Blind Lemon Ade
Registered user
Vines of Caterham hired me an F800R while my F650GS (twin) was in for service... £25 for the day! 
Whatever happened to free loan bikes? Anyway, it's a nice little bike, with a few foibles...
They've gone to a Jap-style indicator switch, which may only be a problem when you swap from one bike to another, but I did find myself struggling to reach the indicator button while holding the clutch in.
Steering felt completely different, as it should do; I'm not used to small diameter wide tyes any more... "kinda squirrelly" at the front about sums it up.
The footpegs feel way too high, and not just after getting off the GS; after an hour or so, I was getting cramps in my right leg, and I'm a stumpy-legged 5'8", who regularly sits in "seiza" kneeling position in the dojo.
While it has two brake discs a the front, they didn't feel any more effective than the single disc on the GS. I wanted Ducati-like levels of braking, standing it on its nose - sadly, not. How does that stunt bloke do it on one of these?
Gearbox was lovely, snicking in cleanly, and seemingly closer-geared than the F650. Throttle response was instant, too, without the "jerk" I get if I'm ham-fisted on the GS.
T'was great fun to ride, reminded me of my sportsbike days, but boy, am I glad I chose the 650 instead of an F800R (I did consider one, for about 10 minutes...) Two-up with luggage? Forget it! But I'd happily take one for a thrash round Brands...
Guess that means it serves its purpose, then. 
Whatever happened to free loan bikes? Anyway, it's a nice little bike, with a few foibles...They've gone to a Jap-style indicator switch, which may only be a problem when you swap from one bike to another, but I did find myself struggling to reach the indicator button while holding the clutch in.
Steering felt completely different, as it should do; I'm not used to small diameter wide tyes any more... "kinda squirrelly" at the front about sums it up.
The footpegs feel way too high, and not just after getting off the GS; after an hour or so, I was getting cramps in my right leg, and I'm a stumpy-legged 5'8", who regularly sits in "seiza" kneeling position in the dojo.
While it has two brake discs a the front, they didn't feel any more effective than the single disc on the GS. I wanted Ducati-like levels of braking, standing it on its nose - sadly, not. How does that stunt bloke do it on one of these?
Gearbox was lovely, snicking in cleanly, and seemingly closer-geared than the F650. Throttle response was instant, too, without the "jerk" I get if I'm ham-fisted on the GS.
T'was great fun to ride, reminded me of my sportsbike days, but boy, am I glad I chose the 650 instead of an F800R (I did consider one, for about 10 minutes...) Two-up with luggage? Forget it! But I'd happily take one for a thrash round Brands...
Guess that means it serves its purpose, then. 
