Tell me the worst

[UK GuesSer]

Hi All,

Have just joined up to get a little inside information about the current F800 GS.

I currently ride maxi-scooters but am considering changing to the F800 GS as I would like a bike with good road manners but with the ability to carry on when the tarmac runs out. However, I'm not prepared to make an expensive mistake by finding out that the GS isn't the bike for me.

While I get either laughed at or ignored for riding a big scooter, it's actually an excellent machine with brilliant weather protection and rider comfort. It's a bike I can happily ride all day long and cover some fairly respectable distances on. My comforts are important to me and so I would like to know whether the little GS can provide the same cossetting. The screen looks rather small and the lack of a real fairing seems to leave the rider exposed. What is it like in this department?

Also, is the GS a reliable bike and easy to care for? What sort of worthy upgrades are available to make being on the bike just that little bit nicer?

Thanks to all in advance.

UK GuesSer

 

[freeloader]

Hi All,

Have just joined up to get a little inside information about the current F800 GS.

I currently ride maxi-scooters but am considering changing to the F800 GS as I would like a bike with good road manners but with the ability to carry on when the tarmac runs out. However, I'm not prepared to make an expensive mistake by finding out that the GS isn't the bike for me.

While I get either laughed at or ignored for riding a big scooter, it's actually an excellent machine with brilliant weather protection and rider comfort. It's a bike I can happily ride all day long and cover some fairly respectable distances on. My comforts are important to me and so I would like to know whether the little GS can provide the same cossetting. The screen looks rather small and the lack of a real fairing seems to leave the rider exposed. What is it like in this department?

Also, is the GS a reliable bike and easy to care for? What sort of worthy upgrades are available to make being on the bike just that little bit nicer?

Thanks to all in advance.

UK GuesSer

Weather protection as standard will be a lot less than your current steed.

As for worthy upgrades to make the bike nicer, make yourself a large drink, settle down with that and have a read through the F800GS section. To paraphrase Arnie, we have detailed files...

Oh and hello and welcome; I just noticed that that is your first post.

 

[santrix]

The only thing you probably will 'need' is a bigger screen.. everything else can be left as is. If you want to spend loads of money on bling you can.

Riding a bigger scooter is quite away from riding the 800. Its not really comparable... my advice is to go and test ride one.

As for ignoring scooter riders, i have mucho respect, and those big scooters aint slow by any means...

 

[GunZenBomZ]

Welcome UK GuesSer.

I'd recommend reading-up on the threads.

There's niggling issues, no onboard night-vision. No thermal headsup display. Using the left & right thumbs for indicating...(took me all of one minute to adjust too) Further annoyance, no electroluminescent side-display while riding at night for road visibility..


More in tune with 2009, i'd recommend.


Hornig High Windscreen, your body is protected & you can ride with visor up.
http://www.motorcycleparts-hornig.com/BMW-F-650-GS-08-and-F-800-GS/Windscreens/
<a href='http://pict.com/'><img src='http://img2.pict.com/82/76/7a/2339994/0/800/dsc02432.jpg' /></a>
Pannier frame, this will protect your back end when you drop-it.
Adventure spec engine guard & engine bars. (Yet to order my engine bars but soonish!)
Heated grips & large hand guards.
HID50 35watt kit for F8GS, www.hid50.com
Foot stand extender (must do)
Replace indicator bulbs with LED ones, weiser i think are the brand bmw motorrad sell. (Standard bulbs cannot be seen on a bright sunny day)
I really could go on but others will clarify what you really need much better than me.

See this link for my youtube acc
http://www.youtube.com/user/GunZenBomZ

ow see this link for some nice winter F8GS action from me...
http://vholdr.com/node/58952

Enough Paddy

ps: Rear swingarm covers, why people don't help stop the dirt (F650&F800 owners!!)& shite getting near a rather important area.

 

[Micky]

Hi there UK GuesSer welcome to the land of Tossers

Nothing bad to tell ya mate ... 36,000 miles on my F800GS and going better than ever

Small problems sorted with early recalls... my chain broke, as did many, but rather than trying to fight BMW over the issue I fitted a HD DID with new sprockets and rode on... now done 10,000 miles on that without adjustment.

It's one bike you can ride down through France and Spain to North Africa and then ride off road in the Atlas Mountains... or overland to Iran and Pakistan and the Karakorum Highway

Shut your good eye and got for it


PS ... always fancied one of those SupaScoots misen... perhaps when I get older eh

 

[Tim Cullis]

Nothing wrong with scooters, this guy was on his way to Timbuctou on his. And he made it.

Welcome to the board.

Weather protection on my GS is brilliant, I have an Eagle high screen, Tucano handlebar muffs and Tucano gauchos.

Mine is the F650GS, pretty much the same offroad ability as the F800GS on easy stuff, and slightly better on roads (higher gearing). The furthest I've riden in 24 hours was Torún in Poland back to the UK which was just under 1000 miles. The standard seat is as comfortable as a wood bench but I have an Airhawk (upmarket woopie cushion) to soften things.

April snow in the Rif mountains above Chefchaouen, Morocco

Have a word with your local dealer and once he realises you're serious he should let you have a couple of hours test run on a F800GS.

 

[Mr K]

They're a bit tall in the saddle.

 

[Sooty09]

I like the F800gs, it suits my riding style and allows me to imagine I can go to places I never will. If your Maxi scooter makes you feel the same way then there are very few bikes which will better it for comfort and weather protection. You have many other advantages such as storage capacity, easy to clean etc. I have hired a few Piaggio and Kymko scooters over the years and always imagine I will spend my last few riding years with one, I don't think they will ever give me the excitement I still get on a bike, more a two wheel car.
If the scooters fulfill most of your requirements you may be very disappointed with a bike like the GS. If you could some how have both it will be interesting to see which you take out of the garage most.

 

[fatbaldbob]

Nothing wrong with scooters, this guy was on his way to Timbuctou on his. And he made it.

I rode with that same bloke on the scooter to Merzouga (edge of sahara) morroco, a 500cc silver wing I believe, went everywhere the GSs went, on or off road with no problems. I was well impressed with it too.

In the pic above he'd reached Nouakchott in Mauritania

 

[UK GuesSer]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the warm welcome and all the excellent information so far. I'm really pleased to hear that there are no horrors lurking with this bike.

If your Maxi scooter makes you feel the same way then there are very few bikes which will better it for comfort and weather protection. You have many other advantages such as storage capacity, easy to clean etc.

If the scooters fulfill most of your requirements you may be very disappointed with a bike like the GS. If you could some how have both it will be interesting to see which you take out of the garage most.

I do indeed love my Yamaha TMAX very much indeed. It's a great piece of kit that is massively enjoyable to ride and has looked after me wonderfully. However, I do ocassionally need to venture off the road from time to time which is something it's just not designed for. I have massive respect for the guy on the Silverwing, but I just don't feel confident taking my scoot away from sealed surfaces. The CVT transmission isn't ideal for this type of riding and it's very long and low.

Having the TMAX and a GS would be the ideal solution, but I'm just not rich enough to be able to afford to run both. It would certainly deal with any potential disappointment that I might feel with the GS. I guess this is why I find myself here asking lots of questions.

I have hired a few Piaggio and Kymko scooters over the years and always imagine I will spend my last few riding years with one, I don't think they will ever give me the excitement I still get on a bike, more a two wheel car.

You really should have a try on one of the proper maxi's rather than one of these overblown mopeds. Something like my TMAX may just change your mind.

They're a bit tall in the saddle.

That's fine. I'm a bit long in the leg (34 inches).

As for worthy upgrades to make the bike nicer, make yourself a large drink, settle down with that and have a read through the F800GS section. To paraphrase Arnie, we have detailed files...

That could rule out pretty much all riding this year as there's already 25 pages just on alternative screens alone.

UK GuesSer

 

[mechcanico lee]

Try to get a test ride on one , its the only way you can get to know a bike, reviews are one thing but you carnt beat the real thing.

If you like them , i have a 09 plate for sale

 

[Klanky]

Definitely go for a test ride. In fact blag it for a day...just half an hour won't be long enough if you're not used to riding this 'style' of bike.

For me, this is probably the best all-round bike I'll ever get. I can tour with shedloads of gear, keep up at M-way speeds and scuttle up and down gravelly/rocky tracks to my hearts content.

As I'm sure you've realised coming on here, there's loads of kit/gizmos/pointless things you can get for GS's.

Here's a few basic points (my own opinon):

Get the heated grips, combine these with a pair of Barkbusters and you'll only need summer gloves in winter unless it's horrendously cold.

Screen -a taller one can only be an improvement. Having said that I'm 6'2" and can get by OK with the standard one.

It's a very tall bike. I always felt like I was going to topple over on mini-roundabouts until i sussed out how to ride it. I now feel a damn sight more confident on this now than I ever did on my FJ1100. Loaded up with kit it can be a 'stick leg out and hop towards the bike' laugh-a-minute to get on board......

Tyres - the jury appears to be out on the standard Battlewings. I hated them, very skittish over white lines and banding. I now run on Conti TKC80's (which are big square knobbly tyres), they feel a lot more planted on the road, will out perform me in most conditions and a brilliant for gravel tracks...not much good in sticky mud, though.

Panniers - I'd avoid the BMW 'Vario' panniers. I had some originally fitted to mine, very good panniers in their own right. But the fact that they were side-opening made it a complete pain in the arse to load and unload. Plus if you drop the bike ...the panniers will be fecked. I now have toploading ally Ardcase panniers, at least I can bash them straight and pop rivet them if I have an off.

Fuel tank and consumption - don't let the 16l tank fool you, this bike will do 50mpg even if you cane it...my best was 67mpg whilst pootling around Scotland at 40mph with a mate who liked to take it steady.

Reliabilty - Don't worry too much about the recalls, they should have been sorted by now. 9k in the past 12 months on mine and no probs whatsoever.

The headlamp is shit. Swap the bulb for an 'Xtreme' bulb for instant improvement.

HTH.
Have fun.

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

When I got off the F650GS after the test ride, I told the dealer "there aren't enough brakes, there's too many gears, and the indicators are very silly."

When the Missus then got on the pillion, I said "It's like a great, big, bouncy Tonka Toy, with an on/off throttle, like a chainsaw on a pogo stick, so it won't be a smooth ride."

I bought one anyway - they take a bit of getting used to, but reward the effort. A few mods (especially the seat!) and it's a great all-round bike.

 

[ILMV]

Hello,

I haven't read all of the posts here, so if I'm stepping on any ones toes... go **** yourself! No just joking.

First I learnt from an early stage not to disrespect maxi-scooter riders, I had a Suzuki GS500F and was destroyed by one, they're not slow.

Anyway I think someone mentions the F800GS will not be comparable to your maxi-scooter, I would agree with this completely. I would suggest a larger screen to start with, and perhaps even the heated grips if your a sissy like me .

As for weather protection, I have a very cheap / effective set of 2 piece overalls that keep the precipitation out, cost about £40 all in and usually keep them on permanently on my textiles throughout the winter.

Anyway, I'm sure you will love the 800, just make sure you take it for a test drive.