Touring two up on an 800?

[Giles]

Now look .... who wears the trousers in your household ... ???

 

[Uncle Rob]

Think I need to stick with the 1100 for the rest of my biking life

fixed it

 

[Bryn]

Now look .... who wears the trousers in your household ... ???

I thought that was obvious

 

[Bryn]

fixed it

 

[tosh23]

I dont know for sure, but I think the 800 seat is the same lenth as the 11xx and 1200...

 

[chas820]

Nah,the 1100/1150 seats are seperate and a bit longer.Having had the 1100rt I would recommend that one for touring.The 800 seat is ok two up for short trips(no more than 200 mils)after that real pain starts to kick in.It`s too narrow for real touring and if you have luggage/tent etc it just makes the seating space seem even smaller.

 

[Dean]

Anyone done it? Is it big enough to do Europe two up?

If your both 7.5 stone you will be fine


Do it on the 11 more room, more torque, more planted, swmbo more happy and you knew all this anyway

 

[Dave Ett]

Think I need to stick with the 1100 for a little longer

I'd say it comes down to what percentage of time you ride soloagainst time spent two up.

If it's less than 20% two up, then get the 800 as it's a far more fun / economical / capable back roads and trail bike than the bigger GS's.

You could perhaps splash out on hiring a bigger bike for two up round Europe, but then I'd suggest an R1200RT or a K12/13GT instead - far better on pure roads than any of the GS range. Not the K16 and they're even more unreliable than an R12GS!

The F8GS is plenty powerful enough, assuming you'll stay below 80. Who wants to tour any faster - you miss the scenery and might as well fly?

Standard seat is shocking even for one up, so have it re-stuffed or swap for something better - there's plenty of options depending on pocket depth.

Higher screen may help, but then if its hot you'll like the breeze you get from the standard screen, and it'll stop you from going too fast.

With a top box fitted, your pillion has a backrest to take the strain, and with a radio over the autocom you won't even need to chat to her.

 

[mylovelyhorse]

If it's less than 20% two up, then get the 800 as it's a far more fun / economical / capable back roads and trail bike than the bigger GS's.

Sounds like a sensible line of argument. I have moved from an 1150GS to the 800 because it was time for a new bike and I spend little time two up. My Mrs found being on the back of the 1150 very comfortable but the back seat of the 800 awful on a test ride - until I got the comfort seat, which she (and I) both think is a lot better.

You could perhaps splash out on hiring a bigger bike for two up round Europe

Surely part of the pleasure of the trip is to go on one's own bike?

Not the K16 and they're even more unreliable than an R12GS!

Crikey, really? I test rode one of those. Bonkers but entertaining. Glad I couldn't afford one.

The F8GS is plenty powerful enough, assuming you'll stay below 80.

For me, 80 is touring speed on motorways but I prefer a little slower on A a& B roads so that works for me

With a top box fitted, your pillion has a backrest to take the strain, and with a radio over the autocom you won't even need to chat to her.

Yeah, my top box with a back rest on it works well for SWMBO. We use the Interphone F4 intercoms so we can each listen to different music to suit.

Fortunately for me, Susie rides her own bike so much of the time on longer trips I have the machine to myself

Cheers

m

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Bryn]

I think its down to keeping the 1100, or splashing out on an Explorer

 

[robmw]

Had an 800 for a year after an 1150GSA and did a bit of touring on it, it was fine solo but the seat is an instrument of torture for both rider and passenger, this can be addressed with an airhawk.

Sure a Airhawk helps ;-)

However add passenger and luggage and to be honest it struggled;

With it's original panniers it's not a problem at all, with bigger aluminium, it should have as much room for luggage as it's bigger brothers.

the 800 has quite a peaky engine and you will be working the gearbox to keep it on song, particularly in mountains where you really miss the torque of the 1150 or 1200.

???? Have driven a R1150GS and I've to say that the F800GS handles with much more ease than the pre-owned boxer, it is not peaky at all, mine is very smooth - feels very comfortable and safe in turns etc.

BMW R1150GS
Dry weight: 249.0 kg (549.0 pounds)
Power/weight ratio: 0.3414 HP/kg
Torque: 98.00 Nm (10.0 kgf-m or 72.3 ft.lbs) @ 5750 RPM

BMW F800GS
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 207.0 kg (456.4 pounds)
Power/weight ratio: 0.4566 HP/kg
Torque: 83.00 Nm (8.5 kgf-m or 61.2 ft.lbs) @ 5750 RPM

Torque of 1150 is indeed higher, but F800GS's torque at same rpm, but with [quite] a lower weight.
The 1200's torque is impressive 120 Nm @ 6000 RPM.

In short, its a great bike solo and with duo, I would never change it for a 1200, just for the above mentioned reasons ;-)

 

[Dean]

It's all interesting figures and scenarios I reckon the OP will stick with his 1100 (and a good call I would say)


For a bonus point and a cadburys cream egg can anyone answer this : Which GS in the whole range has the largest Payload (with standard equipment) being 237 kg ?




Remember it's just for fun.

 

[thornley]

It's all interesting figures and scenarios I reckon the OP will stick with his 1100 (and a good call I would say)


For a bonus point and a cadburys cream egg can anyone answer this : Which GS in the whole range has the largest Payload (with standard equipment) being 237 kg ?




Remember it's just for fun.

R100GS?

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Bryn,

Your 1100 GS owes you nothing ,tour this summer on it.It will be far more comfortable two up. Enjoy it and spend the money on riding it more/further afield. Its not the bike its the trips away thats most important. Done in comfort means the Mrs is happy to keep touring.

Whatever you decide enjoy your trips away.

 

[v8legend]

I think he fancies a new bike.

The OP asked if the 800 was big enough for 2up touring around Europe, and if anyone had done it.

Yes it is, yes I have. All fine (so long as you change the saddle).

 

[v8legend]

R100GS?

No. It's his bike. I'll have the cream egg please.

 

[Bryn]

Bryn,

Your 1100 GS owes you nothing ,tour this summer on it.It will be far more comfortable two up. Enjoy it and spend the money on riding it more/further afield. Its not the bike its the trips away thats most important. Done in comfort means the Mrs is happy to keep touring.

Whatever you decide enjoy your trips away.

I think I've made my mind up.... The 1100 GS is staying .... as you said it owes me little.....and I'll have a little more time to grow to love it

 

[Tim Cullis]

BMW R1150GS
Dry weight: 249.0 kg (549.0 pounds)
Power/weight ratio: 0.3414 HP/kg
Torque: 98.00 Nm (10.0 kgf-m or 72.3 ft.lbs) @ 5750 RPM

BMW F800GS
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 207.0 kg (456.4 pounds)
Power/weight ratio: 0.4566 HP/kg
Torque: 83.00 Nm (8.5 kgf-m or 61.2 ft.lbs) @ 5750 RPM

Torque of 1150 is indeed higher, but F800GS's torque at same rpm, but with [quite] a lower weight. The 1200's torque is impressive 120 Nm @ 6000 RPM.

Not wishing to burst your bubble (as I agree with the broad concept of the post) but shouldn't you include 100kg or so for rider+luggage weight in the power/weight ratio?

There was a time when a 750 was the biggest bike you could get.

It was a long time before I forgave my parents for refusing to act as HP guarantor on a Honda CB750 back in 1970. The first widely acclaimed superbike with 67BHP and 59.8 Nm torque.

 

[Dean]

R100GS?

No

 

[Beano]

I think I've made my mind up.... The 1100 GS is staying .... as you said it owes me little.....and I'll have a little more time to grow to love it

You need that 1150gs in blue and white again!,,