800GS as one and only bike?

bakerlonglegs

bakerlonglegs

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Excuse me, 800GS owners.....

I'm thinking of getting one, but it will have to fill two different roles:

A weekend greenlaner
Nothing serious, mostly flat, graded byways around Herts toddling along with the TRF. Probably get a 2nd set of wheels with knobblies, easy to swap over for muddy days.

A Euro tourer with mates
They're all on sports tourers, but tend to trip along at 80-90 or so on motorways/autoroutes. Typical distance between fuel stops about 150 - 160 miles.

What do you reckon? Do-able or out of its depth at either role?

Thank you! :D
 
I concur or am I concurring???

Yep it would do the job alright, though the £500 odd for spare wheels is a bitcha. You'd get 170miles hooning it around europe or 230+ miles cruising. Best I've had is 243miles with tiny bit spare swilling in my tank.

The 8 is a tad achy on the wrists changing gears but its an all round beast!

ps: Computer/heat grips/new seat/touring screen...heavy duty chain..HIDs lol
 
I hope so cos I've just traded my RT and Tenere for an 800 GS to do just that!
Initial impressions after a week are, it's a compromise. But you knew that. Overall I'm pleased with it. Biggest surprise is that after 5 hours on the back my missus said she found it as comfortable as the RT, we do have a comfort seat though.
 
I did 22,000 miles on my F650GS twin (basically same bike) all of which was on knobblies. I found I got a bit of wobble at 90mph with TKC80s but playing with tyre pressures eliminated most of it. The TKC80s are OK in the wet.

So no real need to have a second set of wheels.

Averaging 70mph on motorway—which means doing around 80mph most of the time—I could get 200 miles out of a tank and still have a litre in reserve. The F800GS might not do quite so well as the higher geared F650GS twin, but should certainly get 170 miles.

Longest journey was coming back from eastern Poland—960 miles including a cross-channel crossing in 23 hours (on knobblies). AirHawk seat was essential for that trip!
 
I can vouch for the touring bit, the speed may be a bit high without an alternative screen and the fuel consumption will drop making the stops at 160 miles essential. The good bit is when you take it steady your mates will worrying about fuel round the 160 mile point and you will still have enough for another 80 miles.
Luggage is difficult and throw over panniers impractical without some type of frame. Budget £350 up for a set of panniers and carrier if you need luggage space.
Do pay the extra £200 for the trip computer, the gear and ambient temperature indicators alone make it invaluable. Heated grips are now an essential in my opinion and while the BMW grips are not the hottest they are very neat with no external wiring. To get the best from the grips fit hand guards, The F800 guards are a bit small but very strong for trail riding. The R1200 guards much bigger, but a very good alternative is available from Touratech and cost less.
Im off now to put all this advice to the test again, 11 days touring the coast and Highlands of Scotland.
 
F800GS is my only transport :thumb2

I commute daily :thumb2, Did the Dragon Rally in Feb, 500miles to Wales and back no probs, it'll tour ok :thumb2! (you'll need the comfy seat option, the std is only good for 30mile! :blast)

and last week did some greenlane stuff for the first time :thumb2, I think the bike coped better than I did :D see here

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254198&page=3

I consistantly get 200+ miles per tank of fuel (16 and a bit litres) :thumb2

Its all good so far :) havent found anything it cant do yet :D
 
bakerlonglegs said:
Excuse me, 800GS owners.....

I'm thinking of getting one, but it will have to fill two different roles:

A weekend greenlaner
Nothing serious, mostly flat, graded byways around Herts toddling along with the TRF. Probably get a 2nd set of wheels with knobblies, easy to swap over for muddy days.

A Euro tourer with mates
They're all on sports tourers, but tend to trip along at 80-90 or so on motorways/autoroutes. Typical distance between fuel stops about 150 - 160 miles.

What do you reckon? Do-able or out of its depth at either role?

Thank you! :D
Click to expand...

"F800GS" As other posts have said hell yes :thumb2 its a great bike the engine is smooth as a nut :D


80-90 and good fueling with a bit of green lane :D, The F800GS can do what the F650GS can and almost as well :blast

pepper.jpg


Maybe sir should book a test ride then you will know and the thought might become a I want :thumb2
 
The F800 is a good choice of bike bakerlonglegs. It's fine on the green lanes, a bit heavy if the going gets tough but on graded lanes it's in its element. On the open road the only thing you may find wearing is the wind on a longer run at 80-90 as the standard screen offers little protection but there are lots of bigger screens available. Riding with bigger bikes I sometimes wish the GS had a bit more power but it's only a slight issue when they really push on. 80-90mph is very doable. Thrash it and get 50mpg, cruise at 70 and get 60+mpg easily. Take a look at the Tiger 800 XC (which I haven't ridden) but the GS will do what you're asking of it :thumb2
 
It'll do everything you want and more! As I was told before I bought mine.....
JUST DO IT! or was that the trainers i bought.... lol
 
Thanks very much for the advice, all! Sounds positive stuff. :D

I did worry about the small tank, but it seems the engine is economical enough not to worry about it.

I've got to sell two bikes first (part of the reason for the question, too many bikes, not enough time, not enough space :blast )

Then it's test ride time.... :moped:

:beerjug:
 
bakerlonglegs said:
Thanks very much for the advice, all! Sounds positive stuff. :D

I did worry about the small tank, but it seems the engine is economical enough not to worry about it.

I've got to sell two bikes first (part of the reason for the question, too many bikes, not enough time, not enough space :blast )

Then it's test ride time.... :moped:


:beerjug:
Click to expand...

Err I'd test ride first to make sure I wasn't selling the wrong bike:blast
 
Have a test ride, I did and fell in love! traded in a F800S and had never rode an adventure/trail (call it what you will!) before.
Cruising at 80 mph get about 55 mpg, all round riding get 60+, 80 mph is a comfortable speed.
Try the seat before you go down the replacment route, I have the low seat and don`t have a problem, although I have yet to do a 500 mile+ day so I might be wrong!
Handling is great especially along bumpy fen roads, a damn sight faster than a F800S!

Haven`t tried it off road yet as I have to get bash plate/engine bars and as my only transport I can`t afford to wreck it!:thumb2
 
another +1, yep it'll do it and put a smile on
yer face.

Use mine as my main form of transport, as an example yesterday
working in Aberdeen up in the morning via the dull M/A90 sit happily
at "just above legal speed", for the morning 130 mile commute, work,
then since the sun was still out back via the much more entertaining A93 Braemar/Glenshee road,
I did however get overtaken by a couple of
sports bikes, which were seriously moving, chatted to them later, at a coffee
stop and it is their "local run". So I guess a 270 mile day with a bit of
work thrown in. Hauling work gear (laptop/tools/replacement gear) but
still a laugh a minute.

Give one a try.
rml
 
I have recently returned to the F800GS camp and will stay there - its the perfect bike for me. I did a seven week/5500 mile trip through Spain and Morocco with full camping luggage on my last one without any problems. This trip included a day on rough tracks in the Atlas mountains and a 30k desert track ride both with all luggage on board.
 
ideal. A tyre change changes this bike completely (on to off road). An air hawk makes it a long distance tourer. Sprocket change will make 90mph very easy.

Plenty of power 1up half load, full standard to 160km/h=100mph


bakerlonglegs said:
Excuse me, 800GS owners.....

I'm thinking of getting one, but it will have to fill two different roles:

A weekend greenlaner
Nothing serious, mostly flat, graded byways around Herts toddling along with the TRF. Probably get a 2nd set of wheels with knobblies, easy to swap over for muddy days.

A Euro tourer with mates
They're all on sports tourers, but tend to trip along at 80-90 or so on motorways/autoroutes. Typical distance between fuel stops about 150 - 160 miles.

What do you reckon? Do-able or out of its depth at either role?

Thank you! :D
Click to expand...
 
Thanks again for all the advice all :thumb2

Good advice JB - test ride is the plan before I sell anything. I'm going to the BMF show for the weekend - I'm hoping BMW will have one there as part of their test fleet. If that feels good, then a longer ride with a dealer's demo bike will follow....

:beerjug:
 
Yes but it's a massive compromise

Yes it does all the above but there is no golden goose. It is still a heavy high bike and the throttle is more like an on/off switch so no good for slow wet stuff but for what you describe dry tracks it will be okay and again, yes it will slice France in half in a day but don't expect to get off feeling as fit as you would on your RT your ass will become your enemy after a tankful.
I just spent a month touring Spain and believe me when tomtom takes the 'shortest route' you virtually go through peoples back garden. Great fun and couldn't think of another bike I could have done it all on but my back is still giving me gip a week later!
 
I've ridden from Madrid to the channel in one hit - 828 miles, so it can do it. Just bin the standard seat and fit something nicer. I have a Touratech one...

Also ridden from Swizerland to the channel in one hit - 550 miles. Just as good. :)
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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