BMW F800GS test

 

This is the GS version of the F800…the smaller version of the GS 1200 Adventure comes with a special paint job, a reminder of the first generation GS, which first came out nearly 30 years ago.

As usual this BMW is well built and loaded with first rate equipment. No Para-lever like the 1200, the 800 has a simple inverted fork with a trial size Brembo brakes.

The engine is the same twin-cylinder powering the road bike, but the angle has been reworked for added torque and be more in line with the spirit of a trial bike. It also has a trellis frame instead of the parametric frame found on other BMWs.

The instruments are top notch. Everything is at your finger tips and there is a plethora of information, like the gear indicator.

Once you set out you’ll see that this as versatile a bike as you could want. With the F800 GS you can go from the dirt to the pavement, while maintaining a comfortable ride. Obviously, on the F800 GS you sit rather high at 880mm to the ground, but it can be lowered to 850.

If you’re not a regular trial rider, you’ll get the sense you’re a bit too high with a front end that is just a bit sloppy. But this soon goes away and you’ll begin to gain confidence thanks to very good handling and an expressive engine. Although, we must admit that without the para-lever system featured on the bigger bikes, the fork plunges a lot under braking.

The ABS is adequate but you can obviously disconnect it for some all-terrain fun.

Except for the most torn up areas, the F800 GS is right at home thanks to a remarkable ride height and turning radius. Much lighter than the 1200, the 800 is easier to ride and forgiving.

Thanks to this GS Mid-Size now everyone can ride a large BMW trial bike, but you’ll need some large legs as well as more than €10 000.