IanT61
Guest
Decided I didn't really need to find out but doesn't it look nice with a dusting of the white stuff 
twisticles
Registered user
When I looked out of the window in Derbyshire on Saturday morning, I was thinking..."will I make it back to London today?"
That unpaved road is bad enough without snow on...the 3" of white stuff was hiding a fair few ruts. But I did make it back to London.
And how did the bike perform? Better than my Courier boots - frozen toes aside - the bike was fine...but snow does stick to the screen!
No way!
I am a Belper boy too! 
Now PM me with your school dates
Yep, that is Crich Stand you can see in the far distance. The beacon on the stand was still shining while we sat in the middle of a six-hour power outage. (But with a case of red wine and a log fire, who needs electricity?)
Sadly I don't live there (its my dad's place) I am stuck in London
But it's nice to escape back to the old haunts.
I think DCC are still ruminating over whether to turn the Chevin into a BOAT...that would be some childhood fantasy come true to razz over the Chevin on my 800GS 
That unpaved road is bad enough without snow on...the 3" of white stuff was hiding a fair few ruts. But I did make it back to London.
And how did the bike perform? Better than my Courier boots - frozen toes aside - the bike was fine...but snow does stick to the screen!
Hey Twisticles,
Is that the war memorial in Crich I can see in the background on top of the hill? I ask because I'm originally a Belper boy me. Derbyshire born, Derbyshire Bred - now living in Dublin so what does that make me...
A very nice part of the world you live in, great for the GS, should pop back myself and have a spin around the old haunts sometime.
No way!
I am a Belper boy too! Now PM me with your school dates Yep, that is Crich Stand you can see in the far distance. The beacon on the stand was still shining while we sat in the middle of a six-hour power outage. (But with a case of red wine and a log fire, who needs electricity?)
Sadly I don't live there (its my dad's place) I am stuck in London
But it's nice to escape back to the old haunts. I think DCC are still ruminating over whether to turn the Chevin into a BOAT...that would be some childhood fantasy come true to razz over the Chevin on my 800GS Deleted account 211025001
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Just got back from the WMB Off Road Skills thingie and thought I'd give my impressions of the 800 off road.
I own a 1200 and have taken it off road a few times so had plumped for a X-Challenge on the course. But I did have a quick 20 minute blat on an 800.
It was, IMVHO, quite incredible (for what it is) on the rough stuff
It's really small (relatively) when sat on and hides it's weight well.
The engine spins up really quickly which meant there was pretty much immediate pick up when you needed it. This gave a great sense of 'feel' for what was happening and a quick blip and the front end would just rise up over that pesky rock.
The only downside was that there is not much 'fly wheel' effect and very slow nadgery going was a pain, having to keep the revs up and clutch slipping. Everybody commented on this but by the end of the course most seemed to have adpated to it ok.
What imprssed me most, though, was the suspension and geometry. It was really hard to get it into trouble. The few times I did, by going too fast for a section and ending up all 'crossed up' I just kept the gas on and the bike sorted itself out, no fuss, no drama
Come across a rocky incline? Just open her up, look ahead and let the suspension take the punishement, far better than the 1200 and on a par with my X-Challenge in this sort of going.
And on the fire roads Top fun The 1200 always reminds you there is a lot of weight and momentum just waiting to bite back and the 650 just isn't powerful enough but the 800 was tremendous fun and so controlable/flattering - it made you feel like a riding god (which I'm not!). The way the throttle is so directly linked to how far you want the back end to steer was so much fun and so unexpected.
So, I wasn't expecting much from the 800 and it was on the bottom of my list of choices on the course but, TBH, if I went again it'd be top of the list.
I loved it and reckon all you guys and gals that are getting (got) one are in for a grand time on them
Andres
I own a 1200 and have taken it off road a few times so had plumped for a X-Challenge on the course. But I did have a quick 20 minute blat on an 800.
It was, IMVHO, quite incredible (for what it is) on the rough stuff
It's really small (relatively) when sat on and hides it's weight well.
The engine spins up really quickly which meant there was pretty much immediate pick up when you needed it. This gave a great sense of 'feel' for what was happening and a quick blip and the front end would just rise up over that pesky rock.
The only downside was that there is not much 'fly wheel' effect and very slow nadgery going was a pain, having to keep the revs up and clutch slipping. Everybody commented on this but by the end of the course most seemed to have adpated to it ok.
What imprssed me most, though, was the suspension and geometry. It was really hard to get it into trouble. The few times I did, by going too fast for a section and ending up all 'crossed up' I just kept the gas on and the bike sorted itself out, no fuss, no drama
Come across a rocky incline? Just open her up, look ahead and let the suspension take the punishement, far better than the 1200 and on a par with my X-Challenge in this sort of going.
And on the fire roads
Top fun The 1200 always reminds you there is a lot of weight and momentum just waiting to bite back and the 650 just isn't powerful enough but the 800 was tremendous fun and so controlable/flattering - it made you feel like a riding god (which I'm not!). The way the throttle is so directly linked to how far you want the back end to steer was so much fun and so unexpected.So, I wasn't expecting much from the 800 and it was on the bottom of my list of choices on the course but, TBH, if I went again it'd be top of the list.
I loved it and reckon all you guys and gals that are getting (got) one are in for a grand time on them
Andres
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Tell us what you thought of the XChallenge
Best bit - the XChallenge engine, it pulls from very low down and is nice and linear. Great for the technical stuff
Fine on the road as well (although a bit vibey). On the fire roads it ran out of steam a bit if you were really going for it and playing silly buggers but 90% of the time was more than adequate.Seat is the most uncomfortable I have ever experianced (and that includes my old CCM and my DRZ) - luckily you don't sit down on these bikes much
Suspension - still undecided
The rear end feels very good; planted and well controlled. The front end was quite ok but got a bit crude when really pushed. Not quite as good as my (used and abused) DRZ, as a comparison.Overall though, I liked it. Given it's a 'trail' bike and not a 'serious' off road tool I think it behaved far better than I would expect it to have. It's an 'easy' bike to ride and very forgiving so you feel at home on it straight away
Personally, though, if I wanted a green laner and it had to have a WBM badge on it I'd be waiting for the 450
Andres
Agree with most of what you said................I like mine too. I did a 177 mile road ride circuit of Mid-Wales yesterday in pouring rain and gale force winds and it performed faultlessly on the road, even on knobblies.............no slides
I found the seat ok and we were out from 10am until 5pm on slow going on B&C roads
When I took a test ride, I went up a short track to Rivington Barn that's potholed & cobbled & generally very bumpy... I hated it on the 800. The throttle response was much too jerky & you couldn't just trickle along. It was either, gun it & hang on or slip the clutch to mask the jerky throttle at sensible speeds... A peach on-road, though.
johnnystorm
Registered user
Dunno about the idle speed but I agree with the post above that almost constant clutch work was required and the throttle is really snatchy, I was changing to second whenever possible to smooth it. I'm no expert of course.
i8lusaka
Guest
The quick throttle response is what makes this bike fun and alive and since I come from a KTM I appreciate it to the 1200 which I thought was "to boring" if you get me.
And if you have to use the clutch to much why not get a front sprocket with one tooth down.
And if you have to use the clutch to much why not get a front sprocket with one tooth down.
Barfly
Guest
Perhaps I'm missing something here and maybe I need a bit of advice from Simon (Pavey). In decades of riding and owning 16 bikes (including 4 years in Laos on a Suzuki 250 trail bike) I've always slipped my clutch over difficult terrain (as I was taught) and never had a single clutch failure. They're not cars...
Offroad / greenlane experiences
I had TKC 80s fitted yesterday and today I was taken on a tour of greenlanes.
First thing, the tyres are great on the bike, both on the road and off-road. The steering is noticeably slower in the corners on tarmac but not so much there's any problem, I just had to put a little more effort into the steering than with the Battlewings.
The greenlanes were on the whole pretty muddy and rutted and I fell off enough to learn a couple of things.
1. The gear lever can be bent back into position at least twice without breaking. However, I will try and get hold of a spring type lever in an effort to avoid the need for this kind of remedial action.
2. The mirrors come loose quite quickly when the bike lands on its side - certainly better than breaking them but next time, I shall remove them before diving into the mud. I shall also take a suitable spanner.. Fortunately one of my fellow riders had the right size on this occasion.
3. I had a bracket for my Tomtom fixed on the left hand mirror mounting (as well as the mirror). This is a crap place to put it - it broke early on in the proceedings. I shall get hold of a bracket that I can mount on the handlebar clamps where there is a lot of protection offered by the bars themselves etc.
4. I was initially a bit concerned that the apparent snatchiness of the throttle might prove difficult to handle but in the event I felt pretty happy with it after a couple of miles. It's hard to say but I think that now the bike has more miles on it than when I first noticed the throttle behaviour (in my first 50 miles, when I took it on an unmade road), it is a bit more forgiving and flexible although I did stall it a few times.
All in all I could hardly be more pleased with the bike, it's just brilliant.
I had TKC 80s fitted yesterday and today I was taken on a tour of greenlanes.
First thing, the tyres are great on the bike, both on the road and off-road. The steering is noticeably slower in the corners on tarmac but not so much there's any problem, I just had to put a little more effort into the steering than with the Battlewings.
The greenlanes were on the whole pretty muddy and rutted and I fell off enough to learn a couple of things.
1. The gear lever can be bent back into position at least twice without breaking
. However, I will try and get hold of a spring type lever in an effort to avoid the need for this kind of remedial action.2. The mirrors come loose quite quickly when the bike lands on its side - certainly better than breaking them but next time, I shall remove them before diving into the mud. I shall also take a suitable spanner.. Fortunately one of my fellow riders had the right size on this occasion.
3. I had a bracket for my Tomtom fixed on the left hand mirror mounting (as well as the mirror). This is a crap place to put it - it broke early on in the proceedings. I shall get hold of a bracket that I can mount on the handlebar clamps where there is a lot of protection offered by the bars themselves etc.
4. I was initially a bit concerned that the apparent snatchiness of the throttle might prove difficult to handle but in the event I felt pretty happy with it after a couple of miles. It's hard to say but I think that now the bike has more miles on it than when I first noticed the throttle behaviour (in my first 50 miles, when I took it on an unmade road), it is a bit more forgiving and flexible although I did stall it a few times.
All in all I could hardly be more pleased with the bike, it's just brilliant.
Chris - great to meet you this morning... and glad the spanner came in handy! Was interested to see how the 800 faired in the conditions... just one more reason to want one... in the meantime, will have to get some TKCs fitted to the 12GS to make life easier next time... See you on the next one. Cheers Neil
My pix were taken where it was dry - I was too busy trying to stay upright elsewhere
Here's a couple showing that I wasn't the only person to bend something - I am sure Gareth will explain...
Here's a couple showing that I wasn't the only person to bend something - I am sure Gareth will explain...
Argonaught
Guest
Hi Chris, Can i ask you about those TKC80's... Im considering a set too but Continental don't list a rear 150/70 for inner-tube'd wheels (TT). They do have a front 90/90 TT though.
Could you tell me what you've got on your bike? & Can you fit TL tyres on our 800GS's?
Thanks...
twisticles
Registered user
F800GS Manual recommends to use TKC80 90/90 21" TL 54Q front and TCK80 150/70 17" TL 69Q rear at a permissable top speed of 160km/h.
twisticles
Registered user
I had TKC 80s fitted yesterday and today I was taken on a tour of greenlanes.
First thing, the tyres are great on the bike, both on the road and off-road. The steering is noticeably slower in the corners on tarmac but not so much there's any problem, I just had to put a little more effort into the steering than with the Battlewings.
The greenlanes were on the whole pretty muddy and rutted and I fell off enough to learn a couple of things.
1. The gear lever can be bent back into position at least twice without breaking
2. The mirrors come loose quite quickly when the bike lands on its side - certainly better than breaking them but next time, I shall remove them before diving into the mud. I shall also take a suitable spanner.. Fortunately one of my fellow riders had the right size on this occasion.
3. I had a bracket for my Tomtom fixed on the left hand mirror mounting (as well as the mirror). This is a crap place to put it - it broke early on in the proceedings. I shall get hold of a bracket that I can mount on the handlebar clamps where there is a lot of protection offered by the bars themselves etc.
4. I was initially a bit concerned that the apparent snatchiness of the throttle might prove difficult to handle but in the event I felt pretty happy with it after a couple of miles. It's hard to say but I think that now the bike has more miles on it than when I first noticed the throttle behaviour (in my first 50 miles, when I took it on an unmade road), it is a bit more forgiving and flexible although I did stall it a few times.
All in all I could hardly be more pleased with the bike, it's just brilliant.
Interested to know Chris - do you have crash bars? How did the plastics fair when the bike went over? What else came into contact with the floor?
Argonaught
Guest
F800GS Manual recommends to use TKC80 90/90 21" TL 54Q front and TCK80 150/70 17" TL 69Q rear at a permissable top speed of 160km/h.
Oh yes, i hadn't turned the page
Senior moment...
99.42 MPH is usually fast enough for me
I had a couple of 'moments' on the green lanes round me today (Herts) especially after the showers, reckon i need to get me some of them knobblies.
Argonaught,
Twisticles has provided the info but just to confirm, you can inded fit a tubeless type rear to the bike. On the sidewall, there is a helpful instruction "On Tube Type Rim, Fit Tube"
Twisticles,
I don't have crash bars fitted - they are on order from BMW but have been for the last month - no idea when they will arrive - ditto handguards.
The plastic suffered no damage as far as I can see, nor did anything else apart from the items I mentioned and the screen that has a few scratches at the edges. I did fall on very muddy ground however - probably would be a different story on gravel or rocks. The silencer will have contacted the ground but shows no sign - apart from mud - of having done so.
The bike collected a huge payload of mud. I used a pressure washer to get rid of it to the point where I could clean it with a sponge and hose etc. I don't see how one could otherwise have cleaned it - just too many unreachable nooks and crannies for it to hide in.
Twisticles has provided the info but just to confirm, you can inded fit a tubeless type rear to the bike. On the sidewall, there is a helpful instruction "On Tube Type Rim, Fit Tube"
Twisticles,
I don't have crash bars fitted - they are on order from BMW but have been for the last month - no idea when they will arrive - ditto handguards.
The plastic suffered no damage as far as I can see, nor did anything else apart from the items I mentioned and the screen that has a few scratches at the edges. I did fall on very muddy ground however - probably would be a different story on gravel or rocks. The silencer will have contacted the ground but shows no sign - apart from mud - of having done so.
The bike collected a huge payload of mud. I used a pressure washer to get rid of it to the point where I could clean it with a sponge and hose etc. I don't see how one could otherwise have cleaned it - just too many unreachable nooks and crannies for it to hide in.
GS800NR9
Guest
How's the paint around the leg area holding up Chris? Mine was showing bare metal after just a few road rides with clothes rubbing on it,let alone motocross boots.
My Touratech frame guards arrived at the weekend so i'll be putting them on pronto.
My Touratech frame guards arrived at the weekend so i'll be putting them on pronto.
GS800NR9,
The paint on the RHS is fine although the plastic guard over the rear brake cylinder is very scratched. On the LHS, there are two very small patches where the paint has worn through on the cast section of the frame. I only just went and had a look in response to your question, so I can't say whether this all happened in the mud with motocross boots on or beforehand when I was wearing normal road gear.
The paint on the RHS is fine although the plastic guard over the rear brake cylinder is very scratched. On the LHS, there are two very small patches where the paint has worn through on the cast section of the frame. I only just went and had a look in response to your question, so I can't say whether this all happened in the mud with motocross boots on or beforehand when I was wearing normal road gear.
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