F800GSA

[harry the cat]

I thought you were on holiday? Or is that why you're happy

If the OP wants detail there's lots of info for and about the F800GS just underneath the search button

Suffice to say that the 800, either standard GS or GSA is all that you could ever want. 110,000 miles on mine now (just back in to action after two new knees) with no problems to speak of, no corrosion, just smiles of happiness

I'm always happy. She says I've got to be so I better be

And....stop bleating on about them new knees. You're milking it a bit now

 

[Micky]

And....stop bleating on about them new knees. You're milking it a bit now

You're only jealous

 

[EyeCake]

If weight is an issue the std GS800 is the one to go for,
1200 GSA 260 kg
1200 GS 238 Kg
800 GSA 229 Kg
800 GS 214 kG.

We have never found the 800 needed a larger tank touring in Europe, and for normal day to day riding less weight means much easier manovering.

I looked at those statistics before and thought whats the point in changing its nearly the same weight but in practice it seems much lighter and more manoeuvrable.

 

[EyeCake]

I have had a 1200gs 1200gsa f800gsa and ridden a f800gs and never found any problem with them full of fuel half full or empty. I don't know how anyone has a problem. The weight is insignificant. Maby it's just me. I have always found that the more fuel you carry the less often you have to stop and that just gives you more options re fuel stops. JJH

I am 62 now and have had some health issues in the last year and I don't have quite the stamina as before but don't want to give up adventure motorcycling yet

 

[columbus]

I looked at those statistics before and thought whats the point in changing its nearly the same weight but in practice it seems much lighter and more manoeuvrable.

I have an 1150GSA which I'm finding harder to move around. Like a previous comment it's not the weight but where it is. I had a seat on a friends VFR1200 which is slightly heavier than my GSA but with it being a smaller physical machine it's easier to move around. The VFR and similar bikes are in general mainly below waist level but the GS's / f800's are taller so the mechanics of moving them are different.

The bottom line for me is over year later I'm still not convinced which way to go. Good luck with your dilema.

 

[Gigsy]

I am 62 now and have had some health issues in the last year and I don't have quite the stamina as before but don't want to give up adventure motorcycling yet

http://www.ccm-motorcycles.com/gp450.asp#.VM_HE8bZfzI

125kg dry

 

[Richie N]

It's not always just the weight but where the weight is... 1200GS/GSA are pretty easy to balance because of where the weight is despite the 50kg headline weight difference between a 1200GSA and 800GS.

I agree, I have owned my 800 for over 4 years and 40k miles, and have always found it top heavy - i am 5 11. I tried my first 1200GS when I got the 800 serviced early on, and was sad to give it back - when I got on mine, I wondered where the bike had gone!! I knew then I would have a 1200GS eventually. I am hopefully picking up a 2006 GSA next Monday.

The 800 is a great bike but not perfect..

Rich

 

[JJH]

I am 62 now and have had some health issues in the last year and I don't have quite the stamina as before but don't want to give up adventure motorcycling yet

Fair play to you. At your age you know what you want enjoy. JJH

 

[Chewie2112]

Thanks for all the replies,

Yes the 1200LC is a better bike but it is also upwards of 5 grand more expensive if you spec it to the same level, that is a lot of money. And the key for me is that for the long range tours where the 1200 would excel I have the 1150 sitting in the garage.

Yes the standard 800 is a nice bike, but I like the look of the GSA, but I wonder who it is really aimed at? It does everything that the 1200 does, just a few percent less well. It has more range the the 1200 but less than the 1200GSA, it is slightly better off road; but not by much. Does it just come down to money? Having a brand new BMW adventure bike for about £10K is very tempting.

A mechanics friend of mine raves about the 1150, and has always urged me to keep it rather than change to the more complex 1200; he also raves about the 800 Twin.

It's a tough choice.

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

I said BMW Boxer...


My next BMW, whenever that may be - will more than likely be a F8GS

Sorry to burst your bubble JB but the F800 aint no boxer!

 

[Micky]

Sorry to burst your bubble JB but the F800 aint no boxer!

Thank heavens ....

I've had years of BMW Boxers, probably half a million miles on 'em ... they've all been great

The 800 is a Rotax designed and built verticle twin ... and it's a bloody great engine too

But I'm a thinking JB knows that



Oh .... and at 68 years old going on eighteen and three quarters I couldn't physically handle an 1150/1200 GS these days

But on my 800GS I'll certainly be keeping up with them, maybe even leaving them, and still be a tenner a day less in petrol

 

[JJH]

Just to clarify one thing in an earlier post. The 800gsa has a greater range with about 350 miles to empty from 27 liters. Yes I know BMW claim 24 but I have dribled 27.5 in on occasion and have never run out. I think I'm doing around 56/57 mpg. I did all the figures when I bought it. My r1200 gsa could never match that with a tank cap.of 36 (bmw claim 33) but a mpg of 45 range about 360 but I seem to remember not achieving that on a regular basis. If money was no object I would go 1200 but the €5/6000 difference is too much at the mo. I've done about 20000 on both. Can't comment on w/c JJH

 

[columbus]

Following from JJH's post above this guy mentions getting around 60mpg on the 1200gs WC

http://youtu.be/muk8ykXrtTo

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

Following from JJH's post above this guy mentions getting around 60mpg on the 1200gs WC

http://youtu.be/muk8ykXrtTo

60 plus mpg...No way , he might get it trundling round scotland in rain mode feathering the throttle. i get 52mpg out of my 2014 GS and ive done some big trips at sensible cruising speeds but havent ridden it for economy (obviously). Figure more on 50mpg average.

 

[JJH]

Gsa's are not as good on fuel as the gs. I've had both 1200's JJH

 

[columbus]

60 plus mpg...No way , he might get it trundling round scotland in rain mode feathering the throttle. i get 52mpg out of my 2014 GS and ive done some big trips at sensible cruising speeds but havent ridden it for economy (obviously). Figure more on 50mpg average.

Maybe he's a lot smoother than you are

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

Maybe he's a lot smoother than you are

Or alternatively a lot more full of shit!

 

[JJH]

Gsa's are not as good on fuel as the gs. I've had both 1200's JJH

Sorry I should have contuined " I never got the colour of 60 mpg more like late fourtys or early fifties JJH

 

[jags]

Thank heavens ....

I've had years of BMW Boxers, probably half a million miles on 'em ... they've all been great

The 800 is a Rotax designed and built verticle twin ... and it's a bloody great engine too

But I'm a thinking JB knows that



Oh .... and at 68 years old going on eighteen and three quarters I couldn't physically handle an 1150/1200 GS these days

But on my 800GS I'll certainly be keeping up with them, maybe even leaving them, and still be a tenner a day less in petrol

well mickey, i'm the same age as you with 1new knee 3mths ago and a 1200gs which i hope to get back on soon. or am i being too ambitious?

 

[red1]

I've test rode both GS and GSA and the main thing that stopped me buying was tubed tyres. The thought of a puncture in middle of Spain, France, etc., miles from anywhere is a worry. Had puncture in Germany last year with tubeless tyres and was back on road in about 20 minutes.