They did some touring with a fair bit of offroad/gravel. The 650/800 GS also had a deeper test in the next number and the results was pretty much the same.
But as you say it is a test, they have not used the bikes for thousands of kilometers through hard terrain and opinions might differ. Durability is not tested…

Personally I have not tried any of these bikes!

Some more points: (Link for scandic people: http://www.actiontouring.com/pic/mk2.jpg )

Engine (Power, torque, acceleration, vibrations etc)
BMW800 125
BMW650 114
Kawasaki 110
Suzuki 103
Honda 88

Transmission (Clutch, ratio, use)
BMW650/800 53
Suzuki 50
Kawasaki 46
Honda 44

Chassis (Steering, stability, how it handles, suspension)
BMW650 83
BMW800 82
Kawasaki 81
Suzuki 80
Honda 76

Safety (brakes, stability when braking, ground clearance, weight)
BMW800 82
BMW650 82
Kawasaki 80
Honda 79
Suzuki 72


Comfort (riding position, windshield, instruments etc)
BMW800 66
Suzuki 65
Honda 63
BMW650 61


Touring (fuel consumption, range, comfort for passenger, luggage)
BMW650 71
Suzuki 69
Honda 66
BMW800 65
Kawasaki 63

Total:
BMW800 476
BMW650 464
Kawasaki 440
Suzuki 439
Honda 416



Spareparts (list of various parts)
Honda 16.589
BMW650 16.956
BMW800 17.696
Kawasaki 17.859
Suzuki 22.182

Best light: Suzuki
Most street oriented: Kawasaki
Most offroad oriented BMW800
Worst brakes: Suzuki

Just got a quick ride on the new F650GS... but only for about 20 minutes, so need to get a longer ride to really see how it works. But I am positively impressed with the engine and handling (on the road), this bike will surely be a close match to the Vstrom.

The fairing is smaller and isnt as protective as the Suzuki´s, but its got nice wide torque (even if its sounds more than a bit weird!!), so you dont need to worry about having the right gear all the time, and the bike steers very well in curves. Gearbox seemed to work ok, not clunky, though not as slick as the Suzuki. Even the one disc front brake seems to do the job quite alright. It didnt feel very stable at +100kmh speeds, in fact the front felt surprisingly light, almost like an enduro bike. But it was a bit windy, so cant really tell.

It will be interesting to see how that bike sells in the medium term: it could be the dark horse of the new models from BMW at its' current price, in the UK at least.
The thing is that since the price was set for this year in the UK the £ has continued to follow the US$ against the Euro - therefore the price is likely, very likely, in fact certain, to be higher for 2009.
Maybe best for any Brits who are considering a new bike to get one this year (although I am not following the £-Yen value so avidly, so that may not be such a move in the wrong direction).
As for the USA, the $ price there will have to be much higher in order for BMW to be interested in selling them on that continent, especially while and if demand elsewhere exceeds supply.

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Dave

Hi, am a newbie here, that Vstrom in the test, would that be the 1000 or the 650?

Has anyone seen the test by Motorrad (I think?) that compared a bunch of bikes in the Alps on a long term tour? The Vstrom 650 won. Beat 12GS and everybody else. Couple months back now or longer?. I believe this test also had a Triumph Tiger and maybe 5 other bikes.

Was the F800GS included in that test?

Sounds to me like BMW have an excellent bike. Make that bikes .... as the F650 (800cc) is getting great reviews as well and its a couple thousand less $.

But BMW should pray Suzuki leave the Wee Strom alone for a while and not introduce some sort of new
"Adventure" version of a Wee Strom!

Hey, maybe they could get Kymco to build it like the BMW!

I really don't see either the Versys or Transalp coming close to the Wee Strom in touring, comfort or rough road riding when fully loaded. Both BMW's are good bikes ..... BMW have hit a homerun with them both.

But the weak dollar is killing them in the USA .... and
perhaps the UK now as well? So much so that they are holding back the F800 for a while. Not much profit margin with the current price. Look for it to go WAY up soon.
(obvious).

BMW claim the Spandau plant is running at max capacity now but I have a different idea. My guess is they are scrambling to get the Chinese plant online building the new F800's. They are currently doing the G bikes, the new 450 racer and a rumored all new 650 single of some sort.

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!