1150GSA to 800GS ???

[Mr Twisty]

Afternoon People,

Had a 1150GSA for 2 years now love it to bits does everthing I could possibly want in a bike but thinking its just too blooming heavy !!!

Wiil i get the same all round feeling from the 800 with added benefit of a lighter bike ???

Will be trying a road test but if your like me you sit on a bike for a couple of hours you just want it if its half right, would rather have some longer term opinions please.

Cheers

Phil

 

[stonehenge]

IMO no, the 800 will not give you that do everything feel good factor that the 1150 does (which I really love of mine). Thought of keeping it for longer trips and buying a smaller bike for short commutes and nipping around on?

 

[v8legend]

TBH you're not comparing 'like with like'. The F800GS is a fantastic bike, and does give you that unstopable feeling. However, it is not a R1150GS, n'or does it try to be.

The R1150GS is an overweight, over engineered, lumbering beast.

The F800GS is a light, lithe, almost sporty bike.

The 800 is brilliant one-up, is excellent off-road, and compared to the 1150 (or any bike for that matter) is unbelievably economical. It is not as well engineered as the 1150, but is quicker, and has better handling.

If most of your riding is solo, and you find yourself drawn to cinder trails, then you'll love the 800. But don't kid yourself that it's an 1150/1200. It's better!

Try a demo, most dealers will let you go out for a few hours. You'll then find that you'll need to change/modify the seat.

Did I mention the incredible fuel consumption?

 

[Neil W]

Had a hire one in the Alps a few years ago, it was reasonably quick,handling was excellent and the economy was absolutely superb but I found that the seat both for myself and my wife on pillion was shocking. She ended up with a skinned a*** and brusing to her right inner thigh from the filler cap arrangement.

Two up with luggage it wasn't a patch on the my old 1150 despite being much lighter and on paper only 5 bhp down on power.

For solo I would have bought one to replace the 1150 and sorted out the seat but my wife totally vetoed the idea as we use the bike two up to tour on so I ended up with the 1200.

 

[robbie c]

didn't like the 800 at all, don't do it, you'll regret it

 

[robbie c]

The 800 is excellent off-road(or any bike for that matter)

the 800 is awful off road, the fuel injection doesn't suit off road use and the suspension isn't that good.

you should think about the KTM adv instead of the BMW, although the fuel consumption isn't as good.

 

[forest biker]

didn't like the 800 at all, don't do it, you'll regret it

Sold the gsa and was thinking i'll get an 800 everyone loves them , and you say that

 

[AndrewD]

Tried one and YUK!

Throttle was a light switch either on or off, early engines sound like a death rattle, sadly we are BMW R&D department now!

Chas (Del) on here has one with Alpos tins on and the rear tank makes it as wide as a smart car, total mess of a long distance tourer.