Actor Ewan McGregor may not have fallen off his bike so much in Long Way Down if he had a nimble BMW F 800 GS instead of the hulking R 1200 GS Adventure.
The F 800 GS, which has the potential to become BMW’s biggest-selling machine, arrives in late October/ early November, but even the stellar Star Wars actor would have to wait in line to own one.
BMW Motorrad Australia boss Cameron Cuthill said at the Australian launch this week that supply would be short and every one of the first shipment was already sold.
“People have been paying deposits up front for the past year,” he said.
“There are only 30 of them here now in Australia and New Zealand as dealer demos, not to be sold, so there is now a big queue just to test ride them.”
So what’s so special?
At 186kg dry, the F 800 GS is up to 45kg lighter than the 1200 GS models and therefore much less of a handful off road or on dirt roads.
The centre of gravity is also kept low with the aid of a 16-litre underseat tank which makes them feel much more nimble, while lighter objects such as the air filter are where a normal fuel tank would be. The high air intake also facilitates deep water crossings.
And, at $16,750, it costs at least $4000 less than the cheapest GS models.
For that you get heated handgrips, a centre stand, on-board computer and plastic bashguard standard. It comes in either a steel grey or a black and yellow finish.
It features much the same 800cc parallel twin engine as in the road-based F 800 S and ST, but with the engine tilted back to allow for the bigger 21-inch front wheel.
When those road bikes were launched two years ago, the first thing journalists asked was when was the GS coming because the narrow engine was perfectly suited to an all-road machine.
It is a torquey engine with a smooth spread of predictable power that makes it a
reliable tool in tough conditions. It’s also versatile, enjoying a short shift through the gears or being revved hard.
The other major difference is that it uses a conventional chain instead of the road bike’s belt drive.
BMW has had a long tradition of GS bikes, starting with the 800cc Dakar machine in 1980.
Owners have taken them round the world like McGregor because they are reliable and durable.
But many are wary of the sheer bulk of the 1200cc machines, says BMW Motorrad Australia sales manager Miles Davis.
“It’s great to have a mid-sized GS. It’s what a lot of people have wanted for a long time,” he says.
“It’s just right – not too big and not too small.”
The only factory options are the off-road-calibrated ABS at $1265 and a no-cost 850/880mm seat choice.
Davis said there would be a full range of accessories available at launch including a high seat, luggage, high and tinted windscreens, handguards with metal backing and a non-roadlegal Akropovic muffler.
Like most BMWs, it comes with a heavy and muted exhaust and while there is a nice tone to the muffler under load, there is almost no induction noise, so the rider doesn’t get an aural blast.
On the road, it has predictable handling. The smooth fuel injection and wide bars make it easy to perform slow-speed maneuvres.
It is not a startling road performer; the engine tingles rather than vibes like the Boxer and the power is handy rather than exhilarating.
But turn off the tar on to the dirt and it starts to make a lot of sense.
The power now allows long and safe tail slides, the handling makes it flickable in tight situations while the wide bars provide stability at forest speeds most dirt bikers can only dream of.
And it’s safe with that ABS pulling you up faster than a pro could without the electronic aid. But if you think you can do better, it is now a simpler process to turn it off and on. Just stop and press a button.
The suspension in standard settings soaks up big bumps with a plush ride and plenty of feel. If you want to do some fine tuning, the preload is hand-adjustable and the shock adjustment requires a flat-head screwdriver.
Off-road fans will want to replace the standard paper filter with an aftermarket foam item and the foot pegs with wider ones.
Where it lags behind the 1200 is obviously in power and the ability to take big loads on long trips.
The 16-litre tank is good for as much as 350km. On the spirited launch this week into gale-force headwinds on highways and forest trails, it recorded 5.9L/100km.
It comes standard with dual-purpose tyres, but the launch bikes were fitted with Continental TKC knobbies. Just as well because a deluge, together with some fine hail, turned the forestry tracks into slimy clay.
Davis said the 1200 GS dragged people off other bikes.
“We think the 800 GS will do the same thing,” he said.
It comes with a two-year warranty and long 10,000km service intervals.
BMW F 800 GS
PRICE: $16,750
ENGINE: 798cc 8-valve DOHC twin
POWER: 63kW @ 7500rpm
TORQUE: 83Nm @ 5750rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, chain drive
TYRES: 90/90 21; 150/70 R17
BRAKES: 300mm dual discs (front), 265mm single disc (rear), ABS option
DIMENSIONS (mm): 2320 (l), 945 (w), 880/850 (seat), 1578 (wheelbase)
WEIGHT: 178kg (dry), 207 (wet)
FUEL: PULP, 16-litre tank
ECONOMY: 3.8L/100km @ 90km/h (claimed), 5.8L/100km (on launch)
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