It's incomparable ....

 

May I suggest including one of the F800GS models as a straightforward comparison of road manners, handling, fuel consumption etc.? I know it's a different "class" of bike - but it might make for interesting reading.

 

I would say the Honda VFR800 (benchmark sports tourer), the Kawasaki Z1000SX, maybe the Suzuki GSX1250FA (a lot bigger and heavier but price similar) and a budget option the XJ6 Diversion F.

It all depends how one sees the appeal of the F800GT - is it on price (probably not) is it on user friendliness (probably) together with touring ability.

 

Easy. I think you need a F800 shoot out. GT, R, GS, ST.

-tp

 

Don't go apples and oranges here. Compare like bikes. Same cc range, accommodations, achetchepys.
Or then again, this is the F800 forum, who gives a rats ass about anything else. We spend thousands to have some one convince us we were wrong? [lol]

 

I think you should compare it to all other non-cruiser, non-chain drive bikes under 225kg.

 

When I was looking for an all-rounder without chain drive, the only other similar bike on my list was a Honda Deauville NTV700. I bought one and it was great in many ways, but under-powered, so I sold it. Happier with my F800ST.

 

Triumph seems like an obvious choice, but why do obvious? A more interesting approach would be to put yourself in the boots of an actual shopper. Maybe they will cross-brand shop a bit, but for me the real choice comes down to what's "on offer" in the BMW showroom, so how about comparing the F 800GT with the R 1200 RT, for example.

-dan

 

A 60-mile daily round-trip commute is the main reason I am looking at the F800GT, although the latter is probably more designed for long distance touring. From the commute perspective, I've looked at the Kawasaki Ninja 650, the Yamaha FZ6R and FZ8, and the Honda CBR500R. The Honda VFR 1200 would be like driving a Mercedes to commute. The F800GT would be like driving a ... well ... BMW to commute. And the remaining above cited would be like driving Toyota/Honda/Nissan mid-size sedans. That said, the FZ6R with its 4-cylinder engine should be much smoother than other twins.

 

BTW, I've just noticed that the Suzuki GSX1250FA is in the same price range than the F800GT, but it features 1250cc, 4-cylinder engine. It should be interesting to see for the same money how these two would do.

 

Not sure if it makes any sense as it lacks a fairing, but Yamaha just announced an F800r/Street Triple killer.

$2,850 less than the F800r, same claimed torque as the F800r but with 26 more hp claimed at the crank and a claimed wet weight 25lbs lighter than the F800r.

Upside down fork, front and rear suspension adjustable for rebound and preload.

http://rideapart.com/2013/06/2014-yamaha-fz-09-three-cylinders-eight-thousand-bucks/

 

The blue wheels and that barn door of a radiator guard look like shit. Sometimes I think Yamaha and Suzuki design engineers cannot see, or dress themselves in plaid, stripes and polka dots.

 

dig it! R competition to the maxx!

-tp

 

Here's what blows my mind about the new Yamaha Triple; in the US it stickers for exactly $200 more than the parts bin FZ6r! [err]

My friend has an FZ6r and it's a great bike, well designed, well put together from the parts bin.

This is a clean sheet design that is a galaxy away from any bike out their in terms of price/value.

They are going to have trouble keeping them in stock; no question.

I started a thread in the F800r section about this bike and all I hear is cricket sounds.

This bike should shelve the F800r in my honest opinion...and will certainly devastate prices for used F800r's.

If they are smart and make an ST version our resale prices will plummet also!

 

Gaj, you may be right but folks are gonna run out and buy this new bike when they haven't put squat for miles on the R or S they have now just for a few HP? You guys have money to piss away every time a new moto shows up? Fickle, fickle, fickle.
From what I've noticed, the resale on an F800 isn't diddle now.

 

Gaj, you may be right but folks are gonna run out and buy this new bike when they haven't put squat for miles on the R of S they have now just for a few HP? You guys have money to piss away every time a new moto shows up? Fickle, fickle, fickle.
From what I've noticed, the resale on an F800 isn't diddle now.

[lol][lol]

I tend to hold on to my bikes a minimum of 10 years; I had my K75S with numerous engine mods from San Jose BMW for twenty years and would still have it today, (not the F800ST that was its replacement), if not for an especially crafty left turning granny. [B)]

I will say that if I were in the market for a mid sized naked bike the new Yamaha would certainly be top of my list.

If Yamaha are smart they'll make an ST version and make it the modern day VFR that Honda didn't make.

But, yeah, a direct comparison with the belt drive GT?

No such thing really exists so you have to "bend" the rules to get any bike to compare it to.

 

We have a photograph of a new Yamaha that has been "sat on", and BMW resale prices are going to plummet? Where's Chicken Little when we need him? [lol]

 

I think a great comparo would be against the Ducati Hyperstrada
Touted as a touring bike with side cases
Both bikes new for 2013
Both twins at about 800 cc
I was torn between both before I chose the GT
JUST MY $0.02

 

"4) at least 450 b.h.p. per ton"

Sounds better as 450000 bhp /Kilotonne!
How about a decent power to weight ratio. Engrish gets so confusing sometimes.[lol]

 

It's my age...... and perhaps easier to dream up a little "real-life-on-the-road" comparison. I always think Mk.1 Golf Gti with a couple of medium-build chaps on board. This outfit weighed just about 1 ton and had 112 b.h.p. The latest Mk.7 version weighs 2 tons and has 227 b.h.p. Not much improvement then .... though performance figures do give lie to the bare figures.
A few random examples - "dry" figures from 2011.
F800ST 467 b.h.p./ton
S1000R 1054 b.h.p./ton
R1200GS 541 b.h.p/ton
R1200RT 480 b.h.p./ton
K1600GT 501 b.h.p./ton
K300GT 555 b.h.p./ton
Ducati Multistrada touring 781 b.h.p./ton
Ducati 1198 994 b.h.p./ton
Honda VFR800 429 b.h.p./ton
Harley Road King Classic 167 b.h.p./ton
Honda ST1300 379 b.h.p./ton
Honda Gold Wing 288 b.h.p./ton
Triumph Sprint GT 477 b.h.p./ton
Yamaha VMAX 635 b.h.p/ton

 

Not fair.. HD bhp/ton.. is that one bike or just half! [lol] What bikes are to compare with ST/GT/R None they are a little set of their own. Some have more power but more cylinders, some are lighter but less power. Some are prettier, okay most are prettier, but I see Moto2 lines in the ST.. If you compared S/ST/GS/R then the yellow ones would be quicker we are told, the Pepper ones more streetwise and the ones with the seat that becomes a brick after 5 hours would win. :yo:

 

Tony, your way still sounds funny to me. It does reference the weight of the vehicle vs output. I know my 80/7 BMW sidecar rig had a better power to weight ratio at 50hp/750lbs to my Isuzu Trooper at 125hp/4500lbs.
476/ton, eh. No wonder I feel like I'm flying![lol]

 

There are bikes I really think consumers would benefit from a comparison of. I wanted a light and nimble sport tourer. Do to a lack of reviews and marketing, the F800GT took years to make my radar. I had been looking at bikes that could maybe fit the bill, but we're not quite what I wanted. Those bikes are,

Yamaha FZ-07 or FZ-09 with Shad Side Cases
Yamaha FJ-09
Triumph Tiger 800
MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso
Honda VFR800

The VFR is the only true Sport Tourer in the group. For me the FJ-09 fit best until I found the F800GT. I think the Mini Tourer is becoming it's own group. Engines big enough for two up riding, hard luggage, nimble handling and lighter weight bikes are what many of us desire. The BMW's belt drive is a Bonus.

 

I just bought the F800GT after looking at some other bikes. The obvious choice to me was the F800GT vs the FJ9. The FJ9 lost in my comparison. The VFR800 would be another I'd look at, and the FZ6, but that puts two Yamaha bikes against each other.

The problem I find -- and I hope you can get past -- is the motorcycle reviewers can't get past the engine on the FJ9 to look at the rest of the bike objectively. I never got it past 35 mph before deciding this wasn't the bike for me. I live in Seattle in some of the worst commuting traffic made...not out on the open roads of California or Nevada with no real speedlimits. And as a commuter in stop-n-go traffic, I couldn't get past the snatchy throttle and small clutch friction zone on the FJ9. So if you pick the FJ9 as a competitor, I ask you to get past how you can do a wheelie in 3rd gear on the freeway. Evaluate the F800GT against other bikes that are near in horsepower and designed intent and look at it from the point of view of someone who rides it every day and didn't just come off an FZ1 on the track.

I got hooked on the F800GT after a demo ride to see if the reviewers were right. All I read about was how bad the vibrations were. As I pulled away from the dealership, I couldn't help but be amazed at how smooth the bike was. I've been riding since 1980 and that's the smoothest bike I have been on. Then I got on the freeway to see if I could find all this vibration you reviewers write about. Still nothing at 70 mph worth writing home about. My current bike was about the same and it was no big deal. So I started downshifting. 5th...nope. 4th...nope. 3rd...not really. 2nd...OMG, the vibration was enough to set my hands numb if I kept it up! But I would never beat any motorcycle like that. 65 mph in 2nd gear???!!! You've got to be kidding.

So I hope when you review the F800GT against other bikes in a "sport-touring" category, you ride them like real people do on the roads...not like the hooligans we despise. And I think you'll find there aren't a lot of bikes in this category. The other bike in my garage, a Honda NT700V, is about the only other sport-touring bike that isn't over 1000ccs and has a real fairing on it with a real windshield, not some postage stamp like bikes seem to have today.

Chris

 

Just a note from someone that came off, kind of, an FZ1.

I love this bike. The F800GT is easy to ride. It is docile below 3000rpms, smooth below 5000rmps, and rips above that. The bike positively performs at 6K plus, sure the vibration is really strong in the 5500-7500rpm rang; however, when gunning through the twisties, you don't notice so much. On the freeway in top gear it starts getting vibey as you approach 85-90mph. That acts kind of like a mental governor on the open road.

I think I'm faster on the GT than the Fazer on mountain roads.

 

I think the GT compares well against the Ducati ST3S, which is no longer available. Reasonably light, two cylinder, factory bags, sporty performance, great handling. The Ducati is probably a faster bike but I think it's similar in terms of mission statement. Reliability is probably the same if both bikes are properly maintained.

I had an '01 R1100S for several years. The GT spanks it, hands down, but I do miss the Telelever of the S. Great handling bike but not as lively an engine as the GT and more vibes over 70 mph. However, it was very stable in crosswinds, unlike the GT, and the factory bags were nicer. Heavy bike. I don't miss it.

Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

 

In addition to the bikes mentioned, I would add the Ninja 1000 for those seeking more power. For an additional ~45 lbs you get another 50 HP. Radial brakes and USD forks are sweeteners, as is the short wheelbase and sport-oriented rake & trail.

 

Sadly, they stopped making my favourite bike a few years ago (Honda NT700V) but I picked up one last week to join the three 650's I have. It lacks the thrills of the GT but it's a great bike and I'm a big V Twin nut. I regard the GT as the nearest modern equivalent to the Honda but I don't always need the extra power, but it's nice to be able to own both.

 

Sadly, they stopped making my favourite bike a few years ago (Honda NT700V) but I picked up one last week to join the three 650's I have. It lacks the thrills of the GT but it's a great bike and I'm a big V Twin nut. I regard the GT as the nearest modern equivalent to the Honda but I don't always need the extra power, but it's nice to be able to own both.

View attachment 199794

The NT700V is a wonderful bike. The only reason I am selling mine, is I don't really have room for more than one bike.

Chris

 

The closest for me was the Honda VFR800F Interceptor, test-ridden last Monday. The VFR weight and hp are 529/104, versus the GT at 470/90. In test-riding each, I had the stock seats set to the low position, and could flat-foot both when stopped.