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Been down to Williams in Manchester to look at F800GTs for Madam and they had an RS in.

I have booked a ride in a couple of weeks.

jeznewsome wrote:Been down to Williams in Manchester to look at F800GTs for Madam and they had an RS in.

I have booked a ride in a couple of weeks.

Yes I took that very bike out the other day while my K was in for the rear wheel flange recall. Loved it found it very "pokey" and pleasant. The only gripe I had was the LCD infopanel was very crowded and largely illegible when riding.



The infopanel can be in "style 1" or "style 2", style 2 seemed to be just a digital speedo, which given it has a perfectly good analogue speedo I failed to see the point of

If pennies allowed I would have one immediately!

All I've managed - is a sit on one.......

Felt a bit like the R1100s for ride position. With the new engine - perhaps it is finally - a successor for the 1100s, and a useful alternative to the VFR800 in the sports-touring middleweights?

Al

Sat on one going tomorrow for ride weather permitting
[Untitled by Phil Mitchell, on Flickr][/img]

I rode one a couple of weeks ago at the dealer demo days.



Likes;

Motor was great!

Ergo's were comfy.

Styling.



Gripes;

Styling.

Did not like the angle of the bars.

Gauge cluster too busy and hard to read.

Why didn't they put an electric windshield on it.

Trans shifting was very clunky, but that could be because the bike was new.

Could not get a suspension setting I liked even with all the fancy electric controls.



Summary;

I'm keeping my 12S as the RS did not feel quite right for me. Nothing like a well set up bike with dialed in Ohlins to match.

If I did not own a 12S, then I might seriously consider this bike.

Cheers

I saw one at Cannons (Braintree) at the week end - Everyone says that my R1200ST is the ugliest bike BMW ever made I think that passes now to the RS. To me it looks cross eyed from the front.

http://bmwmcmag.com/wp-content/uploads/ ... 15-099.jpg

The Teutonic Tangerine wrote:I saw one at Cannons (Braintree) at the week end - Everyone says that my R1200ST is the ugliest bike BMW ever made I think that passes now to the RS. To me it looks cross eyed from the front.

http://bmwmcmag.com/wp-content/uploads/ ... 15-099.jpg

Naaaa.........your ST is still the ugliest!

Cheers

The Teutonic Tangerine wrote:I saw one at Cannons (Braintree) at the week end - Everyone says that my R1200ST is the ugliest bike BMW ever made I think that passes now to the RS. To me it looks cross eyed from the front.

http://bmwmcmag.com/wp-content/uploads/ ... 15-099.jpg

Nice try.................


Uh-uh!

Al

Just been through to Coopers - they've got a blue one and a grey(ish) one - not sure about the looks

I love the looks including the cross eyes headlights. Rang the dealers to book a test ride.

Eyore;

Ride your 12S there like I did......I'd like to hear your impressions.

Cheers

Droptarotter wrote:Eyore;

Ride your 12S there like I did......I'd like to hear your impressions.

Cheers

Sorry to say its gone................... But should still be able to make a comparison.

Well got a ride on one yesterday at Wiliiams.

As others have said the engine is a stonker. A decent wave of torque from low revs and smooth. Very nice and capable of swift sure overtakes and easy cruising.

Brakes were equally good. And handling sure footed.

Riding position was a little odd. I have only ridden a GS for a couple of days but the low seat and relatively high bars made the RS feel like 1/2 way between an R1100S and a GS. The additional floating yoke affair to hold the bars seemed a little excessive when I am sure a similar position could be gained with 'normal' clamp up bars? That said and even with a strange angle to the bars, it was however comfortable.

Screen was in the up position initially but on the motorway I knocked it down and that seemed to give more stable air around my head (I am 5'11")

The Gear box was boxer clunky and the gear assist thing was a big disappointment. Generally, cos I have a little mechanical sympathy I just used the clutch. In comparison my 'new' 10yr old VFR box was smoother with clutchless changes on the way home that the new fangled electronically assisted BMW one.

As others have said the console is a confused thing. IMHO the large dial speedo (itself too busy with lots of MPH and KPH markings) should be replaced with a proper rev counter (as the 'bars' of the LCD are rubbish) and leave the speed display as a configurable (MPH or KPH) and clear digital readout, as per Screen 2 selection.

I loved the cruise control and before winter I need to find some neat heated grips for the VFR. Why is it only BMW that really integrate these onto a bike properly?

Though Madam chopped in her F800S for a nearly new GT, following her test ride I was left thinking that a very competent bike was let down by a few odd design decisions. This was emphasized by riding my £3.5K VFR home.

I took one of these out a couple of weeks ago and was totally blown away by it. I've never been on a bike that had such good and natural handling. from the first mile i gelled with it and was able to throw it around (2 up) as easily as my 2012 speed triple that runs scrubs. I loved the gearbox and the shift assist.
seating position was spot on for me ( 6'5" ) and general ergos were very good. suspension was superb and that engine was unbelievable, just needs a nice exhaust.
also noticed that the panniers look a usefull size rather than the ridiculously tiny sport system.
I liked the looks but felt that the colour schemes were a bit dull. however my main gripes were the dash , who puts on a digital rev counter, and analogue speedo? every other manufacturer does it the other way round for a reason. also the sat nav drove me nuts, with all the information.
other issues were too many buttons and that stupid wheel thing.
Yes i want ESA ( had it on the K1200 and really does make life better) and traction control helps but i really couldn't understand the menus.
I'm seriously considering swapping the triple and the BCR for one in a years time, as I wouldn't pay for a new bike, but would rather get a couple of grand off on a second hand model.Only trouble with that is the other half wasn't keen on it as she felt it was a bit dull.

The looks are growing on me. May book a test ride alongside a GS next week