I am a Guzzi addict per se - but I have to say I'd wish Guzzi made the new Stelvio just a tad more out-and-out globetrotter worthy: Longer travel on the springs/dampers, hand guards, heavy-duty belly pan, crashbars, etc etc. I have to admint that the new F800GS is a serious contender to the free space in my Guzzi-only garage...

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HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

The bumblebee yellow and black bike that has the luggage fitted also has the accessories that BMW will be offering, don't you think?
Take a look at the exceedingly large centrestand that does not appear in all of the pics - in fact, in many cases, it isn't there!

In some of the pics that bike has the luggage mounted quite high on the frame (and there is not a lot of room for a passenger) while in other views it seems to be lower - could it be adjustable in height of mounting?

+ this is not a bike that is useful for two up riding? (much like the existing F650GS).

Early days as they say, but I am trying to get my head around what I will see at the bike show later this month - there is never enough time to take it all in on the day.

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Dave

Touratech will be rubbing their hands because in typical BM style, the footpegs are tiny. There seem to be no bark busters to keep your hands out of the wind, and that exhaust looks very vulnerable to a bike dropped on the right hand side.
But BM have always made their small bikes 'basic' to keep the price down, with an endless list of 'extras' to make them more usable - and bump the price up.
We shall see......

When I was sure the new Tenere was the solution to my problems, these BMW guys come and bring this espectacular 800GS...come on, everybody thinking they were gonna come up with a roadie like the V-Strom and they put spokes, knobs, and height enough to fight against the elements in every situation (at least it seems capable of that...). I have to wait to see the price, because having the F800ST for 9900 euros and the R1200GS basic for 13800 it is quite obvious they will ask for at least 11.000 euros for one of these beasts. The Ténéré is said to be 7500-7800 euros and that its much less money than the beemer.
Just for info I have made a comparison of the heights of the F800 and Ténéré vs the known 640 adv and V-strom. I have scaled the photos using as reference the 21" front rim (back rim for the v-strom, as it has 19" front) I think It can give a good idea of how big will be, before seen them in flesh.
Best regards and be patient until the begining of 2008, when these two machines will come out of their factory's hideouts and we will face them.

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Jules
Now Kawa KLE500 dirty-knobby tires, noisy Thunder exhaust.
Waiting for the new 2008 Yamaha XTZ660 Ténéré

I think that's a smart move from BMW, why pay for extras you don't need? It's better to make the bike fit your needs then to make your needs fit the bike.
Normally BMW has a lot of extras and Touratech (and others) complete the list, more or less.


A group of German engineers have no clue how I would like to set up my bike, that’s up to me….

But is it a smart move? Only for the accountants. The bikes are 'highly' priced to begin with and the extras can easily add on another 10-20% .

It would have been nice if the bike was cheaper. Eeeh, what’s the price?
More extras would have increased the initial cost even more.

I have heard that the bike has good suspension. If it’s true then it is the first GS that has good suspension and that is worth at least 2000 euro…. You can buy a lot of gadgets for that price!

Seriously I mean that BMW is the cheapest ride you can have… When my bike had passed 150kkm someone wanted to buy it for more then 50% of the new price.
Yes it was a bit more expensive then a jap-bike (or KTM) when I bought it but what is the value for a KTM640 Adventure after 150kkm? 10%? 20?
Up here insurance costs are much lower on BMWs then for most other bikes, and it ads up during the years. Parts are also cheaper.

Off course it is early to say if this statement is valid for the new 800.

I've lusted for these "top end" overlanders too, but have discovered the true path to enlightenment. I've got a XT250 serow. It'll do 85 mpg, cruise happily at 55 mph all day. Both my feet touch the ground and I can pick it up without unpacking it. It cost half what these "big" bikes do and it's repairable on the road by an idiot like me. I rode 370 miles on it Saturday, in comfort. There's a very worried tiger in the garage at the moment, gathering dust !

today BMW officialy launched the F800GS . available early next year ,priced between £6000.00 AND £7000.00 .
BMW officially releases new F800GS adventure motorcycle - Motorcycle News - MCN

Yep. and 178 kg dry weight is claimed.
That price is OK for the UK (bit of a wide range though!) but it won't go down too well with the USA market - the $/£-Euro exchange rate will make it pricy.

There is another pic here which shows the bike with what must be the whole range of accessories (now shows a tank bag):-
Motociclismo.it - Gallery

Those panniers are definitely mounted lower in this pic with the top of the side bags more or less level with the seat - on second thoughts, the first pic in the post above, is deceptive; the angle of the bike makes them look high!! Doh!

+ the bike is pretty small or the guy riding in the pics is a giant!

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Dave

i have to say , the panniers look a bit cheap and cheerful , not to mention they are plastic . i would love to have seen this bike with the alloy/steel panniers as fitted to the 1200gs ADV .

Aren't they extras at enormous cost anyway?
The vario system is. Come to think of it, these "moody black" ones on the 800GS look a bit like the vario panniers without the silver panel stuck on the outside!!

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Dave

Here is the link to the official BMW site:

BMW Motorrad : News : News

How far will you get on an f800gs with a 16l tank?

baswacky.

The same engine in the road models is reputed to be getting good fuel economy - around 65 MPG, so that tank is good for over 200 miles.

"Facts" from your weblink:- (that is a short wheelbase!!)
Facts














Engine: Water-cooled, 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, four valves per cylinder, two overhead camshafts, dry sump lubrication
Capacity: 798 cc
Rated output: 63 kW (85 hp) at 7,500 rpm (optional 91 RON version: 61 kW (83 hp) at 7,500 rpm)
Max. torque: 83 Nm at 5,750 rpm (optional 91 RON version: 81 Nm at 5,750 rpm)
Emission control: Closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter, emission standard EU-3
Tyre, front / rear: 90/90 - 21 54V / 150/70 - 17 69V
Wheelbase: 1,578 mm
Brake, front: Twin disc, floating brake discs, diameter 300 mm, double-piston floating calipers
Brake, rear: Single disc, diameter 265 mm, single-piston floating caliper
ABS: Optional extra: BMW Motorrad ABS (can be switched off)
Seat height: 880 mm (low seat: 850 mm)
Inner leg curve: 1,940 mm (low seat: 1,900 mm)
Dry weight 1): 178 kg
Unladen weight, road ready, fully fuelled 2): 207 kg
Usable tank volume : 16,0 l

Technical data relate to the unladen weight (DIN)

1) Unladen weight without fluids
2) According to guideline 93/93/EWG with all fluids, fuelled with at least 90 % of usable tank volume

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Dave

Press kit: http://www.infar.co.uk/tim/gs/f650gs...s-presskit.doc

Tim

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)