if you like these videos and would like to help me make more of these videos, you can make a one time donation through Paypal here paypal.me/TinR... Thanks walk around and ride review of the BMW F800GS
How did it go? I have had MY 2015 F 800 GS Adventure for six (6) weeks now. I got an orange triangle on the left consol today with the word LAMP on the right. Most lights are L E D. The H7 55W had blown. I Swung past Classic B M W in Victoria Park and got a new globe for $ 27.50. Installed it and away I went.
@@professorvoluck9311 super there is an excellent bike, I did the Colorado back country discovery route on one absolutely loved it! Amazing capable bike!
I have one, model 2012. It is my first bike, I bought recently. Super easy to ride on road and offroad (with proper tires), super strong and not that heavy to put on single track. I had zero experience with motorcycles before, yet I found it very easy to handle. Great bike. I'm loving it.
@@TRCAdventures I believe they are a bit undervalued/appreciated. I actually bought it thinking to sell it a year later, but now I'm keeping it because it just so much fun. Can't imagine me doing the same stuff with a 1250 - too bulky for single track, no 21" and I also don't like the idea of throwing that kind of money into the dirt ;-)
Yes your video made it possible for me to get one. Hearing you say that a bike in good order with 20 or 30k on it is fairly safe to buy will put a lot more bikes in my radar.
I tried out a 2020 F850 GS last year and it was okay, I don't particularly like loud mufflers but it did seem weather the 80 - 90 mph speed. I also tried out a 2021 KTM 890 but was not that impressed although the dealer would only allow a local test ride which precluded a real test. My 2014 BMW is tested, mileage tested and paid for so I'll stick with it for the time being.
Paid for and tested.... can't beat that!!!! The bike I finally landed on is the KTM 1090 adventure R. For me it's now the same thing, tested and paid for!!!!
Just one thing I would add about BMW's. The Germans seem to think no one should do their own maintenance, like even oil and filter changes. They include NO useful servicing info in their manuals and if you want to reset the "Service Required" light you MUST take it to the dealer (and pay of course) or someone with a reset OBD reader and an APP that you have to pay for. Kind of a scam for those of us who enjoy and like to do our own servicing.
You can actually reset the service light with the Motoscan app. Very cheap and easy. I wish all manufacturers had an app to reset your own service intervals, change settings, units, etc
The problem with this bike is I cannot justify getting something to replace it. It just does everything so well. I'm not sure the Tenere 700 would be that much better that the rider would not make up the difference.
True! I ended up on a KTM 1090 adventure R, the Tenere 700 was a close second for me. I agree the 800 is a difficult bike to replace. Thanks for checking out the video
Really nice video, your appreciation of this bike shines through. After getting rid of my T7, too tall for my 55yo wonky shoulder and knee, I'm considering one of these. I want a low tech mid weight adv. The only thing that's put me off in the past is the idea they might handle the twisties in much the same way my DRZ does rather than the better handling of the modern mid weights. Any thoughts, where does it lie on that spectrum? Thanks
Unfortunately these are also quite tall, depending on how much off road you do, there are some other options that are much lower, can handle some dirt roads and are masters in the Twisties. A Ducati hyperstrada, Honda's 500. As far as the f800 in the Twisties it's better than the drz but not as good the DRZ400SM That might be a fun option as it's much lower has great stiff forks and with some tkc80 tires can go anywhere!
@@TRCAdventures cheers, actually it was the top heaviness of the T7, I'm just over 5 10 so could manage it, but felt like fighting a losing battle as soon as it started to go. Thought the BMW would be better with the lower fuel.
Did you know? There's not ONE bike with 800cc and that amount of hp that has a lower dry weight than this F 800 GS, only 392lbs....Another argument for me to buy one...
@@TRCAdventures unfortunately it doesn't work. I used it torqued to 100 NM along with a Wilbur's shock and a home made bolt stiffener and it started to bend. The whole design is flawed. There was a commercially made bolt brace available, you still night be able o buy it. Good luck
@@MrEtnorb that's a bummer, mine made it pre running the Baja 1000, and multiple 3k+ miles hard adventure trips with no issues, bolt still looked great after 7 years of use. But I have heard of others having issues, just no one in our groups. Thanks for the note!
@@TRCAdventures Good luck, they are decent bikes and unbelievably, the early ones are 10kg lighter than a T7 or KTM 890. In all those years that weight hasn't been bettered.
Great review, thanks. I'm thinking of getting one of these but have very short legs, 27-28" inseam, so would need to lower it without losing comfort in the seat as I would want to do serious touring miles on it. If you or anyone here can advise on what they have done, please, that would be much appreciated. Thanks 👍
@@TRCAdventures the 650 is a great bike, I agree, and rode it on it's UK launch about 30 years ago. I want the extra power of the 800, or similar, with easy to moderate off road capability for exploring. Thanks for replying, I like your channel and have subscribed, thanks for your efforts 👍
Good review! I started (after 38 years) again with motorcycling, started looking, and last year I bumped into a Honda CBF600SA from 2010, that I could buy for a very low price (only $2400). As my previous bike was (back in '82) a Suzuki GS750 (not a bad one, it was one of the 1st good handling bikes in its day), with this Honda, it was as if I'd stepped into the future, ABS, superior handling, the works. But one thing annoyed me, sitting on it, looking forward, i seeing the wide & large 'instrument panel', I thought, I'm sitting in a 2-wheeled car. I started looking for something else, and this BMW you ride, attracts my interest, because, it has more power at a lower rpm, it is smaller, when I see you looking forward to the instruments, they look 'more like a motor cycle's instruments', smaller, elongated. When I buy one, it will be the older BMW model, because after 2013 the bike became heavier. Now I won't make use of its off-road capabilities, most I will ride with my wife as a pillion, on smooth roads. I hope that by next summer, I have this BMW too, there's enough of them to buy, already seen that.
Thanks, I agree, I like a basic dash layout, just the info I need and not much more! The F800GS is a great bike and look just as modern today as they did when they came out, I also agree the newer 800 and the New 850 are far to heavy to consider, for me it seems the new 850 is just as large as the 1200 GS was seems like a step back. I hope you find a nice one, Im sure you will love it! also another option for more street use is the F700GS (its the same motor 800cc) but is a bit lower in the seat, and because of the confusing 700 designation the cost can be much lower for a better condition bike!
@@TRCAdventures I did consider the 700GS, if it wasn't for one thing I cherish: the SPOKED wheels of the 800GS, remember, in my days spoked wheels were standard, I never got a feeling for cast wheels, so I swore that after this Honda, another bike MUST have spoked wheels; it looks more motorCYCLE....
I understand the cool factor of the new display, BUT! I have found that with that WOW factor comes issues I can not live with. of the three adventure bikes I have had with "high tech" displays they have all had major issues as a result that have all left the bike disabled. I do love the look of the new display! and I would gladly take one on a street bike, but not on my adventure bike where these issues can leave you stranded, way, way out. I love the basic setup on the F800! Thanks for checking out the video!
Another question, I see here some movies about people, owning such a bike, who have(had) troubles with stators getting too hot, necessitating replacements, because the exhaust tubes sit too close to the stator cover, did you experience issues with that?
I've had two of these bikes road them both about 20 to 30,000 miles with no issues like that at all I still ride with a guy that has one and has never experienced that either. One of my bikes had stock exhaust the other aftermarket exhaust. The two issues with these bikes, are head bearings need replacement with better bearings and races, I use all balls racing bearings. Many people put steering dampers on them thinking and told they need it, when in fact it's the head bearings (this includes the guy I ride with, he bought a Scotts damper and would swar by it, then he rode my bike and was amazed at how much more stable it was!!!! Better bearings!! Next is the cam chain tensioner, they only last about 20k miles and a manual chain tensioner should be fitted to keep the motor quite (not really a safety issue just noise at start-up) These are both simple fixes and the bikes seem to last forever, highly recommend!
Awesome review but sorry to be critical. The loud gasphing and lip smacking at the begining almost drives you to annoyance. Is there anyway of remounting the mic?
Ah, yes, these older videos were a bit of a learning experience, better mic placement, and a better camera. Things started to get a bit better, a bit anyway! Thanks for the comment
@SVMeeko watching more of your videos. You do a great job though and I'm learning lots!. Been riding sports bikes for 20 years and to be honest I'm a little over it. I hired a 1200GS and went around Tasmania by myself and it really got me excited. I'm considering a second hand GS800 as sjust something completely different and a chance to have a go at a completely new style. You're videos are definitely getting me excited
@@jamestonkin8610 ah yes those 800s are quite capable, I took one down to Mexico (Baja) took a couple other bikers as well, we did a pre run of two sections of the baja 1000 the day before the race, great time!
I have had good and bad experiences with electronic suspension. Works wonderfully on my BMW RT, and quite terrible on both the BMW GSA and Yamaha super Tenere. The BMW GSA failed twice and I replaced it with olins standard shocks and on the Yamaha it never failed but just did not work as well as the standard suspension, that had better adjustment points and more damping for load. In the end I think electronic suspension works for road use but not so good for off road use, and this would include the latest electronic suspension offering on the Ducati adventure bike as well, just can't keep up with the off road demands and the standard suspension just works better
The question of rotax vs BMW motor only relates to the 650 motor, that motor actually has three iterations, starting with a BMW, then rotax then a Chinese version of the Rotax, each version was better than the next, better power better reliability and smoother operation. The 800 motor manufactured in Berlin, Germany by BMW Motorrad. Remains the same and includes the F800, f700, and are all the same 800cc motor, this does include one year the f650 was made with the 800cc motor. Thanks for checking out the video
