mylovelyhorse
Registered user
Just around 11 yesterday morning I went over to our local BMW dealer and about an hour & a half later I rode off on a graphite grey BMW F800 GS with 7 miles on the clock.
The decision to buy this particular model came after trying a number of different bikes and not trying a Ducati. Last year I rode various Beemers, the KTM990, the Triumph XC800 but not the new Multistrada.
I've had an R1150GS for some years and 50k miles or so. I decided not to go for another Boxer fairly quickly - the weight plus a bit of a desire for a change. I didn't really like the RT - no, that's not fair - I liked it quite a lot, although the mirrors were rubbish and it didn't feel particularly special or more comfy that my R1150GS. Better in the rain, no doubt but that's not enough. I didn't like the riding position on the R1200GSA and it was tres, tres expensive. The K1600 was a-ma-zing but stupid money and well OTT for my sort of riding. the F800 ST was really nice but there was too much weight on my wrists and I am now very used to a more upright seating position. The F800 GS was just great fun.
The KTM had the best suspension but a crap gearbox and I didn't like the sound of the service intervals. The Tiger had the funnest engine (just) but I didn't like the suspension and wasn't keen on the dealership, to be honest. I considered waiting to see what the Explorer was like but was rather put off by the seating position when I tried one at the Excel and anyhow when I enquired for details I got an email back from my local dealer saying "just put a deposit on one". No thanks. Who knows what the Ducati was like - Moto Rapido weren't really interested in letting me out on one. It was a serious
possibility until the sales-droid opened his mouth.
And after all the thinking, my mind just kept going back to how much I'd enjoyed the F800 GS. The riding position I like, carrying capacity I like, handling I like and a great fun engine with a really easy gearbox. Being a BMW it has all the necessaries and some nice touches like the gear indicator, fuel gauge, heated grips, LED lights (all except headlights) and so on. Being an F800 it does lots to the gallon too. Oh and it came with a full tank of fuel. Nice touch.
I've done around 110 miles today, some with luggage, some without, some with the wife as pillion. In all circumstances it performs just right for me. I am very pleased indeed
Today, I shall go out and do another 100 miles or so. Soon I shall have to learn how to ride off road. How cool is that?
The decision to buy this particular model came after trying a number of different bikes and not trying a Ducati. Last year I rode various Beemers, the KTM990, the Triumph XC800 but not the new Multistrada.
I've had an R1150GS for some years and 50k miles or so. I decided not to go for another Boxer fairly quickly - the weight plus a bit of a desire for a change. I didn't really like the RT - no, that's not fair - I liked it quite a lot, although the mirrors were rubbish and it didn't feel particularly special or more comfy that my R1150GS. Better in the rain, no doubt but that's not enough. I didn't like the riding position on the R1200GSA and it was tres, tres expensive. The K1600 was a-ma-zing but stupid money and well OTT for my sort of riding. the F800 ST was really nice but there was too much weight on my wrists and I am now very used to a more upright seating position. The F800 GS was just great fun.
The KTM had the best suspension but a crap gearbox and I didn't like the sound of the service intervals. The Tiger had the funnest engine (just) but I didn't like the suspension and wasn't keen on the dealership, to be honest. I considered waiting to see what the Explorer was like but was rather put off by the seating position when I tried one at the Excel and anyhow when I enquired for details I got an email back from my local dealer saying "just put a deposit on one". No thanks. Who knows what the Ducati was like - Moto Rapido weren't really interested in letting me out on one. It was a serious
possibility until the sales-droid opened his mouth.
And after all the thinking, my mind just kept going back to how much I'd enjoyed the F800 GS. The riding position I like, carrying capacity I like, handling I like and a great fun engine with a really easy gearbox. Being a BMW it has all the necessaries and some nice touches like the gear indicator, fuel gauge, heated grips, LED lights (all except headlights) and so on. Being an F800 it does lots to the gallon too. Oh and it came with a full tank of fuel. Nice touch.
I've done around 110 miles today, some with luggage, some without, some with the wife as pillion. In all circumstances it performs just right for me. I am very pleased indeed
Today, I shall go out and do another 100 miles or so. Soon I shall have to learn how to ride off road. How cool is that?
Enjoy.
