www.boxertrix.com

BERK magazine finally dropped through the letter box yesterday, in which was a reasonably good road test on the F800S, being compared with the SV650, CBF600 and Tedium 900.

The BM won the test by a nose from the SV. The bike seemed to impress them greatly, although as usual a great deal of BMW prejudice crept in. Reading behind the lines I got the impression that had the bike not been a BMW some of the testers would have been whooping it up rather than 'it's a BMW so I wasn't going to like it, but actually it's not too bad...for a BMW'. They did complain about the price, stating it as too expensive by a fair way, but failed to say that about the TDM which is 100 quid more?

To counter this, they did state the CBF600 was highly yawn-worthy so fits the Honda stereotype to a tee

They managed to get knocking on the door of 140mph out of the 800 which in anyone's book is bloody good going (only 3-4mph down on the 11S) and perhaps a tenth or 3 behind the 1100 on a standing quarter. Not-to-be-sniffed-at figures in my opinion.

They complained about the BM's plastic 'tank' which meant no magnetic tankbags (I bloody hate the things anyway) so it got dropped to bottom score on the practicality/luggage front. This is despite there being bespoke (not cheap I grant you) luggage for it and no doubt Baglux will do the honourable thing in the very near future, if they haven't already.

I think it's a fabulous little* bike, and one which I came to within a gnat's of getting instead of my BCR.

*And there lies the problem for us less compact types.

Gromit wrote:They did complain about the price........failed to say that about the TDM which is 100 quid more?

.....and is a model out of the ark which probably paid for its (minimal) development costs years ago so has no justification being the price it is. Fair enough - the F800 is a new model and BM need to recoup development costs. Anyway, it's a BM so it's allowed to cost more

Doesn't sound like a terribly surprising article tbh.


I DID like the F800 when I rode it - apart from the fact that it wasn't my Rockster.

Just pipped an SV 650 which kinda says it all really!!!

winger wrote:Just pipped an SV 650 which kinda says it all really!!!

Send cash, lawyers and guns!.......the sh*ts about to hit the fan

(sorry Lloyd, couldn't resist it)

winger wrote:Just pipped an SV 650 which kinda says it all really!!!

They rated the BM well ahead of the SV on performance, only stating that the SV represents greater value for money. The 800 put out 84-odd bhp at the wheel and 60lbs torque. A good, standard 11S will only put out 90-ish bhp and weighs a darn sight more.

For what the F800 is, a middleweight bike at (imho) not-too-silly money, it's a great bike. And up to 90-odd mph will give an 1100S quite a fright. I've ridden the 800 on 3 separate occasions and each time it's been a hoot - not really found the performance wanting to any great degree.

In the important 60-100mph range it goes quite well enough, and there is something satisfying about ragging the spuds off a bike and still not going at ridiculous speeds.

Gromit wrote:

winger wrote:Just pipped an SV 650 which kinda says it all really!!!

In the important 60-100mph range it goes quite well enough, and there is something satisfying about ragging the spuds off a bike and still not going at ridiculous speeds.

Must say that's what I seem to be doing on my 2 Honda NTV 600's at the mo.It's a bit of an artform getting the power down properly....can only make you a beter rider!
Bailey.

Oddly enough i've always felt the same way about my S!!!!

bigblackfalco wrote: Must say that's what I seem to be doing on my 2 H*nda NTV 600's at the mo.It's a bit of an artform getting the power down properly....can only make you a beter rider!
Bailey.

Same on my MZ - but unfortunately as to my riding I'm probably beyond help.