Thanks everyone for such useful comments. I'm going to a BMW dealers tomorrow to have a look at the 800 and 1200 and will test ride one next week. I'm also booked into the BMW offroad skills course in Wales for May and have booked an F800GS.

I live in the UK but will be starting my trip in Canada/Alaska so I may not buy one here in the UK, unless I can get a cheap one.

Russ, I can't believe you're still on your first chain and sprockets, are you using a scottioiler?

Thnaks again

Dom

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This is very good news Russ, impressive as Hell! But I would NOT push your luck with the chain. Replace it! Get a new DID VM -2 Xring.
This chain has an unbeatable reputation. Nothing better.



Sounds like carrying a spare would be advised. How hard is it to change out? Where is it located?

Sounds like you're riding your bike like a Trials bike Nice. I'm thinking you're learning curve is moving up fast! I was a bit nervous on the F800GS at slow speeds and turning it around on the trail, but the R12GS would have been much harder. That said, on a Single these things are much easier, for me at least. But for a twin the F800 is surprisingly good and your account proves that.

Really nice to see comments from guys actually out there beating the crap out of these bikes. Both Russ and Doosey have upped' the street cred of the F800 quite a bit IMO. If the bike can handle that kind of use then for most travelers this bike should be about perfect.

I see what you mean about the seat but i bought a sheepskin for a tenner for lambland and it seems to be working ok.

As far as the chain and sprocket goes. i'm getting a new one in KL, i want to replace it before i head off to indonesia.

Good luck with finding a bike that suits you.

Russ

Am looking at a BMW 800GS tomorrow. May even get it!

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I've got one. As Walter says its bloody heavy when you drop it. It is too revvy for off road but I like it for long distance stuff. Get an air hawk and the seat will be fine.

I post everything about it here

Everywhere Virtually — The adventure begins in your head

Once you get into second it's much more compliant off road but i guess it depends on your riding style. You just have to use your clutch a bit more in first.

I rode an 800 and a 1200 Adventure yesterday. I quite liked the 800 but (campared to my Tiger) it seemed quite naked up front. i guess that's the off-road bit. The 1200 Adventure was, obviously, a delight to ride, but far too big. This has got me thinking that I'd really like the standard BMW 1200GS. I'm planning to go on my trip in July and i STILL haven't settled n getting a bike (I'm still thinking of just flying to Canada and getting one there) Decisions, decisions.

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I travelled a bit with a guy on the 1200gs and it performed pretty poorly off road, it was dropped a lot. We ended up nicknaming it the tractor, this included the owner as well.

If you are staying largely on tarmac the 1200 should be as good as any bike.

Russ

Im mid-trip in south america with a F8 with 21000km on it. I have had 2 bolts fall out, and few drips of water from the pump, but Im thoroughly pleased with it. Seat and windshield upgrades for a long distance trip would be a good idea, but a not necessity.
This bike is relatively new to the market, hence the lack of long distance trip reports, but they are out there if you dig. Heaps of info on ADV, but I'd recommend you take what you read with a grain of salt. A lot of whining, people jumping on the band wagon and blowing problems out of proportion. Its by no means perfect, but most of the problems/recalls are for the early production runs and have since been dealt with. AFAIK, the 2010 models have been problem free so far.
As far as strengths/weaknesses go, its all relative to how you use it. As an all round , long distance adv tourer - which is what it was designed for - I think it is well balanced and an all round excellent bike.
If you spend alot of time in demanding off road situations, I think you will find its a tall, heavy, high geared pig, but quite manageable with practice. I think this could be said for most bikes in this category. It seems to really excel at high speeds on gravel roads.
On road, the seat/windshield tend to be lacking and you are reminded of the cushy susp. on hard braking.
Strong points are excellent brakes, the engine, the lava filled grip heaters, and overall versatility. To be able to go street bike speeds and drag the pegs on road one minute, and then negotiate mud holes the next without changing a thing is very impressive if you ask me.
I think the key to appreciating/liking this bike is to use it for its intended purpose - since you're on this site, you probably will - and I don't think you will be disappointed, apart from the wad of cash you have to depart with to buy it.

Look for MVRTV on youtube. There is an 8 part video review that is pretty accurate and informative.

Excellent comments overall!

Having ridden both the R12GS and F800GS, I would go with the F800 every time. (I can't afford either)

To me, riding the F800GS, it felt HALF the size and weight of the R12GS. The F800 rides light for its weight off road. I found it very easy to control on loose dirt roads. No, not a Trials bike but very good for a RTW tourer, IMHO. On road, it vibrates a bit up over 75 mph or so, but not a deal breaker at all. Wind management was OK for me, only rode for an hour so seat comfort unknown. Both of these are subjective and fixable.

My only concern with the G800GS is it's crash survival. I would most definitely buy all the guards/crash bars.

I witnessed a crash where the F800GS was virtually destroyed in a 25 mph slide off the road into a barb wire fence. Not pretty. This bike was Brand New, had no guards fitted.
I was first on scene and just did not have the heart to photograph it as the unhurt owner was devastated. The bike low sided after the rider ran wide on a downhill, off camber corner on a fast dirt road.

The bike slid on its side, hit a dirt ditch (soft dirt) and berm, was kicked up, flipped and went into a barbed wire fence. Hit a fence post (small, wiggley one) but it was the wire that just tore everything off the bike. I could not believe what happened, nor could anyone else on the ride.
Tore off Oil filter, ripped off radiator, wind shield and instruments, brake caliper, bent forks and much more. Bike was totaled. Had to be taken away in a truck. Estimated $7500 in damages.

Set the bike up to survive a crash, get Pro-Taper type handle bars with Bark Busters (stock bars bent badly), and for sure every other guard made. They need it.

100%
Crash protection for this bike is a necessity, not an option and you should factor this into the initial purchase price.

When I bought the bike, I wanted to take some time choosing the many options of protection. Of course, in the mean time I did a low side on gravel at low speed. Much to the satisfaction of the dealer, I found out that the rad is very vulnerable. I was able to repair the radiator, but for the cost of one side panel and a few other pieces of plastic, I could have outfitted the bike like a Touratech employee.
I would highly recommend to anyone buying this bike that you install crash bars, belly pan and metal hand guards the day you buy it. The first thing you will want to do is go tear-ass up some trail, when your experience with the pig (and likely stock, street slicks) is minimal.

Having said that, once outfitted properly, I consider it be quite well protected, having tested that personally several times.

planning to take my f650 twin up the west coast of africa from july (currently in iran). so far the bike has been great. i gave it a hiding in laos on the same roads i travelled on an xr250 a year before, and it was easily as capable. also overloaded it and flogged it though some bad patches in pakistan and it was sensational.
however, it has a habit of cutting out... fuel pump? happens maybe twice in a day every couple weeks. also i am worried about the suspension - and will be dumping more gear soon.
as for fuel - i bought a 12L fuel bladder in australia & use this when i am concerned about range. though pakistan on bad roads & low octane fuel, at 80kmh i was burning about 3.5L/100km. this would mean over 700km range... more than enough i think.
the bike has plenty of torque getting off the mark, overloaded, offroad & in water / mud. that is the least of my concerns. also, as its a rtw my a*se is used to the seat (i added a sheepskin cover...)

I think there are some threads over on ADV about fuel pump problems on F800GS's/F650's (twin). I don't follow the F800GS threads all that close but I am thinking BMW had a re-call about the fuel pump? I would ask at a BMW dealer, they can check for all recalls on the bike. Others have had similar problems with cutting out.

Probably wouldn't hurt to upgrade the suspension if you're carrying a lot of extra weight. You could swap to a heavier shock spring (relatively cheap) or go to a premium shock like an Ohlins, Elka or Wilbur's. Up front I would go with Race Tech valves and heavier springs, fresh oil and possibly re-valving.
Let an expert do it.

The F800GS I rode had the front suspension re-worked and it was just amazing! Very good!

This article from Kevin Sanders - Globebusters chap - says good things about the F800 on their pan American rides:

Motorcycle Sport & Leisure - Germany Calling

The link above goes to a MS&L page but the main text is by Sam Manicom, with a sidebar by Sanders at the foot. Seems to me the big twin BMW's had a lot of problems, based on what Manicom noted in the reveiw. They didn't really like the F800GS much it seemed. I'm surprised. But the dented wheels are a concern. I hear BMW are upgrading them? :confused1:

Keep in mind Kevin Sanders and his wife are sponsored by BMW, Tourtech and also run a touring company .... this all for profit. I'm surprised they let Manicom's documentation of all the final drive and transmission failures on the BMW's appear in the article.