BMW F 800 R Reviewed

-- BMW F 800 R Review - Page 1 / Page 2 / Images -- By, Trevor Hedge The latest member of BMW’s burgeoning F Troop is now on sale. The sportiest model yet to wear the F nomenclature, the F 800 R effectively replaces the first F model released, the F 800 S. The S model has been dropped from the BMW range while its more touring focussed F 800 ST sibling remains in the F series line-up which was supplemented in 2007 with the F 650 GS and the more recent F 800 GS. Most surprisingly, the F 800 R, the latest and most sporting member of the F series, also comes in the cheapest. Priced at $13,900 the F 800 R undercuts the F 650 GS by $50. It is also significantly cheaper than the $15,800 F 800 ST and the dual-sport F 800 GS which tops the range at $17,250. The pricing of the R underlines BMW’s serious intent to win more market share with a fairly aggressive pricing policy. A couple of corners have been cut to meet that price point but they don’t really detract from the overall experience. Bling merchants might be a little disappointed by the omission of fully adjustable inverted forks. BMW make up for this by getting the spring rates and damping pretty much spot on out of the box. Our launch ride included some of Brisbane bikers’ regular stamping grounds including Mt Glorious, Nebo and the bumpy and challenging run around the back of Somerset Dam. Sections of this route are a pretty serious torture test with massive road undulations and huge mid corner bumps and despite our assembled throng setting a fairly cracking pace the F 800 R shrugged off every challenge. Earlier on during our run over Mt Glorious sticks and twigs littered the route leading to unavoidable little front end tucks. Each time the F 800 R regained its composure without fuss and proved confidence inspiring, no matter how diabolical the road conditions. If the forks had clickers, I wouldn’t have bothered touching them. The rear suspension is adjustable for both spring preload and rebound damping. The preload adjustments are easily carried out via an adjuster wheel on the right hand side of the machine and the damping also requires no tools to adjust thanks to BMW having the foresight to fit a handy knob. The swingarm is a dual sided unit both attractive in design and functional, with exquisitely milled chain adjuster slots and sliders. This 360 degree approach to design really is a hallmark of BMW and these user friendly touches never fail to impress. Even the tyre valves are positioned conveniently in the lustrously painted rims. Likewise, the optional factory panniers and top box kit the F 800 R up with an attractive and user friendly (there are those two words again) luggage system that really makes other manufacturers’ efforts seem half arsed, which is exactly what they are. Sure, the panniers come at a price, around $1350 complete with mountings and locks, but the convenience of proper luggage cannot be underestimated. Brembo braking hardware equips the F 800 R with plenty of stopping power, good feel and little effort at the lever. The test bikes were fitted with the optional $1265 ABS system and $380 tyre pressure control system. The latter proved its merit when one of the assembled journo throng was alerted to a puncture in their rear tyre by a warning light on the dash accompanied by the deflating pressure readout on the LCD. I myself have also been alerted to a deflating tyre from the rider’s seat on an F 650 GS a year or so ago and its safety benefits are laudable. BMW provide a non adjustable steering damper as standard. Continued....

-- BMW F 800 R Review - Page 1 / Page 2 / Images --