Should I sell my 1200 and get an 8?

i have just had the gs8 for three days as a courtisy bike ,gs 12 was in coopers for front wheel bearing warrantee work.
the gs8 would be far far better off road and oviously better on feul ,BUT imho the gs12 is better at everything else .
would having both be out of the question .:thumb
 
Mav said:
They are fun... but for such a big bike they have a remarkable short range, not that much more than my HP!
Click to expand...

I appreciate that the range isn't that of a GSA (or even a GS) but .......

They'll do 150 miles to a tank, a bit more when touring. How many miles do you want to ride without stopping anyway?
 
Tunneruk said:
I appreciate that the range isn't that of a GSA (or even a GS) but .......

They'll do 150 miles to a tank, a bit more when touring. How many miles do you want to ride without stopping anyway?
Click to expand...

Sorry ... did 279 miles on my F800GS from full tank to push :eek:

Easily do 200+ miles to a tank full :thumb

:beerjug:
 
I went from the F800gs to the 1200gs. The 1200 just didn't do it for me. After 5 months on the 1200 wanted my 800 back. In my opinion I thought the 800 did everything just aswell as the 12. With the minor exception of seat comfort and weather protection. But that is something you can easily sort out. The 800 is fun so practical and very fuel efficient and cheaper.

I now have an 800 again but a tiger. "SORRY Tossers"
Only reason I got the tiger was thought I best get something different. Love the Tiger but equally love the F800, its a fantastic bike
 
Not too sure if this helps but....
Have had both an 1150 and a 12, then respite on a CB1300, and just picked up a 650 which our american friends quite quaintly call a 658 to distinguish it from a single.
I was pleasantly suprised by the general feel and performance in that it has a sense of "GS" about it, only let down by the pathetic front end - I have a couple of things to try which I will write up about next week.
I can only suggest having either an 8 or a 658 for a week to see howe it goes, and to see how far it goes too!
 
i went from a Fireblade to my 800GS , and i absolutely love it. Having been to the Alps and Pyrenees 4 times in the last 2 yrs it did everything my mates 1150/1200 GSAs did and as Micky says a fair bit cheeper.
Thats not to say if i won the lotto i wouldnt buy a full adventure spec 1200GSA.
However , i only ride one up, and the 800 can carry all my camping gear. The only problem i found ( not being the worlds greatest rider) was the 21 inch front wheel is more off road biased, and on some of the trickier right hand bends in the Alps i needed a bigger swing at the bend. But cost,mpg, etc i love the 800

my 2 penneth :beerjug:
 
I thought about changing to the 800 or its equivalent in the future for when I become an old fart and struggle with the weight of my 1100. At the moment my current bike is perfect as my son can sit on the back without the bike missing a beat and has lots of room. We didn't manage this on a Funduro when I tried it. When your oldest kid reaches a certain age they will want to ride with you, so choose something with room :type
 
Homer1968 said:
I only ride one up, and the 800 can carry all my camping gear. The only problem I found (not being the worlds greatest rider) was the 21 inch front wheel is more off road biased, and on some of the trickier right hand bends in the Alps i needed a bigger swing at the bend. my 2 penneth :beerjug:
Click to expand...

I've had similar 2-up and/or fully loaded. You really need to wind the rear preload up. The combination of the 21" front, and the long travel forks seems to make this worse.
 
So chasing sportsbikes through the bends would be more of a challenge on the 8 with a 21" front wheel?
 
GB. said:
So chasing sportsbikes through the bends would be more of a challenge on the 8 with a 21" front wheel?
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In a word yes - but imagine how rewarding it will be too ;)
 
Scythian said:
.... for when I become an old fart and struggle with the weight of my 1100.
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Well that was my trouble to be honest ... I've become an old fart and did struggle with my 1150 and 1200 GS-A's

So an 800 it had to be and I certainly don't miss the power/torque of the 1150/1200's ;)

GB. said:
So chasing sportsbikes through the bends would be more of a challenge on the 8 with a 21" front wheel?
Click to expand...

Done a few laps of der Nürburgring on the 800GS and it's just as much fun, if not more so. The 21" front wheel doesn't display the normal traits of a 'bike on a 21" front ... it doesn't want to 'drop in' of its own accord. The front just goes where you point it, you can deck both stands down quite easily. You simply wouldn't think that it was on 21" front rubber :JB

:beerjug:
 
If you are not taking pillions then either bike will work for you. When expedition companies use the 650 to ride thousands of mile on gravel on a standard bike you know they are built for it.

As for the bike performing, that is mainly down to your skill and planning. Do it right and you don't need all that speed and super performance unless you plan on giving up your license.
 
I love my 800 - although the faults do bug me. I've done 10k commuting miles now, and at service time I get a 1200 as a loaner. I never want to give it back, when I get back on mine I think "wheres the bike gone" - the 1200 has a much more substantial cockpit.

I find the 800 very top heavy, and very tall - not great for traffic. Nowhere near as nimble as my old TA. If I had the funds and could justify the extra fuel for commuting, I would have a 1200. Hopefully the larger front sprocket I fitted today will improve the m/way ride.

jmho.

Rich
 
retskcid said:
I love my 800 - although the faults do bug me. I've done 10k commuting miles now, and at service time I get a 1200 as a loaner. I never want to give it back, when I get back on mine I think "wheres the bike gone" - the 1200 has a much more substantial cockpit.

I find the 800 very top heavy, and very tall - not great for traffic. Nowhere near as nimble as my old TA. If I had the funds and could justify the extra fuel for commuting, I would have a 1200. Hopefully the larger front sprocket I fitted today will improve the m/way ride.

jmho.

Rich
Click to expand...

Wow, just goes to show difference in feelings about bikes, I would not compare a TA to a 800GS... The 800 is soooo much better,

I am a TA fan btw....
 
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