F800ST.....any comments please ?

[GSdude]

Hi chaps...as a member of the flock having recently returned to biking after a short respite (owing to medical reasons) I am curiously tempted by the afforementioned F800ST. Having previously owned all manner of machine (my last were an 1150GS and a ZZR1200), I am wondering if the F800 willl satisfy. Ive arranged a test at Rainbow a week on Friday but would welcome any comments etc. It'll be mainly used for myself with weekend 'two's ups' with SWIMBO. Over to you !!!!!!

 

[Micky]

Hi chaps...as a member of the flock having recently returned to biking after a short respite (owing to medical reasons) I am curiously tempted by the afforementioned F800ST. Having previously owned all manner of machine (my last were an 1150GS and a ZZR1200), I am wondering if the F800 willl satisfy. Ive arranged a test at Rainbow a week on Friday but would welcome any comments etc. It'll be mainly used for myself with weekend 'two's ups' with SWIMBO. Over to you !!!!!!

Hi Martin

I had an F800ST for some time, I really liked it, certainly more than I expected to.

20mm handlebar risers and that was it, handled great, very economical, and that belt drive is a revelation

Distance two up I don't know about. The standard panniers I never had, but they're not too spacious. I only ever used a roll bag on the back

Enjoy your test ride and report back here lad

 

[original_concept]

The ST is a good bike for solo use [1], I have a feeling you might it lacking two up compared to a boxer as there's little torque low down in comparison.

As the thing weighs next-to-nothing: it accelerates very nicely, handles wonderfully, is comfy. As usual, get a day's test ride and see how you fare.

One of the best features is not mentioned much: fuel. Though it has a 16l tank, it will do 210+ on average. The belt drive is great, servicing is cheap and easy.

Luggage is BMW's own or there's various 3rd party ones.

There's plenty of experience on here regarding the F800s:

http://www.f800riders.org

But ignore the 2006/07 owners rants, their problems were resolved from 2008 onwards.

Also, I have F800ST bar risers, hugger, Givi screen and vario-levers available if you spring for one ;-)

Personally, I'd like to see a F1000cc in a 1200 GS frame with it tuned for torque

[1] I did 26K on one, never with a pillion.

 

[Possu]

Very good mpg (60+), cheap to service (£130 for the 6,000 mile & under £200 for the 12,000).

Belt drive is maintenance free, no problems with that I've heard of.

Make sure that you get one with Heated Grips & On Board Computer plus ABS if you want it. Tyre pressure Control available on later bikes. If you don't have the Computer, the LCD dash is limited to clock, odometer & two trips. Having the computer gives you fuel & temp gauges, gear indicator, ambient temp, average speed, average & real time MPG plus mileage until you're out of fuel.

A good accesory is the spacers that space the mirrors out by about 20mm, can see past your elbows. Plenty of other aftermarket accessories available, the Z-Technik touring screen is a must if you're tall.

They hold their value well.

 

[Micky]

One of the best features is not mentioned much: fuel.

I mentioned it though...

 

[Jonny_L]

I had an F800ST as a loan bike once, gotta say I couldn't really get on with it. It just seemed a bit soft, suspension was a bit floppy and there wasn't a lot of feedback from the road. It had enough grunt to be fun but the top end felt a little bit lacking, and the whole thing felt a bit generic and soulless. It is quite a small bike so two up might be a bit hard on long journeys.

That said I did have to ride it during one of the worst storms in years while my nice comfy GS was at the garage, which may have hindered my view quite a bit!

I spent a while thinking about sport tourers last year, I really liked the triumph 1050 sprint (absolutely awesome engine for a start), and the VFR's still not a bike to be sniffed at. I'd probably opt for one of them over the BM. Just my 2p anyway

 

[Davy F]

I had the loan of an F800ST for a full day a while back. I found it to be a cracking bike, loved the belt drive and virtually couldn't get the sucker to use much petrol even after thrashing it mercilessly, a really economical engine. Only downsides were that the front forks were a bit soft, but I guess if I owned it, that'd be easily sorted. I would have wanted the bars to be slightly higher, but at that time I hadn't had my carpal tunnel op done and I think I'd be ok if I had the bike as of now.

A cracking machine.

 

[FW190]

800ST is a great bike, good MPG (I saw 230 miles to a tank) comfortable and has enough grunt to make life fun, it will also tour and track day (if you fancy) It will handle two up touring, but depends on the size of the folks sitting on it of course. Nice little bike...

 

[original_concept]

Very good mpg (60+), cheap to service (£130 for the 6,000 mile & under £200 for the 12,000).

Belt drive is maintenance free, no problems with that I've heard of.

Make sure that you get one with Heated Grips & On Board Computer plus ABS if you want it. Tyre pressure Control available on later bikes. If you don't have the Computer, the LCD dash is limited to clock, odometer & two trips. Having the computer gives you fuel & temp gauges, gear indicator, ambient temp, average speed, average & real time MPG plus mileage until you're out of fuel.

A good accesory is the spacers that space the mirrors out by about 20mm, can see past your elbows. Plenty of other aftermarket accessories available, the Z-Technik touring screen is a must if you're tall.

They hold their value well.

The 09s have longer mirror stems to address this. I don't know whether the 09 parts fit the pre-09s but the spacers are a must. Its too dangerous without 'em (IMHO).

 

[original_concept]

800ST is a great bike, good MPG (I saw 230 miles to a tank) comfortable and has enough grunt to make life fun, it will also tour and track day (if you fancy) It will handle two up touring, but depends on the size of the folks sitting on it of course. Nice little bike...

oh, they're fun enough. Forget the 'soft' front end moaning.

One of many examples:
I had a 'spirited' ride along the north-west coast of Italy one evening whilst heading to Monaco. Chasing/overtaking/leading a local's CBR600RR. He was a tad upset he couldn't shake me off and did that thing by flipping his hand away from the chin whilst sat at the lights in disgust. awwww....

Its not a perfect bike, but its blinkin' good fun.

 

[GSdude]

Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions. Ive got to admit that if we dont find that the ST is quite up to 'two up' then we will have to opt for the VFR or the Triumph.........but......at the end of the day I only ever get that Toy Shop feeling when I walk into Rainbow. I get a buzz in that place that I simply dont get anywhere else !!!! Lets hope that I get swayed into buying something with BMW on the tank - even if its not the 800.Cheers dudes, Cheers Micky. Keep rockin'.

 

[Davy F]

if we dont find that the ST is quite up to 'two up' then we will have to opt for the VFR or the Triumph

IMO, and taking into account that most bike comics compare the 800ST to the VFR, I think that they can be favourably compared. OK, the VFR will have more power, as the Triumph ST has more power than the VFR. But it's horses for courses. I loved my 750 viffer, made the change to the Vtec and regretted it eventually.

I think the only downside would be the smaller stature of the F800ST compared the the fore mentioned machines as has been said above. But as long as you and your pillion do not conform to the usual Tosser (fat b@stard ) shape, you'll be happy enough.

 

[GSdude]

Nice reply Dave. Mmm, I dont think that we do weigh up as 'average' tossers, so that in itself might be a plus point. Like Ive probably said before, I always worshipped my 1150GS but, for medium to long European jaunts it was simply too freekin huge ! I still love em to bits but I could never go back ...and as for the 1200GS, it just dosent hold the same appeal for me. I find it a bit too plasicky. Its a shame really, hence the reason we are looking to move onto another shaped BMW. Lets see what happens on Friday. p.s, a bit of fine weather would be just the ticket for a good test ride. If we find that we dont like the ST ( after a nice mug of tea and a bacon sarnie somewhere in Derbyshire) we will return to Rainbow sharpish and try something else.

 

[GSdude]

OK chaps here it is. In the past week we have examined and ridden all sorts of machine from Firestorms to F800's.......and the winner is.........THE F800ST.
I found that the bike is good enough for me and SWIMBO to have a good time on and its definately good enough for ME to have a good time on my own. MANY thanks to Dave at Rainbow. SOLD !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Davy F]

Congrats and enjoy. Don't forget a few pics of your new machine.

 

[GSdude]

Will do Davey. Gonna pick it up in two or three weeks. Fun is just around the corner.