Considering the F800 GS, could do with some advice :)

[Micky]

Fitted Trax alluminium panniers to my 800GS courtesy of Wunderlich... they leak like a sieve

Girfriend Sue fitted some AndyStrapz canvas throwovers to her Yamaha TTR250R and they're absolutley waterproof

We hit India at the end of the monsoon season, guess where I'll be storing my underpants

 

[Dave Ett]

With reference to the metal mule luggage it might be strong enough for the home counties but for real adventure... I'm not so sure

Dunno, the guy I bought it from did 8500 miles round Africa with it fitted, and fell off several times, including being punted off by a car in Morocco.

The luggage rack bars are slightly twisted, but show no signs of cracking. I personally would like the bars to give way before the bike frame / subframe twists.

Totally agree with the flatened metal thing, but of course I have no idea if they heat treat the metal afterwards or not (I doubt it). Of course, all metal has a load limit, and if you exceed it, it will deform / break. I wonder if the guys with cracks had exceeded the loading limits - like Charlie and Ewan on their round the world trip?

 

[everywherevirtually]

I wonder if the guys with cracks had exceeded the loading limits - like Charlie and Ewan on their round the world trip?

I met Tony before he left. He's no Charley or Ewan wannabe. he's the real deal and has covered a lot of Russia in past years and knows that a heavy overloaded bike means the show is over when you hit the Siberian bog. remember Ewan and Charley took the train when they got to the Zilov gap

something which neither Terra Circa, Mondo Enduro, Motosyberia or Sibirsky Extreme have done. (and all the other riders that have done it but were never mentioned)

Overloaded panniers... wash your mouth out

 

[PRAETORIAN]

A lot of interesting stuff here, thanks for the input

As for luggage..........I can honestly say I prefer the look of metal panniers, but choosing form over function is the worst kind of folly! As it stands I am no adventure rider, but I can see the value of soft luggage. Conversly I can also see the value of hard luggage, but I do sometimes wonder if its all a bit OTT?

Being a wee fellow, weight is probably going to be more of an issue for me than bling This will be especially true if I do offroading, which if I get this bike I will be looking to do at some point.

It's not an issue, but one poster said it would be thier number one priority to fit them, so I questioned that since the guy asking for advice has stated he'll never go offroad

I'm not sure where I said I will never go offroad? In fact I thought I said pretty early on that I would like to do some offroading?

There is no doubt that BMW and Charlie/Ewan are single handedly responsible for the huge boom of adventure wannabes, and I count myself included in that. I have always loved bikes, but riding accross foreign lands, and off the beaten track is something that never really occurred to me as something to do. I admit, I love the long way down/round series, but I also appreciate there are forces behind the scenes that were pulling the strings in both of those 'adventures'. Lets not forget Ewan is an A-List celebrity, and so probably had caveats as thick as a phone book dictating what he could and could not do, not to mention the insurance issues and, dare I say it, 'health and safety'.

I guess its easy to brand them as frauds, but I think the inspiration they provided to many people counts for something, surely?

For me, Charlie and Ewan sparked my interest and I do enjoy watching the programs. But if I am going to do this, I will be taking advice and guidance from those who do it for real, without cameras, without celebrity status and without 15 million back up personnel at their every beck and call. OK, slight exaggeration, but you get my point. This comes back to my earlier comment. My interest has been sparked. Does it matter how? Or does it only matter that it has been? The end result will be that I will hopefully make journeys in future that 'real' adventure motorcyclists would be proud of.

Crash bars are something a lot of people use on roadbikes, especially with more naked styling. Sports bikes use crash bungs which are essentially the same thing. I have had this kind of protection fitted, in one way or another, on every bike I have owned. Except one. And would you believe it, that is the only bike I ever dropped, doing over £800 worth of damage. I was only going 10 MPH. So yes, I will continue to fit protection to the bikes I own

I have thought about metal mule using flattened metal tubing as described earlier on. My only thought is that is designed like that to give way under extreme stress so as not to bend the subframe in the event of a large impact. But I am no expert

But I doubt that they would have people with sub standard knowledge working in their R&D department, or am I being naive?

Cheers

Matt

 

[Klanky]

To knobbly or not to knobbly.....

Matt,

Going back to your indecision regarding whether to fit knobblies or not from the word go, I would say don't do it.

Get used to the bike, wear out the Battlewings and make a decision from there. You'll be more used to the bikes handling and it will enable you to make a more informed decision on exactly what you expect/need from your tyres.

Give the Battlewings some stick and you'll be shut of them in 3 1/2k miles........plus don't forget the Battlewings seem to have the odd quality of wearing out the front tyre nearly as fast as the back - so you won't be ditching a pristine front tyre for no reason.

 

[freeloader]

Matt,

Going back to your indecision regarding whether to fit knobblies or not from the word go, I would say don't do it.

Get used to the bike, wear out the Battlewings and make a decision from there. You'll be more used to the bikes handling and it will enable you to make a more informed decision on exactly what you expect/need from your tyres.

Give the Battlewings some stick and you'll be shut of them in 3 1/2k miles........plus don't forget the Battlewings seem to have the odd quality of wearing out the front tyre nearly as fast as the back - so you won't be ditching a pristine front tyre for no reason.

Good advice IMHO. And also, if and when you decide to fit TKCs when the BWs wear out, don't have the bike fitted with a tall screen and big alloy panniers fully laden and set off riding as you did on the Battlewings.

Fresh TKCs are...

...well, look at them. They're just big threepenny bits (fifty pence pieces if you don't know what threepenny bits are). That's in cross section, not the overall diameter, so as you lean over, you're falling from one flat section to the next, so the bike seems to want to fall over in corners.

 

[PRAETORIAN]

Matt,

Going back to your indecision regarding whether to fit knobblies or not from the word go, I would say don't do it.

Get used to the bike, wear out the Battlewings and make a decision from there. You'll be more used to the bikes handling and it will enable you to make a more informed decision on exactly what you expect/need from your tyres.

Give the Battlewings some stick and you'll be shut of them in 3 1/2k miles........plus don't forget the Battlewings seem to have the odd quality of wearing out the front tyre nearly as fast as the back - so you won't be ditching a pristine front tyre for no reason.

You have pretty much summed up my thoughts on the subject there mate. I mentioned in an earlier post that I think fitting knobblies was perhaps an unnecessary complication to getting back into biking and feeling my feet with the F800 GS. I think its going to be a bit like trying to run before I can crawl. From what I can tell the 800GS is going to be a different ride to anything I have had before. Add the fact I have not regularly been in the saddle in some time, and it becomes clear that I need to minimise complications to start with

I spoke to the BMW dealership yesterday. I think the guy will do me a good deal. The provisional figure was promising. Now the question is, do I go for a brand spanker or go 2nd hand. I wont be able to afford to buy this bike outright so that means either a personal loan or finance package. Unfortunately, gone are the days when banks would lend at a reasonable rate. The cheapest realistic rate will be about 9.9% Incredibly cheeky I think considering how low the interest rate is at the moment!

Also, what is the deal with banks needing you to have a current account with them before they will let you apply for a loan? What a load of bulls**t. (yes HSBC I'm talking about you, among others). And what the hell is the deal with banks not allowing you to apply for anything less than £7,500? Or if they do allow you, charge you a silly APR like 12.8%? I think banks in this country are a damned discrace.

All of the big banks are offering the same kind of rates, so I think to borrow the money will be too expensive. Why oh why are BMW the ONLY manufacturer at the minute who are not offering 0% interest deals? I will be perfectly honest, this could well be a deal breaker for me. I'm not going to pay through the nose for a BMW when I could get something that will do touring for far less money. Not that its any comparison, but I could have a brand new R6 for less than an 800GS, or maybe a VFR, or a Tiger.........the list is endless.

Anyone got any suggestions? BMW select (PCP) seems the cheapest option, but then I have got to worry about mileage along with a huge baloon payment at the end of the agreement. Like I have said, I could have a whole host of other bikes on standard HP that would be mine outright in 3 years, and the monthly payments would be fairly similar. I really dont understand what BMW are playing at

Ah well, I will see how it goes. As always, comments and suggestions would be appreciated

Cheers

Matt

 

[Dave Ett]

My guess is BMW sales are sufficiently high they don't need to offer interest free.

I have to say, I personally wouldn't stretch myself financially just to get the GS over and above some of those other bikes you list. Sure it's a cracking bike, but so are the VFR and Tiger.

Have you heard of www.moneysavingexpert.com? Have a surf to thier loans bit and see if any of it helps.

 

[everywherevirtually]

I think it was mentioned further up this thread but this is the adventure-spec bash plate from the under side

It doesn't reach all the way back to the CAT as you can see but knowing adv-spec there will be a valid reason for this I am sure.

 

[tr5esu]

I think it was mentioned further up this thread but this is the adventure-spec bash plate from the under side

It doesn't reach all the way back to the CAT as you can see but knowing adv-spec there will be a valid reason for this I am sure.

I have this bash-plate and I believe the reason it doesn't reach all the way back is that they used standard plastic bash plate that comes with the F800GS as a guide to make their bash-plate.
If you compare the plastic bash plate against the adv-spec one you will see that they end in exactly the same shape at the back. [Edit: and it's the same length]

I could be wrong of course.. but that's is what I remember thinking when I was fitting this bash plate and had removed the plastic one.

Cheers

 

[everywherevirtually]

I have this bash-plate and I believe the reason it doesn't reach all the way back is that they used standard plastic bash plate that comes with the F800GS as a guide to make their bash-plate.
If you compare the plastic bash plate against the adv-spec one you will see that they end in exactly the same shape at the back.

I could be wrong of course.. but that's is what I remember thinking when I was fitting this bash plate and had removed the plastic one.

Cheers

I also think that the cat dips down below the bottom of the bashplate so you would need very big risers which in my view puts more distance between the bike and the plate and would make it prone to failure if it took a hit. The longer bolts and risers would be the weak point. Personally I think the design is fine. After all you are going to 'ground', hit rocks and logs near the front of the plate.

 

[tr5esu]

I also think that the cat dips down below the bottom of the bashplate so you would need very big risers which in my view puts more distance between the bike and the plate and would make it prone to failure if it took a hit. The longer bolts and risers would be the weak point. Personally I think the design is fine. After all you are going to 'ground', hit rocks and logs near the front of the plate.

BMW (or TT?) went around it this way:

I have to say though, the Adv-Spec one is the one I would buy again if I had to replace my one. It has received some very big hits and it's still in one piece

 

[everywherevirtually]

BMW (or TT?) went around it this way:

I have to say though, the Adv-Spec one is the one I would buy again if I had to replace my one. It has received some very big hits and it's still in one piece

Isn't it odd that BMW put a seam right up the middle of the area that would get bashed? Surely that would just split open like a banana after one big hit?

Your photo confirmed the fact the CAT does dip down. Thanks for posting the image

 

[Klanky]

Isn't it odd that BMW put a seam right up the middle of the area that would get bashed? Surely that would just split open like a banana after one big hit?

Your photo confirmed the fact the CAT does dip down. Thanks for posting the image

From a production viewpoint, IMO it would be easier to make the BM/TT plates in small sections (bearing in mind the number of punch/CNC holes and angles) and then weld. It's probably more to do with total manufacturing cost per unit as opposed to what's the toughest plate.

 

[Klanky]

...............
I have to say, I personally wouldn't stretch myself financially just to get the GS over and above some of those other bikes you list. Sure it's a cracking bike, but so are the VFR and Tiger............

Fair comment, Dave. But I wouldn't even attempt to compare a GS to either a VFR or a Tiger, they're extremely different animals. Even the Tiger with it's psuedo-off road styling wouldn't stand a chance going head to head with the GS off the tarmac.

For purely roadwork, either of those bikes is a talented beastie - more so than the GS, but the GS is a better all-rounder for those wishing to rough it a little. There aren't many Tiger owners - let alone VFR owners - who would even dare take their bike up a gravelly track.

If your GS fell over, got stone chips, bent a lever, scuffed the plastic or even just got covered in thick mud, you'd probably just accept the 'battle scars' and carry on.

I can't think of many VFR or Tiger owners who would react in the same way.....

 

[everywherevirtually]

If your GS fell over, got stone chips, bent a lever, scuffed the plastic or even just got covered in thick mud, you'd probably just accept the 'battle scars' and carry on.

I can't think of many VFR or Tiger owners who would react in the same way.....

+1 The scratches and chips on mine tell a story and are like a historical time line of past journeys. I see them as a badge of honour and not as imperfections

 

[Dave Ett]

Yup, I like the diary of marks on mine, even if I didn't put them there. Gives the bike some authenticity!

Having re-read the thread I can't see where Matt said he wasn't going off road, so I dunno where I got that idea from!

Think you can forget the VFR and Tigger if you really do wanna get off the blacktop, and I'm with you on Ewan/Charlie being inspirational. If nothing else you're left with the feeling that if a couple of luvvies can do it then so can I!

The only thing I would say is that if you spend all your money on the bike you won't have any to go adventuring with, so maybe the GS is a stretch too far right now and something else would fit the bill initially?

Reading the forums at www.horizonsunlimited.com will show you can tour the world on just about anything, and the GS is not generally the first choice of the SERIOUS off roader.

(Personally the thought of riding more than a hundred miles on a single cylinder does not appeal, but there are plenty of real men who have.)

 

[everywherevirtually]

The only thing I would say is that if you spend all your money on the bike you won't have any to go adventuring with, so maybe the GS is a stretch too far right now and something else would fit the bill initially?

Reading the forums at www.horizonsunlimited.com will show you can tour the world on just about anything, and the GS is not generally the first choice of the SERIOUS off roader.

(Personally the thought of riding more than a hundred miles on a single cylinder does not appeal, but there are plenty of real men who have.)

Totally agree. Lois Pryce did the pan American on a Serow but for me I like my creature comforts. You can go round the world on a 125 or a push bike.

I use my bike everyday and like you I can't be arsed with kick starting, carbs, single cylinder etc. I will spend 99% of my time on blacktop or trail. For me that makes the 800 the perfect choice. Apart from deep mud, gigantic boulders or deep sand it will handle the stuff most of us are likely to encounter. I like the bikes power and all the goodies like heated grips etc

having a nice TT screen and nippy normans winglets also do wonders to keep the snow off

 

[GS Biker]

Totally agree. Lois Pryce did the pan American on a Serow but for me I like my creature comforts. You can go round the world on a 125 or a push bike.

I use my bike everyday and like you I can't be arsed with kick starting, carbs, single cylinder etc. I will spend 99% of my time on blacktop or trail. For me that makes the 800 the perfect choice. Apart from deep mud, gigantic boulders or deep sand it will handle the stuff most of us are likely to encounter. I like the bikes power and all the goodies like heated grips etc

having a nice TT screen and nippy normans winglets also do wonders to keep the snow off

Agreed, the winglets do make a difference, especially the wind buffer on the motor/freeways + in my opinion, look good!

 

[Klanky]

Well?

Come on then, Matt!

It's gone very quiet on this thread...you bought a Vespa instead or summat?