Talkback: BMW F800GT (2013 - present)

Looks a brilliant all round bike and could at last, a possible replacement for my TDM900. 

I have had 4 TDMs ( and about 100,000 miles) and return to them as nothing else does everything so well.   

This really could be just the bike as a future replacement

Its incredible that as a criticism, the tester could only, lamely, imply that it was not exciting enough. If you ride a bike in the real world you want it to do its job first, and 'stirring the soul' is a luxury for bored testers riding other people kit.

Pete 

But .... will it be as utterly reliable as my yamaha TDM900?

P 

Generally, yes, The biggest pain is the gearbox, its rubbish. My 2009 model had a poor one, maybe later ones are better. Only other thing thats wasn't great was the suspension. Otherwise, a great bike

I have a F800S, same engine. Pistons and rings failed at 15,000km always serviced by BMW dealer. BMW said 2 1/2 years old, out of 2 year warrantee, offered parts but not labour. NSW Australia consumer law says things must last a reasonable time. I had to take BMW to court to get them to obey law of land and do the lot, I won. Even then they botched it. My recommendation, don't, don"t, don't ever go near BMW, particularly now they are making a lot of their parts in China. CMW (Chinese Motor Works)

Re Peter, will it be as reliable as your Yamaha? Not in my experience!

Is the belt maintenance free? How do you measure maintenance free?

Put it on, adjust it and leave it alone for the life of the belt, maintenance free. But! $750- every 33,000km on average (even if BMW say 40,000kms mine don't last that long), not maintenance free.

My first and last BMW was an F800ST. The bike itself when going was decent, but BMW are expensive yet poor mechanics

I am looking to replace my 10-year old Honda Deauville (NT650V) with a similar size touring bike that has ABS. The BMW F 800 GT seemed to tick the boxes for an affordable, low weight, comfortable and under 1000cc touring bike, which didn't have a high maintenance chain drive. So I had a test ride and was impressed with the power, rider and pillion seat comfort, detachable panniers, instrumentation and re-assurance of having ABS. However I would like to see a lower 1st gear for riding in slow traffic, a higher screen to direct the air over my helmet, a top box to hold 2 helmets, and higher handlebars to take the weight off my wrists.