2 up touring on an F800GS?

[waynem325]

Thanks guys - really good info which I appreciate hugely!

I'm forming a good opinion and will research properly. I've had a quick search for off road courses and one which I forget the name of (but either are, or run in conjunction with World of BMW) seem to offer plenty of packages from basics right up to pro levels.
Think the level 1 was a 2 day course for £495. Though for a little bit more I could probably pick up a dog on ebay and have a play on my own??

I think the K12GT would fill most of my needs and instead of the need for an F8GS, perhaps an enduro/trails bike with extra wheels with road tyres for the commute during the week would be a perfect second bike?

As we have no long distance trips planned for the rest of this year I may contemplate an enduro/trails now?? D

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Don't do the BMW one

Do i2i or Yamaha Experience, way cheaper and on lighter bikes

 

[waynem325]

Ah okay. I shall check those out. (I didn't have access to the forum at the time and couldn't remember the ones you had previously recommend).
Thank you.

 

[seahorse]

Don't do the BMW one

Do i2i or Yamaha Experience, way cheaper and on lighter bikes

Or Mick Extance in Wales

 

[Colin]

me and wife just been to Croatia on 2014 F700GS. I'm 13 stone, wife 9 stone. full vario luggage, full Givi top box, plus rack full. wound up suspension wound up damping and fucked orf. going to Loire, France in 2 weeks and planning Czech republic next July plus a quick trip to France about Aprilish. Brilliant bike, with low suspension.

 

[ahutcheon]

Commuting on a WR250R is a hoot, they love to be thrashed and economy is great compared to a big bike. I'm doing 40-odd km a day of gravel/open road/town, only drawback compared to a GS is frequently fillups of the teeny tank.

Off road training (the BMW course in my case, but in hindsight why learn on a big bike) taught me lots of stuff that would have been painful and slow to learn by trial and error.

 

[Dogbytes]

Now the K1200S (and the 13) has always intrigued me but I've never had the chance to take either for a spin. Last night whilst trawling ebay I came across the GT, which I'd never considered before, and after reading several reviews I now wonder if it would tick my sports bike box, and therefore be a suitable replacement for the RT?(

I had a K1200 S and currently have a K1300 S, they are monumentally good. I haven't ridden the GT versions but, whilst they may be the same spec engine wise, I believe they're considerably heavier. The S has a pretty relaxed riding position but is definitely happier at speed rather than in town (where the more upright riding position of the GT might score). In terms of covering distance the 13 will cruise at an indicated 155mph with wife, panniers and soft bag and still accelerate very quickly if required. 12 is not as quick as 13 but is more frantic and tends to feel quicker. I ended up riding mine like an LC350 - not clever! Only buy a K12 or K13 if you never want to be happy on a boxer ever again. They are very addictive, I kid you not

 

[waynem325]

Thanks seahorse, I'll add that to my search too...and any excuse to go to Wales has got to be a good thing!

Wow! That's pretty impressive Colin. I love the idea of travelling that many miles in a relatively short time. That's my idea of an amazing year!
Has there been any times that you wanted/needed anything bigger than a 700?

Thanks for your response ahutcheon. ..a hoot is what I'd need for a ride in to work!

 

[waynem325]

I had a K1200 S and currently have a K1300 S, they are monumentally good. I haven't ridden the GT versions but, whilst they may be the same spec engine wise, I believe they're considerably heavier. The S has a pretty relaxed riding position but is definitely happier at speed rather than in town (where the more upright riding position of the GT might score). In terms of covering distance the 13 will cruise at an indicated 155mph with wife, panniers and soft bag and still accelerate very quickly if required. 12 is not as quick as 13 but is more frantic and tends to feel quicker. I ended up riding mine like an LC350 - not clever! Only buy a K12 or K13 if you never want to be happy on a boxer ever again. They are very addictive, I kid you not

Waaaaahhhh!
Just when I thought I had my head straight.
Thanks Dogbytes. ...the K's definitely have my eye. The thing I was always concious of about the S was the riding position. I made an assumption that it would be too prone to be comfortable over long distances? I've had a few out and out sports bikes, and whilst I've enjoyed long distance rides on them, the comfort is obviously compromised, and so has taken the shine off such trips, which the majority of my riding currently is.

I think I'll book myself in for a back to back test next weekend on the GT and the S?

 

[Dogbytes]

The thing I was always concious of about the S was the riding position. I made an assumption that it would be too prone to be comfortable over long distances?

I have lower back issues (4 crushed discs) and upright riding positions put too much pressure on it for long distances. The S shares the load nicely twixt arse and wrists. That also makes the seat a lot more comfortable. after 200 miles on my GS1100 or 1150 I was glad to get off but I've never had any issue with the S - the 13 being particularly comfortable. I've ridden them 600+ miles in a day and can function at the end of it. I'd be quite happy to ride them further. As far as I'm aware the GT is no longer made. However there are some nice used ones around. When I decided to move the 1200 on, I looked at many other options but both wife and I agreed that nothing else even came close. I accept that there must be an element of the bike just happening to suit our particular needs but the fact remains that it is a phenomenally capable mode of transport which always seems to have something in reserve. My local dealer has long since learned not to offer my twin-cylinder loan bikes when mines in for a service!

 

[waynem325]

I have lower back issues (4 crushed discs) and upright riding positions put too much pressure on it for long distances. The S shares the load nicely twixt arse and wrists. That also makes the seat a lot more comfortable. after 200 miles on my GS1100 or 1150 I was glad to get off but I've never had any issue with the S - the 13 being particularly comfortable. I've ridden them 600+ miles in a day and can function at the end of it. I'd be quite happy to ride them further. As far as I'm aware the GT is no longer made. However there are some nice used ones around. When I decided to move the 1200 on, I looked at many other options but both wife and I agreed that nothing else even came close. I accept that there must be an element of the bike just happening to suit our particular needs but the fact remains that it is a phenomenally capable mode of transport which always seems to have something in reserve. My local dealer has long since learned not to offer my twin-cylinder loan bikes when mines in for a service!

I must confess that I too am glad to get off the GS after 200+ miles, which is why I'm always jumping on the RT for anything more than a trot to the shops.

I am genuinely excited at the prospect of a test ride on the K's. More than ever I have a feeling that they may just tick many more boxes for me than any other bike.
What's the luggage like on the K13S? Do they have the same panniers as the K12's? (The expandable type). I had those on my F8ST and quite like them, I'd prefer more capacity now though.
I guess there are always aftermarket options?

 

[Dogbytes]

What's the luggage like on the K13S? Do they have the same panniers as the K12's? (The expandable type). I had those on my F8ST and quite like them, I'd prefer more capacity now though.
I guess there are always aftermarket options?

The 12 had the standard 'Sports' luggage on it when I bought it and I just swapped it onto the 13 when I got it. They do come in for some stick from a lot of people but I really like them. To provide an option when commuting (not carrying so much and valuing narrowness over capacity) and extra capacity when required, we had a BMW rack fitted to the 13 and I got the small soft bag to go on it - which, again, I've found to be excellent. I haven't looked at the aftermarket options as BMW have a good range of stuff and I've found the aftersales service to be excellent. The added advantage of the rack, so wife tells me, is that the grab handles are higher, so she's even more comfortable.

Also (for those places where its allowed!) although the BMW luggage is rated at, from memory, 120mph, I can promise you it is perfectly fine at much higher speeds.

 

[waynem325]

The 12 had the standard 'Sports' luggage on it when I bought it and I just swapped it onto the 13 when I got it. They do come in for some stick from a lot of people but I really like them. To provide an option when commuting (not carrying so much and valuing narrowness over capacity) and extra capacity when required, we had a BMW rack fitted to the 13 and I got the small soft bag to go on it - which, again, I've found to be excellent. I haven't looked at the aftermarket options as BMW have a good range of stuff and I've found the aftersales service to be excellent. The added advantage of the rack, so wife tells me, is that the grab handles are higher, so she's even more comfortable.

Also (for those places where its allowed!) although the BMW luggage is rated at, from memory, 120mph, I can promise you it is perfectly fine at much higher speeds.

They do come in for a lot of stick, but I was very impressed with the ones I had. The ability to expand was a boon and I don't recount ever overfilling, and in fact was able to compress bulkier items easily.
Perhaps my memory of their capacity is a little clouded - I'd much prefer the sports panniers over any aftermarket versions.
I could always add an extra large topbox and get a larger tank bag too!

 

[Dogbytes]

I could always add an extra large topbox and get a larger tank bag too!

The only issue with the tank bag comes if you use BMW Navigator GPS. The mount is on top of the tank. You can still use a small bag, if you mount it carefully, but you can't see the screen. Fine if you're happy with just the voice prompts. I've always been able to manage with the sports luggage and small soft bag on the rack - very co-operative wife!

 

[waynem325]

The only issue with the tank bag comes if you use BMW Navigator GPS. The mount is on top of the tank. You can still use a small bag, if you mount it carefully, but you can't see the screen. Fine if you're happy with just the voice prompts. I've always been able to manage with the sports luggage and small soft bag on the rack - very co-operative wife!

Good advice, thanks.
Unless one came fitted with a BMW nav then I'll probably continue to use my phone app (Sygic). Though in recent months it has been a proper pain in the ass. It does get me to my destination but if I go off route (for fuel or a quick coffee break etc) it then re calculates the route and misses out all previously set way points! It sometimes pretends that I've arrived halfway through a journey and then ends navigation! It keeps me on my toes...

 

[SuperTed]

Well the first thing I did with my F800GS was ride two-up to Orkney!
The bike coped fine and was just as comfy as the R1150GS it replaced; and has 42 kilos less weight for the same power.
The GS range isn't really designed, or intended, for 'off road', but is great on gravel roads, forest tracks, et cetera.
I have also spent almost four years commuting into central London and it does this with out complaint and slides through all but the worst traffic - and gives me 60mpg while doing it.
As for the fun bit, and the 'has it got enough power' question...it's not just the power but the way it produces it. I can stay ahead of 600 sports bikes due entirely to the low down torque the Rotax engine kicks out, and the fact that you can get hard on the gas much earlier in a corner than a screaming four cylinder with twice the power.
We used the inner bags for my Hepco & Becker boxes as hand luggage on a ten day tour round southern Turkey last year and it was a great trip, once we had worked out how to get them in the factory fit boxes on the Honda TransAlp we had for that trip. (Turkey Motorbike Tours, check out their website & Facebook page. Highly recommended.)
I say get a ride on the F8GS and see just how fast it will take you down a twisty road - then buy one so you can do it when ever you want.
SuperTed

 

[slparry]

I had a K1200 S and currently have a K1300 S, they are monumentally good. I haven't ridden the GT versions but, whilst they may be the same spec engine wise, I believe they're considerably heavier. The S has a pretty relaxed riding position but is definitely happier at speed rather than in town (where the more upright riding position of the GT might score). In terms of covering distance the 13 will cruise at an indicated 155mph with wife, panniers and soft bag and still accelerate very quickly if required. 12 is not as quick as 13 but is more frantic and tends to feel quicker. I ended up riding mine like an LC350 - not clever! Only buy a K12 or K13 if you never want to be happy on a boxer ever again. They are very addictive, I kid you not

about 20kg difference, which given the bigger fairing and voluminous panniers and extra fuel capacity (24 litres) is not surprising. In fact the fuel capacity is one of the best features. I've run it to 297 miles on a trip and still had a litre of two left in the tank when I finally found a fuel stop