What instead of an 800GS ? More oomph

[Blobby]

Love my 800GS to bits as it's a great do-it-all, quite peppy, lots of leg room and very fuel efficient. Currently have 1200GS as 3-day loaner while BMW service my bike and do chain recall work (3-days as they started service and realised they have not got rocker gasket in stock ). The 1200GS is too ruff 4 me at idle and vibrates at 80mph, but I DO LIKE the extra overtaking oomph it has over the 800 - like it a lot. So, what has the leggy room of an 800, more oomph, no vibes like the 1200 but is very fuel efficient and has the suspension travel to cope with rough tracks like the 800 ? I don't know the answer hence the question. Does such a bike exist.

 

[SamD]

Triumph Tiger perhaps?

 

[david a hall]

A better set up 1200! that of course is in the absence of an1150

 

[doyle]

The answer is simple

 

[Blobby]

Triumph Tiger - really fun ride and lots of oomph but thought mpg was not that great. Was my second option when buying the 800GS. Still tempted.

KTM - have never ridden one but believe their suspension is just fantastic (magic carpet ride according to a mate who rides one), oomph is spot on but I thought mpg was pretty terrible.....or have I imagined that? I have not heard a bad word about the KTM-A. Can you get them with ABS? Do have a dealer within 3 miles of me.

 

[cherokee]

The answer is simple

+1 on the KTM maybe what your lookin for.........950 smother than 990 although stopped making 950 in 06........

 

[Greggers]

Yuppers ... I had a 950 Adv 'S', bloody fantastic bike and I regret to this day still letting it go...

I would have a 950 over a 990 though, but would seriously look at a 1200 SuperTen if I could afford one...

 

[tastiehastie]

KTM was the worst bike I ever owned....but it does have oomph. I had a 1200, then got the KTM. It just felt really unengineered, very old school and harsh. love my 800 though. What about the new multistrada...looks nice aswell.

 

[GunZenBomZ]

http://www.inewidea.com/2010/03/02/22880.html#more-22880

 

[Blobby]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I will go and try a KTM-A during the next week.

Multistrada and 1200 SuperTen both look fantastic but more than I want to spend and also prefer others to enjoy sorting out the teething problems of new models/bikes before I dive in.

800GS has served my needs very well so I have a lot of loyalty attached to it and would find it hard to jump ships. Damn that 1200GS loan bike that has led me astray

 

[everywherevirtually]

http://www.inewidea.com/2010/03/02/22880.html#more-22880

interesting linky... unfortunate name though... "Kunst"

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I will go and try a KTM-A during the next week.

Multistrada and 1200 SuperTen both look fantastic but more than I want to spend and also prefer others to enjoy sorting out the teething problems of new models/bikes before I dive in.

800GS has served my needs very well so I have a lot of loyalty attached to it and would find it hard to jump ships. Damn that 1200GS loan bike that has led me astray

I'm looking at the 2010 Kawasaki Versys for my next steed. 205kg wet weight with an 18 litre tank. OK it's a 650 but it gets some good reviews. Not as focused as the 800 but half the price and I've seen it cope quite well off road.

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GaRU79do4ak&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GaRU79do4ak&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

On the tail end of this video the guy takes it up some stony track in Sardinia. I think he's Swedish so you might struggle to understand the commentary .

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4b9iK_l4LkU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4b9iK_l4LkU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

and an older Versys tricked up by JDrocks of ADV rider.

 

[Wal2]

Cheap Versys

Hi, 1st post here
i'm in a similar position as you, just had to sell my bike due to no work situation, mine was a Versys, 08 model, now thinking of 650/800gs, swapping camps eh lol,
got my Versys after a few yrs layoff (28 yrs riding) bought it Cat D for £3k (chesire motorcycle salvage) 120 miles only, cosmetic damage mostly fixed for £400, its worth looking if you dont mind a bit of work and some war wounds,
after a few yrs off i wondered where i could go to get my hand back in, decided to have a ride to Basel to see a mate, so got ferry from Newcastle to Ijmuiden, quick spin around Amsterdam (shitting a brick) down to Dusseldorf for a night then to Trier/Saarbrucken/Strasbourg down into Switzerland, quick look to Lucerne then back up the German side of the Rhine, Frankfurt, Koln etc and back to Amsterdam for the ferry, brilliant ride, got my confidence back.
The Versys is not a bad little mini tourer (in my bit of experience) light weight, 50mpg easy, over 200 mls on a tank, stone reliable (not even a chain adjust in 10k mls) same buffeting/seat issues as on here, had lowering kit on mine and sculpted seat down 35mm cos i'm a short arse, you can scratch on it and scare the RR's (for a little while anyway) dead forgiving and fun/easy to ride, good midrange, will see 120 if you want, its a little vibey, not bad but you do notice it (my right hand would go numb on m/ways) ive had it on gravel roads on road tyres and its not horrendous, new model has new engine mounts to cut vibes, a few Gs owners now on the Versys forum, one guy has off roaded his a bit and been to Morroco . you can pick them up cheap , £3500 will get you a low miles good buy, i may even end up with another if i cant stretch to the BMW, i was looking at something with a bit more intense/refined engine and love the look/style capabilities of the 650/800gs, the 800 wins hands down in the style dept for me, decisions, decisions, but would probs be happy with the 650, just looks a tad frumpy, cant doubt the 800's ability tho, after reading about them on here

 

[everywherevirtually]

Hi, 1st post here
i'm in a similar position as you, just had to sell my bike due to no work situation, mine was a Versys, 08 model, now thinking of 650/800gs, swapping camps eh lol,
got my Versys after a few yrs layoff (28 yrs riding) bought it Cat D for £3k (chesire motorcycle salvage) 120 miles only, cosmetic damage mostly fixed for £400, its worth looking if you dont mind a bit of work and some war wounds,
after a few yrs off i wondered where i could go to get my hand back in, decided to have a ride to Basel to see a mate, so got ferry from Newcastle to Ijmuiden, quick spin around Amsterdam (shitting a brick) down to Dusseldorf for a night then to Trier/Saarbrucken/Strasbourg down into Switzerland, quick look to Lucerne then back up the German side of the Rhine, Frankfurt, Koln etc and back to Amsterdam for the ferry, brilliant ride, got my confidence back.
The Versys is not a bad little mini tourer (in my bit of experience) 50mpg easy, stone reliable (not even a chain adjust in 10k mls) same buffeting/seat issues as on here, had lowering kit on mine and sculpted seat down 35mm cos i'm a short arse, you can scratch on it and scare the RR's (for a little while anyway) dead forgiving and fun/easy to ride, downside is its a little vibey, not bad but you do notice it (my right hand would go numb on m/ways) ive had it on gravel roads on road tyres and its not horrendous, new model has new engine mounts to cut vibes, a few Gs owners now on the Versys forum, one guy has off roaded his a bit and been to Morroco .
i was looking at something with a bit more intense/refined engine and love the look/style capabilities of the 650/800gs, the 800 wins hands down in the style dept for me,

Think you pretty much summed it up there Wal2. I've just had a look and Cheshire Motorcycle Salvage (http://www.cheshiremotorcyclesalvage.com/) is only 300 metres from my brothers house and yet I'd never heard of it. The 800 does have great styling but after 2 years its not fresh for me anymore and its about affordability and a change. the 30kg weight saving will also be a welcome change.

 

[Wal2]

Yeah, a £3500 bike that will take you anywhere in Europe with no probs is an attractive proposition, dont even have to worry toooo much about it getting nicked, swings and roundabouts, such is life

 

[everywherevirtually]

Yeah, a £3500 bike that will take you anywhere in Europe with no probs is an attractive proposition, dont even have to worry toooo much about it getting nicked, swings and roundabouts, such is life

Indeed. I'm hoping my £750 bike will also take me anywhere in Europe.

I see you have passed the first requirement to enter the F800GS brotherhood. Having a bad case of insomnia . Either that or you're on the night shift

 

[Wal2]

hate going to bed b4 2am, feel like im wasting my life away(well, what i havnt wasted already) and work is such a drag

 

[everywherevirtually]

hate going to bed b4 2am, feel like im wasting my life away(well, what i havnt wasted already) and work is such a drag

I totally know what you mean. And now it is getting light outside

 

[argee]

and an older Versys tricked up by JDrocks of ADV rider.

God in heaven thats ugly.....
And not in a good way

 

[bob buck]

What instead of an 800GS

Has anyone thought of a 800 GS or 1200 GS with the K 1200 or even better K 1300 engine fitted, this would reduce the width of the bike on the 1200 as there would not be half the engine sticking out the sides, no vibration and plenty of power, MPG would not be as good as the 800, but would raise a few smiles !!!!

 

[Blobby]

Triumph Tiger perhaps?

Took Tiger 1050 demo bike out for an hour this morning. Fab engine/overtaking oomph and brill front brakes but it's not for me. I would miss the 800GS's extra leg room, better rear suspension on the bumpy stuff, extra height/visability, button by left hand to scroll through computer info, 10mpg better fuel economy and this may sound odd, but the 800GS has character which I felt was lacking with the Tiger, well it was for me anyway. They are very different bikes and Tiger feels more like a gentle sports bike on stilts which is not what I'm after.

One down, KTM to try next.