RE: 2018 BMW F750GS/F850GS reviews - 2

Zitat von Bub im Beitrag #12

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I’m really skeptical of the price point for the bikes too, especially given the tepid reviews. Add bags and you’ll be at $19k before tax.

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Here is the first independent video review that I have seen by an owner of one of the new 2018 F750GS models (that no one seems to talk about much):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EKoMk15Wms

And here is a review by the The Missenden Flyer of the new 2018 F750GS model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tDhRQoYtE4

And here is Revzilla's take on the new F850GS model: https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/20...torcycle-review

Here is a review by motorcycle.com of the new F750GS and F850GS. I found it odd that they said that the F750GS's detuned engine produced most of its power in the mid- to upper-range of its power band, while the F850GS, with 13 hp more, made good power and torque low in the power band. Also, when they rode their F850GS 1,100 miles home from Colorado to California, they only got 44 mpg on premium fuel. I expected better than that when cruising on the highway. You will be happy to know that the new models will have 60% more options and after-sales accessories than the 700/800 models - along with more road-hugging weight. And now that the fuel tank is returned to where it belongs, up high and forward, you will need to remove a tank bag to refuel. However BMW tells us that the bike will have better balance than when the tank was placed low, under the seat, where it was previously.

You can check out this long illustrated review here: https://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/...first-ride.html

Richard230, your report on BMW's explanations sounds BMW is speaking "double Dutch", putting it semi-politely.

Less power, more peaky! A triumph of engineering.

Revzilla reviews the F750GS and manages to put a dent in the cast wheel's front rim. They are also not happy about the de-tuned engine. Kind of pricey, too, as BMW is only bringing in loaded and fully-loaded bikes to the U.S. On top of that you can add additional accessories, if you still have money left in your wallet:
https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/20...torcycle-review

My dealer just received a 2019 F850GS. Check out the MSRP on the price card. Those factory extras sure add up.

And now we have our first recall in the U.S. A little problem with loose connecting rod bolts. Kind of strange that the recall apparently only affects one bike, though.

The January 2019 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News contains a six-page article describing their testing and comparison of both the 2019 F750GS and the 2019 F850GS. While I won't try to summarize the entire article, because it mostly contains a description of all of the new features and farkles that come on the new bikes, what I will do is to mention some things that caught my eye and that I found interesting.

Only two versions of the bikes will be imported into NA. They will come with either the factory's "Select" or "Premium" packages. The 750, with the Select package will start at $12,795 or $13,845 with the Premium package and go up from there depending upon paint schemes and dealer-installed accessories, such as a center stand, comfort seat, low suspension, anti-theft alarm, sport muffler, etc. The same applies to the 850, which will start at $15,595 for the Select package and $16,645 for the Premium package. To that add special colors and delivery. If you want a "Base" model, it will have to be special ordered from the factory and will come with basic analog gauges and not the standard TFT display.

None of the packages will include bags, engine guards, or other common farkles, which will have to be bought a la carte from your dealer or from the after-market.

The statistic pages of the test were kind of shocking to me. The 750 weighed in at 526 pounds and the 850 porked out at 532 pounds. The 750 has a carrying capacity of 444 pounds, but only 359 pounds for the 850. Seat height of the 750 is 32.75 inches and for the 850, 34.75 inches. The 750 uses 87 octane fuel, but the 850 requires 91 octane fuel, even though both engines have the same 12.71 compression ratio.

Now get this: The 750 made 72.88 hp on their dyno, between 7K and 9K rpm and 54.56 lb-ft of torque between 5K and 7K rpm. Fuel economy was listed as a low of 41 mpg and a high of 46 mpg, with an average of 43 mpg. Estimated range from the 4-gallon tank is only 172 miles. 0-60 mph took 3.77 seconds, while the 1/4 mile was covered in 12.57 seconds at 105.2 mph. RPM at 65 mph is 4000. Actual speed at an indicated 65 mph is 63 mph. Stopping distance from 60 mph was 123 feet.

The 850 made 76.23 hp on their dyno, at 9K rpm and 51.93 lb-ft of torque between 4K and 7K rpm. Fuel economy was listed as a low of 44 mpg and a high of 47 mpg, with an average of 46 mpg. Estimated range from the 4-gallon tank is 184 miles. 0-60 mph took 3.79 seconds, while the 1/4 mile was covered in 12.61 seconds at 106.05 mph. RPM at 65 mph is 3,950. Actual speed at an indicated 65 mph is 63 mph. Stopping distance from 60 mph was 157 feet.

The magazine says that the poor performance of the 850 was due to it's Metzeler Karoo 3 tires which knocked off 10 hp due to their poor traction on the street and I assume on the dyno. The 750 was said to come with Bridgestone Battlax tires, which they thought were overly "stiff".

Another shocker was the 12K service, which will set you back $540 for labor and $300 for parts, for a total of $840, at a typical BMW shop rate of $130 an hour. The 6K "routine"service will set you back $210 for labor and $70 for parts, totaling $280.

So the new bikes are neither cheap to buy or to maintain.

BMW's objectives of this redesign of the F750/850GS do not make sense other than to reduce their cost/increase profit.

The old F700/800 GS had essentially the same HP (via dino test NOT BMW published Specs), weighted substantially less, and had a lower C of G via smarter underseat tank location. Yes the suspension is likely better and there is the zoom TFT display.

The new KTM 790 Adventure is lighter, more powerful and likely has better suspension and all the normal BMW bells and whistles. Price seems a bit less too.

What was BMW design thinking??

What were they thinking? Could it be that they were counting beans?

Zitat von Richard230 im Beitrag #26

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What were they thinking? Could it be that they were counting beans?

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Rider magazine in their February issue features a road test of the new 2019 BMW F850GS. Now these guys are not known for being the most critical of reviewers or the hardest riders. After riding both the 750 and 850 models at the press launch in Colorado, they rode an 850GS back to their offices in Southern California, a distance of 1,000 miles. Their article test results included gas mileage listed as a low of 40.9 mpg, a high of 48.4 mpg and an average of 43.6 mpg. Estimated range of the 4.0 gallon fuel tank is only 174 miles.

They placed their 850GS on the Jett Tuning dyno and managed to achieve 85.2 HP at 8,900 rpm. Maximum torque was 55.6 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm. Apparently Rider didn't have a problem with the bike's tires cutting into the horsepower results on the dyno. Their F850GS, with its Premium and Rally style packages, plus a centerstand, had a MSRP of $17,095. Indicated RPM at 60 mph was 3,600 and the bike continues to be a real porker at a measured wet weight of 533 pounds.

What they didn't care for was the weight, price, and soft, non-adjustable forks. They indicate that a comparison test with similar models will be happening later this year.

My 2009 F650GS weighs 486 pounds, complete with centerstand, luggage rack and luggage rails, along with a few other minor accessories. Plus, it typically gets 55-60 mpg from its 4.4 gallon fuel tank, running on 87 octane fuel. I am still happy with that.