[Richard230]

As far as I was concerned in 1964, my Honda 305 Super Hawk was a touring motorcycle. []

 

[Daboo]

...but I don't understand how "the F800GT is a touring bike" myth got started...

I don't understand why anyone doubts it.

If you really want all the bells and whistles of a "touring bike"...then you'd better be looking at a Honda Goldwing. Especially the new one. That's a bike that you can put some serious miles on in all day comfort. Anything else is a compromise.

For some reason, BMW put the F800GT in its "tour" bike category. I have no idea why. Maybe BMW couldn't find a category to put the bike in, so stuck it there for lack of a better category. It is totally unsuitable to put any miles on it at all. Maybe it would be good as a commuter bike if you could keep the miles down to ...say 35 each way; certainly not on the freeway since it doesn't have a 1000 cc engine. I guess BMW didn't know what they were doing, or made a mistake.

Chris

 

[emlevy]

Chris, your sarcasm aside, consider all the threads here from folks who've resorted to installing aftermarket windscreens, bar risers, lowered foot pegs, custom seats, auxiliary lighting, throttle locks, fuse blocks, huge trunks, etc., just to make the bike suitable for their purposes. In my book, a "touring bike" shouldn't need modifications to make it long-haul worthy or comfortable on the open road. Keep in mind I've made no such modifications to my GT. I find it to be a wonderful bike just as it is for where and how I like to ride -- no complaints here. But I don't consider it a "touring bike" just because it has bags and a windscreen, or just because BMW says it is.

Whether BMW placed the bike in their "touring category" is meaningless, just as placing the R1100S in the "sport bike" category several years ago was meaningless. It's just marketing and brand positioning. I'm afraid we'll have to disagree on this one.

At the end of the day, I think we all look past the labels snd stereotypes and simply enjoy what we have and how we like to ride. Whether that means adding aftermarket components to compensate for the bike's shortfalls or to enhance our enjoyment is a personal choice, of course, but to me, it's a bit telling.

Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

 

[Daboo]

I suspect that whatever "touring" motorcycle you decide is perfect, you will find owners who have modified their bikes. That as a criteria for a bike being a "touring" model, doesn't hold water. Name the bike, and I'll find an aftermarket modification that someone has installed to make their bike suitable for riding long-haul. It won't be hard.

Chris

 

[Matty589]

I don’t think of them as modifications but personalisation. Not everyone wants a large top case for example, and the OEM topcase look perfect with the bike. In fact some bikers hate a topcase and make do with soft luggage. If you ride in very dry conditions you may not feel the need to fit a rear hugger, but here in the UK it’s essential to protect the rear shock. If BMW were able to make bikes that were somehow all things to everyone it would be quite dull. Most of the adaptations I make are for me rather than for the style of riding I do. “Touring” is so wide a description that almost any bike can fit it. Very long distance riding is a specific area of touring and not something we do much in the UK as it’s way smaller than most countries

 

[WildWilly]

I made no modifications to my 2009 F800ST as it was long distance ready, for me, right out of the crate. Eight years later I made a lot of modifications to my GT to make it more "old guy" friendly. if modifications were made to make a bike a "touring" bike, there wouldn't be the huge after supply of after market goodies available for the Gold Wing.

 

[WildWilly]

As far as I was concerned in 1964, my Honda 305 Super Hawk was a touring motorcycle. []

Richard, I hope you take this as the compliment I intend. You were nucking futz . . . . .

 

[Richard230]

Richard, I hope you take this as the compliment I intend. You were nucking futz . . . . .

But I was young and didn't know any different. []

 

[danham]

Part of the explanation for BMW's niche definition of the GT is that according to the industry-wide bean counters, the sport-touring category is dead. Damn shame, as that's exactly what I want to own and ride. It's why I would prefer an R1200 RS to an RT, and why I own an F800 ST. But the sales figures are dismal and both the RS and GT may be doomed as a result.

If I'm wrong, or if BMW decides to buck the trend and create an F850 GT, I would take a serious look at it as my ST ages. But that look might be very brief if it is chain-driven.

-dan

 

[Noel]

Name the bike, and I'll find an aftermarket modification that someone has installed to make their bike suitable for riding long-haul. Chris

.

R1200RTW. Does my side stand enlarger qualify? [lol]

 

[Noel]

Keep in mind I've made no such modifications to my GT. I find it to be a wonderful bike just as it is for where and how I like to ride...Whether that means adding aftermarket components to compensate for the bike's shortfalls or to enhance our enjoyment is a personal choice, of course, but to me, it's a bit telling.

I'll never forget it, 'Frankenbike!' That term stuck because it was exactly how I viewed trying to turn FGT into a truly world-class ST when bikes much better suited for the role out of the crate exist. I really loved the FGT for what it was, and left it stock except for a side stand enlarger and grip puppies. I kid Chris mainly because I know he has a strong need to see his beloved GT, and it's well worth being beloved, as a fully competent Sport Tourer. Which for him, it clearly is!

I'm intrigued to see if BMW is developing w/ F850GT. I'm amazed that Sport Tourer is a designation w/o a lot more followers--ideally, they are the machines that can do anything on pavement quite well in both of those domains. I still believe w/ the correct set of attributes F850GT could have a significant market share. Beyond performance, handling, tech, comfort I've always maintained the styling side is as critical--has to LOOK more sport, but behave more tour, IMHO of course! They have addressed the tech side nicely it sounds like for F850GS models.

 

[Daboo]

.

R1200RTW. Does my side stand enlarger qualify? [lol]

Yup.

So does increasing luggage capacity, adding USB outlets, replacing bar ends for vibration, swapping for Russel Day Long and Sargent seats, lowering the RT, and adding auxiliary lighting. The modification threads on the BMW Luxury Touring forum are easy to find.

Over at the BMW MOA forum, they've arranged them in a quite neat sticky for you:

So, Noel, your side stand enlarger is just the first of many options you can do to make your RT long haul worthy or comfortable on the road.

Chris

 

[AutoXer-1]

But I was young and didn't know any different. []

Then sadly we get old and come up with excuses and give in to our fears rather than just naively doing it and having the time of our lives ...

 

[TheMeteor]

Coming to this thread a bit late, but to add my two cents, the belt drive was a very influential factor for me too on my F8. If the next edition were chain driven...I would be more open to considering other options. Maybe go ADV with the Tiger 800...or the upcoming KTM Adventure 790 (probably two years off...or one of the other KTM offerings? Not many mid-weights that fit the niche of the F8. I did 150 miles on Sunday. It was sunny and 46 degrees and little traffic as I did a route that crossed 8 covered bridges in PA. It was joy...she can be sporty when needed and handle the occasional multi-day trip or jot to the grocery store. She won't win many races but does a lot very well.

I would like a shaft but not sure I want the size and weight of the GS1200 or Super Tenere.

 

[Daboo]

The competition is increasing. A direct competitor in my thoughts is the 2019 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer. It will be released in the last half of 2018.

Chris

 

[Mokkybear]

The competition is increasing. A direct competitor in my thoughts is the 2019 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer. It will be released in the last half of 2018.

Chris

How does it differ from the Tracer that's been available in Australia for a couple of years?

 

[Daboo]

Here's one article. There are many others. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/yamahas-2019-model-tracer-900-will-replace-fj-09-sport-tourer/

Chris

 

[Maccam26]

me too, no chains

 

[Mokkybear]

Look to be worthwhile enhancements. The earlier model I kicked the tyres of looked a bit cheap in fittings compared with BMW and the seat was a plank.

 

[Daboo]

I see the new 2019 Yamaha Tracer as a direct competitor to the F850GT and R1200RS. Both of the BMW models have, or will have, all the electronics on them. Cruise control, as some feel necessary, will be offered on the Yamaha...which makes me believe it'll be there on the BMW too. It's a very simple thing to add to a bike with all the electronic fuel management that the BMW models have.

So then it comes down to a Yamaha model that has nearly every feature Noel felt defined the middle-weight sport-touring bike, except a belt drive ... vs ... two BMW models that have a belt drive and a shaft drive. And cost considerably more.

I love competition.

Chris