Don't just look at the 800GS, ride it on/off road and then judge whether it's the bike you need. I put a deposit on the 800, then rode it off road. It sure isn't the off road adventurer it's made to look.

The 800GS already has a good reputation on bitumen, which it should, as its engine started life on a 'sports' bike. But off road it's a different story. It needs a tooth less on the front sprocket and you need to rev the engine to find some usable torque. So controlling the bike off road is tricky. IMHO the 800GS doesn't do off road particularly well. If you want to ride on road and be seen to look the part of an on/off road adventurer, then fine, but if you genuinely want to mix it up and take a bike off road, then the 800 may disappoint.

Despite it's extra weight, the 1200GSA due to it's torque and, particularly with the option of lower gearing, is arguably a better balance for on/off road than the 800GS. The GSA's only achilles heel, due to it's weight, is on sand. Otherwise, the big GS will take you just about anywhere: it's the real deal.

Best place to try it out is at the BMW off road skills course, where you can do the basic skills course and try out the range of Beemers. I can assure you that by the end of the course the 800GS won't be your bike of choice for dual purpose riding.