It seems to tick a lot of boxes for me and there's a nice very low mileage 2015 model advertised, is it a good bet for a RTW?

I have not owned one but know a few who do and they all seem pretty happy with them, I tend to think of them as a replacement for the old airhead G/S and GS 800's but with 50% more power and 50% more MPG, should be a good choice.

I've only test ridden the F800GS a few days, never traveled too far but did get to ride it off road a bit. I really liked the F800GS but in more challenging off road it won't come close to my basic DR650 ... which is 45 kg lighter weight.

But the GS is MOST definitely the bomb on road. I loved it! Good handler, good brakes, smooth and fast enough. Probably just about perfect for about 80% of what you might find going RTW. It's that 20% bit that's worrying.

If you go looking for more challenging tracks with deep sand, mud, rocky, steep up or down, then the 800 could be hard to manage, but lots depends on YOU as a rider ... and on how much of a load your packing on the bike.

I did feel the weight when riding the GS in the easy off road I did, but I'm a little guy and bit out of shape. But I was a "B" level AMA Enduro rider ... I'm good off road but out of shape and weak now.

A rider with skills and good strength should do fine off road. The Skills part being most important!

In the history of the F800GS have read about some strange engine failures on this bike over the years. Hope all that has been solved??
Is there any remaining warranty with the bike you're considering? IMO, the warranty is the very BEST thing about BMW! I would never buy one without plenty of warranty remaining.

All the BMW's I have tested (back to late 90's), always preferred standard GS model over ADV model.
Problem is ADV model adds so much weight.

But if you need the crash guards, boxes and bigger tank, then probably worth it for travel. For me, the bike was already at my weight/strength limit so adding the weight of the ADV model was a No Go.

But I'm not riding the bike RTW ... so there is that!

I say GO FOR IT!

its like 30 Kg lighter than a 1200.. which really frustrates me. I am on a G650X and most days I wish I was on a 400 (had to lift it into the back of the truck when it broke down, parking inside hotel courtyards etc). We are riding for a year and we dont ride longer than 150miles a day usually so at the end of the day anything bigger than a 650 is pretty useless.

Which points very nicely at the reliable DR650
Cracking bike for little money, and as you say, 150 miles a day is just about right.

Thanks for the inputs folks, though I have to confess I'm a little disappointed there aren't more owners' contributions. Perhaps this is the HUBB being one of the 'slower' forums but then again it could mean there aren't that many people using them... which says something.

These bikes seem to have quite a loyal following and the problems are indeed documented, though what's harder to find out is whether BMW have developed them out or if ready fixes exist. For sure some have gone very high mileages with no major issues.

So, when I said "talk me out of it" that was kind of an invitation to explain what life would be like with one, warts and all. In the end I'm not sure I'm any closer to finding out if the reliability issues are common, old wives tales or ancient history, but what has probably changed my mind is that man Colebatch. I had it in my mind that a middleweight is the best strategy for a long trip, as something that can handle highway bashing and isn't totally out of its depth on the rough. Having ridden trail bikes for a number of years I didn't want to go small scale because despite their frugal nature and dirt track agility I'd be worried that extended road use would kill it. The F8 seemed to fit the bill but the weight issue wasn't something I'd appreciated.
So it's looking a bit like getting a 690R Enduro and adventurising it, a route that I'd previously considered and moved away from as these have their own stories of unreliability. But hey, if something was perfect we'd all be riding it already.

Adv Bike Selection 1 - Sibirsky Extreme

Colebatch always makes good arguments and has experience to back it up. I've followed this travels on ADV Rider, even remember him here on HUBB in 2000 or 2001 when he was traveling S. America. No idea if HUBB archives go back that far?

Thing to remember about Colebatch is that he goes looking for disastrous routes. Loves to dive into deep waters where a boat would be more appropriate. Most tend to go with more "sensible" routes. ... Does this mean you miss out on something? Maybe, but at least you'll make it through alive and not in a truck. You can ride plenty good stuff without "compromises" to Adventure, IMO.

So, route choice is important ... but it IS nice to not have to worry that your bike is TOO HEAVY to make the planned route. Good research can avoid some of this ... usually. But surprises en route always can happen.

You also make a few assumptions that are not strictly true. A modern 250cc bike will hold up fine unless brutally canned and held at redline all day, every day. Most are remarkably reliable if given reasonable care/feeding. And even if after 40K miles they need a top end ... it's not the end of the world cost wise.

I'm currently shopping for a Yamaha WR250R. Not really light for a 250 but fairly robust, good suspension, can be made into a decent travel bike. Expensive for a 250 but still half the price of a KTM or Husky 350 ... and FAR more reliable.

Test ridden the WR250 bike couple times, surprised at it's motorway manners. Not bad at all at 65 to 70 mph! I'm coming off Ducati Hyperstrada or DR650 ... both good road bikes.

YES, you could go with a 650 class bike like my AMAZING DR650 (which you do not get in UK), or find an old XT600 or XR Honda in good shape. Small investment.

But if you intend to really do serious exploring away from known tracks ... then a 250, IMO, is really THE WAY! Rocks, Mud, Deep Sand, Deep Ruts? All much more manageable on the smaller bike over 650 class bikes ... and a world away from the F800GS ... as Walter well illustrates.

I've put 60K miles on my DR650. Not ONE issue. Mostly Mexico, lots of off road in Baja. I've turned back several times in unknown situations on that bike, even though with my set up it's pretty damn good off road.

At just 324 lbs. Dry (147 kg.) ,not bad. Fully fueled & loaded for travel, my DR weighs in at just 405 lbs. (184 kgs.). Not bad in grand scheme ... and good within 650 class comparing FULL TRAVEL WEIGHT.

The KTM 690's are 12 kgs lighter ... but not sure I'd trust one far from home. Too many issues in it's history, even though newer versions are much improved.
(As an aside, most TOO TALL for me)

Many Orange Underpants Army folks point to Noah's ride report ... but never mention all the things that broke on his KTM and how many times things were rebuilt, replaced, repaired.

This from a guy who is an EXPERT at KTM 690's, very good on maintenance and easy on the equipment. So, if you go KTM 690 ... bring lots of money and plan to earn your Master's Degree in 690 KTM service ... bring Spares too!

Or ... you could go 250. Not sure what you can find in UK. If you've got the budget and mechanical skills, you could go for the new KTM 350's or Husky 350's. Very light weight bikes. At around $12,000 USD on the road after Taxes, Fees, they are out of my budget but GREAT performing bikes ... lighter than my purposed WR250R Yamaha.

I will spend about $5000 for a nice, near new WR250R ... and to me, even that is a lot on money. The WR will need about $1200 in additional add ons to be world class. That is still HALF the price of the KTM/Husky, which are hard to find used.

So round and round she goes ... where she stops .... nobody knows.
It really depends on your route choices, your real off road skills and what bike
flips the switch for YOU!
Ride a few, see what you think! HAVE FUN!

OP asked to talk him out of buying it



Personally I wouldn't take this bike for RTW, read too many not encouraging stories about reliability. Fuel pump issues, rear wheel bearings failures, bent rear suspension mount. Google them so you'll see for yourself.

Besides that great looking bike, handles well although very soft front suspension.
It was one of main contenders when I was looking for a travel bike.

True!
But like you, if me, I would not choose the F800GS either!
100% acknowledge the multiple failure areas on this bike. So, it's down to percentages and if you feel lucky! If the bike is a couple years old it's more likely most common failures will have already happened. (you hope!) The OP is thinking of buying a used bike ... forgot how old it is, but if it has some time/kms on it, it might be OK as most issues already addressed. Hopefully nothing more will appear down the road ... but you can never know for certain!

Main objection I personally have is COST! The 800 (in USA) is nearly as expensive as the R1200GS. Here, if you're patient, you can find some good deals on used R1200GS ... thousands of them out there on the road in every USA state.

Find a used R12GS a few years old, higher miles but much less money. New these bikes go for between about $20K USD up to about 25K USD. We don't see many F800GS used for sale around here. Not a very popular here now. Most used ones I've seen (and I was just looking round yesterday) are too expensive for what you're getting, IMO.

I prefer lighter weight, less complex bike for RTW ... and something that does not cost so much if you lose it. If you have to leave behind a $12K to $15K USD bike, that is a big HIT.

My DR650 is worth less than $3K USD ... and I already got 60K miles out of it. So, it's expendable at this point. I will probably sell it off very cheap to some lucky traveler some day. (I keep the Ohlins shock of course!)

We all make these difficult decisions about bikes for travel. Some end up being good choices, some not so good.

My latest purchase proves even someone with lots of experience and "so called" knowledge can make truly idiotic choices.
I stupidly bought a used Ducati with 20K miles on it. It blew up on the first long ride I did on it. Only smart thing I did was pay a lot of money for an extended service contract ... which has paid the $6000 USD repair bill.

But now, I can't trust this bike. I love riding it, but can't go too far from home on it.

Trust is important with a travel bike, IMO.
How much can you really trust the BMW F800GS over the long term used in rough conditions?

Get the bike you like and love riding. If its the GS then sweet.

That's all the decision you need IMO.

They are machines. Machines break sometimes. Humans fix them and away you go.

Its for a RTW trip so its not like a race. If it breaks you can chill for a bit.

Mine is a F650gs (800) same motor etc: It has been to 36 Countries in Africa & over 58000km & 1/2 that 2 up. I have done 2 fuel pumps (I woke up & put one with a breather hole in it & 35000km later still going stong) been thru the roughest conditions imaginable !!! I would not swap the bike for anything ! & Just for the record I love DR 650s (have one) but they break down just as often as any other bike....so why would you listen to what other people think...just buy the bloody thing & get going !!!

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Oh thats easy to do. Just look at the reliability of BMW compared to a Honda. BMW bikes even have engine failure with less then 50.000 km at several tests of motorbike magazines and you want to go on a big trip with them???

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