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BMW R 850 R what do you think ? BMW R 850 R what do you think ?
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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.
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  #1  
Old 6 Jun 2007
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BMW R 850 R what do you think ?
I am going to go long distance ....sooner or later....yes....the bike is a BMW 2000 R850R..
COME ON THEN..throw your worst comments at it (or otherwise )..I am ready..I CAN TAKE IT !!!
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  #2  
Old 6 Jun 2007
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Great bike.
I used one for my trip in South-West USA and loved it.
My brother in law has one and he is sorry he didn't buy it years ago.

It is not realy an "adventure all-road" bike but then, most allroads are only used on tarmac and a bike like the R850R is very capable on dirtroads etc.
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My travelbike is a yellow BMW R1100GS
My wifes bike, that I use a lot, is a 1978 Honda CB400T
http://jkrijt.home.xs4all.nl/ (my personal homepage with trip reports)
http://www.krijtenburg.nl/HU_BoZ/ (The HU Motorcycle Travellers Community in my area)
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  #3  
Old 6 Jun 2007
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Its a bike, its available to you so use it... especially if you like it.
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  #4  
Old 7 Jun 2007
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850
Yes I do like it and have done quite a bit of work to it myself, ( I have rebuilt the gearbox, bmw 5-speed box probs, what a surprise!) The whole point of my starting the thread to be truthfull is I am in two minds as to changing it for a GS1100...
GS1100...more expense as I already have the 850..
GS1100, better ground clearance,
GS1100 weighs more,
GS1100 slightly bigger tank,
R850 is lower, better control
R850 slightly less consumption
R850 weighs 20 kilos less

I may well have to make a decision next week, so please any comments will help...I had also figured on putting trail type tyres on the 850 and a sump-guard for the odd trail or gentle off-road ??........regards to all !!
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  #5  
Old 7 Jun 2007
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I had an 850R before buying a 1200GS and really liked it. Performance is perfectly adequate for long distance touring. I swapped it because
- the GS had better leg room (I was getting cramp on long runs), and
- the GS offered better luggage carrying capability.

Tim
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  #6  
Old 8 Jun 2007
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Keep the R850R
You know the bike. It is a good bike.
How often do you need the ground clearance of an 1100GS ?

If you buy a secondhand 1100GS, you don't know what you buy. (Unless it is from a trusted friend.)
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My travelbike is a yellow BMW R1100GS
My wifes bike, that I use a lot, is a 1978 Honda CB400T
http://jkrijt.home.xs4all.nl/ (my personal homepage with trip reports)
http://www.krijtenburg.nl/HU_BoZ/ (The HU Motorcycle Travellers Community in my area)
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  #7  
Old 8 Jun 2007
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i own a 1100gs & love it . Its the best bike ive ever owned ive had it about 15 months & put 27000m on it (i cant keep of it ) i had a loan of a R850R & did not like it at all . But if you like it then great . You could always have a go on a gs & see what you think.
Kev
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  #8  
Old 11 Jun 2007
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Smile r 850 r what do you think, I put 55,000kms on r1100r great
I had an r1100r fitted factory windscreen, tank bag hard bags and heated grips. travelled & camped from Munich to Arctic circle in Norway and back. No problems easy on petrol and tires, fitted crash bars and bmw sump guard for r1100gs. My mate had r850r, beautiful motor, perfect gearing.. IMO r1100r over geared. Enjoy the r850r.
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  #9  
Old 12 Jun 2007
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Sounds like you're a BMW guy no matter how screwed up they are.
Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 19:59.
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  #10  
Old 12 Jun 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Sounds like you're a BMW guy no matter how screwed up they are. You are willing to put up with repairs/failures. Badge of honor and all.... ??

You've already seen problems with your 850. What makes you think a GS1000 is any better? Or an Oil Head? They all have problems. Major problems. Stupid problems. Problems that in some cases BMW denies even exsist. A very nasty company in some respects.

The BMW NA Pres. says BMW are going to dominate motorcross/Supercross in a year or two. Now that's funny!

When you get serious about going RTW maybe you'll figure out BMW aren't the best choice for everyone. Some guys like to constantly fiddle and like to visit every BMW in every major city to order parts...and wait. And wait.

Jap bikes break too...but at a lesser rate than most BMW's. Hey, but maybe you'll be lucky? Who knows? My advice? Try thinking outside the
Blue Rondel Box for five minutes and see what you come up with.

Mollydog, could you please stop this bashing?
Is it so hard for you to understand that people travel all over the world with BMWs and most of them have a great time?
Could you at least open your own thread(s) instead of making a mess in other people’s discussions?
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  #11  
Old 12 Jun 2007
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Wink Fair comment
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbyrandall View Post
I am going to go long distance ....sooner or later....yes....the bike is a BMW 2000 R850R..
COME ON THEN..throw your worst comments at it (or otherwise )..I am ready..I CAN TAKE IT !!!

Seems valid comment to me: Bobby has asked for the worst and he says that he can take it - apart from that, this is a forum for which bike and not which BMW.

Dave
F650GS (that works)
TT600R (not working!)
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  #12  
Old 12 Jun 2007
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AliBaba could you please stop this bashing?


Maybe you should read the original post a little more carefully before you talk
smack about "bashing" ?


Ali, this post is not about doing a trip and having a great time. It is about a
specific bike where the OP asks specifically for points of criticism of the bike or points of praise. Looks to me like my post is the ONLY one on the thread to question the wisdom of an taking an older high mileage BMW on a RTW trip.
It's called diversity of opinion.
Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 20:00.
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  #13  
Old 13 Jun 2007
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850
hello all....bmw-bashing by me is fine.........prefer frank honesty and I did ask for both sides of the coin......I did plan to begin with on a different bike, xt, klr, etc....however I found the bm very comfortable...I then figured better to be more comfy and then fix it when it breaks, rather than be uncomfy and fix it more easily when it breaks...
by the way mollydog...my 850 packed up the other day on the motorway..( fuel pump ) had to push it half a mile
If I had been on a carb bike..that would not have happened and no-one can argue with that..
Sump guard addition is a great tip....
Does anyone know of trail tyres that will go onto bmw cast wheels, front 17 rear 18 inch or have they done this...cheers and keep the opinions coming...
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  #14  
Old 13 Jun 2007
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Buying locally is generally cheap and easy.
Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 20:01.
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  #15  
Old 4 Nov 2008
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Thumbs down bmw
hello! im from uruguay (3º world country in south america ) you can get continental tkc 80 pirelli and in buenos aires metzeler and other "pedigree" tyres and we have all the european and american motorcycles you whant.
so if you never come to a 3º world country dont speak the world its small.
also bmw bykes has huge quality problems even new ones that japanese bikes dont have the blue and white emblem will blind your eyes if you buy a bmw you will buy a bike and the "name" japanese houses sell quality not name.
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