I have it on high authority (I read it on the Internet) the bike is not coming to the US. My BMW/Triumph/Husqvarna dealer should know, if he went to the BMW dealers meeting last month.
The updates are far more interesting to someone who was waiting to see what was going to happen to the F650GS rather than the F800GS. Now, let's see what happens with the K1600R.
I'm only a little disappointed because traction control was something I would have liked to have had on the F800GS. And the ESA would probably be neat too...just spent a few hundred upgrading the fork springs.
Sounds like you just bought a 2012 ... I wouldn't too much about those "upgrades". ESA might cost you a pretty penny . petzi-baer
I question the idiot naming/marketing branding on BMW's part. Just make all bikes GS and GS Adventure. It would have covered the F650GS/Dakar and now G/Sertao - F650GS and GSA The new F650GS/F800GS - F800GS and GSA R1200GS/GSA How hard is it? Geez! They did it correctly with the R1200GS...
Just out of interest, what makes you think you know better than an international company with a large marketing department? Their marketing obviously works and just because it doesn't suit you, you slag it off. It ain't all about you, ya know.....
Anybody 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.... And they realized it, the confusion between the old 650 and the new one, then renaming the old one.... etc, etc Now they are trying to fix it... It is sure better this way then trying to name a new bike the same as a different model... Ryan
It's fantastic that the F700GS and the F800GS are now built on the common platform. Shared parts, shared farkles, shared problems, shared solutions. Don't understand why there would be an engine discrepancy nowadays, though. Anyone got a shot of the new clocks?
There's a lot that agree with him. So pray tell, other than name, what's the difference between the old Dakar 650 and the new Sertao? How many F650s are there? When is a 650 not a 650? When it's revamped as a 700 that is actually an 800? Stop the insanity. Lets call apples apples. The only reason they sell bikes at all is because they are reasonably good and expensive enough to make them elitist. If it cost more than your neighbours, it must be good...right? Nothing quite says "in your face you poor-ass blue collar slob", than turning up to the cafe on a sunny Sunday mounted on your BMW when your neighbour has shown up on his KLR650. That sells them more bikes than marketing, advertising, and actually having decent bikes ever could. Unfortunately. Even my local BMW dealer admits this. It's like the Harley crowd selling the "lifestyle". Selling dreams to cashed up wannabe "Easy Riders" and "Rebels without a clue". BMW sells bikes to cashed up wannabe "Ewan and Charlies". I fell for it. I'll admit it. The hype got me. But I really wish they'd get the naming thing sorted. I get sick of explaining it to curious people.
Is that an optical illusion or is the loop, for the front brake lines, a fair bit higher than the previous model year? Perhaps somewhat addressing the few cases where the lower loop grabbed knobbies when the front fender issue came up? Not as good as two individual, but if that front arch really is higher, that would be progress. It will be great to hear what issues have or have not been addressed to improve a good bike. I'm sure there were changes that were quietly done that were not published in the advertising literature. A part number change might be the only way to determine those. Always fun to see what a manufacturer deems worthy of change when they roll out a model update.
So, is the 2013 F700GS going to be known as the F708GS? Or, should we just call it for what it is ... F798GS?
Only reason I bought my 2010 8GS is because the BMW dealer were the only mc dealer that would take in a car in a bike trade.......... I have since fallen in love with the bike....even after all the stalling.....road side assistance....etc. Their marketing dept. are still idiots......imho... This would have been a perfect time to put the parts on the 8GS that it really needed to measure up.....specially with the competition heating up. Same battle has been/is going on in the long travel 29'er fork mountain bike world. If you don't spike your product and stay in the front..... many will go elsewhere, and you will loose market share..... I believe BMW will gain some in the 650gs.....ehhhhhhh ummmm....700.....but loose some lurkers in the 800gs to the competition. Go figure....maybe I'm the idiot, and missing the big picture.....
That's a good question, is the MSRP going to be significantly higher on these? I have to image ESA and traction control aren't free.
Nice upgrades and options for the F700GS except... Fuel capacity reduced from 18l to 16l. :dog Oh well, slap an adventure gas tank on the rack for an extra 1.5 gallons or go all the way and put a tour tank on the pillon for another 3.5 gallons. Anybody heard when the US will get these? The Russian mafia is after me and I need to get out of town soon.