Porthos1
Guest
I picked up my F800GS last week and pre-booked it in for its first service straight away as I knew I would be cracking out some decent mileage over the weekend.
As I was running the bike in, I had to go easy on the speed/revs, but as I headed for Ripon (from Wiltshire) in the Friday evening traffic, I was certainly tested by the weather and congestion. To set the scene, my bike has the BMW side panniers fitted and am currently awaiting the handguards and Akrapovic can.
I was a little hesitant weaving through the traffic at first as I was not sure of my new width with panniers (I am used to an 1150GS which was easy to judge as if the engine would fit through a gap, so would the panniers!!), but once I was used to it, the bike was VERY easy to ride with good pull through all of the gears.
The engine sounds lovely and can imagine when the new can arrives, it will sound like a blunderbuss! It coughed out a couple of splutters and backfires which I am hoping are just the engine 'bedding in'?
Riding back in the early hours of this morning (4am) it was bloody cold (1 degree) and after suffering the boredom of the M1, the A43 was a welcome sight.
In quick summary from over 500 miles in 2 days and all weathers:
- The seat is only good for 1.5 hours before it all becomes physically painful!
- Fuel consumption is EXCELLENT. I was averaging 65mpg.
- The clocks are very clear and the on board computer provides relevant info.
- The standard screen is rubbish at speed.
- The exhaust note is lovely.
- The front brake resevoir is annoying as it wobbles continuously at speed.
- The turning circle is good and the bike is very easily controlled in traffic (once you know your width).
- The BMW panniers are excellent, however with the standard seat height getting on/off is as hard as my 1150!
Hope the above helps/provides some useful pointers for any aspiring 800 owners.
As I was running the bike in, I had to go easy on the speed/revs, but as I headed for Ripon (from Wiltshire) in the Friday evening traffic, I was certainly tested by the weather and congestion. To set the scene, my bike has the BMW side panniers fitted and am currently awaiting the handguards and Akrapovic can.
I was a little hesitant weaving through the traffic at first as I was not sure of my new width with panniers (I am used to an 1150GS which was easy to judge as if the engine would fit through a gap, so would the panniers!!), but once I was used to it, the bike was VERY easy to ride with good pull through all of the gears.
The engine sounds lovely and can imagine when the new can arrives, it will sound like a blunderbuss! It coughed out a couple of splutters and backfires which I am hoping are just the engine 'bedding in'?
Riding back in the early hours of this morning (4am) it was bloody cold (1 degree) and after suffering the boredom of the M1, the A43 was a welcome sight.
In quick summary from over 500 miles in 2 days and all weathers:
- The seat is only good for 1.5 hours before it all becomes physically painful!
- Fuel consumption is EXCELLENT. I was averaging 65mpg.
- The clocks are very clear and the on board computer provides relevant info.
- The standard screen is rubbish at speed.
- The exhaust note is lovely.
- The front brake resevoir is annoying as it wobbles continuously at speed.
- The turning circle is good and the bike is very easily controlled in traffic (once you know your width).
- The BMW panniers are excellent, however with the standard seat height getting on/off is as hard as my 1150!
Hope the above helps/provides some useful pointers for any aspiring 800 owners.
