Contact Overland Solutions for all your custom modifications and setup for overland travel.               Discover the extraordinary with Compass Expeditions.

Go Back   The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Which Bike?
Bmw F800 GS Bmw F800 GS
Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
With more than 58 destinations worldwide, Edelweiss Bike Travel is Number 1 in guided motorcycle tours!
AMERICA’S PREMIER MANUFACTURER OF MOTORCYCLE SUSPENSION

Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 8 Oct 2008
Norman Rahman's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 75
Bmw F800 GS
I am seriously thinking of getting the F800GS instead of the bigger 1200GS for a very long distance trip. Has anyone tried the 800GS yet? Any first hand experience with the new 800 is very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!!

__________________
"courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death"
Last edited by Norman Rahman; 8 Oct 2008 at 20:37.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 8 Oct 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Essex UK
Posts: 103
A mate of mine bought one of the first batch and i have to say i was quite impressed with it. I did also hear from another mate who's in the trf, that some have gone back in for paint on the engine flaking. Not much of an issue in itself, but apparently as a matter of course, while they rectify the paint issue, they were replacing certain engine internals due to a knocking appearing in the top end. This came from a BMW mechanic. May be rubbish, but it seemed to come from the horses mouth, so might be worth looking into.
I did ride one, and although not my cup of tea ( nor am i a BMW fan ) i thought it was a nice bike to ride.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 8 Oct 2008
sanderd's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: the netherlands
Posts: 163
not first hand, but i met a guy near Whistler in CAN who just returned from a RTW with a f800gs. didn't had any serious problems (some oil sweating from camshaftcover). Was 35000kms.

and, buying a cheap(er) bike leaves more money for traveling!

a concern for me would be parts/knowledge availability in remote areas.

cheers,
sander
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 9 Oct 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: London
Posts: 86
Check out the F800 riders forum: F800GS & F650GS Twin Discussion - BMW F800 Riders Association
__________________
RTW blog: www.davidwlowe.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 9 Oct 2008
Ekke's Avatar
HU CanWest Meeting Organiser
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Redwood Meadows, AB, Canada
Posts: 320
Thumbs up Ushuaia to Prudhoe Bay
It was probably Tom that you met in Whistler. He rode a Suzuki V-Strom down Africa, bought an F800GS in South Africa and rode that up through the Americas. We had met Tom in Egypt and ridden down Africa together to about Ethiopia. When we saw him next in Kelowna, B.C. he had 35,000 km on the F800 and was pretty happy with it. I took it for a boot around the block and while it certainly showed that it had been through some tough riding it was still in good shape and rode beautifully. It felt incredibly narrow, much more so than my wife's F650GS and very light compared to my R100GS or R1200GS. I would have preferred it for some of the tougher sections of Africa for sure. For North America or other places where it is mostly pavement with occassional off road work I would stay with the R1200GS.

Tom is on the HUBB so he might reply to this post with some actual facts...
__________________
Ekke Kok

'84 R100RT 141,000 km (Dad's!)
'89 R100GS 240,000 km (and ready for another continent)
'07 R1200GS Adventure (sitting in Germany waiting to go RTW in 2012)


www.ekke-audrey.ca
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 9 Oct 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Frankfurt
Posts: 56
Quote:
Originally Posted by Norman Rahman View Post
I am seriously thinking of getting the F800GS instead of the bigger 1200GS for a very long distance trip. Has anyone tried the 800GS yet? Any first hand experience with the new 800 is very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!!
Just an alternative suggestion, given you are leaning towards smallish bike and other comments about ease of maintenance in nowheresville: Have you thought of the new Yamaha Tenere? I test-drove the 800GS too and was impressed with the ride, but never liked the look and other factors. I came from BMWs, all three of them in my riding life including the R1200GS which I traded for the Tenere. After my two-week motorbiking trip in northern Vietnam on a small 125cc Honda, I am convinced that a smaller bike is much better when traveling in remote places, in fact, most parts of the world. Big bikes are really for in my view US, Canada and German autobahns. I too was concerned about whether it's too small for places like Germany where I currently live. It performs fine on even autobahn going at 140km/h as my own comfortable speed. Not a crotch rocket. I took the Tenere recently to Nordkapp too. I asked myself would a 1200GS be better? Not sure, as the arctic highway is not the typical highway one would think. It's curvy and the conditions are mixed. Ahh, the 23 litre tank on the single-cylinder Tenere gives me easily over 420km. I think the 800GS has only 16 litre feeding two cylinders?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11 Oct 2008
Norman Rahman's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 75
Thumbs up Link
Thank you all for your comments and feedback. One link leads to another and there is one helpful site I'd like to share with other potential buyers of the F800GS. It was started by RTW Motorcycling who is back in Vancouver (he's probably on the HUBB, too ) after a very long ride....

Bmw F800gs Q&A - ADVrider

Cheers,
Norman
__________________
"courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death"
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11 Oct 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Staffordshire. uk
Posts: 762
Thanks for the link Norman, a great read.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 13 Oct 2008
Steve Pickford's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 998
I'd go for the F800GS over the new Tenere. The BMW has 85hp & weighs just over 200kg whilst the Tenere has about 50hp & weighs approximately the same. Whilst the Tenere has the benefit of the larger fuel capacity (22 v 16 litres?), I know that the F800GS is capable of a real world 60mpg @ 70mph.

I rode down through France on my 950SE last May with friends, one of whom was riding a lowered F800GS with full Metal Mule luggage. It performed well offroad with Metzeler Karoo-T's fitted & was returning 60+mpg.
__________________
My photos: www.possu.smugmug.com
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 14 Oct 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Frankfurt
Posts: 56
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Pickford View Post
I'd go for the F800GS over the new Tenere. The BMW has 85hp & weighs just over 200kg whilst the Tenere has about 50hp & weighs approximately the same. Whilst the Tenere has the benefit of the larger fuel capacity (22 v 16 litres?), I know that the F800GS is capable of a real world 60mpg @ 70mph.

I rode down through France on my 950SE last May with friends, one of whom was riding a lowered F800GS with full Metal Mule luggage. It performed well offroad with Metzeler Karoo-T's fitted & was returning 60+mpg.
Someone in another blog has actually weighed the F800GS, which turned out 20kg more than what the specs said. On a german motorbike magazine, it listed out the theoretical fuel range of a number of different dual purpose bikes: F800GS along with others in the 300km area, Tenere over 500km.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 14 Oct 2008
AliBaba's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Norway
Posts: 1,271
Quote:
Originally Posted by josephau View Post
Someone in another blog has actually weighed the F800GS, which turned out 20kg more than what the specs said. On a german motorbike magazine, it listed out the theoretical fuel range of a number of different dual purpose bikes: F800GS along with others in the 300km area, Tenere over 500km.
Real weight of the BMW with full tank is 223 kg according to a test-group I have talked to.
They have not tested the Tenere but Yamaha claims that 183kg is the dry-weight. If you add fuel you will have more then 200 kgs, so my guess is that the BMW will be 20 kg (maybe 25 kg) heavier. 75% increase in power and 44% increase in torque will still be more then able to handle a 10% weight-increase (with a rider it will be around 7% weight increase).

But of course the 20-25 kg weight-penalty might be noticeable when driving extreme off-road.

The fuel-range might be an issue on the F800GS but it would be strange if this is not solved within 6 months.

I will hopefully have a long testdrive at the end of this week, but I’m not planning to buy one.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 16 Oct 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The Garden of England
Posts: 153
Hi Norman

I've got the F800GS; super bike. Just done 2000 miles in nine days on it: The Strategy Meeting - via the Pyrenees and Alps - ADVrider. My only comments for a "very long distance trip" would be the seat is not bad but can get uncomfortable so you may want to factor in an aftermarket seat (when they become available) or at least an Airhawk and consider trying to get a touring windshield from BMW or Givi. The stock shield isn't bad but it could be improved. Also, if you're very tall, you may find the riding position just a little cramped.

The bike is perfect for me and my needs.



__________________
Paul "Every county of England, every country of Europe and every continent of the Earth" 74% done!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 16 Oct 2008
Norman Rahman's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 75
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wildman View Post
Hi Norman

I've got the F800GS; super bike. Just done 2000 miles in nine days on it: The Strategy Meeting - via the Pyrenees and Alps - ADVrider. My only comments for a "very long distance trip" would be the seat is not bad but can get uncomfortable so you may want to factor in an aftermarket seat (when they become available) or at least an Airhawk and consider trying to get a touring windshield from BMW or Givi. The stock shield isn't bad but it could be improved. Also, if you're very tall, you may find the riding position just a little cramped.

The bike is perfect for me and my needs.
Hey, Thank you Wildman!
Yeah, I'm not "very tall" at 5' 7" thus the choice of a lower bike. Did a Borneo trip though (lots of pictures on BMW sponsored bikes i.e the 650X-Country and a lowered seat 1200GS. Backside wasn't very happy. Is that an airhawk on your 800 seat? Looks comfortable even from the picture.
__________________
"courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death"
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 16 Oct 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Back in Asia
Posts: 341
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanderd View Post
not first hand, but i met a guy near Whistler in CAN who just returned from a RTW with a f800gs. didn't had any serious problems (some oil sweating from camshaftcover). Was 35000kms.

and, buying a cheap(er) bike leaves more money for traveling!

a concern for me would be parts/knowledge availability in remote areas.

cheers,
sander
Wow!!!

The bike has only been out for the last 9 months hasn't it? And he has been RTW already on it? Or which part of the world did he go round??

Interesting.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 16 Oct 2008
Ekke's Avatar
HU CanWest Meeting Organiser
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Redwood Meadows, AB, Canada
Posts: 320
Just Americas...
Tom rode the F800GS from Buenos Aries down to Ushuaia and then up to Prudhoe Bay before going down to Whistler. Not exactly RTW but a significant distance nonetheless...
__________________
Ekke Kok

'84 R100RT 141,000 km (Dad's!)
'89 R100GS 240,000 km (and ready for another continent)
'07 R1200GS Adventure (sitting in Germany waiting to go RTW in 2012)


www.ekke-audrey.ca
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
F800GS has anyone made a big tank yet?? bikerfromsark BMW Tech 17 13 Mar 2012 09:54
F800GS - What Mods? Billy Bunter BMW Tech 9 24 Nov 2008 21:42
the new F800GS mr moto BMW Tech 86 4 Dec 2007 16:13
F800GS mr moto BMW Tech 20 17 Sep 2007 18:29
F800gs? pinkolive BMW Tech 9 15 Mar 2007 19:11


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 18:38.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top