I have never experienced a problem with the Honda Hiss system and we have had 3 or 4 bikes with it. I don’t know how it compares with the BMW, but I guess it is similar.

The Honda key does have a mechanical part apparently, the care instructions say don't drop it or hit it, or leave it in water, for example do not leave them in your trouser pocket when washing trousers.

Having a motorcycle key which is susceptible to damage from dropping and water is a bit scary. Knowing my luck I would drop it in a puddle in Outer Mongolia or somewhere as remote. It's just so final if anything happens to the keys. Given the option I would choose not to have it on an overland bike.

And I think BMW USA gives three year warrantee.

Steve

Base price of $10520 in the States is without freight and PDA.

The on-the-road price of £6695 in the UK includes delivery, PDI, first registration fee, plates, and 12 months road fund licence. Oh, and VAT.

Yes but no goodies, easily add another £1500 for the essentials, and then there is the image accessories. Got to be looking at £9000, take your're pick below.

Special accessories

· Luggage bridge, small.
· Luggage rest, large, for Vario topcase.
· Vario topcase, black.
· Case holder for Vario case.
· Vario case, black.
· Inside pockets for Vario case and Vario topcase.
· Back cushion for Vario topcase.
· Tank rucksack, waterproof.
· Softbag Sport, small.
· Softbag Sport, large.
· Heated grips.*
· White indicator lights.*
· Main stand.*
· BMW Motorrad Navigator II.
· Navigator holder, cable and attachment kit.
· Navigator function bag.
· Theft alarm.*
· Hand protection bars.
· Protectors (small and large) for hand protection bars.
· Add-on spoiler for protector, large.
· Engine protection bars.
· Splash protection extension, rear.
· Touring windscreen.
· High windscreen, tinted.
· Akrapovic sports silencer.
· Wind deflector kit.
· Service tool kit.
· Enduro tail bag.

whats a "Navigator function bag"? should I have one?

Steve

Steve you mean you dont have such an essential bag - how the hell have you ever managed without one !!!

ps when you find out what it is let me know maybe I need one as well.

Must admit I quite like the look and concept of this bike - almost as small as and more usable power than a 650 single, great bridge between the current models available on the market ideal for some two up stuff as well.
Shame they do not do a more basic model without all the electronic alarm rubbish, also I wonder about the robustness and quality after hearing many negative reports about its top of the range big brother the 1200 gs - will this be aimed at the kerb bumpers or will it live up to doing the job, previously i ran a cagiva neliefant which had similar power etc but build quality was poor to fair in many areas but i loved it till it was getting silly trying to get parts. My current bike a ktm is basicly very well built got good suspension, has been reasonably reliable and very very tough it bounces very well ! But tis bigger and more complicated than I really want - I hope the BM is a good one cos if I can afford one in a year or so I got to say I may be interested.

Yes, that's understood.

Once the initial rush of demand > supply dies down, maybe there is scope for buying on the continent; a parallel import in effect? This is just a thought - such imports were very common a few years ago for Jap bikes, and there are dealers today who still bring in these, but I have never been aware of anyone doing the same thing with BMWs. Even if a dealer is not doing it, I don't know what there is to stop an individual buying one from somewhere in the rest of Europe.

The main difference to the big bike is, arguably, twofold.

1. The engine is a Rotax, as per the recent F650GS and it has been in use on two other BMW road going models for the past two years - reputed to be reliable & easy to maintain; on this latter point, there could be a lot more people doing their own maintenance on this engine in the future if they have confidence that they won't need a "full BMW service record" in order to fulfull warranty claim requirements, and reassure future owners about the second hand value of the model.

2. It does not have shaft drive! Another reason to have confidence in doing own maintenance on the road, changing chains/sprockets etc.
(Some people seem to be disappointed that this new bike has not retained the belt drive system - I can see their point to some degree).

Anyway, I think I shall still wait and see what the new F650GS Dakar and F800GS Adv are like! :rolleyes2:
(BMW stated some years ago that they will produce 2 new models of bike every year for the foreseeable future - they have got 5 or 6 new ones this year).

milan show
 

These are the new bikes being presented in an italian motorbike show.:thumbup1:

http://www.moto.it/focus/focus01.asp?ID=33 :scooter:

Hey,

Just reading over the posts and gone are my hopes of getting F650 Dakar. Just curious will the single cylinder F650 be faded out or will they keep both bikes online?

Was planning on going for the F650 or Ktm 690 but now this new F800 has stirred my blood up and hoping it will turn out as good as it looks. Just a few cancers though, would the big Ktm 950 be similar but with a little more punch?

Either way he big F800 and F650 seems to answer all the few issues with the old bikes.

new bike
 

what do you guys think about the new XT 660 Z Ténéré , the bike look great and still very nimble, hope to see some in the US.We need more choice..


Voir les photos de la Yamaha XT 660 Z Ténéré

Hi Walkabout, I like it,but not the cost of ownership though:( ...looks like a modern kle?? yeh rite:nono: I think the new yam tenere may have the edge ....
TDMalcolm

looks good to me
 

read about it in MCN and i think the 800gs might be my next toy.i dig the looks,simplicity and lightness of the bike. will be having a butchers at it in the N.E.C in 2 wks time. the 1200 has although being a great bike is vastly overpriced (out of my range)! my AT though has only 18,000 on the clock at moment so it will give BMW time to iron out the teething problems (which every new bike has) before i need to change my much beloved. shame honda aint brought out a new toy. :(.

Pics from Touratech

http://www.touratech-usa.com/images/...800GS_1851.jpg

http://www.touratech-usa.com/images/...800GS_4041.jpg

Know what you are saying! I visited the NEC bike show last Sunday and spent an amount of time looking at various bikes.

Mollydog has made a lot of accurate comments about the 800GS; the seat is very narrow at the front and it is easy to touch down both feet on the ground, but the one on show that could be sat on was fitted with the lowered seat option - this was the black and yellow coloured one. The metallic grey one, fitted with luggage, was up on a stand and not for sitting on!!
Loads of public "hanging around" the Beemer stand - they have a vast range of bikes nowadays of course.


The Tenere: not many people showing anything like the same interest here. Looks OK overall, but the luggage appears to be cheap - certainly plastic. The boxes were locked so I could not see inside them.
Yam sales staff on the stand reckon you will be able to get one for £4900; don't quote me on this, if it turns out different. There is another thread on here about the Tenere, so enough said.
For the Yam stand I ended up taking another long hard look at the TDM; it is a lot of bike for the money and it is a twin cyl of course turning out about the same power as the 800GS!!

The "old" single cyl F650GS is definitely not in the BMW lineup for 2008; the new one is a "mini-800GS" and all the technical data etc that has been released recently is confirmed at the NEC show.
There should be some good second hand Dakars around for some time to come as people trade on their bikes. There has been no mention of Dakar or Adv versions of either the new 650 or the new 800GSs. Pontentially, these may not happen for pricing differentials to be maintained with the 1200GS models, but never say never perhaps?!

KTM; no sign of the 690 Adv but lots of models are now using the 690 engine so it can't be all that far away. There is no 950 now - the KTM show stand has just the 990 FI bike and a small cross referenced area to "adventure touring" - all this within yards of the BMW razz-a-ma-tazz that includes a Tourtech stand right next to it and, heavens above, a Charley B presence signing books for Christmas.
ps the show is scheduled even later next year - even better for Christmas presents!!

Walkabout , did you have a good look at the new F650gs twin ? i would be interested to know what you thought of the seat height and riding position , compared to the F800GS . i am seriously thinking of this one , the 650 twin , as my next bike , but i will not get the chance to see one in the metal until march 8 , when it is launched in BMW dealers .