2013 F800GS and F700GS merged threadfest

[Midnullarbor]

Not rocket science, for a manufacturer to offer a choice of two types of seat (or more).
No car-maker these days has an unadjustable driver's seat.

With a bit of fore-thought at the design stage, various bike models could "share" seat types.

[Lion BR]

Originally Posted by murph76

take a test drive on the tiger800- then tell me about bmws seat

Are you talking to me?
I own a Tiger 800 XC. And I have ridden the F800GS three times.
I like better a narrow seat for riding off road.

[Tonopah]

I know a guy who hated the OEM seat on the Tiger 800. He bought the Triumph gel seat and that was not the solution either. So then he bought a Corbin and is finally happy. Kinda sounds like the same progression us BMW folks go through.

[Geology Rocks]

Sooo...lets not fix any of the real issues, but lets make the plastics "more masculine." really? I would love an 800gs but i refuse to own another bike that has ethanol related fuel tank issues. Sorry bmw....looks like the 800xc wins.

Joe

[grndzr0]

Originally Posted by Boostedxt

Sooo...lets not fix any of the real issues, but lets make the plastics "more masculine." really? I would love an 800gs but i refuse to own another bike that has ethanol related fuel tank issues. Sorry bmw....looks like the 800xc wins.

Joe

I have 20k mi on mine, I have never paid attention to what type of fuel I put in it, and it usually gets ethanol, and I haven't had any problems.

But I do ride my bike. The longest it has sat in those 20k miles is probably 5 days. And I do live in MT, so don't use cold weather as an excuse either!!

Ryan

[Paladin7429]

You're 60 years old, good shape. You are probably never going to ride over 100 mph or go on trails. You want
to ride dirt roads (20%) and pavement (80%). Would you get the new F700GS and some luggage or a used
F800GS that already has luggage and some options? Thanks for you thoughts.

[Snowy]

Originally Posted by Paladin7429

You're 60 years old, good shape. You are probably never going to ride over 100 mph or go on trails. You want
to ride dirt roads (20%) and pavement (80%). Would you get the new F700GS and some luggage or a used
F800GS that already has luggage and some options? Thanks for you thoughts.

New one (700) and some hard luggage.


If I was buying a new one to replace the F800GS I have, I'd still buy the 700, or even a run out model 650.

There's almost a $6000 difference in price here between the 800 and 650 variants, more when they do a run out sale. I can throw the suspension away and replace it with the best aftermarket stuff, and get a set of spoke wheels made, put racks on it, and buy some hard luggage and still come out in front of buying another F800GS new.

So I lose a couple of HP. Big deal. It's not like I flog the life out of it now. A Power Commander isn't that expensive.

For what I'm doing with the bike with 2-up dirt riding, I'd be throwing the standard suspension away no matter which one I bought. But the market price point of the 650 model here means I can build an 800 cheaper than I can buy one.

Silly hey?

[Ronin ADV]

Snowy

What is the Aus cost of a new F800? 650?

[Snowy]

The F800GS last time I checked was $21K, and the 650 version was $15K.

With the release of the F700GS the old F650GS it replaces will be on sale and out the door at around $12~13K.

Any extras over stock standard were extra on top of these prices.


I've always wondered why, because I can't find any "special" taxes on bikes etc, it appears to be market pricing from the manufacturers. Our dollar was higher than the US dollar, but the difference in prices for the same bike are staggering.

My son worked for a KTM dealer here for a while, and he was saying that he could buy parts online from US KTM dealers, pay the freight, and still get them landed cheaper than he could get the stuff from KTM at cost price to the dealership.

Consequently, that's what everyone here does. The local importers scream bloody murder, but it's not the consumers fault. If I can buy brand new gear half price on line, no amount of "consumer loyalty" is going to come into play. Shop owners complain that people only use their stock and showrooms as "fitting rooms" to determine sizes so they can order the gear online from the US. I've done it. I don't care who it upsets.

Since the start of the global recession I've found US sellers bend over backwards to make sales and local agents for the same companies can't be bothered returning phone calls.

The Ohlins shock that cost me $1450 to land here via Ohlins Australia, sells at $800 in the US.

So taking advantage of the price difference between models here and shopping online via the US for all the aftermarket parts means I can build a better new F800GS without spending the money I would on a new one from the showroom.

[JRWooden]

Originally Posted by Snowy

... Shop owners complain that people only use their stock and showrooms as "fitting rooms" to determine sizes so they can order the gear online from the US. I've done it. I don't care who it upsets...

Here in the USA one of the big electronics retailers is "Best Buy". Many have started referring to them as the "Amazon Showroom" ... and there is more than a little bit of truth to that.............

[mrbreeze]

not me. I don't usually buy gear on line. I like to be able to try it on, and if dealer has it in stock then that's where I buy it. Worried about the price? Ask them to knock some off. I almost always ask for at least 10%, and if you can show then an internet add with a lower price, the dealers will often match it.

[bobobob]

Originally Posted by Paladin7429

You're 60 years old, good shape. You are probably never going to ride over 100 mph or go on trails. You want
to ride dirt roads (20%) and pavement (80%). Would you get the new F700GS and some luggage or a used
F800GS that already has luggage and some options? Thanks for you thoughts.

I'm 58, with bad knees and a 31" inseam.
Sold the KLR650 with 35" seat height 6 years ago.

My single track days are over, but I still want to explore a forest service or gravel road when I come across it.
My next bike will be a lowered G650GS or a F700GS with panniers and a top box.

Hth, good luck and welcome to ADV.

[GH41]

Originally Posted by bobobob

I'm 58, with bad knees and a 31" inseam.
Sold the KLR650 with 35" seat height 6 years ago.

My single track days are over, but I still want to explore a forest service or gravel road when I come across it.
My next bike will be a lowered G650GS or a F700GS with panniers and a top box.

Hth, good luck and welcome to ADV.

I am also 58 with worn out body parts. I also like to explore dirt roads. My 650 is perfect for my use. GH

[rageabout]

[QUOTEAnybody that has a 650 twin knows how much of a PITA it is to try to explain to everybody that it is actually an 800...[/QUOTE]


I feel your pain brotha…I get TIRED of telling women my p*nis is 3.5 inches and only looks like 3 inches cause I’m a fat a$$.

Back on topic:

Who gives a sh*t about the 650/700/800 gibberish? BMW is finally posting HP/torque curves. They figured out that the MC mags will dyno the bike and post the results making liars out of BMW. Power to weight, right?

[mustardfj40]

Originally Posted by GH41

I am also 58 with worn out body parts. I also like to explore dirt roads. My 650 is perfect for my use. GH

I like way you paint your crash bar, what color is it? Thanks.

Btw, I drop by local BMW dealers to get some stuffs....All F650GS Twin are sold out...There are some F800GS triple blacks and Trophy edition left on the floors