lunchbox
Registered user
Just got back from a 2500 mile trip through France to the Pyrenees and back, fully loaded with about 50kg and small woman (x kg, classified information) and the 800gs didn't miss a beat, handled superbly, stopped efficiently and I hardly noticed any performance drop with this payload. The trip included a bit of non-payeage motorway in the north but mostly A and B type roads with a good dose of "sheep's intestine" windys in the Pyrenees, many with seriously deformed surfaces, again fully loaded.
For general use in Britain over the past year I have averaged 59 mpg at ave 32 mph, in France for some inexplicable reason I got 60 mpg at 33 mph on supermarche petrol mainly! I have also discovered that, regardless of speed, short shifting through the gears makes your pillion think you are driving more slowly, thereby reducing the occurrence of rib-digging and shoulder tapping from behind on more spirited sections.
The only complaint I have was, as expected, the seat and now my arse-transplant has settled down I will be re-exploring the comfort threads on this forum. If it hadn't been for my small cruiser sized Airhawk, (which I used crossways on the seat to better effect than lengthways) I could never have managed the 8 hour days in the saddle. I don't actually like the Airhawk that much as it reminds me of those awful waterbeds that were popular in the 1970's, but using one is better than permanent rectal disability!
My old 1200GS would have been better for the longer days on boring roads and a bit better for comfort, but it would never have been so lively in the mountain twisty bits and would probably have struggled to average 50 mpg fully loaded never mind 60. It was also nice to be touring on a bike that is half the capacity of some of the bikes I passed on the way but twice as capable. I can't wait to get back there solo next year to do some proper off-roading. So all power to the 800, probably the best all rounder in the world, and certainly the best I have ever ridden.
For general use in Britain over the past year I have averaged 59 mpg at ave 32 mph, in France for some inexplicable reason I got 60 mpg at 33 mph on supermarche petrol mainly! I have also discovered that, regardless of speed, short shifting through the gears makes your pillion think you are driving more slowly, thereby reducing the occurrence of rib-digging and shoulder tapping from behind on more spirited sections.
The only complaint I have was, as expected, the seat and now my arse-transplant has settled down I will be re-exploring the comfort threads on this forum. If it hadn't been for my small cruiser sized Airhawk, (which I used crossways on the seat to better effect than lengthways) I could never have managed the 8 hour days in the saddle. I don't actually like the Airhawk that much as it reminds me of those awful waterbeds that were popular in the 1970's, but using one is better than permanent rectal disability!
My old 1200GS would have been better for the longer days on boring roads and a bit better for comfort, but it would never have been so lively in the mountain twisty bits and would probably have struggled to average 50 mpg fully loaded never mind 60. It was also nice to be touring on a bike that is half the capacity of some of the bikes I passed on the way but twice as capable. I can't wait to get back there solo next year to do some proper off-roading. So all power to the 800, probably the best all rounder in the world, and certainly the best I have ever ridden.
