Chances are you've read my other posts
praising my F800ST, but here's more old and new facts.
Xdot wrote:Bit more modern design. Little lighter.
Your only partly right
*.
* It's a LOT more modern design:
--CAN-bus system with BMS-K engine management is a quantum leap over the primitive Motronic computer and multi wire system.
--Water cooling, 12:1 compression and DOHC 8 valve cylinderhead is the Phoenix of 4-stroke M/C engines. The limiting power/efficiency of pushrod/rockerarms and Air/Oil cooling is from the 1980's.
--Weightless LCD info panel and (optional) OnBoardComputer light years ahead of huge/gaudy retro gauges and (appropriately named) idiot lights.
--Lightweight, quiet, clean, no maintenance and very efficient Belt Drive superior to heavy, expensive to repair and ironically "longevity compromised" Shaft Drive.
--The above attributes help provide phenomenal fuel efficiency on par with much slower, less powerful, 600/650cc one cylinder bikes. For my conservative riding style it has varied from 58 to 72 MPG (on Regular Chevron/Texaco gas) for all of it's almost 12,000 miles (Edit 31,000 miles).
* It's a LOT lighter ~60lbs.
--It's narrower too.
--Handling is very responsive when relatively inexpensively set up to your weight and riding style.
--Same mid/peak rear wheel HP pulling the lighter weight means acceleration is better.
--Walking the bike around, as in backing it out of the garage, is a piece of cake.
--Low speed parking lot manoeuvres over uneven/sloped or off camber surfaces has none of the uneasy drama of the OilHeads.
What you will give up:
--Storage under the one piece seat. One pair of riding gloves - - maybe, if not big and well placed.
--An absolutely reliable, excited field, very powerful 700Watt car alternator for the F800's conventional 400W permanent magnet oil cooled alternator. Not that much a sacrifice unless you are a multi light, multi heated riding gear freak.
--The wonderful, no brake dive, TeleLever front suspension. Advantage of the ST's conventional forks is that performance modifications are owner workshop possible, for less $$$ and it definitely provides more road feel/feedback.
--The OilHead's balancing centerstand. A 40lb weight on the ST's luggage rack is required for front wheel removal.
--A tool kit. The F800ST only comes with a dual ended screwdriver and a body screw Torx wrench snapped into the underseat pan. No std tire plug kit, wheel or sparkplug removal tools provided for roadside work.
--EDIT: This is BAD. The in-tank fuel filter requires a BMW Dealer or a $47 special tool purchase I coincidentally needed "just to have" to remove the metal top retaining ring. Also weird/funny that NO ONE on any of the BMW chat boards has ever acknowledged the big filter on the handsome pump assembly inside the tank. Even very high mileage bikes make no mention of the fuel filter change or clogged filter symptom performance. I already had mine out and will do a multi pic post soon.
On the plus side:
--No more worrying about engine overheating in summer traffic jams. The F800 model radiator fan saves the day and your time schedule.
--There are NO FUSES to replace. Bike's computer monitors current draw, quickly disconnecting any component's short circuits to prevent wire harness meltdowns while setting very specific trouble codes readable/resettable by a
$300 GS911.
--The engine quickly reaches full operating temp
within 3 miles even in Winter. That's very important for efficiency and avoiding acidic condensate oil contamination, requiring more frequent oil changes.
--Activating the starter won't make close bystanders jump off the ground and out of their skin.
--You
NEVER have to remove the gas tank for
ANY servicing. It's all no rust, lightweight,
thick walled plastic, under the seat and tightly built into the rear sub frame.
--14AmpHr ST battery is maintenance free.
--Only ONE oil supply to change (engine oil).
--$900 Optional ABS system is cheaper, smaller, simpler,
NOT LINKED and brake fluid bleeding/changing is the same as a Non-ABS bike.
--Wider 5.5" rim and 180mm section rear tire avails you to more brand selections of better rubber.
--The hidden flip lever headlight height re-adjuster compensates for a passenger in 2 seconds and the knurled knob allows for No-tool thumb-n-finger height adjustments.
--Rear panel fuel cap lets a strapped on tank bag and any attached electrical hookups stay in place for refueling.
--The bodywork provides very good cold wind deflection from shoulder to toe.
--Automatic idle control. Just hit the starter and it idles perfectly steady in under 2 seconds to 1,200 RPM at any outside or engine temp. No fast idle racing is needed with precise EFI fueling and a sophisticated ignition advance curve.
--Switching to Hi beam (bulb #2) also keeps Lo beam (bulb #1) still "on", greatly enhancing peripheral roadside and distance illumination over the OilHead's.
--F800 rear wheel comes off easily (44 Ft-Lbs) with 5 small lugbolts and 2 easily loosened/removed muffller bolts to swing it out of the way, still attached. Drive belt, brake caliper and rotor stay totally undisturbed, in place on the drive assembly.
--Bike's computer cycles on/off/on any heavy electrical draw from the power socket at idle to prevent a too low (engine disruptive) system voltage.
--Mag wheels are much lighter and have really cool, very stubby, easily accessible steel valve stem mounted on the front wheel spoke and rear wheel rim.
--The engine and especially the (louder) stock exhaust purr sound much better!!!
To be fair, the newer R1200R shares some of these advantages and more, but at a higher price. I considered both bikes and easily chose the F800, no contest. The OilHead was good while it lasted (8 years), but my new F800ST upgrade is comparable to my pleasantly wonderful 2nd wife of 24 (Edit: now 32) years, Ann . . . . a
whole lot better than the 1st one!!
EDIT: to remove "There is NO fuel Filter" after I found a BIG one attached when removing the fuel pump assembly (with BMW special tool) to retrieve a 3" long fuel spout extension that fell inside -and- to update odometer reading and our Sept-2019 monogamy score.