jtw000
Registered user
Yesterday I picked up my new F800GS from Chandlers in Brighton even though I live in South East London because they had the right bike at the right price. She's an ex-demo model with low mileage, ABS, computer, LED indicators and heated grips. The only thing missing is a giant cylinder sticking out of both sides and a propensity for blowing fuel-pump controllers every thirty miles. Yes, I have an R1200gs as well as a little Aprilia Pegaso 660. The 1200 is a great bike, capable and usable in the real world and I do occasionally use it off road. When I do it's positive and confidence inspiring but you're haunted by a constant nagging sensation that if it got into a slide there is nothing you're going to be able to do to stop it going over. The Arpilia is the opposite, powered by a little Yamaha single it's quick and agile but dogged with poor build quality and is powered by the electronic innards of a poundland calculator. I wanted something that gave me the best of both worlds with a little better fuel economy to boot so the only bike available was the F800gs.
That's why I didn't bother with a test drive so after the insanity of paying £6500 cash for a bike I'd never even sat on before I headed off on the 60 mile trip back home. The exhaust note is the first surprise. It's good. It burbles as you flick the accelerator and has none of the sterilized hum of most parallel twins. The bike is slightly heavy at the front end at first, after an R1200 with the tele-lever suspension but I expected much worse from a big bike with 21" rims. In fact it handles really well and after the first couple of corners I'm no longer thinking that the Aprilia is agile at all, this bike will take it on any corner and feel totally stable doing it. Power is very low down. It's all torque with this machine but you do get a very slight sensation of a soft response from the very lowest revs, waking up as the power builds and giving you a second stage of power. I don't know if that the fault of the emission controls or if it's part of the economy tuning but it really doesn't get in the way and after your second or third roundabout you're getting the hang of the power delivery and it has plenty to power out of corners with ease. In fact this apparent drawback makes the bike extremely docile in traffic and she'll happily potter between cars and then can suddenly lurch ahead to whip through gaps. Cruising down the motorway at 70mph is easy enough and she seemed happy at that speed. The r1200 will cruise comfortably a bit higher but seems most economical at 50 or just under 3500rpm, this one will probably sit most comfortably at around 60mph.
The screen is the only thing that's uncomfortable at this speed. It's good for keeping the back of your clocks free of dead bugs but that is about all. The standard screen is purely decoration. You could fit a higher one but I'm 6'2 and nothing is going to stop the buffeting I would get from fitting a screen big enough to be effective. At the moment the wind is not channeled into my face so as far as i'm concerned it's perfectly fine as it is. I've heard a lot of people moan about the seat. It's important to remember this is an enduro bike first. The R1200 is a tourer that can be used off road, this is an off road bike that can be used to tour. The difference is the priorities in the design and they are what makes this perfect for me. Even if you're never going to venture off the pavement the torquey power delivery will serve you better in the real world and the big suspension will flatten out the worst of the British roads which in many cases are now worse than most byways. Go any distance on this with a mate on a sports-bike and you'll still be getting off feeling fine while he is rubbing the small of his back and massaging his aching wrists and that makes them a practical all round choice. The seat is hard and small and not particularly comfortable but that's the price you pay for riding a bike, in this case an enduro bike. Compared to most it's excellent.
It feels light and agile and is a relief to ride after the 1200. The power and acceleration is impressive, it feels like a 650 class bike with a much bigger engine, which is exactly what it is. Whether the quirky tank under the saddle makes any difference to the handling and weght distribution when the battery is now relegated to being up high is open to debate but the fact is is does handle very well and pulls up fast when you need it to. The wheels seem capable with dealing with just about anything and potholes the 19" wheeled Pegaso struggled with this one just breezes over. The gearbox is very positive and smooth to use, better than most bikes I've ridden and in a different league to the slightly vague R-series box. The clocks are ok too, revs at the bottom and speed at the top with MPH and kph inside. Quite easy to read and not as busy as the new 1200 clocks which look quite distracting. For my money I would rather have seen the speed done digitally, I find that easier to read but it's a small thing when everything else is so good. The only thing I don't like is the gear shift lever. It seems a little far forward and I have big feet. I don't know if anyone else is struggling with this.
I have used it for a few days now and hopefully over the weekend will be clocking up a few hundred miles and take in some gentle byways too. Every time i get on this bike I like it better and better. The only major snag with BMW in general is the amount of kit available for them and my shopping list is growing longer every time I go online. If you're in the market for this kind of bike then go for it. You really won't be dissapointed. It's a great all rounder in the true sense of the phrase and can really get you just about anywhere with a smile on your face. It's a great fun bike with plenty of practicality too where you need it and looks to be better made than most.
That's why I didn't bother with a test drive so after the insanity of paying £6500 cash for a bike I'd never even sat on before I headed off on the 60 mile trip back home. The exhaust note is the first surprise. It's good. It burbles as you flick the accelerator and has none of the sterilized hum of most parallel twins. The bike is slightly heavy at the front end at first, after an R1200 with the tele-lever suspension but I expected much worse from a big bike with 21" rims. In fact it handles really well and after the first couple of corners I'm no longer thinking that the Aprilia is agile at all, this bike will take it on any corner and feel totally stable doing it. Power is very low down. It's all torque with this machine but you do get a very slight sensation of a soft response from the very lowest revs, waking up as the power builds and giving you a second stage of power. I don't know if that the fault of the emission controls or if it's part of the economy tuning but it really doesn't get in the way and after your second or third roundabout you're getting the hang of the power delivery and it has plenty to power out of corners with ease. In fact this apparent drawback makes the bike extremely docile in traffic and she'll happily potter between cars and then can suddenly lurch ahead to whip through gaps. Cruising down the motorway at 70mph is easy enough and she seemed happy at that speed. The r1200 will cruise comfortably a bit higher but seems most economical at 50 or just under 3500rpm, this one will probably sit most comfortably at around 60mph.
The screen is the only thing that's uncomfortable at this speed. It's good for keeping the back of your clocks free of dead bugs but that is about all. The standard screen is purely decoration. You could fit a higher one but I'm 6'2 and nothing is going to stop the buffeting I would get from fitting a screen big enough to be effective. At the moment the wind is not channeled into my face so as far as i'm concerned it's perfectly fine as it is. I've heard a lot of people moan about the seat. It's important to remember this is an enduro bike first. The R1200 is a tourer that can be used off road, this is an off road bike that can be used to tour. The difference is the priorities in the design and they are what makes this perfect for me. Even if you're never going to venture off the pavement the torquey power delivery will serve you better in the real world and the big suspension will flatten out the worst of the British roads which in many cases are now worse than most byways. Go any distance on this with a mate on a sports-bike and you'll still be getting off feeling fine while he is rubbing the small of his back and massaging his aching wrists and that makes them a practical all round choice. The seat is hard and small and not particularly comfortable but that's the price you pay for riding a bike, in this case an enduro bike. Compared to most it's excellent.
It feels light and agile and is a relief to ride after the 1200. The power and acceleration is impressive, it feels like a 650 class bike with a much bigger engine, which is exactly what it is. Whether the quirky tank under the saddle makes any difference to the handling and weght distribution when the battery is now relegated to being up high is open to debate but the fact is is does handle very well and pulls up fast when you need it to. The wheels seem capable with dealing with just about anything and potholes the 19" wheeled Pegaso struggled with this one just breezes over. The gearbox is very positive and smooth to use, better than most bikes I've ridden and in a different league to the slightly vague R-series box. The clocks are ok too, revs at the bottom and speed at the top with MPH and kph inside. Quite easy to read and not as busy as the new 1200 clocks which look quite distracting. For my money I would rather have seen the speed done digitally, I find that easier to read but it's a small thing when everything else is so good. The only thing I don't like is the gear shift lever. It seems a little far forward and I have big feet. I don't know if anyone else is struggling with this.
I have used it for a few days now and hopefully over the weekend will be clocking up a few hundred miles and take in some gentle byways too. Every time i get on this bike I like it better and better. The only major snag with BMW in general is the amount of kit available for them and my shopping list is growing longer every time I go online. If you're in the market for this kind of bike then go for it. You really won't be dissapointed. It's a great all rounder in the true sense of the phrase and can really get you just about anywhere with a smile on your face. It's a great fun bike with plenty of practicality too where you need it and looks to be better made than most.
its nice when you feel like you get a good deal
and get the farkeling Bug
