New guy in need of advice

[SpacedTime]

Hello riders, Just found this site and have been looking around and you al seem to be a good bunch to give some sound advice.

I'm thinking of a GS for my first bike. An F800GS to be exact. A Grey one probably. And I was wondering what you guys think about that?

Would a bike like this be suitable for a new rider? Not just in terms of power and weight, but I have been told I should buy something I can drop a lot.

To be honest, I would use this bike for my daily commute, but I am already planning a trip around Scandinavia and I would like to do it on a bike I love and trust, and although I have had no contact with a GS, I have been following these bikes for a few years now and I know how competent they are.

I will be buying it on finance, as I would be for anything other than a rusty old scooter, so shouldn't I get something shiny and new that I can love and be proud of for my money?

~Lee

 

[Riders Rest]

I would certainly test ride one before I bought one. BMW dealers have a good reputation for allowing test rides.

The F800GS has a good write up and dependant on your size they do come in various height options. If you are worried about dropping it (lets face it we have all dropped bikes at some time or another) why not get the crash bars fitted before you start to ride it.

I see no reason why you shouldn't have a F800GS as a first bike presuming you can finance one and insure it. I might be tempted to suggest you look for a good second hand one though as a first bike as they usually come wioth all the niggles sorted out on them and a handful of aftermarket nodifications.

Good luck

 

[Dave56]

Hi Lee welcome along, hope that you enjoy your stay............
As to having an 800GS as your first bike, why not.
I would strongly reccomend that you arrange a lengthy test ride, at least 2/3 hours with your local BMW dealer, as Riders Rest says, main dealers have a very good reputation when it comes to test rides.
I would then try and get a good second hand one, preferably with some of the expensive extras fitted, panniers, crash bars etc.
Anyway good luck.................

 

[wee dk]

welcome Lee, rode a friends 800gs last week,fun bike,really enjoyed it.

 

[Deathiance]

Hi Lee

Fellow newbie here mate, but have to say I ride the F800GS and have just done the BMW off-road training on one too, awesome bike, just watch for the snatchy throttle on the new ones, I think they are slowly getting re-mapped to reduce this, bike is awesome!

But it has to be yellow ............ he he he!

 

[North]

I think that you have gotten good advice. Go for a test ride and see if it's a good fit for you.

The problem with going for a smaller Bike is that you will out grow quickly. IMHO

 

[SpacedTime]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I will be going for a long test ride to make sure I am getting the right bike. I'm going to be using it everyday and I will need something that agrees with me. Not just a bike I 'want'

When you say "outgrow a smaller bike" do you mean I will outgrow an 800 as my first bike? Most guys I know go for a 250 for their 1st bike. I knew that I would not be happy with that. But surely an 800 will keep me happy for a while. No need to go for a 1200 and struggle right?

 

[stockport claret]

Hi Lee and welcome to the forum.
As others have said, go for a lengthy test ride. Try different bikes. If you like the off road style have a look at the new Yamaha XT. Get what suits you best and are most comfortable handling.
As for the 'small bikes and outgrowing them' that's usually down mines bigger than your's than anthing else.
If your planning on touring I would have thought that the 800 would be more than enough and will give better MPG than the bigger GSs.

 

[Mutley]

Go for a bike you love and will be proud of. If you don't buy something that makes your heart flutter you'll end up taking the bus / car when the going gets tough, you'll also hate it every time payment date comes around.

Go for a bike you can handle (a test ride will tell you this). A first bike needs to be comfortable, easy off the throttle and sure footed. The crash thing is a decent idea as well

Go for a bike that will do what you need. If you want to commute and tour the a supersport isn't the right bike.

Go for a bike that will hold it's value reasonably well. Chances are that you will be changing it in a couple of years as you develop your skills and taste. Don't be taken in by the shiny toys in the new show room. Check out the dealer's second hand bikes. They'll have a warranty and back up and they probably sold the bike from new. You'll save a packet.

The 800 GS seems to be the right choice for all of these IMHO

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

I've no idea of the price differences in the UK, but why not take a look at the 650gs? If were sticking to roads and mostly commuting it's the one I'd go for.

 

[SpacedTime]

I've no idea of the price differences in the UK, but why not take a look at the 650gs? If were sticking to roads and mostly commuting it's the one I'd go for.

Yeah I've been thinking about that. But I'm not sure if I should go for a nice easy to ride slightly older bike as it would be more sensible than one of these GS.

I'll probably get the first one that is in my price range. Anything would make me happy, as long as it's balancing out with the money I pay.

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Yeah I've been thinking about that. But I'm not sure if I should go for a nice easy to ride slightly older bike as it would be more sensible than one of these GS.

I'll probably get the first one that is in my price range. Anything would make me happy, as long as it's balancing out with the money I pay.

You are new to bikes, aren't you. If you get the first thing in your price range, you could very well end up with something you'll get bored with very quickly. You really should take a good long look at what's available in your price range, decide what you'll use it for mostly then do a bit of digging on forums to find out what it's really like. Although the heart is pushing you to buy something, let your head have a say too.

 

[SpacedTime]

I'm certainly not rushing into anything. Iv'e spent the last 2 years trying to settle on a bike. Ive been in a showroom sitting on one and had the guy ready to draw up the finance papers and even had my Dad tell me to go ahead if i want it, and ive been strong and dragged myself out.

I'll either get finance for a new bike, which ill get a 650or 800GS, or ill just pick something up from ebay for about 1000. But It probably will be a hunk and will be a waste of money.

I havent ridden since 2004 and i have to get a UK license first hahah

~lee

 

[pj8332]

800 gs first bike?

hi spacedtime

the 800 gs is a good bike, but i wouldnt get it for your first bike, you mentioned something that you could drop ? i assume you will be going off road, well the 800 will be quite hard to use off road as a new rider and it is heavy to pick up - a dead weight
why not the 650gs or x650

pj

 

[motobiker]

Is the 800 an ideal first bike. yes it is. and so is the 1100. 1150 and 1200 plus the 650. in fact any of them... it just boils down to personal choice and budget.

BUT.

I would strongly recommend having crash bars fitted to whichever bike you choose.
these should save any damage should the bike happen to fall over. No shame in dropping the thing - easy enough to do. and just as easy to prevent any damage to your pride and joy.

best of luck with whatever you finally decide upon.


Not a few members of this forum will have passed their DAS on a 500 or whatever then immediately gone out and bought that big boxer they've been dreaming about. Seems to me the 800 is aimed precisely at riders who dont want a Boxer... but still want that big bike feel.

hi spacedtime

the 800 gs is a good bike, but i wouldnt get it for your first bike, you mentioned something that you could drop ? i assume you will be going off road, well the 800 will be quite hard to use off road as a new rider and it is heavy to pick up - a dead weight
why not the 650gs or x650

pj

funnily enough That is almost exactly what they said about the 1100 when it first appeared back in 1994.

 

[Big Nick]

I was intially looking to buy a 800GS and did still like it after a test ride.

Unfotunately I made the mistake of going into a dealer who had a 1200GSA on demo who offered me a weekends test ride!

I am now £11000 lighter and the proud owner of a 1200GSA, I realise now that having come from sportsbikes I would of found the 800 underpowered especially 2-up.

 

[SpacedTime]

I dont mean I will drop the new bike, im sying i have been told that i will. I have never had a lesson on a bike, but ive done a few days riding anyway and didnt drop it once. Even up a mountain and around some islands with plenty of off road.
I picked up the riding pretty naturally, same with driving a car (i missed all the lessons when i was 17 and never got around to it, but managed to drive pretty well under common sense) and i just want to get out there and get the bike license so i can go bother Alan Jeffries for a test ride.

How does the weekend ride work? I didnt know they did such a thing. I always thought they would just give you 20 mins or something.

~lee

 

[James Embrey]

I past test last August and got myself a BMW GS 650 off E Bay for £1500. Rode it for 4 months cleaned it up and flogged it back on E Bay for £1750. Learnt alot and was over worried about dropping it. Once I felt more confident I purchased my GS1200 on 56 plate which I love. Can't think of another bike I would like to own!! It is amazing, use it everyday in all weathers.

 

[notpc]

Try lots of bkes...

I'm with Big Nick - went to local dealer to look at an 800 (six months after test), and found myself eased on to their R1200GS demonstrator. It took 48 hours to finish selling it to myself and it was a secondhand bike I went for in the end so it was "only" £8.5k it cost my bank.

That said, I still totally love it, 10,000 miles on, and count it as an A* decision. The only downside is that it doesn't help me pull the girls but all sorts of strange middle-aged blokes stop and talk to me these days!