4 months of ownership-half term report

[tim dew]

4 months of ownership and 2,000 miles of use

Wet Sunday morning so thought it was time to produce a small report.

My bike history was re-launched around 5 years ago with purchase of a F650 single great bike and a good way to start biking again, I blame Charley and Ewan for the next change and two years later I had a 1150GSA 2002 vintage, great bike living up to all the reports I read. I enjoyed two years of happy ownership and two fantastic European journeys including a 500 mile day.
My two year itch started again and after a test ride on the KTM990 Adv my mind was made up to cross to the orange side or black depending upon the stock. The bike was a major step forward in handling and performance, a bit snatchy throttle wise but I can work with that.
My local KTM dealer was not too keen on my BMW adventure due to the fact I had used it and it was showing so signs of wear and 35K on the clock , so plan put on hold.
When I was having my BMW MOTed and my local friendly BMW I had the opportunity to take the 800GS for a test ride and wow it was fun, light and a modern machine. Kind of a half way house between the BMW adv and the more extream KTM and I was told of a cancelled order they had in stock and the rest as they say is history. I waited until the 58 reg was due and off I went

Spec of my 800GS at time of delivery.

Heated grips (a must have for the all year ride biker)
Hand Guards and extension pieces (the BMW designer must have small hands, need to be bigger much bigger)
Scott oiler (again a must, no messing around with cans of spray)
Enduro bag (coming from a top box which I miss, this is small but hold specs and disc log, shame it is not waterproof)
OBC- great fun
Centre stand- useful, but why design something that the paint comes off of the first time you use it.

Spec today.

Fender extender- helps to keep the muck down.
Hugger- splash guard- protection for the rear shock.
Number plate mudguard-left over from the old GS
Touratech rear brake reservoir guard- looks good and protects.

Future mods

Front forks- possible re spring and oil
Screen – extension

My thoughts on the bike

They are all good, I enjoy opening the garage and seeing my yellow and black bike, it is a different bike from the old GS, lighter more responsive, not intimidating to use. It has the looks of an off road bike but the manners of a road bike.
I can not believe the MPG (do these engines make fuel?) and a 200 mile range is possible. I did not have a problem with the handling only the excessive dive from the front forks which can be balanced with the rear brake.
Seat wise, good for a 200 mile ride in one day, yes it is narrow but allows room to move around.
The engine is fantastic and provides a good spread off torque, top speed I am not looking for, but it will cruise at 85 on the motorway, slight vibes.

Price wise, I think it represents value for money, the KTM would have been 2 grand more, that’s a lot of fuel. I am running the bike every day and take care with a weekly wash, but I have noticed some small patches of corrosion on the fork pinch bolts this weekend, and lets see how the warranty process is. Will continue with the F535.

If you are thinking of a 800GS I would recommend but as always take a test ride, have a think and then a second ride, BMW dealers are always happy for you to take a ride out. Other dealers want a deposit first.

I am looking forward to a dry summer enjoying the bikes full potential. Any questions please ask away.

Tim

 

[BM_donator]

Nice, positive (for a change!) report Tim.

I did the same born-again-biker F650 single thing a couple of years ago after 20 years out the saddle - must be a well trodden route. Read alot of reviews of mid-range bikes and the single stood out a mile as the best all round "learners" ride.

My 800 is coming up to its first birthday in March and I'm still very happy.

If only they would remap the engine to be a little less violent on shutting the throttle off

 

[big_nige]

4 months of ownership and 2,000 miles of use

Wet Sunday morning so thought it was time to produce a small report.

My bike history was re-launched around 5 years ago with purchase of a F650 single great bike and a good way to start biking again, I blame Charley and Ewan for the next change and two years later I had a 1150GSA 2002 vintage, great bike living up to all the reports I read. I enjoyed two years of happy ownership and two fantastic European journeys including a 500 mile day.
My two year itch started again and after a test ride on the KTM990 Adv my mind was made up to cross to the orange side or black depending upon the stock. The bike was a major step forward in handling and performance, a bit snatchy throttle wise but I can work with that.
My local KTM dealer was not too keen on my BMW adventure due to the fact I had used it and it was showing so signs of wear and 35K on the clock , so plan put on hold.
When I was having my BMW MOTed and my local friendly BMW I had the opportunity to take the 800GS for a test ride and wow it was fun, light and a modern machine. Kind of a half way house between the BMW adv and the more extream KTM and I was told of a cancelled order they had in stock and the rest as they say is history. I waited until the 58 reg was due and off I went

Spec of my 800GS at time of delivery.

Heated grips (a must have for the all year ride biker)
Hand Guards and extension pieces (the BMW designer must have small hands, need to be bigger much bigger)
Scott oiler (again a must, no messing around with cans of spray)
Enduro bag (coming from a top box which I miss, this is small but hold specs and disc log, shame it is not waterproof)
OBC- great fun
Centre stand- useful, but why design something that the paint comes off of the first time you use it.

Spec today.

Fender extender- helps to keep the muck down.
Hugger- splash guard- protection for the rear shock.
Number plate mudguard-left over from the old GS
Touratech rear brake reservoir guard- looks good and protects.


Hello, i have my 800 for four months & love it, i have modded mine quite heavily, but the corrosion thing. I have never washed mine in 1000 miles of winter crud until yesterday. All i do is use the bike & after use spray it over with GT85, even though it's salted upo to hell & filthy. Not one bit of corrosion at all anywhere when i washed it yesterday

 

[chad]

its good to hear a positive report the 800s a nice bike i just fell it could have come out the crate with better spec.


the yellow and black is lush


a friend of mines just bought the 650 and is loving it and after a go i as quite impressed, so the 800 should be great

 

[big_nige]

its good to hear a positive report the 800s a nice bike i just fell it could have come out the crate with better spec.


the yellow and black is lush


I went for grey as they had one in. But the screen is pathetic for that kind of bike. I got TT large one.

I have done the following

Garmin Zumo 550
Fender extender
Rear hugger
Bar risers
Hand gaurds
Scottoiler
Bashplate
Ctr stand
Full onboard video system
Stebel horn 136db!
LED rear light
LED indicators
Heated grips
Computer
Full luggage

Prolly some more i can't remember.

Next mods are

Paint protection kit
Front dive needs sorting
Engine & panel bars

I get around 50mpg & i think the bike feels more like a supermoto than an adventure bike if you give it some. The biggest crime is the screen & the crappy front forks. The brakes are superb, but let down by shit fork rates. I lofted mine not long ago

 

[chad]

I get around 50mpg & i think the bike feels more like a supermoto than an adventure bike if you give it some. The biggest crime is the screen & the crappy front forks. The brakes are superb, but let down by shit fork rates. I lofted mine not long ago

i really cant understand BMW when it comes to suspenders they ****ed up the forks on the HP2 and now the 800

why dont they just bite the bullit and fit WP os such as standard

 

[russh]

I dunno, I find the front forks fine, but then I've just come from a Transalp and Africa Twin.

 

[chad]

but then I've just come from a Transalp and Africa Twin.

then you will never find them a problem bearing in mind the TA and AT is a 25yr old design

so your setling in nicely with the 800 then russ

 

[martin c s]

Nice, positive (for a change!) report Tim.

I did the same born-again-biker F650 single thing a couple of years ago after 20 years out the saddle - must be a well trodden route. Read alot of reviews of mid-range bikes and the single stood out a mile as the best all round "learners" ride.

My 800 is coming up to its first birthday in March and I'm still very happy.

If only they would remap the engine to be a little less violent on shutting the throttle off

BM donator ask your dealer to do the remap. My bike is the same age as yours and I had the remap done on friday and it did improve the jerky throttle (did not cure the stalling issue though but thats another story)

 

[russh]

then you will never find them a problem bearing in mind the TA and AT is a 25yr old design

so your setling in nicely with the 800 then russ

So far I'm well impressed

My only slight niggle is the sudden transition from on - off throttle and BMWs stupid indicator switches. Dynamically the bike is amazing, it carries it weight nice and low. I took it out for a nice run yesterday (first long-ish ride where it wasn't raining, freezing or I was riding to work) Riding mainly on A-roads the OBC reported an average of 70 mpg, and I wasn't hanging around!! For commuting this goes down to round about 46 - 48mpg

I'm still running the bike in so keeping the revs and load down but the engine is brilliant, quite smooth, loads of torque and very flexible. Also quite docile feeling unlike that "brutish" 990 ADV

I've done a little green laning with Mudwiz and BTBloke. The Michelin tyres clogged up pretty quickly but again the bike felt well balanced, and a lot less top heavy than the Hondas. It was very slippy under-tyre though so didn't get a chance to get any speed up.

I will write up a full report after the first month of ownership.

Oh, and the heated grips are nowhere near as warm (hot) than Oxford Grips

 

[SteveT]

I dunno, I find the front forks fine, but then I've just come from a Transalp and Africa Twin.

Traitor

 

[Micky]

i really cant understand BMW when it comes to suspenders they ****ed up the forks on the HP2 and now the 800

Eh?

Mine are fine... they're better at the game than I am for sure

18,500 miles, from winter blizzards in Bavaria to riding down to Morocco and the Atlas Mountains.... no complaints. If the bike does have any faults it's me, the rider

 

[chad]

If the bike does have any faults it's me, the rider

my katoom has the same problem with me

 

[BM_donator]

BM donator ask your dealer to do the remap. My bike is the same age as yours and I had the remap done on friday and it did improve the jerky throttle (did not cure the stalling issue though but thats another story)

Remap has been done - this did cure my stalling problem

My only niggle now is the general lean fuelling of the bike that means low speed shut offs of the throttle cause the bike to pitch forward under heavy engine breaking. Just an effect of the high compression ratio and fuel shut-off settings that mean we enjoy a high mpg.

Can't have everything can we