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BMW R 850 R what do you think ? BMW R 850 R what do you think ?
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



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  #16  
Old 4 Nov 2008
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I'm starting to wonder if 90 % of people here have heard of a little company in Japan who make, without question, the best quality bikes on the planet.
Look around, you'll see them around, they have a little wing on the tank.
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  #17  
Old 4 Nov 2008
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hi i ride an r850r iv fitted avon distanzia tyres found them good on road, gravel and grassy trails the 850 has plenty of power for touring two up fully loaded and with the nice low seat height stops on off cambers easier to deal with .riding off road it will be easier on the gs but raising the bars 20mm on the 850 makes standing up a lot more comfy .i vote r850r .
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  #18  
Old 5 Nov 2008
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and will still weigh in lighter than a KTM 990,
BMW F800GS or R12GS.

How am I doing so far?
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 21:02.
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  #19  
Old 5 Nov 2008
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Well, i have wondered myself as to why the big H havent brought out a bike to take a share of this market. Youre right about using that engine, although virtually the same motor exists in the Vara.
Maybe they should just make a hardcore, lighter version of that. Wouldnt take much doing for a company of their size.
I had the same engine, allbeit in a different state of tune, in my Firestorm. I had that bike 4 years, and did everything from Sunday blasts to the Nurburgring, and southern Spain, and When i traded it at 44,000 miles, it ran like new. Two headlight bulbs and 1 camchain tensioner...Thats it.
Maybe you should send your design to Honda. But i still think those GSER's, would still but GS's, simply because of the badge.
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  #20  
Old 5 Nov 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leevtr View Post
Maybe you should send your design to Honda. But i still think those GSER's, would still but GS's, simply because of the badge.
I explained this to you in an earlier tread, sorry if it was unclear, what part didn’t you understand?

If you don’t remember: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...4-4#post212708
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  #21  
Old 5 Nov 2008
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ok, so i'm completely wrong. There is NO ONE anywhere who rides a BMW because of the badge, nor has ANYONE bought one just because EWAN and CHARLIE rode one on the TV.
Maybe you arent one of them, but they are there, everywhere.

Nothing personal mate, just an unfortunate fact.
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  #22  
Old 5 Nov 2008
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Originally Posted by leevtr View Post
ok, so i'm completely wrong. There is NO ONE anywhere who rides a BMW because of the badge, nor has ANYONE bought one just because EWAN and CHARLIE rode one on the TV.
Did I say that?
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  #23  
Old 5 Nov 2008
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Nope!!
No more than i said that all bm's are crap. But i do have a point.
Old ones probably great, new ones not so. So why would someone ( not everyone, and especially not you, god forbid ) Pay £ 10,000 for an unreliable bike. Two reasons, either badge, or past rep which is no longer valid.

Obviously hitting a nerve with this one so no further comment.
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  #24  
Old 5 Nov 2008
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Originally Posted by leevtr View Post
No more than i said that all bm's are crap.
Who said you did?

Quote:
Originally Posted by leevtr View Post
But i do have a point.
Old ones probably great, new ones not so. So why would someone ( not everyone, and especially not you, god forbid ) Pay £ 10,000 for an unreliable bike. Two reasons, either badge, or past rep which is no longer valid.
I understand that you are not able to see other reasons, but that doesn't mean it's true.



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Obviously hitting a nerve with this one so no further comment.
I wouldn't say a nerve, a bullshit-alarm would be closer.
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  #25  
Old 5 Nov 2008
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Bullshit alarm.... Do BMW fit them as standard or as an extra.

I might just order one.... actually, no i wont. It will probably break.

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  #26  
Old 6 Nov 2008
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Nicky Hayden won the AMA Superbike series on one. Here we called it the RC51.

The RC51 motor is way more modern than the Firestorm motor.
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  #27  
Old 6 Nov 2008
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Not Competitive???
I think were getting mixed up with something else here mate. Colin Edwards won WSB twice with that motor!! 2000 and 2002. Remember??
Whats more, 2000 was its first attempt.
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  #28  
Old 6 Nov 2008
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For now, I'd be happy enough to see the Tenere' come to the USA.
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 21:03.
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  #29  
Old 6 Nov 2008
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Get Mr Obama to sort that out!!
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Sorry, I wasn't sure how long Honda ran the RC51. In the US they only ran it a couple/few years IIRC. Anyway, I'd bet Honda have a warehouse full of those motors somewhere. Good place to start to build an all new Africa Twin.

For now, I'd be happy enough to see the Tenere' come to the USA.
No Tenere's!!! At last, something we got first!!
I did look at one of those but decided they were too much money to fall off of, which is inevitable sooner or later off road. Hence i bought an xr650. Higher maintenence, but solid, and cheap plastics. I must admit though, they do look a great overlanding bike.
And the xr was less than 1/2 the price, so cheaper carnet and more cash to travel.
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  #30  
Old 21 Aug 2017
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Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post
I had an 850R before buying a 1200GS and really liked it. Performance is perfectly adequate for long distance touring. I swapped it because
- the GS had better leg room (I was getting cramp on long runs), and
- the GS offered better luggage carrying capability.

Tim
It is an old thread I know... find this tread from google search, because I have same thoughts, what bobbyrandall had.. do I change or not?
Tim have preciously those thoughts what I thinking of now.
If there's only a good aftermarket lowering begs for me and for my wife and pannier racks to side + behind, I will not swap my old and trusted r 850 r bike to gs.
This r 850 r is easy to handle, really nice on tarmac, goes fine on sand roads too... better than suzuki vl 1500 custom bike!
Not too much electronic stuff.. like these new one have.
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