Sounds like a bag of nails

[Richie N]

I prefer riding my 800 with ear plugs so I can't hear all the mechanical noise. Two things that I believe BMW have come to be known for, silky smooth fuelling and quiet engines! Definitely not in the case of the 800.

Mine's covered 14k now (8k with me). And I have to say while I admire the looks and enjoy the power (coming from a Transalp) and the economy is wonderful, I think I would replace mine with a 1200 if I had the cash.

I want to love the 800 but find:
Its mechanically v noisy
Std screen is crap on m/ways
Its uncomfortable and vibrates alot on m/ways
Needs a 17 front sprocket for m/ways
Very poor fuelling/throttle response so never a relaxing ride - not smoothly anyway - this is a big issue for me. It really spoils the ride. We've gone backwards. These days its accepted that fuel inj is less smooth than good old carbs - BOLLOX!
Clutch is heavy on mine now - probably needs a new cable

I just dont enjoy the experience as much as when I first got the bike.

Cheers

Rich

 

[blue leader]

I couldn't agree more, my 800 is at 12k now and has just been in for it's major service, so i hoped it would be a little quieter but sadly no.
the engine rattles like a bag of spanners for a couple of seconds on cold start, the clutch knocks when out of gear, I get sometimes get an ignition knock when the throttle is opened from low revs and the handling just feels vague even after head bearings, wheel bearings and new tyres.
I had two 1200gs's before this bike and got rid of them for the reasons of poor build quality and reliability, so as you can probably guess, Mr BMW won't be getting any more of my hard earned cash, it's just a case of waiting for the Japs to build something more on the lines of what I need.
Until then I'll just ride it with earplugs in and hope that nothing else falls off it, then come spring sell it put the money in the bank and play with my MZ 660 supermoto ( 8 years old and still going strong)

 

[Richie N]

I'm glad someone agrees! Lots of people in denial? Dont get me wrong its a great bike (or concept) but it has lots of flaws. imho.

I had my old Transalp for 7 years and over 40k miles - I just can't see the 800lasting that long.

 

[Dean]

I prefer riding my 800 with ear plugs so I can't hear all the mechanical noise. Two things that I believe BMW have come to be known for, silky smooth fuelling and quiet engines! Definitely not in the case of the 800.

Mine's covered 14k now (8k with me). And I have to say while I admire the looks and enjoy the power (coming from a Transalp) and the economy is wonderful, I think I would replace mine with a 1200 if I had the cash.

I want to love the 800 but find:
Its mechanically v noisy
Std screen is crap on m/ways
Its uncomfortable and vibrates alot on m/ways
Needs a 17 front sprocket for m/ways
Very poor fuelling/throttle response so never a relaxing ride - not smoothly anyway - this is a big issue for me. It really spoils the ride. We've gone backwards. These days its accepted that fuel inj is less smooth than good old carbs - BOLLOX!
Clutch is heavy on mine now - probably needs a new cable

I just dont enjoy the experience as much as when I first got the bike.

Cheers

Rich

Hey Chris,

would you not consider to change the screen and renew your C/Cable, seat and end can or at least put them on a to do wish list ?

Every F8 rider knows seat and screen are in the top must change list for most

for me my F798, vibrations are minimal, I have a TT high touring seat but runs over an hour and a bit each way it gets the air hawk and touring a lamb thing on that lot. throttle response and fuelling smooth as a smooth thing only noise is my akro rumbling very nicely (even if its above other noises that are just there) which i must say sounds rather pleasant to me.

At 22.500 miles its a pleasure to ride and I ride it when I can just need more time and more money for some bigger trips


I need a Micky's secrete that fell never sits still :D

 

[Richie N]

The screen and cable granted and I am looking into (whats the best screen?), but the can and seat were replaced with "good" items by the po. Its uncomfortable mainly due to the buzzing and vibrating (mainly through hands and feet).

The main issues I have with the bike are the terrible fuelling and the mechanical noise - not drowned out by the can.

I'll keep it, but I wouldnt be surprised if it went BANG at some point.

Rich

 

[Smythson]

Mine too...

I'm at about the 6000 mile mark and i'm certain the engine noise is getting greater - bag of nails sums it up perfectly. Also the vibes coming through the handlebars are worsening. It's going in soon and i can see me getting a stock 'character of the bike' answer. I wouldn't mind so much if it was a matter of replacing dodgy wheel/steering bearings or the pointless screen but the engine is the one bit of the bike beyond my fixing, both fiscally and mechanically...

Will post the official answer when i have it.

S

 

[blue leader]

I also found the vibes went through a stage of getting worse then they seemed to improve, I did find that switching from avon distanzia to metzler tourance smoothed out the high speed vibes a lot.
as far as the fueling goes, I fitted one of the bypass gizmos and it does help and you notice it a lot when you remove it before service visits.

I agree this in theory is a great bike with a lot of good points, but the whole package is let down by some major problems which have just left me feeling very jaded and untrusting towards this bike and there is no way I would trust it to do a big trip abroad on.

 

[von K]

It's noisy.

So what?

Personally I don't find it intrusive.

BTW - you wouldn't like a Vincent if you get touchy about engine noise.....

Regarding trusting the bike on 'Big Trips' - read up some of Mickys postings on here.

 

[Richie N]

I find it intrusive when not wearing earplugs and thats over the sound of a nice end can.

I've experienced "nice" noisy, I had a Ducati Monster S4 for a couple of years (sold it last year), and that thing was damn noisy - but LOVELY!

This 800 sounds like a very noisy sewing maching - not right at all.

Rich

 

[v8legend]

I find it intrusive when not wearing earplugs and thats over the sound of a nice end can.

I've experienced "nice" noisy, I had a Ducati Monster S4 for a couple of years (sold it last year), and that thing was damn noisy - but LOVELY!

This 800 sounds like a very noisy sewing maching - not right at all.

Rich

Whereabouts are you? I'd be interested to swap bikes for a while. I have no such issues with mine. I find it very smooth and refined (for a parallel twin). No fuelling issues either.

 

[thomo57]

Whereabouts are you? I'd be interested to swap bikes for a while. I have no such issues with mine. I find it very smooth and refined (for a parallel twin). No fuelling issues either.

Same as v8legend, done over 28 ,000 miles on mine, smooth & quiet

 

[spm0912]

Yep, the engine is a bit noisy, but have you heard a triumph lately? Now they do sound orrible!

UE monitors and a bit of Motörhead, wot engine noise?

 

[Richie N]

Smooth and quiet - two words that would definitely not be used to describe mine! I can live with it, but it does spoil the ride. I've read a lot of threads on it and the concensus seems to be that they are mechanically noisy engines/bikes. So long as there's no piston slapping everything should be ok!

And again, the fuelling is a well known issue.

I'm in Kent, near Brands.....

 

[Richie N]

Yep, the engine is a bit noisy, but have you heard a triumph lately? Now they do sound orrible!

UE monitors and a bit of Motörhead, wot engine noise?

No! But I had a brand new 2000 Triumph Daytona and after 23k miles it felt and sounded crap - very loose. I loved the bike as a concept but i was glad to part with it - for a lovely SP1, aaaahhhhhhh.

 

[Richie N]

Then again, I had a ten year old 28k mile Blade that rode (and sounded) lovely, perhaps the Japs do build better bikes...

 

[Dean]

Whereabouts are you? I'd be interested to swap bikes for a while.

Do not let Leg End do this he is after your tetas de cobarades

But I agree this Rotax twin is well known for being as sweet as a Nut, and vibes to a Min