BMW know that the market for this bike in the UK is limited. By their own admission half of their worldwide middleweight sales are made up of customers in France, Spain and Italy alone – the UK market is comparatively small at just 4%, prompting you to wonder why they’re putting effort into a class already saturated by bikes like the Yamaha FZ6, Honda Hornet and Suzuki Gladius. But, as we’ve seen with their S1000RR superbike, BMW appear to relish a challenge right now.
The F800R fits into BMW’s Urban Sports category, which also includes the mighty K1300R, the naked monster on which the 800R’s styling is so clearly based. Designed to offer class-beating performance at a competitive price, BMW say the 800R’s been two years in the making. Despite displacing 798cc, the engine doesn’t make as much power as its smaller capacity middleweight rivals. That said it does produce more torque and, on the road, that translates into smoother, more effortless drive and a less manic ride.
BMW know that the market for this bike in the UK is limited. By their own admission half of their worldwide middleweight sales are made up of customers in France, Spain and Italy alone – the UK market is comparatively small at just 4%, prompting you to wonder why they’re putting effort into a class already saturated by bikes like the Yamaha FZ6, Honda Hornet and Suzuki Gladius. But, as we’ve seen with their S1000RR superbike, BMW appear to relish a challenge right now.
The F800R fits into BMW’s Urban Sports category, which also includes the mighty K1300R, the naked monster on which the 800R’s styling is so clearly based. Designed to offer class-beating performance at a competitive price, BMW say the 800R’s been two years in the making. Despite displacing 798cc, the engine doesn’t make as much power as its smaller capacity middleweight rivals. That said it does produce more torque and, on the road, that translates into smoother, more effortless drive and a less manic ride.
Price: £5,925
Engine: 798cc parallel twin
Power: 87bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque: 63ft.lb @ 6,000rpm
Front suspension: 43mm USD forks
Rear suspension: Monoshock, adjustable
Front brake: 320mm discs, four-piston calipers
Rear brake: Single 265mm disc, single-piston caliper
Wet weight: 204kg
Seat height: 800mm
Fuel capacity: 16.7 litres
Top speed: 135mph (est)
Colours: White, Black and Orange
