Gray clouds gathered over the Allegheny Plateau and I wished had brought my rainsuit. The BMW F800 GS is completely comfortable on the freeway and unlike my Vespa I don’t find the end of available throttle. The threat of rain and traffic moving near 80mph are of no concern. This machine can fly.
The short windscreen does a nice job of moving the air blast off the torso and over the shoulders without creating any weird helmet noise. At 70mph the bike is smooth and steady. I could shrug off a 600 mile day.
West. No destination in mind, just staying on the main roads and keeping the BMW moving fast. My parents used to take drives after church and I remember the sense of adventure standing on the floor of the car looking over the backseat excited to see what was over the next hill. Nothing’s changed as the BMW carries me along familiar roads. US322 towards Philipsburg, a beautiful stretch of road.
A person could ride the F800 GS around the world. Even now, writing months later, I can’t conceive of a situation where I would need more power, more anything. Stopped again along the highway I keep reminding myself that I should just ride and forget about the camera. Forget about scenery. Ride.
Giant tires finally get the best of me. This is coal country and big machinery still lumbers across the landscape. These tires were at least eight feet in diameter.
Having spent so much time riding (and driving for work) it’s hard to find places in Pennsylvania I’ve not wandered through. At each intersection and crossroad I turn towards the west. Moving through Clearfield County and then Jefferson County I eventually find unknown roads and manage to get to the delightful place of having no idea where I am. Just fields and bales and winding roads.
I check the fuel supply.
Standing in the road making this picture I am dangerously close to choosing farm lanes and other mysterious dirt tracks over the highway. I’ve been down those tracks before and I know I can completely lose myself in exploring and taking pictures. On this day I want to stay on the highway and go.
I see a sign for Punxsutawney, a town I’ve somehow never managed to visit save for viewings of Groundhog Day.
I spend a bit of time looking for Gobblers Knob and some evidence of the February 2nd festivities but the motorcycle call is stronger and I allow the BMW to rocket me out of town.
Riding south on US119 I realize I will be passing through Home, Pennsylvania, birthplace of one of my favorite authors Edward Abbey. His books The Fools Progress and Desert Solitaire hover near the top of my list. I’ve been on the road for five hours without stopping for food, water, or even many pictures. It’s time to head home another three hours away. At this moment I feel gratitude for the comfortable riding position.
Food, fuel and a few minutes of relaxation at the Sheetz outside Ebensburg along US 22. As people walked back and forth into the store a few stopped to look at the motorcycle. A woman, three men, and one little kid. No useful marketing demographic information to glean. It is an attractive machine. It’s grown on me over time – even in orange. It’s utility as a form of transportation and recreation are high and adding some sidecases would make it perfect for adventure or grocery shopping. At least if you don’t let your image of a BMW get in the way. Not much sexy or adventurous about grocery shopping.
Passing a group of Harleys on I99 I race ahead so I can make a picture of them passing the BMW. Almost missed it because the power button on my Canon G9 is flaky. The F800 GS could ride along all day with the big cruisers and touring bikes. Poor things would have to park and wait though when you decide to tear off up a fire trail or run across a creek to see what’s on the other side. Group rides would require patience and understanding on the part of the big bike riders.
So, that’s about it. Verdict: The BMW F800 GS is a great machine for me. Tall at first meeting even for me but after some miles didn’t seem tall at all. Power – you bet. Plenty for any legal or illegal speeds on the highway. Returning home on I99 I stayed with the pack of traffic for about ten miles traveling at near 80mph and the motorcycle was smooth, handled windblast fine and had plenty of throttle to leap ahead if needed. But that kind of travel is not for me and I was glad to leave the freeway and drift home at more leisurely speeds that allow me more time to react to any sudden chaos.
If I have any lingering questions it would be which bike to choose – the BMW F800 GS or the BMW F650 GS?
I reluctantly returned the motorcycle to Kissell Motorsports.
An outstanding finale to the review series on this magnificent motorcycle Steve!
dammit, now I want one….
dom
Redleg’s Rides
Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner
Dear SITS (Steve):
I fully understand your pain and indecision. I am delighted, however, that German lessons seem to be in your future. I have gotten by very well with “Wienerschnitzel und bier, Fraulein.”
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
A great review and it makes me want to look more into this model again. Last summer, I had sort of convinced myself to remove it from the “list” due to the seat height but there are a variety of lowering options available. As always, I enjoy the images. They make me want to immediately go out and play around with the camera.
Richard
I agree with the guys above Steve, great finish to your previous posts on this bike. And great photos as usual. You have a gift for holding the reader with both your writing and photography.
Your description of standing on the floor of the back seat as a kid and the sense of adventure hit a chord with me. Thank you!
Just wondering if the old Christmas Tree Haul by Vespa is on for this year? I guess I hope it is; somehow it adds to my enjoyment of the seasonal preparations.
Joe
Bravo! And excellent pictures as usual. Your review makes me love my bike even more. If you are not so much into power and like the back roads the F650GS will do. Up to now my 650 (the single cylinder) has everything I desire… until I need something different that is.
Choose the F8. If you go for the F65, you’ll wish you chose the F8… It won’t happen the other way around.
I agree that you should choose the F800. I don’t think there’s much of a weight difference, and it’s the same engine, but the F800 lets you use it properly.
Thanks for the article.
Steve:
I keep looking at these two models but they seemed too high. Here in BC insurance is based upon engine size. The basic insurance for the F800 is double the F650. IF they made an F749 it would have been no contest.
Maybe Kissell will let you “borrow” it again . . .
bob
Wet Coast Scootin
The new F650 has a 798cc engine – the ‘650’ is just for branding. But BMW has released an updated version of the old single cylinder bike, now known as the G650GS.
Wow. This is the stuff which always brings me back here. I’ve always held a soft spot for the original flat twin with the shaft drive but this machine seems to just call out to me. Your writing and pics are awesome as always! Thanks for keeping me coming back 🙂
Harv
Charlie6: I think you definitely need at least one F800 GS. Perhaps two, one just for Sunday riding.
I am going to try and post something that is anti-desire, a motorcycle that people won’t want. Having trouble finding that one though…
Mr. Riepe: Having grown up with a German mother and grandparents in Bavaria, and much time spent in the Alps it seems natural that I would gravitate towards a BMW. But I think the genetic gifts of a West Virginia father have somehow contaminated the Teutonic leanings and left me loving a Vespa.
I do love Wienerschnitizel though…
RichardM: Since most people buying a bike don’t get to ride it a lot before purchase it is sort of a leap of faith to think you will overcome the height issues. My experience with every tall bike (including my Schwin mountain bike) has been the tallness has vanished with experience.
So maybe it is worth another look.
Mike: Thanks for the kind words about the pictures and stories. I appreciate the support.
I have a lot of great memories of time spent with my parents in cars. Driving was always an adventure for me and continues today for both two and four wheeled transport.
Joe: I am planning to bring a tree home on the scooter again this year unless I have some motorcycle when the urge strikes. Last year a knee jerk decision had me buy a tree while I was out with the truck.
Bad for blogging…
SonjaM: Seeing that I am content with the Vespa to travel pretty much anywhere a 650 BMW seems like it should satisfy me for the rest of my life right?
I struggle at times though to not upgrade–with cameras, computers, tv sets, cell phones, boots, wallets, gloves, notebooks, chocolate, pretty much anything. I guess I am a recovering consumer.
DoubleOhTwo: I think that works most of the time but more than once I have regretted getting the bigger, more powerful thing. Tripods for instance. I’m glad I got rid of my 16 pound Zone VI wooden pod…
I think I would be happy with either of the BMW dual sport machines. And with no experience at all with the 1200 GS I sort of think I wouldn’t be thrilled with that.
At least until I actually ride it…
Otter: So many choices. The new Triumph Tiger muddies the waters a bit for this kind of machine.
Thank god I am happy with the Vespa.
bobskoot: Craig Kissell would probably let me borrow the bike again but there are so many others to try!
Harv: I appreciate your comments and I hope I can continue to have some experiences on two wheels, or with the camera, or dog, or something worth sharing.
I had to say I was confused about the identify of the blogger when I saw some of these statements:
( from the post )
The threat of rain and traffic moving near 80mph are of no concern. This machine can fly.
On this day I want to stay on the highway and go.
but the motorcycle call is stronger and I allow the BMW to rocket me out of town.
Power – you bet. Plenty for any legal or illegal speeds on the highway. Returning home on I99 I stayed with the pack of traffic for about ten miles traveling at near 80mph and the motorcycle was smooth, handled windblast fine and had plenty of throttle to leap ahead if needed.
( dan’s comment )
But then I saw these words and realized I could once more relax and find comfort in the familiar!
( from the post )
But that kind of travel is not for me and I was glad to leave the freeway and drift home at more leisurely speeds that allow me more time to react to any sudden chaos.
irondad: I have to admit that I am a different person on a motorcycle. Mostly because I am experimenting with the bike and what it can do. But I’m sure in my case there is an element of seduction related to the available power. I go faster because I can.
Maybe.
On the Vespa, and even in my truck, I am a slow, sluggish, leisurely man. You will seldom ever find me rushing.
If I owned one of these BMWs and was riding all the time I like to think I would tame it into torpid submission…
You actually remember those rides in the afternoon with your parents. I think every kid did what you did! In the backseat staring at the road behind. Innocently trusting that the parents cannot make a driving mistake. It was wonderful! Nature is beautiful and amazingly beautiful from a bikes view!