Is there an alternative to the F800?

[Sooty09]

After three and a half years of F650 ownership my wife is starting to look round at alternatives. Nothing wrong with the bike she just needs a bit of shopping therapy and luckily for me cloths and kitchens do not have any effect.
First up was a Tiger 800xc, she loved the bike on a 3 hour test ride, I must admit it was pulling away from me in most places on our bumpy test circuit. We even had an offer of £3000 part ex on a 32000 mile old bike. The drawback was it was using an indicated 45mpg. Then we found the cost of servicing etc and it put a real cloud over long term ownership.
Next outing was on a 2011 V strom 650, we have a few riding friends with the earlier model and its difficult to not be impressed with their ability on and off (gentle trails) road. The price was OK, part ex much less than Triumph but the bike was a bit bland to ride, OK but nothing to get excited about. Fuel was OK at 60 on a run but only 45 round town. Again the servicing was a bit expensive and every 4000m.
Kawasaki Versys, she dose not like the look despite me having two in the past, she remembers I bought my F800 because it runs ring round the Kawasaki.
Aprillia Shiver, shudder at the thought. OK to look at but I have no faith in the long term viability.
Transalp, dull,dull,dull. Had a test ride last year and liked nothing about it. The bike was already rusting and flaking paint.
Any other bikes worth looking at, Guzzi 750 retro is OK but not our thing at the moment. Bonny OK done that but moved on. Ducati monster, forget it, we need a top box and luggage and a tank range not less than 200miles.

 

[wessie]

TDM900
Cagiva Raptor (1000cc Suzuki engine) - mate has one and loves it. Reliability seems okay.
Vstrom 1000cc

 

[John Armstrong]

F800R

 

[Sooty09]

Cagiva raptor and Navigator, OK a bit long in the tooth now.
I really fancied the Ductai powered Navigator and had a test drive of the Suzuki version, smooth, powerful, full of injection gremlins and cooked my legs in town, same as the V storm 1000 its a 40mpg machine with 4000 mile expensive service intervals.
My mate had the SV650 powered Raptor, it was a beaut to look at and the detailing was superb, but it was more suited to a small rider with long arms.
The TDM900 is a fine machine, we have ridden with one for the last few years and its reliable and economical but just fails to wow. See loads in Germany and Italy but so few here. The seat is comfy but much too high for my wife.

F800R, had a few as loan bikes, ever wondered why you see so few on the road, Just too cramped for distance and luggage.

Wish BMW would make an F800R form the F800GS, same frame but road biased.

 

[Dean]

After three and a half years of F650 ownership my wife is starting to look round at alternatives. Nothing wrong with the bike she just needs a bit of shopping therapy and luckily for me cloths and kitchens do not have any effect.
First up was a Tiger 800xc, she loved the bike on a 3 hour test ride, I must admit it was pulling away from me in most places on our bumpy test circuit. We even had an offer of £3000 part ex on a 32000 mile old bike. The drawback was it was using an indicated 45mpg. Then we found the cost of servicing etc and it put a real cloud over long term ownership.
Next outing was on a 2011 V strom 650, we have a few riding friends with the earlier model and its difficult to not be impressed with their ability on and off (gentle trails) road. The price was OK, part ex much less than Triumph but the bike was a bit bland to ride, OK but nothing to get excited about. Fuel was OK at 60 on a run but only 45 round town. Again the servicing was a bit expensive and every 4000m.
Kawasaki Versys, she dose not like the look despite me having two in the past, she remembers I bought my F800 because it runs ring round the Kawasaki.
Aprillia Shiver, shudder at the thought. OK to look at but I have no faith in the long term viability.
Transalp, dull,dull,dull. Had a test ride last year and liked nothing about it. The bike was already rusting and flaking paint.
Any other bikes worth looking at, Guzzi 750 retro is OK but not our thing at the moment. Bonny OK done that but moved on. Ducati monster, forget it, we need a top box and luggage and a tank range not less than 200miles.

F650 replacement well to match all the exacting qualities it has to be get another but a different colour

In my opinion the natural progression to the F650GS is the 1200GS. The F800GS is very similar but down in some gains and up in one other that is related to another but leaving the F650 will be leaving some great points but gaining in others bit like moving home I supose.

Are you sure Its all your wifes thoughts that you write as you swap from she to I and then it becomes what you want her to have which may be so different from her wants


I'm 3 years in this month on My F650 and 21.5K miles but im looking forward to the next 21.5K but my bike is far removed (personalised) from standard and just having the wire wheels added and new FD oh its a keeper


Good luck with Her Choice what ever it may be

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

XTZ660 if she's not a short-arse



...but most women don't like single cylinders anyway

 

[wessie]

What about the 4 cylinder 600cc roadsters? CBF600 is particularly suited to those of a shorter stature, as you said a TDM is too tall. Yamaha FZ6 is probably the pick of the bunch but they are all highly competent mile munchers.

 

[wessie]

What about the 4 cylinder 600cc roadsters? CBF600 is particularly suited to those of a shorter stature, as you said a TDM is too tall. Yamaha FZ6 is probably the pick of the bunch but they are all highly competent mile munchers.

and as if by magic a 3 year old FZ6 appears for sale by a Yorkshire poster at what seems like a decent price
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280504 -

 

[Bury_Dave]

No, there isn't an alternative

I get 68mpg on my mixed B-road and dual carriageway commute. I'm not hooning it but nor am I hanging about. During the MAG ride at 40mph yesterday, I got over 100mpg the whole time. Nice to know what you can get if you ever have to.

I appreciate its' road manners may not be quite as good as the Triumph but its' off-road manners more than make up for that.

I'm pretty sure it can be lowered at the seat (well, I know that as I have a lowered seat) and suspension like the 650. If your missus is a leggy gal, then a standard or a comfort seat will be fine too.

I would be wary of the 1200- VERY heavy - and whilst some girls do ride them, they ain't for everyone be they bloke or girlie. Sure, the 1200 (as well as my old 1150GSA) are 'planted' but then who wantes to ride a shire horse when you can ride a stallion ? There's also the stigma attached to riding a 1200

A newer 650 is also still a sound option.

A lot depends on your good lady and what she wants from her bike that might be different to what she's been getting from it. I'm sure whatever you decide, you'll both be happy with it even if everyone else here disagrees !

Happy trails

 

[Sooty09]

I can print out reviews, accompany her on test rides, make appropriate comments and some not so appropriate but I can not and dare not try to suggest the right bike.
After 24 years of riding together we both tend to look at the same type of bikes. 4 Cylinder sports bikes have 0 appeal, we have had them but soon got rid.
I hate singles but she loves them having covered many thousands of miles on the old F650ST and then the F650GS single,however she admits the latest 650 single form BMW is a backward step from the twin.
It looks like the need to swap bikes is subsiding, Im going to suggest we share a Norton Commando Mk3 (Electric start, left gear change) and keep the BMWs for touring and longer days out.

 

[Dave Ett]

You haven't said what's wrong with the F800 to stop her having one?

 

[Dean]

Good pictures of great bikes I understand about the "Dare Not" But I see SWMBO has the fastest colour F650 GS no wonder its a tough decision

 

[Packer]

If Madam doesn't use it off road maybe a 800ST? No chain to break her nails on and even better on fuel than the 650GS.

 

[thebiker]

Just sold my 1200GS and am on the search for a lighter replacement - so far tried

Bonneville
Tiger 1050 & 800
Aprillia Shiver
Versys
Guzzi Griso
F800GS

and Friday trying the Tenere 660 top of the list so far is the F800.

Grizzo was amazing though and the guy a Thirsk lets you take it out all day if you arrange it - he also let my use the Shiver which as awesome - I have a wrist issue so need an upright position.

 

[Sooty09]

Mrs Sooty is liking the GS650 again. She just fancied a change to cheer her up a bit.
I took the Tiger 800 out for a couple of hours on Saturday, its fun to ride but if you are not riding it hard and using the revs it feels a bit bland. On my usual test ride route the suspension was more supple than the BMs and the steering and stability very good.The brakes were ABS, and lacking in feel. The gearbox and clutch were fine at higher revs but clunky at low speed.
The very wide saddle felt great at first but after two hours I got the feeling it would be as painfull as the BM for touring.

Now the bad bit, the main purpose of the test was to see how economical it was to run at my usual pace. The route on the F800gs gives 72 mpg, on my wifes F650GS I got 78 mpg, at the same pace I managed just over 50 on the Tiger. If we do the same miles next year as this (14500) that is £1115 of petrol for the F650 or £1740 on the Tiger (Dont forget thats per bike, we run two).
Combine this with the £560 servicing cost and we are looking at over £1185 per year extra to run the Tiger, not including tyres, depreciation etc.

When I suggested to the Triumph dealer that the bike should be re tuned to 80 bhp and use much less fuel he shrugged and said Triumph just build what people demand, performance. I suspect these people are 2000m per year sunny days only riders, who probably never reach the £400+ 120000 service.

 

[gspod]

My wife has a TDM900 and loves it - so do I.
It looks as tall as my 11gs but women tend to be longer in the leg. Also the seat is narrower but mainly the handle bars are lower which makes it easy to move around. The best asset is the weight - lighter than her old 600 bandit.
Fuel economy is fantastic.
She wanted a trumpet but far too heavy.
5-600 mile days are not a problem (as long as you stay off the motorway )
For what it's worth I say take a test ride.
Oh and 26000 miles before a new chain with a scottie.
Oh and excellent build quality.
As for Brits not finding them cool - well put your average Italian next to a Brit for a defininition of cool