Your opinion wanted, BMW F800s

[Tim..]

Have had a little windfall and for the first time in my life I am in the position of having money but not knowing what bike to get rather than wanting a bike and not having the cash.

Having been doing some searching around and have settled on a 2006/07 BMW F800s.

https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2728036938_576308be61.jpg?v=0

Came to the decesion because it will be a good everyday bike, have good mpg, they are belt drive (low maintenence), slightly sporty but can handle doing some high miliage trips and being a BMW it will hold its value.

Whats the word on the streets about this bike? Any quirks/problems etc?

Opinions too please guys and gals.
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www.marshallracing.co.uk
OCD - Helping to bring the standard of my bikes up and make me slowly go mad since 1999

[garth]

I suppose one of the negatives would be that BMW designers were tortured from an early age with pens and pencils, and are now seeking their revenge on the world.
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[Nyarlathotep]

When I bought my VFR, it was a close choice between that and an f800s, having ridden them both. I chose the VFR because of all the reliabilty problems reported on the f800.
It seems there are still reliability problems on all the f800 bikes which is a great shame, because I'm often still tempted until I read the likes of f800riders.org.
Other than that I couldn't fault it.

[Itchy]

The F800 is a bike which was tested and failed, Andreas and Claudia had one F800 it blew up on the way to Germany they had to replace the engine

Russ had an F800 it also exploded in India, while another team crossing the US had the engine blow up on them.


Since the GS version has the identical engine to the day bike it will have the same problems.
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[Charlie]

For some reason I like the look of that BMW... maybe it's because I have got my slippers on?

but in all honestly I like the look of that bike
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[evoboy]

https://www.motorcycle-usa.com/PhotoGallerys/xlarge/2009-BMW-F800R-7.jpg

Much better
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

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[LeanIt]

There are also ABS problems on some BMW's . Don't know if that bike has ABS , but the the ABS faults are a bit scary
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[chris-red]

I really like the Look of the F800S I could see myself owning one.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Itchy]

[G]

When you compare the price (the last time I looked) to the TRX850, which is fairly similar, I don't see why you'd go for the BMW.
With some spare cash, you could easily improve most areas of the TRX to be better as your saw fit - and it's much prettier .

[LeanIt]

There's some info here on BMW ABS failures , puts me right off!!

https://www.xs-adventure.com/motorcycle/bmw-motorcycle-brake-failure
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Life is like a shit sandwich. The more bread you have, the less shit you eat.

[Whosthedaddy]

[Itchy]

[Ariel Badger]

On a very shallow level... Why a BMW? All bikes carry a reputation and BMW riders have one as being middle aged, arrogant self righteous pricks. I know this is a gross generalization and not 100% true but reputation can be stronger than the truth.
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[G]

[chris-red]

F800s is looks better than the TRX, the F800s looks cool and interesting TRX looks dated now.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[G]

They both look a bit bland and generic - the difference is the TRX looks 'classic' bland and generic, while the F800 doesn't even have that going for it. Basically, if you asked a non biker to draw a semi-faired bike, the sort of thing they might draw.

[D O G]

I love that bike, but you really want it in yellow...

https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2006models/2006-BMW-F800S.jpg

I've never ridden one, but have seen a couple in the flesh, they sound awesome with some nice pipes on.


I like them for the same reasons as the OP, so we MUST be right.




Then again, I do like the T-Rexs too...

[Frost]

I saw one the other day. I honestly didn't know about it but was looking for something like that, then i saw it. Potentially my perfect bike. If you do get one, let us know what it's like. Also, Giz a go?

[Faraz]

One of my teachers has an F800.

Just had an engine replacement under the extended warrenty he bought seperately.

He seems to like it, does 65mpg apparently. Best he's had is 80mpg, according to him.
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[wotan]

I've ridden the 800ST, the 650 thingy and the streetfighter 800.

The 800ST cut out horribly for no reason at low revs when 2 up pulling away from standstill but had real zap above 6500 revs. The bike's owner had the rear wheel produce sideways play whilst zooming down the M6 which resulted in a complete new rear end, loss of faith in the bike and the purchase of a real BMW - an R1200R.

The 650 thingy had lightswitch power delivery in town and BMX steering. A really twitchy unpleasant thing.

The streetfighter got it all right. Fuelling sorted, great handling, great motor and rorty exhaust.
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1986 BMW K75C Ethel the Beemer

[Tim..]

I know that these bikes are a bit marmite but the more I see the more I like them. Didnt realise the f800 had a tendency of blowing motors though . Has made me think twice about them.

The VFR800 was another bike I was looking into. Which is the model to go for (I have about 4k to spend)? There was a specific year vfr that was a bit of a dud wasnt there?
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Project builds: My VFR400 nc30 build thread + Honda Britain Rep VFR + What? Another VFR +Project 'cos I want one' + V8 coffee table
www.marshallracing.co.uk
OCD - Helping to bring the standard of my bikes up and make me slowly go mad since 1999

[chris-red]

[pa_broon74]

Always happy to jump on the BMW defence band wagon.

If you look hard enough you can find fault with most bikes, blown engines, shattered this faulty that etc etc etc. Its a case if you look hard enough, you'll find it. That coupled with an inbred dislike (ably demonstrated by Ariel) you get a skewed view.

If you like it, then get a test ride.

Not my style of bike but I'd have the GS version in a flash. I have an F650GS and so far nothing has went wrong beyond the usual wear and tear.

Don't listen to the jealous ney-sayers, its merely a case of inverted snobbery.


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Didn't catch anything.

[G]

I really liked the idea of the F800GS – a sensible weight for a big-cc ‘adventure’ bike along with enough power for comfortable sustained motorway cruising.
I haven’t ridden one myself, but sadly the general consensus seems to be that at least anywhere near dirt (and on the road to some degree) it seriously loses out in most areas compared to KTM 950/990 Adventure.