at last bmw have announced that there will be a gs type bike using the f800 engine and frame,unlike the other f800,s it will have chain drive . this was in this weeks motorcycle news, and no it,s not just mcn saying so ,but direct quotes from both bmw director herbert deiss and a bmw press officer. this look,s like just the bike i and many others have been hopeing bmw would go ahead and build, something with a little more power than the f650 dakar but with less weight and size of the big gs1200 boxer. it is due to be shown at the intermot bike show in october in cologne germany.

the 800gs will still have belt drive won't it?

No, the GS has a chain drive.

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Grant Johnson
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What I need and expect from BMW is a bike like:
* Two cylinder 800 cc engine
* Shaft driven
* Lightweight (aroeund 180 kgs, dry)
* Tubeless tyres
* ABS
* GS but more off road oriented

Possi said to me: they never do that!
Who knows?

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I have not read the article but I saw the picture and it's all fake.

Where's the picture ?

Dodger

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The guys at the web site www.raptorsandrockets.com have put together a couple of images of how they see the new series of BMW bikes, including the F800GS:



I doubt it will be like this. Actually I hope it will be FAR from this...

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All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

I hope BMW will release a GS version of the soon to be launched F800S/ST. I rode the F800S last Tuesday, it handled well and had a broad spread of power with plenty of torque. I first rode 20 miles on a new SV650 as a comparison before switching to the F800S for the 20 mile ride back to base.

The 800S showed an indicated 36mph @ 2,000rpm in 6th & still pulled away well. This gearing is pretty much the identical to 6th gear on a 1200GS & the 1150 Adventure (low 6th). The bike was able to pull this gearing as it's considerably lighter & thus has a pretty good power to weight ratio, albeit with a peakier power delivery than the 1150/1200 bikes. I took the 800 up to an indicated 105 in 6th with plenty of throttle remaining....

Steering was neutral and the bike in general was well balanced, a GS-Lite version would be a great idea & one that BMW must be considering. Not saying I'd buy one as I'm happy with my 1150 & have a DRZ for offroading but it would be a very attractive proposition for those wanting a versatile bike that weighed a lot less than the 1200.

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Wouldn't the compression on that engine be a bit high for an RTW bike? I mean, with not so good petrol and stuff...

I am anxious to see this bike. I've been going back and forth thinking about getting a F650GS. Since I've been riding GS twins for twelve years I'm nervous about getting a single cylinder. Hopefully BMW will make the F800GS a bike that many people desire.

The Motronic will take care of that, retarding the ignition as necessary.

Pity about the open chain. I consider this a design fault on a modern vehicle, like open rockers that need oiling with an oil can every 10 km... Grrr, why can't they enclose the chain or leave the belt?

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Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

If it weighs less than a quarter ton and does not need a metre long inside leg it will be an improvement. I find I am reacting more and more against progress, maybe it is just my age, but if I have to pay 500 for an engine management system to replace a 2.50 set of points I want it to last 200 times longer, and ideally be repairable for less than the cost of a crankshaft.

To Beddhist:
Enclosed chains are a remainder of the 1970s sic before today's high performance chains became available.
I only had to work on a bike with an enclosed chain once (1976 Suzi GS 400 with aftermarket chain box). What a mess! The chain was worn and had cut the box. I threw the whole rubbish into the bin and fitted a DID X-Ring chain with new sprockets. That was in 1997. The Suzi probably still runs on that chain or eventually retired with it.

My bikes (mainly DR650RS and KLR 650 A / C) all run on DID X-Ring chains and do a fair bit of dirt roads. The 520 chains last at least 20000 km whilst the 525 have done more than 30000 on some occasions and all that with the riders not always looking after the chains properly.
Even chains of mediocre quality like the ones on new F650GS and Dakar do 15000 to 20000 km if you look after them.

Even third world engineering shops can help with some combined harverster quality emergency replacement for a snapped chain. Did that twice and got me home (2500 km on one occasion). Try Bearing Man here in S.A.
Try to get replacement for a shredded belt. Belt and dirt in general do not go together. A belt drive on a dirt bike would require some complicated enclosure.

A chain drive is cheap and lightweight (as compared to shaft). It's easy to maintain and to fix.
If BMW intends the F 800 to be an overland bike at all they made the right choice going for a chain.

It would surprise me if BMW does not build a GS version around the 800cc engine, as this configuration has time and time again been one of their most popular designs. It could fill a logical niche between the 1200 and the 650 and address many of the complaints aimed at both the other bikes. Will they really do it justice and give us a well designed, light, overland capable bike or will it be an overweight street oriented standard with slightly knobby tires and 'adventure' styling? Unfortunately, I suspect the later as this seems to be where their market research points every time.

As to belt drive, It doesn't work that well off road - imagine the effect of little rocks getting pulled into the belt...... Maybe an enclosed belt or chain system?

Why would you want a belt? At least you might have a chance of finding a chain in woop dy woo, how about standard parts common to other makes for easy spares in crazy places.

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