Tell me about the 850GS

[Dave T]

Was just thinking...I'd never even considered an 850. I don't need to ride at a million miles an hour, but

Is it too small/underpowered for 2-up touring at real world motorway speeds?
Is it the same (physical) size as the 1100 but just with a smaller motor?
Are they as 'reliable' as the 1100?

Educate me about the 'little' GS (please and thanks!)

 

[Madmountainman]

It's an 1100 with a piddly engine that needs more revs to get going two up. Dave an Val used to challenge one two up a few years back and ended up on an 1150.
Worth having if you ride mostly solo and you find a nice one.
If you want to travel two up, and fancy a blinged out 1100, there's a Touratech'd special on Mobile.de right now.

 

[Dave T]

It's an 1100 with a piddly engine that needs more revs to get going two up. Dave an Val used to challenge one two up a few years back and ended up on an 1150.
Worth having if you ride mostly solo and you find a nice one.
If you want to travel two up, and fancy a blinged out 1100, there's a Touratech'd special on Mobile.de right now.

Nice!!!

 

[Steptoe]

Same size and same weight as an 1100, but with an engine that's 250cc smaller.

 

[Padowan]

I've got one, no problem 2 up with camping gear up over and down the Pyrenees. Plenty enough power and I believe the gearbox has slightly lower ratios to accommodate the lower power (can someone confirm that or did i dream it?) so acceleration is similar to the 1100 but it runs out of legs a few mph slower, it'll cruise all day at 70+ and hit a ton if you want

Physically it's essentially the same size/weight as the 1100 so parts/accessories fit.

I like it as its a bit more exclusive as the numbers produced were much lower (something like 2,400 in the UK)

 

[JonF]

Most of the comments from peple who say the 850 is underpowered are from those that haven't ridden the thing. I've done about 80,000 miles on an 850GS, and also ridden many 1100s, 1150s and a 1200. The 850 is exactly the same as the 1100 in every respect other than engine size. It produces 10bhp less, but has a lower ratio final drive which easily compensates. On the road the real world performance is almost exactly the same as the 1100. Fuel consumption is the same. Some say that the 850 is smoother and freer revving, but I don't really think that's the case. The only GS which has substantially more oomph is the 1200.

Mine has been very reliable, no major work, and it's now on 97,000 miles. Then again, it does get used properly, there's nothing like only using a bike occasionally to shorten its life.

Incidentally, there were 2242 R850GSs produced in total, not 2400 in the UK.

 

[Madmountainman]

Most of the comments from peple who say the 850 is underpowered are from those that haven't ridden the thing. I've done about 80,000 miles on an 850GS, and also ridden many 1100s, 1150s and a 1200. The 850 is exactly the same as the 1100 in every respect other than engine size. It produces 10bhp less, but has a lower ratio final drive which easily compensates. On the road the real world performance is almost exactly the same as the 1100. Fuel consumption is the same. Some say that the 850 is smoother and freer revving, but I don't really think that's the case. The only GS which has substantially more oomph is the 1200.

Mine has been very reliable, no major work, and it's now on 97,000 miles. Then again, it does get used properly, there's nothing like only using a bike occasionally to shorten its life.

Incidentally, there were 2242 R850GSs produced in total, not 2400 in the UK.

Yup, i've not ridden one. It's a piddly engine that requires revs... hence it has a lower gear ratio to compensate which means you rev the engine more. I have some friends that had one and they ride two up most of the time... they bought an 1150. Nuff said.

 

[Wreford Miles]

I once heard they have the best engine for a big GS offroad... Can't recall why

 

[Seamaster]

I once heard they have the best engine for a big GS offroad... Can't recall why

Could it be the gear ratios again?.
On the few occasions I took my 850 off road, I could trickle along at slow speed without having to slip the clutch, whereas the 1150s and 1100s around me would be, well, doing the opposite. That said I am fairly rubbish off road.

 

[Ant1967]

I would recommend the 850 to anybody. I owned a 1150gsa but had to sell it, 6 months later I had money for another bike and purchased a 850gs on impulse and I have got to say I just love it. I sometimes ride 2 up and cruise no problem at 80-85 mph. Don't listen to the mines bigger than yours brigade buy what YOU WANT not what somebody tells you you need.

 

[STUBBS]

wouldn't describe myself as small, the 850 does everything I want from it keeping up with 11** and 12's the lower gearing is great round towns and will sit on the motorway doing 90 fully loaded

 

[jonnie comet]

Not the GS, but I did have an R850R.

I didn’t like it one bit...far too revvy when compared with my R1150GS or my R1200GS. Even the bloke that I bought it off described it as ‘an 80 mph sort of a bike’ and he was right. Non of that long legged feel of the bigger bikes, and still bloody heavy.

On the plus side it was really well made.....Even so,I was glad to see the back of it.

 

[JonF]

The R850GS does not need revving. It actually produces its maximum torque lower down than the 1100. I very rarely need to take mine over 5,000 and I'd doubt I've ever taken it over 6,000. The majority of my riding, including London commuting is done between about 2,000 and 4,000.

It is also far better at pulling a higher gear at low speed that the 1200GS.

 

[GS TRV]

It's an 1100 with a piddly engine that needs more revs to get going two up. Dave an Val used to challenge one two up a few years back and ended up on an 1150.
Worth having if you ride mostly solo and you find a nice one.
If you want to travel two up, and fancy a blinged out 1100, there's a Touratech'd special on Mobile.de right now.

Class looking 1100

 

[Beak Freak]

Had mine since new, never had any power issues and i am not exactly light. Happily cruises at (ahem!) motorway speeds at just over 5000rpm and never feels strained. Had 119 fully loaded on the autobahn, so its not slow, obviously not superbike territory but great for touring.
Well built and all the farkles for the 1100 fit

 

[Bucephalus]

Surprised!!

I would recommend the 850 to anybody. I owned a 1150gsa but had to sell it, 6 months later I had money for another bike and purchased a 850gs on impulse and I have got to say I just love it. I sometimes ride 2 up and cruise no problem at 80-85 mph. Don't listen to the mines bigger than yours brigade buy what YOU WANT not what somebody tells you you need.

I ride two up 90% of the time so it was quite nice to be out today solo, no boxes, perfect conditions on great motorcycling roads here in North Wales. On these occasions I like to appreciate the scenery, and also take the opportunity to retain my riding skills, and ride somewhat faster lets say. Anyway, as two roads diverged at Llyn Brenig onto the B4501 a GS yellow and silver (ID to this Avatar) took the lead. We both were soon intoxicated with the exuberance of our own velocities, and I observed a safe fast rider, who obviously knew this road, and I remember thinking these 1100s go better than I had thought. However, just as we went our separate ways I noticed that it was an 850, and had forgotten BMW had even produced them. On this experience alone I would concur this would be a fine machine to own.

 

[Dave T]

Thanks all, keep the comments coming.

Bit more info -

Majority of my riding at the moment is solo. Since my 1200GS was written off , I usually ride an XT660R and to be honest I find the performance of that more than good enough most days*, but Mrs T and I have been talking about some touring and great though it is, the XT just isn't pillion friendly enough.

All being well, I'm off to see an 850GS next weekend (if it doesn't sell beforehand). W plate, and 19k miles, luggage.

*(I also have a 130bhp Ducati Monster for that moment but I have to be in the mood to ride it)

 

[Trullion]

I had an 850GS from new and owned it for 11 years. Personally I prefer the 1100. Compared to my 1100RS the gearing on the 850 is such that 5th (top) on the 850 is the same as 4th on the 1100. I found the 850 too low geared. Whilst this was useful round town mine was always revving at around 5,000rpm or higher on main roads. As the engine was no smoother than my 1100 (and I serviced them both and know how to balance the injectors) I found it relatively tiring. It was also at least as thirsty because the engine was always working hard. I can't speak for the 1100GS, but the 1100RS is MUCH quicker than my 850; at least mine is. When it came to selling one or the other it was the 1100 I kept. Enough said. Oh, my 850GS was a UK spec full power one (70bhp); there are some Eurpean spec licence specials floating around too. Good alternative to mogadon(?) I should think.

 

[Ant1967]

I had an 850GS from new and owned it for 11 years. Personally I prefer the 1100. Compared to my 1100RS the gearing on the 850 is such that 5th (top) on the 850 is the same as 4th on the 1100. I found the 850 too low geared. Whilst this was useful round town mine was always revving at around 5,000rpm or higher on main roads. As the engine was no smoother than my 1100 (and I serviced them both and know how to balance the injectors) I found it relatively tiring. It was also at least as thirsty because the engine was always working hard. I can't speak for the 1100GS, but the 1100RS is MUCH quicker than my 850; at least mine is. When it came to selling one or the other it was the 1100 I kept. Enough said. Oh, my 850GS was a UK spec full power one (70bhp); there are some Eurpean spec licence specials floating around too. Good alternative to mogadon(?) I should think.

I believe th R1100rs was more powerful than the R1100gs and had different gearing so can't really be compared to the 850/1100gs as it was built as a sports tourer.

 

[Ant1967]

Thanks all, keep the comments coming.

Bit more info -

Majority of my riding at the moment is solo. Since my 1200GS was written off , I usually ride an XT660R and to be honest I find the performance of that more than good enough most days*, but Mrs T and I have been talking about some touring and great though it is, the XT just isn't pillion friendly enough.

All being well, I'm off to see an 850GS next weekend (if it doesn't sell beforehand). W plate, and 19k miles, luggage.

*(I also have a 130bhp Ducati Monster for that moment but I have to be in the mood to ride it)

If you are ever over the North Sheffield area call by and have a spin on mine