Morocco 2008: a F800GS test ride

yep, that seems to be true in every countries where the sun is really hot during the summer.
Quite hard to find a decent heat source in hotel's rooms in South of spain.
Also true in Sicily.
And in Greece.
As a matter of fact, when I'm going on holidays with my beloved, I take the hairdryer. Quite efficient to warm her up fast.

After the best Morocaan breakfast ever (fresh moroccan pancakes, fresh honey, coffee, fruits), we took off.



The area around Imilichil is really beautiful

A lot of sheperds. always very friendly.

We'll have to reach Meknès by the night. Should be ok as we'll do roads only today. but twisty roads.... mountains...



doh... stopping making pictures, I lost my mates...
where are they ?

a bit closer

closer

closer

ah, here they are... smoking

and we kept going thru the Atlas

green as ever




then we arrived at the end of the Atlas. intense hues here again



Time for a break.... we have a smoker....

the big GS and the little one


we have company.

Inspiring ride. Beautiful pictures. Thank you!

man, those pictures are mesmerising !!!

what a great experience

we had company on the antenna too

It was getting late so...
faster on the road. less time for pict.

Eventually, we reached Meknes and found an hotel....
guess what...
we were totalled.

The next day, we woke up early and went peacefully to Tangier for the boat to Barcelona.

coffee and smoke break. time for pictures

Then Tangier. the waiting.



guys are a tad tired but happy.


Same time next year ?


you bet !

Then the boat.


Then the sick.


And the goodbye ! See how Christian is


the return was a bit difficult for him

okay, now enough for the pict. I'll get Christian impressions about the 800GS.

Nice read, great ride report!

-Steve

Thanks again Thierry!

Now you have to write the Greek ride report

Lefteris


ps. You are implying that you never layed hands on the f800? I don't believe it.

ps2. Any news from dirk?

yes
and you, your last 2 trips

no, u're right. I played a little with the small gs. even recently in the sand. but Christian is an offroad rider. Do a lot of enduro races. he knows what he's talking about.

he's working at last !!
Anyway, we're still waiting for some RR from him........

Great road report-very inspiring. I yearn for a warmer drier climate right now. I appreciate your pictures and insight to Morrocco.

same for me
always better to write a RR during winter

So about the 800GS impressions.

first, "there is no light on this bike".
okay, you must know that Christian had a DL650, the little vstrom, before.
and the strom _has_ lights ! that's for sure.
For my 12GS rider point of view, the 800GS lights are okay.
For Christian, he said he lost here.
So guess what... he's mouting aux lights... he's becoming a GS rider

Second, the fork.
okay but way too soft.
here again, you have to know that the guy is an enduro racer. he likes his fork to be hard.
I played a little with his enduro bike (a 250wrc). damned. the fork is hard ! a pain for me. but when u're riding off road, u need it.
So he did the simpliest, that is to change the oil in the fork.

Third, the bashplate. Or the lack of bashplate.
It's an option. For this bike, it seems ridiculous.
Anyway, he took the bmw's. the 1st model. great. after 2 days, the bike was back to the dealer. carter broken.
changed under warranty. new bashplate mounted. the new and corrected version.

Fourth, the tank. Not enough gas here. He thought.
So he made something to be able to carry 2x2liters of gas.
And he never used them. So after all what the dealer said about the mileage was true.

Fifth, the rear shocks.
this is here that you can say that at least KTM sell bikes with proper shocks.
the 990adv shocks compared to the one from the 12GS or the ADV..... doh.
same apply sadly to the 800GS.
so we may have the 2 bikes at the same price. but they are not of the same quality. on this point, I'm very displeased with bmw.
So what was wrong with the rear shock.
on the road, okay. on the tracks, the bike wasn't steady. rear was fuzzy, unreliable, too much bouncing.
So what had to be done has been done... He bought an ohlins.
and he tested it...quite hard on mx circuit.
ooooooooooohhhh !
now, that's a bike ! and a damn good bike.
now, he said, I can compare it with a 990ADV.

Sixth, the windshield.
stock WS is okay offroad. For Morocco weather, fine.
but for everyday commuting, no. too small.
he went for the touratech's one.
gook look. as a matter of fact, it looks like the small. fit aesthetically perfectly to the 800GS.

So now, we will have to go again in Morocco to test it with the mods.

/thierry

Great RR and pics!

Thank you!

Best greatings
Rudi