F800 GS with +70.000km - would you take it around the globe?
 

Next year I'm planning a trip to Mongolia and back with my (then) 6 year old 800GS with close to 70.000km on it. Anybody here has experience with that mileage on a bmw 800 twin engine? Can I expect a trouble-free trip of around 30.000km?
Except from fuel pump issues in hot conditions (Morocco) and battery problems (solved with a software update) there hasn't been any problems.
Except for bearings, brake pads, chain, filters, oil and tires everything is still original. Any suggestions on preventive measures?

I rode my 2008 F800GS to Mongolia and it had about that same mileage. You can never expect trouble free riding.

If its a stock battery I would reccomended fitting a Motobatt, an excellent battery. I'd change the tubes for heavy duty tubes (and carry spares with your repair kit). I have trouble with, what I think is my fuel pump, but only when its very hot and lowish on fuel so I always carry extra when I'm on tour (search the hubb for the toyota replacement). Everything else is just about optional.

If you're going to ride hard off road maybe think about upgrading the suspension, but if you do fit an Indy kit (see ADVrider) as the upper bolt is prone to bending. Try not to overburden the side stand as it's soft as shite. Don't carry loads of spares, plan to buy them out there or ship them to someone out there (do the same for tyres if possible). A GoCruise throttle lock and an AirHawk are nice when you do those high mile days.

Bon Voyage Comrade

We have a customer who has done 100,000miles+ on his f800 st which has an almost identical engine without any trouble from the engine.

i would change the front rim too. The stock ones are soft and once they start to bend, you can expect a rapidly increasing rate of punctures. :funmeterno:

He must have been very lucky. The BMW F800 is known for engine trouble:

Canada to Argentina 2010 - Page 21 - ADVrider

F800-Forum.de - F 800 GS - F 800 R - F 800 S - F 800 ST - F 800 GT • Thema anzeigen - Motorschaden an meiner F800GS

Geschafft - Motorrad-Dauertests - Dauertest-Abschlussbilanz BMW F 800 S - MOTORRAD

Not just the engine; a quick review of the forums reveals a catalog of trouble prone systems that should be utterly embarrassing to BMW.

I rode one of these bikes and loved it but bought a v-strom instead as I couldn't cope with the uncertainty of owning an F800GS as I live 5 hours from a BMW dealer.

Its funny how this i brought up every single time a f800 is mentioned, yes there used to be a problem with with the 800 engine bmw changed alot of parts in 2008 so any bike built after this shouldnt suffer, i have rebuilt many f800 engines, some with as little as 5000 miles on, and the ones with new parts dont suffer from this.

Denfinatly ........

No the one i liked too was the new model. The magazine took it apart after just 50.000 km and found totaly worn out pistons etc. You cant call this an adventure bike...

yes, i think if the bike is serviced ,and in good condition ! di it aa ;0
 

I think if t5he bike is good ,then do it5, we only live once " all the best gim

Yes, very compelling. He was very, very lucky. :rolleyes2:

My F800 has done 26,000 miles and I've had none of these issues. I mention this as the only posts that tend to crop up in this type of thread are those who've had negative experiences. Mine's been excellent and trouble free. I'd love to take mine for this kind of ride!

More like people who have read/heard bad things about the 800, most have no personal experience

Ah the internet, what a great place for entertainment. A few people have a problem and suddenly everybody has the problem.

My bike is at the same stage as the OP, 70,000 km although it is a 2011. Only repairs have been replacing the water pump for leaking oil (warranty) and replacing the clutch as the idiot :innocent: doing the maintenance didn't have it adjusted correctly. On my last trip I took a few parts to cover some apparently vulnerable areas (stator, bearings and injector) on the premis that if I had them . . . I wouldn't need them. That worked.

Would I take this bike on another trip of 30,000 km? Probably. Worst case scenario is you get stuck somewhere waiting for parts. So you get to hang around a town for awhile immersing yourself in the local culture. Could be worse.

I've got 75,000km and 30 countries on my 2009 F8 and it's been great. I've had 2 issues that were premature or unexpected. I was one of the few that actually had broken chain (@3500km) and the stock battery went at 3000km-ish.

I upgraded the rims and installed the Indy upper and lower shock bolt kit.

I will have no concern taking my F8 on the next tour. Check the valve clearance, change the oil and head out :thumbup1:

Actual Mileage
 

Hello Everyone,



I notice that there is no one with 100.000 or more on the BMW F800GS (at least not on the web) Mine has 40.000 now and i'm planning to do Alaska-Argentina with it. Shouldn't be a problem. But i'm wondering if there are people who just keep driving them above the 100.000?


Thanks in advance,


Jonas

Do not know if you are talking miles or Kms, but i am on 110,000kms now and only still in Peru with a lot more of the world to go so i will keep going.

There will always be issues but thats part of the travel, nothing is a problem if you need to replace things then just do that and keep going.

No BMW is known for breaking down much earlyer then Japanese bikes: http://nomi-beto-adventures.blogspot...stoppable.html

Way more intelligent would be to sell it and buy a more reliable Honda for half the price and use the rest for petrol.

Even more intelligent would be not to ship a bike around the globe but to buy/sell the same bike as the locals ride in South America (all parts are easy to get and you dont look like money on legs) and to rent in the different countrys of Asia for just 4 Dollars per day. To ride your own bike only makes sence in Africa: Adventure experience - motorcycle trip riding across Africa

So your F800GS has not needed any service or parts on your S. America trip so far? As noted, we hear all sorts of stories on the internet ... but quite a few F800 riders here locally in San Francisco Bay Area have not had trouble free ownership experience.

Some daily commuter type riders have done well however with only minimal servicing or repairs.

I know personally some BMW dealer mechanics, service writers and dealer owners ... so we hear of these experiences as well ... not all good news for Bmw or owners. :nono:

But apparently BMW have fixed ... or attempted to fix ... many of the F800 issues in the last few years. :thumbup1: Better late than never I guess.
Best news concerns BMW's liberal warranty policy, fixing some "out of warranty" bikes for free. bier

Mine is a 2008 model and yes there has been issues along the way, but I see that as part of my travel.

I already had the bike in the UK before setting off and decided to take what I already owned rather than purchase something else.

It seemed odd to leave a bike in a garage and not return to it for a considerable time, so now after 21 months away it for me was a good idea.

When things go wrong it gets me out looking for solutions and therefore meet many helpful people and enjoy the problem solving that goes with it.

I have been invited many times into others life's while they assist as best they can.

Just recently in Peru at the BMW Motorad I had one coil stick not fully functioning with no parts available, a used part was sourced by staff and after 3 hours working on my bike there was no charge accept for the part from and outside source, so well done to them just to keep me going.

Great

But I also understand that others are fed up with what they say is constant repairs, I cannot comment on their feelings.

I like my bike and just keep it going, to me seems cheaper and more Eco rather than buying a new bike and lose my bond and long time companion.

Nothing goes forever without maintenance including me.........

Why should you do all the repairs again and again if one could just buy a Japanese Bike for halt the price of a BMW at the first hand and just ride it without all those problems?


Guess why people rather buy cheap local bikes in Southa America insted of shiping not reliably bikes around the globe?

It will need headbearings i bet. They're awful on these. The wheel rims are awful too. Very soft. And never fit a BMW branded chain and sprocket as they're awful too. Ring sensor and ignition switch are another weakness.

Sent from my G7-L01 using Tapatalk

I think that all of this, including the reason to travel, give up work, time, spend save and go to places new, is a very personal choice.

This too applies to the different bikes we ride, clothing and accessorises and then the wealth of tinkering we/most do to make the ride even more personal.

For me its the freedom and that goes with my own choices and look at others for guidance but not to follow.

There are many ways to go and there are better machines for different terrains but I do not think there is a "best" one.

I just like my ride and am enjoying it, I would not suggest to anyone to do it my way.

Its your journey

As said in my earlier post the problems I have encountered on my way has brought me new horizons and have never worried about them,

BUT THAT'S JUST ME

What ever you ride still takes you away somewhere and not stuck doing something you dislike.

Enjoy the ride and be safe.