The Premium Middleweight Adventure Bike That Doubles Up As A Daily Commuter

Adventure bikes were made to go on long, multi-day rides, maybe with a pillion and luggage. Unlike tourers based on cruisers, adventure bikes are designed to deal with bad roads or even no roads. That means the mechanical ability to deal with all kinds of terrain, and the electronics to back it up and keep you safe. Of course, you’ll need a large engine to handle all of this and not be bothered by sitting at highway speeds all day.

This over-engineering gives adventure bikes crushing ability, but it also gives them big curb weights and thirsty engines. Not an ideal combination for everyday use, or for the city in general. However, with time, manufacturers have realized that adventure bikes are the perfect bikes to have for the city if the size is kept in check. Thus was born the adventure bike that can not only tour, but also be an everyday companion. Here is one that can do it with the best of them.

The BMW F 800 GS Is The Premium Middleweight Adventure Bike That Doubles Up As A Daily Commuter

The GS series is extremely popular, and even the small-displacement GS is set to get a boost with the upcoming F 450 GS. The large-displacement ADVs are frequently the steed of choice as continent crossers or trips that lack pavement. However, there wasn’t always something that had both decent poke and was conducive to frequent city runs. But there is an answer now.

Its Price Starts At $10,925

The F 800 GS can be viewed as the budget entry to the premium end of BMW’s adventure range, but that would be only one side of the story. This is a motorcycle that is based on the F 900 GS, and given a different brief. Where the 900 is designed to go either off-road or for multi-day tours in the form of the F 900 GS Adventure, the F 800 GS is designed to prioritize daily usability, with the ability to take on a weekend trip as well.

BMW F 800 GS Engine

The F 800 GS shares its engine with the F 900 GS. The bore, stroke, and compression ratio are identical. The only difference is the peak power and where it is generated – the F 900 GS makes 105 horsepower at 8,500 RPM, while the F 800 GS has 18 fewer horsepower at a lower 6,750 RPM. Torque is almost identical for both. There is a by-wire throttle and two ride modes by default, and more can be added via the options list. This is one of the few engines that have dry sump lubrication. That means that oil isn’t stored in a pan below the engine, giving it great ground clearance.

Relaxed Gearing Suited For Both City And Highway

The six-speed gearbox suits the F 800 GS’s desire to be a relaxed product, and can do highway stints as well as it can do city runs. BMW quotes its maximum speed at 118 MPH. A two-way quickshifter is an optional extra, and a necessary add-on for commuting to save the left hand some fatigue. BMW has opted for a conventional chain drive to the rear wheel.

BMW F 800 GS Engine Specifications

BMW F 800 GS Chassis

Just as with the driveline, the F 800 GS shares its chassis with the F 900 GS. It uses a steel twin spar frame, but the swingarm and wheels are made of aluminum. The suspension consists of 41 mm telescopic forks at the front and a single shock with adjustable preload and rebound damping on the rear. This is a refreshing change from fully adjustable suspension, and if you intend to keep the F 800 GS for a long time, the costs will tell you exactly what a good decision this is. It is a similar story with the brakes – there are twin floating discs at the front with two piston floating calipers, while the rear disc has a single piston caliper. ABS is present, as is a six-axis IMU, but a lot of features you’d associate with a premium product are on the options list.

The Dimensions Are Fairly Compact

The F 800 GS is one of the lower middleweight adventure bikes because of its positioning as an urban product. The seat is at a reasonable height, and you can have seat heights ranging from a low of 30 inches to a maximum of 33.3 inches, depending on your preference. Strangely, BMW does not offer a figure for ground clearance; with the dry sump engine, it should be excellent.

BMW F 800 GS Features

The F 800 GS does not have a long list of standard features, but the features are good. It starts with a 6.5-inch TFT display that has Bluetooth and navigation as standard. Other standard features include cornering traction control and ABS, heated grips, adjustable front brake and clutch levers, a 12V and USB socket, and LED headlamp and indicators.

The optional equipment list is premium, and you can tell from what’s on it. It includes electronic suspension, two more ride modes, a two-way quickshifter, keyless ignition, tire pressure monitoring, and the emergency call feature. Additionally, there is luggage, handlebar risers, a high windscreen, and an engine guard as well. There are even enduro footpegs, but one thing that isn’t on the options list is spoked wheels – you have to get yourself an F 900 GS for those.

BMW F 800 GS Competition

The F 800 GS is the only product of its kind at this price. Sure, there are other products that perform a similar function, but none of them have the premium aura of the BMW brand, and none of them offer some of the premium features that the F 800 GS can be specced with, like electronic suspension or keyless ignition. The closest to it in features is the CFMoto Ibex 800 E, which has a few premium features of its own, like the radar-based blind spot monitoring, and an 8-inch TFT display with Apple CarPlay that is also a touchscreen.

The value pick has to be the Honda Transalp. This makes more power than the BMW, has slightly better equipment in standard form, and despite the 21-inch front rim, is a very good urban motorcycle. However, if you’re looking for a middleweight ADV with a 19-inch front alloy rim, then you’d have to look at the Suzuki V-Strom 800, which seems really similar to the BMW on the spec sheet. It is also priced within $800 of the European bike’s price, but offers as standard inverted front Showa SFF-BP forks, Nissin brakes with radially mounted fixed calipers, tool-free rear preload adjustment, and a standard two-way quickshifter.

BMW F 800 GS Vs Rivals