2007 BMW F800S..good bike?

[mmm def]

Hi everybody,

I just came across an 07 BMW F800S that was sitting at BMW's headquarters, thing has 120 miles on it. ABS, heated grips, Trip computer, clear lights..it's a real nice bike. I was almost set on buying my buddy's 04 FZ6, but I read such great things on the BMW (I drive a BMW 335 and love it) I am a newb so currently doing my research. I also understand where I am asking this and expect biased answers..what do you think? I'm a new rider btw, this will be my first bike.

 

[Wavex]

YES, get it! Very good bike.

 

[Pimpson]

I'm sure they are not the same price, so it's hard to say....I love my FZ6, but if I could have gotten an 07 F800 for $3000 like I did my FZ, then I would have been all over that!

 

[Roadstergal]

I had an F800ST before I had the FZ6.

If they were the same price, I wouldn't have made the switch. As it is, for the price of the F800ST, I could have (and ended up having) an FZ6, a dualsport, and a dirtbike.

However, that was when they were new and hot. If you can get a used F800ST now for a similar price to the FZ6, I'd be all over the 800. It has a startlingly nice engine for a parallel twin - smooth, good low-end grunt, nice noise. It's very comfortable and has a lot of the cool crap that BMW does so well (angled valve stems, brake master bleeder, heated grips, trip computer, gear indicator, external temperature, expandable side bags, etc.).

 

[Roadstergal]

I just noticed the 'first bike' comment.

For a first bike, I can't recommend highly enough getting a used and cheap reliable standard, like a GS500 or EX500. Four reasons:

1: Your first bike, when you're just learning how to get around on a moto, is more likely to be dropped, and you don't feel as bad when it's a cheap starter (especially one without fairing, like a GS500).

2: Your first bike should not be intimidating. You should ride it, not vice versa.

3: You don't know what kind of rider you are until you have some miles under your belt. What moves you - dualsporting, track, adventure riding, urban hooliganism, touring? Once you know what you need, you can spend the bucks on that, instead of getting what you think you want up front. I know I need a bunch of bikes, and that one of them has to be a bike of the sport touring flavor, but that's not what everyone ends up needing.

4: Every rider, IMO, should know how to maintain his or her own bike. With a simple, reliable bike like a GS500 (what I started on) or an EX500, you have a good bike to learn to wrench on as you learn to ride on it, too.

That's my two cents. The F800ST is a great sporty touring bike once you have some miles under your bike and you know what you want and need. The FZ6 is more to the sporty end of 'sport touring' while the F800ST is more to the 'touring,' but compared to the competition, they're both squarely in the middle. IMO.

 

[n1one]

I just noticed the 'first bike' comment.

For a first bike, I can't recommend highly enough getting a used and cheap reliable standard, like a GS500 or EX500. Four reasons:

1: Your first bike, when you're just learning how to get around on a moto, is more likely to be dropped, and you don't feel as bad when it's a cheap starter (especially one without fairing, like a GS500).

2: Your first bike should not be intimidating. You should ride it, not vice versa.

3: You don't know what kind of rider you are until you have some miles under your belt. What moves you - dualsporting, track, adventure riding, urban hooliganism, touring? Once you know what you need, you can spend the bucks on that, instead of getting what you think you want up front. I know I need a bunch of bikes, and that one of them has to be a bike of the sport touring flavor, but that's not what everyone ends up needing.

4: Every rider, IMO, should know how to maintain his or her own bike. With a simple, reliable bike like a GS500 (what I started on) or an EX500, you have a good bike to learn to wrench on as you learn to ride on it, too.

That's my two cents. The F800ST is a great sporty touring bike once you have some miles under your bike and you know what you want and need. The FZ6 is more to the sporty end of 'sport touring' while the F800ST is more to the 'touring,' but compared to the competition, they're both squarely in the middle. IMO.

This is very good advice; :thumbup: I agree that getting a cheaper starter bike is the best way to build your riding skills. They are generally lighter, less powerful and easier to manage.

I have been riding for 25 years and I started out on a (2) cylinder 350cc Honda. of course I dropped it once or twice, but I was able to build my riding skills with out being intimidated by the power of a bigger bike. After a couple of seasons I moved up to a 750cc 4 cylinder and had no trouble adapting.

It is of course your decision.

Good Luck.

Bill

 

[interactive3]

I just noticed the 'first bike' comment.

For a first bike, I can't recommend highly enough getting a used and cheap reliable standard, like a GS500 or EX500. Four reasons:

1: Your first bike, when you're just learning how to get around on a moto, is more likely to be dropped, and you don't feel as bad when it's a cheap starter (especially one without fairing, like a GS500).

2: Your first bike should not be intimidating. You should ride it, not vice versa.

3: You don't know what kind of rider you are until you have some miles under your belt. What moves you - dualsporting, track, adventure riding, urban hooliganism, touring? Once you know what you need, you can spend the bucks on that, instead of getting what you think you want up front. I know I need a bunch of bikes, and that one of them has to be a bike of the sport touring flavor, but that's not what everyone ends up needing.

4: Every rider, IMO, should know how to maintain his or her own bike. With a simple, reliable bike like a GS500 (what I started on) or an EX500, you have a good bike to learn to wrench on as you learn to ride on it, too.

That's my two cents. The F800ST is a great sporty touring bike once you have some miles under your bike and you know what you want and need. The FZ6 is more to the sporty end of 'sport touring' while the F800ST is more to the 'touring,' but compared to the competition, they're both squarely in the middle. IMO.

I'm enjoying the FZ6 as a first bike (used). So far it's easy to take care of, especially with fuel injection. After a few thousand miles of riding I'm wondering if the suspension could be better, and I think I'd like more low end torque (especially with a passenger). Maybe the future holds a BMW...

 

[SovietRobot]

Is that a belt drive on a BMW?

 

[abraxas]

That IS belt drive Soviet Robot.

A few of the guys we ride with have them, VERY nice bikes :thumbup:

Slightly bigger than the fz6, the performance is almost the same, and i would bet the fazer would take top end. Almost exactly the same in terms of design, mid range sports tourer.

The biggest difference is obviously BMW vs Japan.

My opinion? Go japanese, i've seen too many beemers broken down, their BMW-on-call is very highly regarded, but they get a lot of practice.

Also, beemers are notably more expensive here, both purchase and maintenance costs, everything is worked out in duetchmarks, not sure how US$ would compare.

peace

 

[alanrim]

everything is worked out in duetchmarks, not sure how US$ would compare.

peace

You would think they would use the Euro... being as that is the German currency and the Deutsche Mark ceased to be in 1999.

 

[Philippe1985]

The fz6 is on the intersection of sport and touring. Most riders will choose a bike after the fz6 that goes in one of those 2 directions. And if you notice during your fz6-time that you actually more drove the lower rmp's and appreciate the comfort, then the f800st might be your perfect future bike.
A lot of people choose a new bike on the basis of data sheets(read: reputation) and design. I think the better choise is made when evaluating your proper riding style and choosing a bike which fits that style best.
This is why I like the fz6 so much. It can offer an answer to almost every riding style and this way is the perfect bike to answer a very personal question: "Which bike fits me most?"
For now I like to be ignorant and use the fz6's multifunctionality. The time and experience will tell me the direction I will take in the future...

 

[abraxas]

You would think they would use the Euro... being as that is the German currency and the Deutsche Mark ceased to be in 1999.

Apologies!!!! i missed that

More likely yes. Point is:

1 Euro = 1.3648 U.S. dollars
1 Euro = 11.5557211 South African rands

From our side it translates into a 20-30 000 rand increase in price over other (jap) manufacturers, who use a different pricing model.

Is it also more expensive that side?