That was a really detailed, interesting, and engaging video! It's never been quite the same bike since the buttery rotex-built 800 was replaced by the noisy 850/900 engine. Think I'd still choose a slightly older 1250 for the same money. As someome who works in the industry, I'm always hearing people (often female riders) struggling with seat heights, so would it be possible in future videos that you show a variety of people sitting on the bike, and even better show the variety of seat heights available? I think that would help a lot of potential buyers 😁
Great video si, i currently ride a gsa850 2023, just back from 5 weeks all around europe, bike was fantastic and i have low seat only being 5ft 5", i test ridden R1300 last week thought the gearbox was very klunky and didnt feel like a adv bike so didnt buy one,,, more a semi naked sports bike feeling, im trying to get test ride on new 900 for a upgrade but cant get my hands on one in glssgow, i do like them glad i watch your video. cheers
tips for improvements: 1. Add numbers to the screen, when talking about specs, 2. Add graphs/tables/charts when comparing specs, 3. Add conversion for specs between imperial/metric 4. Mention on which tyres the 0-60 time was measured 5. Make future dyno tests on same stand with same adjustments, if possible
Great stuff Simon, At last a return to specific information, lots of magazines/sites these days, have very little geeky stuff now, it's all a bit generic.
I had a F850 GSA for 4 years, in that time I only had a dead battery and a leaking oil filter 2 months before service and no matter how tight on it still leaked but sorted at service. Other than that I have no other problems. Pro nice position, great range and easy to use on the road/ Cons like mentioned the seat even when changed for the comfort seat still hurt my backside after 2.5 to 3 hours of continuous riding, I've tired 3 different seats from BMW and the wunderlich seat and they all have the same problem. I also changed the small screen to a Puig touring screen to make it better but still not perfect for a 6.1 rider. The last con was the non adjustable front forks which did dive a lot under braking and bad rebound. Item I think it should have had was headed seat option which I don't get why not as its till a premium bike. I was looking at the F900 GSA to part x to but as only 1 of the bad things had been fixed which was the adjustable forks and no real seat on offer I've gone to one of the last R1250 GSA knowing I can still use my panniers have better heated seat better screen and the lovely telelever front. I could not be happier, but still loved the F850 for them 4 years of fun.
I have an 850GSA and recently had a 900GSA loaner while having new tyres fitted. I found the extra power of the 900 just hit a sweet spot for me of having plenty of power for normal road riding and able to keep up with my mates on their 1200RTs. Overall the 900 didn't have any significant improvements over the 850 but altogether felt a more refined package with improved ride comfort. It would still be a worthwhile upgrade over the 850 and a good chunk of money less than the 1250/1300. I do sometimes miss the extra grunt of the 1200 GSA & 1200 RT I had previously, but not that often.
Great idea. A real bike test, not just a subjective assessment. Looking forward to you testing all the “400”s, a very popular segment of the market for us not so young bikers.
Very informative one thing that only mentioned occasionally is engine heat and also so any extras like usb plugs and any cubbie holes, under set space.
What a great way to start this series - I have an F900GSA coming in October and can’t wait 🥳 As for the series, it’s a great idea. And well thought out. Some practical touches like underseat storage and bungee points would be good, otherwise I think more of the same. And with Simon permanently at the helm, please!
Have 850gsa for 5 years totally trouble free and has covered 40,000 Kms inc 2 tours of Spain /Portugal averaging 68 mpg ridden gently.agree about seat needs to be improved considering this is a long distance adv bike.would I buy another one? Yes.
Two weeks in and 500 miles later, I’m loving my Brand New BMW F900 GS Adventure, with a big thank you to Mike Bentham at Sycamore Motorrad, a great salesman and a great showroom and business to deal with, absolutely now pressure to purchase and so approachable thank you 👍🏻🥇🏆
Simon......if ya wanna go 'Full On Geek'......it's pronounced Ah-Krap-O-Vitch.......not Akra-po-vik. 😉 Can you please include a 0 - 20mph time in future Geek Tests.......for the benefit of those who live in Snails.......soz, I meant Wales. 😡Ta Dood.
Interesting format. Long-time fan of Simon's work. Will the series be all new bikes? Maybe we could see some older 2nd hand favourites, maybe even Mufga's SV!
Thank you for the detailed test. 44.4 mpg UK is less than 16 km/l. We need a BMW F 600 GS doing 28 km/ before I would consider testing it. Maybe it is just me, but I love long camping trips. I have the same range on my small 14 l tank and save 80 l on a 3000 km holiday.
Really good program, something different that almost everyone is doing. If I may! add a female host would be nice to don't be always the same voice saying this because it's a lot of info and starts to be to long with always the same voice and tone, and adding other host you can add a pillion test and switching because nowadays you start to see male pillions🎉, other thing the sound in a garage it's sterile do it in some place with a little bit of background sound in a garage or in the magazine hq or on a bike cafe with a second mic you can modulate the sound to be just a background sound 🎉🎉🎉
Thanks so much for the Geek test. I have searched the entire internet on the F900 GSA and haven't seen a detailed review like yours!!! I just purchased this exact bike 1 month ago here in California. Its the triple black one and has all upgrades available from BMW, (except the muffler tip). I must say, I LOVE THIS BIKE! I put about 600 miles on it so far and I have ridden about 20 miles on tough off road. I come from an enduro duals sport back round, (KTM 500 EXCF and now ride a 2022 Husky FE350S). I purchased this bike for touring only but have experienced its off road capability so I plan on doing some simple ADV rides. My final thought is, this bike has the benefits of a heavyweight without the massive bus feel. GET ONE!!
There may be trouble ahead. The Voge 900DSX could create a few issues for BMW. The engine from the same factory(Loncin), I know it's Chinese, but the gap is narrowing. I'd love to know your views on that bike, Simon, maybe even a review?
Great review, thnx. Since I'm not from UK could you please give also details in L/100km, km, km/h, etc. Just for all those outside of UK, please!!! Can't wait for another Geek Test of eg: CRF1100AS (no DCT, since we love to ride by ourselves), Tiger 1200 R.Expl.,
Like the format ❤ just add what your height is when talking about seat height and effectiveness of screens and it will be golden 😆. 900 gsa is very confused bike. They have dedicated 900gs for off road so the question is why they spoiled GSA for so many riders. It’s too tall and seat not comfortable for long rides. Screen doesn’t protect from the weather as it could. For the money I would go for the Tiger or MG Stelvio.
Thank you for this detailed explanation. Would love to know the comparison review of F900GSA and Tiger 900 rally pro. Which bike do you prefer from these 2?
Forgot to add one thing. Please talk to a physic expert and an engineer. Together construct a machine that measures top heaviness of bikes. This will be proper GEEKY stuff and I don’t think any RU-vidr does it 🎉
I appreciate the review on this bike. There are not too many reviews on this bike and there probable will not be. In the light of geeking out on specific motorcycles, it would probably be better to leave the opinions out of the geek part of it. Opinions are very subjective. I own this bike and love it and find the comfort seat for me to be very comfortable for me for hours in the saddle. My butt must be different than yours. Hence the subjectiveness of opinions. Keep up the good work 👍😉
Love the stat-fest geek test Simon. My one suggestion is that you weigh the front and rear at the same time and then comment on the weight distribution. But great stuff, a real bucker of the trend towards fluff and nonsens.
Thank you for a new way to check out bike performance 👍 I think many of your followers comes from oversea. I think it had been Nice to see fuel consumtion in l/km, torque in Nm etc. Please put in a box with this data.. 😉 Cheers and keep up the good work from Bennetts 😊
Simon, I loved this form of testing. Really helpful for those of us who like checking every detail on bikes we want. One thing I’d like to see would be if there’s any storage under the seat and if you can cancel the inevitable service lights that come on. The first is nice for a disc lock and puncture kit, the second for those of us who service our own bikes. Oh, and if the wheels are tubeless.
Good format, great presenting. Very watchable. I wonder if some worthwhile comparison could be made using prices for consumables or spare parts. Genuine parts for my RC 390 are SO cheap compared to some of its competition …which is lucky because… KTM! 😂 Seriously though, it would be nice to know if you’re going to get slammed at the parts counter if you ever dropped the bike in the car park outside B&M because you’ve overloaded the outside pannier with Maoam and Swizzles Double Dips.
Really enjoyed the concept. It's a great idea. Simon is always a great presenter. If I were to offer constructive criticism? The editing felt a little stilted. It didn't really flow. Simon in free form chat with the other guys sounds more natural. I found the structure of the edit a touch jarring. Like he was inserting a gap for the edit and the editor didn't pick up on it quickly enough. Just my 2 pence.
Thank you for the info, great to have witnessed the very first geektest. For future geeky tests: what is the storage space under the seat like (can you store a bike lock without the need for rucksack or tank bag), does it come with tools, enough for roadside repair and finally: which tires are fitted from factory and are they any good or a cheap OEM version of the aftermarket brand and model ?
Very interesting video, Si. Any chance of more in-depth handling characteristics in the future? Like how the front end feels in and out of the bends and while braking; how the back end feels under acceleration (maybe some setup tips). Not so much a geek test but a proper biking hack giving his knowledgeable opinion on a bike. Cheers.
Well done Simon ! I was missing data driven bike assessment and, good old, cross checking manufacturer’s figures. Thank you for finally bridging the gap ❤ Stopping distance is rarely measured, I’d propose perhaps 3-5 repetitions? Another good one that none of the magazines measure is ride comfort, but you’d need someone with automotive ride and handling experience. Shall I cast over an up-to-date resume? 😉
If something breaks on a bmw you can get the spare part in a matter of milliseconds almost anywhere in the world. It is not the same for triumph even in european countries.
Can I suggest adding to Geek testing by going over the bike and looking at various items, how they're made, quality of parts etc? Sarah n tuned does this very well on her road tests and I think it would be an absolutely unique thing in bike testing as nobody at all does this. Cheers Nice video Simon
These tests are a good insight. But. I wonder how many people will ride them without the metal boxes? Perhaps they should be on the test bike as it will affect a lot of factors. But. Enjoyed it. Just like the Motorcycle Mechanics or PB tests.. Ride safe 👍
it actually feels like a good package. It has some niggles, that need to be sorted, but the overall stuff is good. It is a hefty girl - so no way to call it "small gs" at 250++kg.
I had no idea how many people bought a GS, more than 60,000 units a year! All the other manufacturers must feel very disappointed! Enjoying the facts and figures, Si, keep doing what you're doing.
It's a good point and one that's been the subject of hundreds of 'over-the-desk' conversations among road test teams I've been involved with for about 20 years. We managed to prise ourselves away from using lbs to quote weights in kg about 2005. Maybe this is the moment we make the fuel change too. Don't expect it to happen overnight because we're easily distracted. But when it happens, you can claim the credit. Thanks again. Steve R
I had a 850 gs loan bike when my xr went in for a service. I am selling my xr now, i realised i miss twins. Wollaston Motorrad are worth a mention, xr refreshed and renewed after big service and the interaction was faultless. Ed. Enjoyed that,ta.
Great test at last a detailed test with waffle and just the right length Ine addition needed, pillion comfort, some have to take the wife/husband out with us
Over 4 years of ownership I’ve gotten an average of 51 mpg on my F900XR. Interesting to hear that the same engine gets close to 10 mpg less on the GS. I suppose some of the difference could be due to riding style.
You're right, riding style makes a huge difference. When we had the R1300GS on a road test we averaged high-40s mpg in the hands of our regular test team. But our long term test bike being ridden over more miles, including a lot of ordinary day-to-day riding from a rider with a different style is averaging at least 5 mpg more
@@simond5208 Thanks! As far as the name goes, we needed something immediately descriptive, relatively short (for RU-vid’s algorithms) and unique. Do you have any suggestions?
@@bennettsbikesocial 😀 I'm an old git who thinks that the removal of the word Geek would improve it but I do understand the need for something more catchy.
I’d recommend having a range of riders give their opinion. All too often “pro” tester views aren’t representative of real world bikers but I’d say this was quite balanced. I’d expect owners to get much better fuel economy - my 850GSA did about 55-57mpg but not much more - but I pretty much agree with everything else, it feels like two different types of bike squeezed into one, and it doesn’t quite work. Is it a road tourer? If so why does it need a 21” spoked front wheel? Is it an off-roader? If so why is it 250Kg? No-one is picking that up more than once off road! It’s one of the reasons I got rid of mine after a few months (including the horrible rattly engine and uninspiring power delivery, and to me it felt like a bike you very much sit on, and a long way away from the ground). Still, some people apparently like it, so best of luck to them.
My experience as both a 'pro' tester and editing/publishing magazines and BikeSocial (meaning I'm the one who has a say in which testers we use) is that the number one quality I look for in a pro tester is their ability to understand exactly what our readers/viewers want from a test. It's a fact, of course that these testers do more miles on more bikes and as a consequence of that are probably better-than-average and also perhaps quicker-than-average riders and that does have an impact on things like fuel consumption figures. But in all other respects I'd like to think that we consider the potential customer of a bike and reflect that in our testing. Simon is one of the very best at doing exactly that. Geek test was one of his ideas that we loved. I still think there's more to come from this format and we'll listen to all feedback and incorporate the stuff we think will improve it further. Thanks for your comment. Steve R
I agree. I did say “all too often” but also that this was a balanced review. I like Simon’s knowledge and style of presenting - reminds me a bit of Kevin Ash. I also like this format, keep it going!
It grates on me too. Is it the compression and noise gate, or the way it's read from a teleprompter? Something is strange. Others are enjoying it though so maybe we're just...picky!
@@meetmobility It never occurred to me . Information and another's point of view on the bikes is what I want , not a Martin bloody Quimby production. 😅
