Do yourself a favor and use the bike like it's supposed to, take advantage of the low-down torque and don't rev it like a 4cyl, it can run nicely on higher gears. It'll give you impressive fuel economy too.
Love this bike. Super nice torque, turns nicely, awesome in hills. The power is terrific once you discover how to make it roar. It took me a month before I realized it's a bad ass. From 35-85mph it's a fun and flick able beast ✌️
Thanks for the video. Sorry but I am stuck on your gear change technique. Hopefully that progressed as you rode it more. FYI I just purchased one of these a 2007 F800S . Why? Just back on bikes after raising a family, ease of riding, torquey engine, the belt final drive, BMW build quality for longevity in older bikes, had a few BMs in the past and like the low centre of gravity. Already though I am looking forward to an ELECTRIC 'motorbike'. I want that endless torque, no noise, no gears, no maintenance kind of ride. The Beemer will do till then.
I think it is great that a sport bike owner can show how this little beast can bring fun into touring. After all this bike is solid 70% touring but still a 30% sport bike. It's a win-win situation
Good review, you nailed it with this bike. Anybody passing their test could happily have one of these and still not be bored with it five years later. I've had an 09 since 2012 and it took a while to grow on me, but transformed with hyperpro progressive fork springs and dropped the front 10mm. Still not a fan of BMW's comedy indicator switch setup yet. Done laps of the TT Course on mine, toured two up with luggage all over the place. Really surprised me that a little 800 has this much guts.
Good subjective review. Looking to buy this model or the newer F800GT.... I use to work for BMW Motorcycles in the early nineties, when the K and R Series was all they had. I could hear the distinctive gearbox clunk I remember from those bikes... Just sold my pristine 2004 Triumph 995i. Getting old and I need something more comfortable, just hope I won’t be bored by the 60 or so less hp and lower torque I was accustomed to on the triple. Thanks again.... Great review. Cheers from down under...
It is possible to take it round a gocart track in third gear. Just easy on the throttle and use the engine brake when cornering. 4000 rpm 120km/h on highway with passanger and it just roll on Lovley bike
I recognize the first leg of the ride; it's eastbound CA highway 76 (from I-5) then a right onto College, Ave. in Oceanside. I live very close to this road (@ 11:00 in the video) and it's a very nice ride between 1-5 and CA 15 and on College. About the time he hits 100, the Oceanside Police Department HQ is right off the highway, and they love to patrol this road and ticket speeders for 60-ish. Nonetheless, it seems Minner Q gives a positive review and makes the suggestion that he likes it and recommends a purchase.
Just bought a 2007 f800 st. I haven't ridden in 20 yrs thus why I was looking for riding review. Looks like nice roads out there as opposed to Oklahoma. We'll see how it handles on a long ride out here. Thanks mate!
Lane splitting should be illegal. And you should be committed for doing it. That's a little too close for anybody to be riding between cars. And I'm an old fart I've been riding for 55 years and I've had 125 motorcycles and I never used to split a lane
😂 man, stop it. Here in NL it's legally permitted and everyone knows it. There's set rules to doing it. We haven't any problems with lane splitting, at low speeds it's pefectly safe. Just keep the difference in speed small and don't weave through traffic.
It was a first ride. I'll explore the rev range. Although largely true for cruisers and touring bikes, that's a generalization; you'd miss peak horsepower on some 2 cylinders.
Well done Minner Q. A few comments: these bikes do better when revved than lugged in a high gear. I think you were riding it well keeping the rpm up. The switch gear grows on you and I have to BMW bikes with the same set up. The bike is either a 2007 or 2008. Thanks for a nice review. Coming off a 2015 bike, I think you were well prepared to make a comparison.
Thank you for the review. I especially appreciate the real world ride and talk. Looks like so Cal. Hopefully you can improve the wind noise in the future. Keep up the good videos 😀
Tenho uma BMW F800S 2007. Preciso comprar o escapamento original e as setas e lanterna traseira originais, alguém pode indicar onde comprar, ou em qual site encontro.
Looking to trade a low Sargent seat for a standard Sargent seat for this bike. If anyone has this bike and wants to trade seats please comment and connect with me
Best review i have heard on the F800 series - i think the F800R is slightly different ( i ride one ) - an underated motorcycle and a nice surprise to ride one
57mph in 1st gear??? This may be what decides it for me. Thinking of getting rid of my Burgman 650. I like the luxury and no maintenance but it's just too heavy and the brakes/wheels are dog shit.
I think you'll be happy; it's hard to dislike this bike - unless you're looking for a different class of bike all together. It's extremely comfortable and happy at highway speeds.
The sound hurts a bit. I agree. If you give them a heads up a few days in advance they'll hold a loaner for you. They have two or three they loan. All used
Hi, I am one of the few people who likes the looks of this bike and I want to buy it BUT I've heard some pretty bad things about maintenance and frequent breakdowns etc on these. Can someone with long term experience please tell me they are all reliable :-D. Thanks
Martin Kadlec I have a 2007 and it's a head turner. I got plenty of bikes and this is the most fun. BMW made a classic bike without knowing. As far the mechanic problems,? this thing is beast 130+mph smooth as butter.
You forgot heated handgrips (two heat settings), when complaining about the turn signal switches. Also you indicated at the 11:30 mark that the "tank cover is plastic" as you tapped on the hump before the handlebars... That's where the battery is located, not the tank. You're sitting on the track my tank, or just slightly behind you. I'm sure you figure all this out by now.
Do yourself a favor and use the bike like it's supposed to, take advantage of the low-down torque and don't rev it like a 4cyl, it can run nicely on higher gears. It'll give you impressive fuel economy too.
Love this bike. Super nice torque, turns nicely, awesome in hills. The power is terrific once you discover how to make it roar. It took me a month before I realized it's a bad ass. From 35-85mph it's a fun and flick able beast ✌️
I agree. it's got guts if you know how to use it.
Thanks for the video. Sorry but I am stuck on your gear change technique. Hopefully that progressed as you rode it more. FYI I just purchased one of these a 2007 F800S . Why? Just back on bikes after raising a family, ease of riding, torquey engine, the belt final drive, BMW build quality for longevity in older bikes, had a few BMs in the past and like the low centre of gravity. Already though I am looking forward to an ELECTRIC 'motorbike'. I want that endless torque, no noise, no gears, no maintenance kind of ride. The Beemer will do till then.
Wow? Didn't know electric bikes have no maintenance. Machines have advanced quite a bit I see.
Why does he only use 3 gears
Does he not know it has a 6 speed box
0 to 60 on these is 4.3 secs so it's no slow coach
I have a 2012 and feel I can make it go faster than that even. Feels closer 3.8 sec or so
I can’t cope with him revving the shit out of it for no reason. I would have been in 6th when he was in 2nd.
Why do you keep comparing this bike to crotch rocket?? Its a touring bike.
I think it is great that a sport bike owner can show how this little beast can bring fun into touring. After all this bike is solid 70% touring but still a 30% sport bike. It's a win-win situation
Take off the fairing and the handlebar...and it's the BMW F800S...a crotch rocket
Good review, you nailed it with this bike. Anybody passing their test could happily have one of these and still not be bored with it five years later. I've had an 09 since 2012 and it took a while to grow on me, but transformed with hyperpro progressive fork springs and dropped the front 10mm. Still not a fan of BMW's comedy indicator switch setup yet. Done laps of the TT Course on mine, toured two up with luggage all over the place. Really surprised me that a little 800 has this much guts.
Good subjective review. Looking to buy this model or the newer F800GT.... I use to work for BMW Motorcycles in the early nineties, when the K and R Series was all they had. I could hear the distinctive gearbox clunk I remember from those bikes... Just sold my pristine 2004 Triumph 995i. Getting old and I need something more comfortable, just hope I won’t be bored by the 60 or so less hp and lower torque I was accustomed to on the triple. Thanks again.... Great review. Cheers from down under...
That swingarm is a piece of art.....love to own one.
It is possible to take it round a gocart track in third gear. Just easy on the throttle and use the engine brake when cornering.
4000 rpm 120km/h on highway with passanger and it just roll on
Lovley bike
I recognize the first leg of the ride; it's eastbound CA highway 76 (from I-5) then a right onto College, Ave. in Oceanside. I live very close to this road (@ 11:00 in the video) and it's a very nice ride between 1-5 and CA 15 and on College. About the time he hits 100, the Oceanside Police Department HQ is right off the highway, and they love to patrol this road and ticket speeders for 60-ish.
Nonetheless, it seems Minner Q gives a positive review and makes the suggestion that he likes it and recommends a purchase.
You would thinkg that near the station is the least likely place to get ticketed. Units are eager to come in or get to their beat.
Just bought a 2007 f800 st. I haven't ridden in 20 yrs thus why I was looking for riding review. Looks like nice roads out there as opposed to Oklahoma. We'll see how it handles on a long ride out here. Thanks mate!
Congrats on the new bike. It's comfortable, gentle and a good choice for getting reacquainted.
How do you like it now?
Lane splitting should be illegal.
And you should be committed for doing it. That's a little too close for anybody to be riding between cars. And I'm an old fart I've been riding for 55 years and I've had 125 motorcycles and I never used to split a lane
😂 man, stop it. Here in NL it's legally permitted and everyone knows it. There's set rules to doing it. We haven't any problems with lane splitting, at low speeds it's pefectly safe. Just keep the difference in speed small and don't weave through traffic.
You apparently need a bit more practice with 2-cyl engines, no need to rev it so much
It was a first ride. I'll explore the rev range. Although largely true for cruisers and touring bikes, that's a generalization; you'd miss peak horsepower on some 2 cylinders.
Best of both from this motor, short shift for smooth torque fuelled rolling or bang it around the gears between 5 and 8k and chuck it about
I have this bike but have major vibration from the engine above 3500rpm. Does anyone know what cause it?
Well done Minner Q. A few comments: these bikes do better when revved than lugged in a high gear. I think you were riding it well keeping the rpm up. The switch gear grows on you and I have to BMW bikes with the same set up. The bike is either a 2007 or 2008. Thanks for a nice review. Coming off a 2015 bike, I think you were well prepared to make a comparison.
Thank you Mark, the bike seemed to like revs. Most BMW's do.
Thank you for the review. I especially appreciate the real world ride and talk. Looks like so Cal. Hopefully you can improve the wind noise in the future. Keep up the good videos 😀
Tenho uma BMW F800S 2007.
Preciso comprar o escapamento original e as setas e lanterna traseira originais, alguém pode indicar onde comprar, ou em qual site encontro.
The turn signal cancel should have been done like a Harley, just hit the button again.
I'm pretty sure it's a 2008 my papa has the same one, they are great bikes
So funny it took me a short while to recognize this is the exact road I go on once a week.
nice vid. comment 5 years late. Riding a f800s currently and so pleased i'm not riding on your road surfaces!
Great review. one question - At 70mph in 6th gear what was the rpm?
Thanks. I'll have to go on memory so forgive me if I'm a bit off but I believe it was around 4500. I'd double check that on an appropriate forum.
Looking to trade a low Sargent seat for a standard Sargent seat for this bike. If anyone has this bike and wants to trade seats please comment and connect with me
Best review i have heard on the F800 series - i think the F800R is slightly different ( i ride one ) - an underated motorcycle and a nice surprise to ride one
I ride an F 800 R too. Still a lovely bike ;)
You not changing gears... Up.. To 6th
The gas tank doesn't read above half because of the shape of the tank and only becomes accurate at half full.
its not a tank its an air box
57mph in 1st gear??? This may be what decides it for me. Thinking of getting rid of my Burgman 650. I like the luxury and no maintenance but it's just too heavy and the brakes/wheels are dog shit.
I think you'll be happy; it's hard to dislike this bike - unless you're looking for a different class of bike all together. It's extremely comfortable and happy at highway speeds.
Going to hopefully get a test ride tomorrow
BMW 's like revs, new one on me ! must be where the vibration comes from.
it does sound buzzy!
Have you ever had problems with engine stalling when cold?
No
It sounds like a scooter, do you always get a loaner from BMW of Escondido?
The sound hurts a bit. I agree. If you give them a heads up a few days in advance they'll hold a loaner for you. They have two or three they loan. All used
nice bmw car in the back as well
Brilliant review Brother.
I’m a McManus too. Brother had a little more meaning this time.
Hi, I am one of the few people who likes the looks of this bike and I want to buy it BUT I've heard some pretty bad things about maintenance and frequent breakdowns etc on these. Can someone with long term experience please tell me they are all reliable :-D. Thanks
Martin Kadlec I have a 2007 and it's a head turner. I got plenty of bikes and this is the most fun. BMW made a classic bike without knowing. As far the mechanic problems,? this thing is beast 130+mph smooth as butter.
Hi do you still endorse the F800ST?
Do you still think it’s reliable
Good review! Well done.
Thanks James!
You forgot heated handgrips (two heat settings), when complaining about the turn signal switches.
Also you indicated at the 11:30 mark that the "tank cover is plastic" as you tapped on the hump before the handlebars... That's where the battery is located, not the tank. You're sitting on the track my tank, or just slightly behind you. I'm sure you figure all this out by now.