Opinions on the F800GS

Someone I know really well might be interested in the F800GS. He won’t necessarily want to do the Red route on the GS Challenge but would like the odd off-road excursion….mostly to be used as commuter with roughly 70/30 on/off road split. No long touring trips envisaged on the bike.

What better place than to ask the experts for their opinions here………..

so, please……..talk to us “dark side”……… I’ll relay the message

Jamie what's with the and ? ? ? ? Have you sold the Honda

Well from what i've heard "he" won't regret it! Tell "him" to go for it!

YAY!!!! Is your "acquaintance" REALLY going to get the F800??? It's a great bike from all the testimonies I've heard. Unfortunately they don't come in lava orange (yet), but I'm sure that will not make your "friend" reconsider

Oh... and don't worry about the accidents. They mostly don't happen and even then they are mostly not serious. Sunday, I understand, was more the exception than the rule. Mostly people take it very easy over the rough!

There are one or two known issues although minor. Take a swing over to wilddogs and check out this thread, it may help;
http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=25119.0

You can also try www.advrider.com .It is more US biased but there is a ton of good information to be had.

The dirt will call you and once that happens, you are lost to other forms of riding, so tell you 'friend' to beware.

M

thanks for the links, I let him look it over. I know he has also been playing in the F800ridersdotorg pit lately, but he would very much like to hear from the local experts as well

I think my friend found his niche and I can tell he is addicted to very fast bikes. If I remember correctly he had a 1200 GS in 2004/5 and done a gravel road or two although he is by no means an off-road expert (reads he is somewhat of an off-road “mampara”)

Don’t think he will ever be able to live without his weekly adrenalin fix though so the debate is not about moving over to the dark side, it’s more about the qualities/non-qualities of the 800GS which he will get as a second bike for the purposes described above.

Nou ja toe...

Tony R wrote:Jamie what's with the and ? ? ? ? Have you sold the Honda

you are too sharp

parted with the Blade would be more accurate......still in the family though

ps. you left out 2 ?? ......nogals belangrik

Don't worry, I also had a "friend" once, now I have a ? ??? ??

Serious though, I can only (barely) afford one bike together with a family's requirements, and there is no bike like the 800GS for me. If your off-road skills really isn't great - and I've seen how someone with 30 years of road riding battles on Jan's course, so there is a possible disconnect for some people I guess, I for one is average but comfortable off-road and less great on the track (might be better if I take off the knobblies next time) - I would think the X-Challenge will be more fun if touring is not in the pipe line and long trips will be done on the K.

??.

GS.

All I can add is that I had the 800GS for a day and a half, did over 700kms on it, in sand, thick mud (Rooiberg ride), good dirt roads, and some very technical MX track stuff. I LOVED IT !!!

I think your "friend" will be extremely happy if he gets the 800. The thing that I found made the most difference is the confidence the 800 gives you off-road. The 21" front, the USD forks and the great rear suspension makes this bike a dream to ride. And that Akra I had on makes is sound sooooo sweet !!!!!

I also rode the 1200GS, but did not like it at all. I would choose the 800GS over the 1200GS any day. I also found the 800GS easier to handle than my 650GS.

Just dont get the yellow one, they are slower !!!!

Whaaat????

Okay okay ... Slower is safer... to me.

I LOVE MY YELLOW 800!

Sharkie wrote:.

Just dont get the yellow one, they are slower !!!!

Is that the reason why the bees seem to sting riders of the Yellow bikes?? Lack of speed I always thought the bees confused them with a sunflower

pdekoker wrote:

Sharkie wrote:.

Just dont get the yellow one, they are slower !!!!

Is that the reason why the bees seem to sting riders of the Yellow bikes?? Lack of speed I always thought the bees confused them with a sunflower

BTW Jamie

Should it not rather be ???? ?? than ? ??? ??

semantics ………..would much rather like to know what the chairman’s opinion is…….or is the lack of expression an opinion all on it’s own

or maybe it's like a wise man once said.......never ask an 1150 rider about another bike........there simply is no live beyond a 1150 an ideology which btw I respectfully disagree with

If the 800 was available when I bought the 1150, I would definetly have bought the 800. Also if I were forced to replace my 1150 I would definetly buy 1. Also considering getting it as a "lekker commuter" and for those more technical rides.

Probably the best bike for dirt roads in my opinion since the PD classic, R80G/S era (21'' front is back again!!!)

Still contemplating the chain scenario and tubes, which is a bit more hassle ito maintenance on the longer trips.

But you can not go wrong with the 800, the basics are all in favour

or maybe it's like a wise man once said.......never ask an 1150 rider about another bike........there simply is no live beyond a 1150 an ideology which btw I respectfully disagree with

But you can not go wrong with the 800, the basics are all in favour

Well well well, great comments from the chair!!!! Now, when is this "friend" of yours getting that bike! It should be all systems go from here on....

I would love to ride the 800 - I am, however, slightly on the tall side (1.90m) and the distance (horizontally) between the footpegs and the handlebars looks very short to me. This will mean that, when I stand, the handlebars will be to close to my body. Any thoughts from someone owning an 800, that is also quite tall?

I had to install handlebar risers on my R1200 Adv, and turned the handlebars forward slightly. It made such a difference to the balance, it is unbelievable.

Well, I am not quite as tall as that (only 1.82m) but I don't think the horisontal distance between pegs and bars are a problem, but definitely the bar height. I have the 30mm risers from Wild@heart (don't get those!) and will replace some time with the 40mm ones (different brand) you get. My bars are also turned up as far as the touring windscreen allow.

But it is not only about height, also body geometry - for example I have taller friends whose legs are way too short to fit on my mountain bike.

Shout if you want to try my setup - I live very close to Moreleta.

Thanks for the invite Drix.....will take you up on it at a later stage

me too...

oh boy, what have you gotten yourself into here...

Nah, no problem.

Coming to think of it, I've been on a 1200GS a couple of times, but not an Adventure, and definitely not on a K1300S... hehe

Vrydag die 13de.........JOU DORING!!!!!!!!

I like the yellow very nice Jamie