To the F800R section!

 

One must remember that the motomags will do anything to have a few pages in print. Whether they are comparing really similar bikes or not. These three are arguably similar. All fine bikes in their own right and how they flog them, which they do, resembles little of how bikes are typically ridden. They coulda thrown a MANA in for a quartet.
Saw a brand new '09 MANA at the Duc dealer for $6995. I'll actually tempted.

 

I rode both the Street Triple and the F800R before deciding. The Trumpet is nice, really nice, but for me I went with the F800R because in real world riding it was just that bit better. I do like that Triumph engine, though.

 

Having recently sold my 675 Daytona, I do miss a lot of the good things about the 675 triple motor BUT it was very sketchy and twerky at high rpm's in the throttle control. I had planned on keeping the Daytona after I got the S100RR as I really liked the bike and wanted to keep it for the track. After one ride on the S1000RR I put the Daytona on ebay and have not missed it for a minute. I disagree with the article in that for the average rider the F800 twin is a much more fun power plant than the 675 triple. Maybe if I didn't have a great sportbike I might be more inclined toward the triple but as a second bike the F800 kills the 675 in every way. Just one man's opinion.[]

 

Today, Hell for Leather likes the Triumph way better than the F800R:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2...feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+HellForLeather+(Hell+For+Leather)

 

BiKE magazine did a test of a few 800's not that long ago. The Triumph was NOT in the comparo. But, for the record, they liked the F800R best.

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SunnY, read the HFL article. They do not like the F800R, that much!

 

So what do you all think about the bike

I would like to know what you all think about the bike.
If you like it, why and same if you dont.

Is there a "thrill" when you drive it, and i wondering if you feel the bike is alive..
For you to know what i think is a "dead bike" i can say the F 800 GS is one that i think is a good bike but "dead"..

Pleas tell me the + and - of it..
Will test it naturally, but the weather is not letting me yet.

 

I've had my Chris Pfeiffer edition now for about 100 days and love it. I removed the baffle from the Akrapovic exhaust to give it a bit more sound too. [] Given they only built 68 of them, it certainly stands out from the crowd. Very easy to ride, comfortable and good mileage.

I had my eye on a Monster (either 796 or 1100) but the BMW was so much easier to ride. Never looked at the Triumphs (despite all the glowing reviews) simply because I hate how they look. [uhoh]

 

I've had my Chris Pfeiffer edition now for about 100 days and love it. I removed the baffle from the Akrapovic exhaust to give it a bit more sound too. [] Given they only built 68 of them, it certainly stands out from the crowd. Very easy to ride, comfortable and good mileage.

We own both the Chris Pfeiffer F800R and a Street Triple and we love them both - and we have done exactly what Rudy has done in respect of the exhaust!
The two bikes are very different - the Triumph is high revving and has a wonderful sounding, responsive engine, and is lighter than the BMW; it has great character. The F800R is solid and like Rudy says, stands out from the crowd. The other day I found myself doing 70mph and still in second gear on the BMW - something I could never do on the Triple![] The Triple returns about 44mpg and the BMW 61mpg - so a big difference in consumption. Myself and Hubby share the two bikes, swapping from one to the other on every ride, so it's good to have 2 such different nakeds. I think on balance, if we had to choose, we would both go for the Triumph over the BMW (sorry guys & gals) - glad we don't have to choose.

 

So does it have caracter? Or is it as flat as it GS cusin?
It sertanly has the hp and the torque, but it should be fun to drive to []

What mods is most doing on the bike?

 

Diferences to the 800GS are that the stearing is not a vague as with that huge/skinny 21" front, the tyres are stickier on road so there's more grip, it's lower & the riding position is slightly more forward leaning with slightly narrower bars. Nothing quite commands the road like the tall GS but the R is better than a sportsbike for seeing/being seen. The R takes the BMW sport panniers which look way better than the black plastic GS ones (IMO). I think if there was an F800 supermotard I'd probably go for it but the R is the next best & cheaper than the GS.

 

Love my R model and yes it is a blast to ride. Handles very well, excellent brakes, strong acceleration from low RPM right through to redline with a bit of added juice after 5000 RPM. More comfortable (for me) than the competition. Absolutely the bike has character, a raw sort of character that enhances the riding experience.

 

Get the new R1200R Classic. The R engine has none of the F engine's foible, the bike weighs about the same, it has a lower COG, and that black with white stripes look is snazzy.

 

Get the new R1200R Classic. The R engine has none of the F engine's foible, the bike weighs about the same, it has a lower COG, and that black with white stripes look is snazzy.

It's also $5,000.00 more but I was surprised to see it only weighs 50 lbs. more than the F800R.

 

I agree with the "punch" above 5K, during break-in I was certainly second guessing my decision to buy the F800R over the Ducati Monster 1100 but since then I've been perfectly happy with it's performance, agility, comfort and just plain old fun factor. I've got 6 bikes in the garage and this one has jumped from iffy to my favorite in less than a month.

 

It's worth $5000 more. Next!

 

I was considering the R1200R some time ago, but too conservative for my liking. I was then very keen on the Monster 1100 & 796 but settled on the CFE F800R & very happy with my choice.

I intend to hold onto it for a long time & have only heard positive things about the longevity of BMW's. It's unique too, with most bikes these days from Japan.

 

There's a new HP2S R1200R that is anything but conservative. And the new camhead engine is 105 HP now (even though my R1200S is 122 HP).

 

Still love my R 7000 kms later. Majority of which are highway (120 kph+).
Test rode the triumph as well as others and the smooth torque on the R won out over the great sound and snap of the triple.
R is the best option of the nakeds for longer hauls I think. Works for me.

 

Ok so you like it[] and it actually has some caracter.. As from the GS, well i do like the looks of it but it lacks all the fun factor as it to mutch dirt oriented for me..
And it makes me happy that it actually matters if you rev the R a bit as there is no point on the GS. On the GS its the same same no matter the rpm. Thats a good thing on a dirt but lack of caracter on a road bike.

The 1200 R , well it has that uggly boxer and makes it a bit wider and a bit "bulky". I want a nimbel bike that you can "overtaketake" car ques to and back from work.
And on top of, insurence is higher and it want more gas.

Been looking at the Triumph but it might be fun on weekends it prob not as easygoing as a comuter to work.
And add that the stupid insurance is x2 for a Triumph it will cost way more in the long run.

Pleas post all + and - you can think of..
There is about 2 weeks untill i can test one and actually se if its the ONE [8D].

 

The handling on the R is its best feature. Crazy fun in the city. Nice in the twisties. Insurance was half the price of the ducati 796.
Ducati has an amazing sound and tractor like torque. Beautiful fit and finish but the riding position wasn't good for longer rides for me. (6'2")
Speed Triple was beautiful as well. Different kind of application though. Blast around power that brought out the hooligan in me. Not as smooth as the R though and not quite as comfortable. Great bike though.
The R feels longer than the other bikes in its class. Brakes are great. I have ABS and have had no issues with it. I'm glad I have it on the bike. Front suspension is on the soft side but not a deal breaker.
The R is also a little snatchy at low speeds. The downside of lean mapping/great fuel economy and the chain drive. The clutch, on my 2010, grabs in the last 30% of lever travel but I got used to it quickly.
A little touch of the back brakes and staying on the friction point of the clutch keeps the bike solid in slow speed situations for me.
All the gizmos and options on the bike work great and the heated grips are nice to have and work well. Only issue is the "Distance to Empty" feature the onboard computer has. There are many posts on this but again not a big deal.
Maintenance costs and intervals are all pretty comparable now and BMW's 3 year unlimited warranty is nice to have.

Test rides will tell the tale. For me the R was the best all round option. Not a style that everyone loves but I think of it as a transformer that landed on earth and saw a cafe racer.
Love it or hate it, there's no missing it.
Best 10 grand I ever spent.

Good luck.

 

If the R1200R has a lower CoG than the F800R it sure does not feel like it, at all. The 50 lbs. weight difference feels much more like 100 lbs. on the road. The R1200R is 2" shorter in wheelbase than the F800R and you feel like you are wearing your passenger. The stock seat on the R1200R is too flexible, OK for one up but not two up. I am 170 lbs., she is 105 lbs.

Not sure if it is the disconnected feeling the R1200R gives but compared to the F800R the R1200R is boring. Owned one for four year rode it all over, went to the mountains several times. It did everything I asked of it, but not much on character. The F800R is a rip and makes me feel like a kid at 52.

Dereck

 

My R1200S makes me feel like a kid, and I am 2-years older than you. It's a lot faster than the F800S ever was, too. Then again, as for handling, the engine on the R12S is lower mounted than on the R12R, so maybe there's the issue.

 

We did 3000 miles across Europe last year 2-up on the 800R without a single whinge from the back seat... one look at the pillion seat on either the FZ8 or Triple would have been enough & I'd have been riding solo... so I'm thinkin' of goin' for a Triumph this year [lol]

 

New Street Triple...

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/first-pics-2012-triumph-street-triple/17612.html

 

Hedgehog, then you might end up to by 2 so you both can ride []
You still like the 800 R or is it "only" "i want a new toy this year" thingy?