfect do everything bike". Destroyed 2 rears on my steed now and tiring of the high speed tarmac stuff. Found the Multistrada to have superior handling but no gravel recommendation. Still need to cart the wife but hate many of the clunky adventure bikes-any suggestions other than buying two bikes?

**clint640** · 25th February 2008, 16:07

Originally Posted by cold comfort

Hey guys wrestling with the choice of "the perfect do everything bike". Destroyed 2 rears on my steed now and tiring of the high speed tarmac stuff. Found the Multistrada to have superior handling but no gravel recommendation. Still need to cart the wife but hate many of the clunky adventure bikes-any suggestions other than buying two bikes?

Sorry mate but decent 2 up capability = "clunky" in the adv bike world. The old F650 Dakar was probably the lightest of the adv bikes a passenger would want to tour on, & they were bloody porky, especially for a single. This 800GS is probably going to be about the most offroadable thing available in the not too heavy & comfy for 2 zone.

Cheers
Clint

**cold comfort** · 26th February 2008, 15:13

Originally Posted by clint640

Sorry mate but decent 2 up capability = "clunky" in the adv bike world. The old F650 Dakar was probably the lightest of the adv bikes a passenger would want to tour on, & they were bloody porky, especially for a single. This 800GS is probably going to be about the most offroadable thing available in the not too heavy & comfy for 2 zone.

Cheers
Clint

cheers for that-will just have to be patient i guess. AND test ride a lot of other stuff

**paturoa** · 18th October 2008, 17:06

Experience BMW have a demo bike in their Kingsland shop in orkers at the moment.

I called in there this morning to do some tyre kicking and the guy there asked me if I wanted to take it for a ride, so I took it for a ride.

They had the low height seat on it, and it was OK for me 1.78. They also had an akro can on it and it had a nice bark but not too loud.

Liked:
The seat was firm and supported me well.
Mirrors were good.

Disliked:
Gee what a crap indicator system!!!!
The bars, levers, switchblock angles as set up were crap. They are too high and required me to bend my wrists a lot. The resulting reach and angles to the switch blocks were worse.
The screen resulted in a lot of bufferting and noise on my helmit. The sales guy said that there were different heights available.
The left hand foot peg was too small.

General Impression:
It has a nice smooth engine, but is significantly less powerful than the SV across the whole rev range. My DR650 would likely match it up to about 50ks but the beemer would quickly pull away from there.

It didn't like low revs at all. It struggled to hold 2000rpm in top gear along a flat road (perhaps more flywheel required?). At startup it was quiet and with a nice light clutch selected first with a little clunk.

The 21 inch front wasn't noticable at all up to 130ish ks, and it tracks without wobbles or wollows through reasonably tight corners.

The left footpeg looked OK but felt too small, as I had to have my leg tight against the side of the bike to make it feel OK. In hind sight it may have just been the angle of the peg?

The ride position was very upright, but with my middle aged hump back / slouch, I was getting a sore lower back by the time I got back to the store.

The SV is no speed demon, but I was expecting more from the beemer after reading about it a while ago. I've just looked up the stats and at 85hp, 83nm and 185Kg dry, it all now makes sense (SV 116hp, 102nm and 189kg). The weight is surprising as it didn't "feel" that heavy.

Price 20k plus 500 on road, plus 1500 ABS plus plus.

In real terms it isn't a hell of a lot different to a 650 strommy (roughly half the price) but much better looking. Is it twice the bike?

**Mountie** · 18th October 2008, 17:34

Have had an f650gs for 6 years and took a demo bike for a ride the other day. Was impressed with its performance on the black stuff and on the metal. High seat and found everything were I would expect it.The Dakar was always a little vague in the front when being pushed hard.The GS 800 feels alot more positive in this respect. The indicator set up is a bit off putting. Anyway have got one ordered should arrive end of October early November. They are pricey $19500 + ORC brings it up over the Twenty. Looking forward to enjoying the bejesus out of it.

**Snails pace** · 18th October 2008, 19:04

Originally Posted by paturoa

Experience BMW have a demo bike in their Kingsland shop in orkers at the moment.

General Impression:
It has a nice smooth engine, but is significantly less powerful than the SV across the whole rev range. My DR650 would likely match it up to about 50ks but the beemer would quickly pull away from there.

In real terms it isn't a hell of a lot different to a 650 strommy (roughly half the price) but much better looking. Is it twice the bike?

That was my impression riding it a few weeks ago. I have a DL650 and thought it might complement the DL for 2 up touring. But after taking it out to Kumeu and round a few roads I felt that the wee had as good a response hitting the gas on the motorway. It had quite a bit of vibration coming through the handlebars between 80 - 120kph. So a bit more off road capability but touring pavement, gravel at my pace, am happy with the DL, solo or 2 up.
I don't agree that it is better looking, what had you been smoking