F800 launch

PJBrendel · Post by **PJBrendel** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 7:51 am

By one of these and sell me your r1150r cheap

http://f800riders.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=79

collyers · Post by **collyers** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 9:43 am

Only if they motard it or make an Adventure GS version. These will cost WAY more than an R1150R will sell used.

Post by **Deans BMW** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:41 pm

There will be both a "R" and "GS" version in addition to the "S" and "ST" versions.

Capt. Blackadder · Post by **Capt. Blackadder** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:22 pm

Deans BMW wrote:There will be both a "R" and "GS" version in addition to the "S" and "ST" versions.

Excellent... if they price this line right, one of those might be my next bike.

Bobby549 · Post by **Bobby549** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:41 pm

How do you expect acceleration to be form the 800cc twin compared to our R1150R bikes? I really like what I see of the 800's, but I don't want a bike any slower than the R1150R.

Paul Mihalka · Post by **Paul Mihalka** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:33 pm

Bobby549 wrote:How do you expect acceleration to be form the 800cc twin compared to our R1150R bikes? I really like what I see of the 800's, but I don't want a bike any slower than the R1150R.

Lower weight and same horsepower. Should be the same or faster as long as you keep the rpm up. Less low end torque.

pneuby · Post by **pneuby** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:34 am

I decided to bump this thread of the ones that came up in a search. We just had the IMS here in Phoenix this past weekend, and I got to straddle both F-ers

I really don't care for the low bars and look of the S, but the ST does strike a chord with me. Knowing that it's 1150R power, yet lighter, it ought to be a fun ride. Ideally, this ought to be priced under 10K, but I won't hold my breath in that regard.

Still I hope it does well for BMW in bringing in more riders to the brand.

Capt. Blackadder · Post by **Capt. Blackadder** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:56 am

pneuby wrote:Ideally, this ought to be priced under 10K, but I won't hold my breath in that regard.

The S will be $9,900, the ST $10,900. That's base price, without any gravy.

concourde98 · Post by **concourde98** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:11 pm

I think these will be a semi-flop as real BMW riders will look down on these models similar to the way the f650 is viewed.

Am I wrong about this - because I do like the look of the st and the lower
center of gravity(gas tank) is very appealing.

Regard.

hirsty · Post by **hirsty** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 1:07 pm

They are selling pretty well in the UK so far, and those that have tried them like them - but they are expensive relative to comparable Jap 600s which are all the rage here.

MCN (our weekly paper) has an S on on long-term test which is going great guns after 6,000 miles, with strong praise for the quality of finish on the bike. It also won the middle-weight group test in BIKE magazine recently - they really liked it & I think they singled it out for fuel economy / tank range too. Only negative I've read is the fake plastic tank & oddly placed fuel filler make it difficult to attach luggage - but the ST comes with KR/KS style semi-hard expandable panniers.

I've sat on a few whilst waiting at dealers & of the two prefer the look of the ST in grey - kind of like a mini K1200ST. I don't know if all countries have the same launch colours, but the UK bikes are yellow or red for the S and met.blue or met.grey for the ST. If they decide to do a black one at any point, I may be tempted...

geothepencil · Post by **geothepencil** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:14 pm

hirsty wrote:They are selling pretty well in the UK so far, and those that have tried them like them - but they are expensive relative to comparable Jap 600s which are all the rage here.

MCN (our weekly paper) has an S on on long-term test which is going great guns after 6,000 miles, with strong praise for the quality of finish on the bike. It also won the middle-weight group test in BIKE magazine recently - they really liked it & I think they singled it out for fuel economy / tank range too. Only negative I've read is the fake plastic tank & oddly placed fuel filler make it difficult to attach luggage - but the ST comes with KR/KS style semi-hard expandable panniers.

I've sat on a few whilst waiting at dealers & of the two prefer the look of the ST in grey - kind of like a mini K1200ST. I don't know if all countries have the same launch colours, but the UK bikes are yellow or red for the S and met.blue or met.grey for the ST. If they decide to do a black one at any point, I may be tempted...

Remains to be seen if anyone in the US asked for the 800. I think we all liked the R1150R as the best buy in the line. I'm disappointed the new ones are 15K + and I didn't ask for the 800. Theres always the Vstrom 650 with ABS at 2/3 the price of an 800 or less if one wants a good different type of a twin.

geo

ScooterCop · Post by **ScooterCop** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 5:19 pm

somebody may have said this, but they are now listed on the BMW Homepage....

as well as the new 650's

Tripton · Post by **Tripton** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:29 pm

I think they will sell fine. The look good, and apparently are well built.

Could have got a DL 1000 for cheaper than a r1150r too....but no thank you.

riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:18 am

I've ridden the S and liked it a lot - it's VERY different to an R or Rockster though.

MUCH lighter, MUCH "buzzier" and the handling is very light and flickable - but compared to a boxer it's "flighty" and less planted.

If they do a GS I'd be seriously tempted.... it WOULD have to fight the new Guzzi 1100S though....

But that would only be if I lose my Rock.

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:14 am

I don't get it. 10k plus for this? No thanks.

Post by **MikeCam** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:33 am

First, I agree with the above concern that the U.S. market did not 'ask' for this. Remains to be seen if BMW can take the 80+ years of Boxer (and 20+ Brick) history and loyalty and translate that with the addition of an Inline 4 - New Beast series and Hexhead series improvements and the Parallel twins F800 S/ST/R/GS and the continuing thumper series with new versions F650GS plus G650X cetera....

Second, how many new converts to BMW are they chasing? How many can they get?

K1200R sold fast but I think the market saturated faster than marketing expected. K1200S stagnated and K1200GT took some customers away from that. Will K1200R Sport simply permit BMW to absorb manufacturing effort with a suitable parts bin upgrade that sells a few additional units?

R1200ST sold then went off the radar. Remaining Hexhead Boxer sales were very much upgrades for existing BMW customers, flooding the late model market which is where I think new customers are converted. Then do the new owners eventually buy into the new bikes?

Third: BMW seems to be at a crossroads: one thumper line with two model lines embedded inside it. Parallel twin plus Boxer twin, K Brick on the LT series; Inline K on the newer 4 series. So six manufacturing lines and six mini markets to serve and sell into.

Seems that the singles might eventually morph into the G series only. The twins might remain both parallel (if it sells well) and Boxer (as long as tradition trumps performance at that price) and the K Brick might well disappear completely as the K1200GT INline 4 morphs into the next generation luxo-cruiser to fight the Goldwingers.

But I don't know.

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 9:54 am

BMW is obviously going after a broader market. Motorcycles are getting more expensive as well. The current line of bikes represent a solid range of choices. But in my estimation BMW has priced the F800 15% higher than it should be given that it doesn't have the traditional appeal of the boxer line and drive shaft. Sure one could possibly point to the Honda VFR800 Interceptor's 10k pricetag with its chain final drive and say this justifies the F800's pricepoint. But the V4 powerplant in that bike is more complicated to manufacture and the Interceptor is more of a complete refined package, IMO.

Another choice in this price range is the FZ1 with its chain final drive. But its 1000cc inline 4 is a league above the 800cc parallel twin.

I wish BMW luck with their parallel twins, but I for one don't find any reason to desire one.

concourde98 · Post by **concourde98** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:32 pm

Just reading the specs on the ST and you only get a 400 watt alternator.
So much for all the appliances on this one. I guess BMW isn't counting on this as a year rounder.

Big mistake IMO.