I meant that the bike was buffeted sidewards.
What is annoying is the lockable GPS mount. What a pointless item on a keyless bike. Is the internet awash with tales of stolen GPS units?
No - because they’re all locked in their mounts…
The 4 button mount is keyless...
The 4 button mount is keyless...
Thoughts….
A. A good fun, easy to ride motorcycle, let down a bit by the non-adjustable very soft from forks. You do sort of get used to them and the dive.
B. It will stand up and run very straight if you pull on the front brake in a corner. That does not surprise me at all. For the sake of it, I experimented (reasonably safely) around an open line sight but reasonably sharp bend that I knew, just to see how marked the effect was. In short, it’s very marked. That being said, if it happens to you….. let go of the brake….. don’t look at the kerb / hedge / oncoming lorry / telegraph pole / bird in a very short skirt…. Look as hard as you can at the exit point and as far beyond as possible…. Then, all being well…… wonder at the scrshhhhhh of scraping pegs or stand and the trail of sparks….. the bike will very probably go round all on its own with you as a passenger.
C. The bike is a lot less powerful (and much lighter) than my 1600, no huge bit of news there. It is no rocket ship but it will pick up its skirts, whipping around to 100 mph on the B roads with no great problem. In the real twisties, keep the rev’s up, to give it some real pull. On a chunk of M11 it sat at 80 in 6th at about 4,000 rpm (if I remember correctly) and at just shy of 100 at a fraction over 6,000. It runs out of real pull much north of 7,000 rpm and bangs onto its rev limiter quite easily in 2nd and 3rd.
D. As it’s not hugely powerful, some overtakes need to be more thought about than others. That makes the riding more fun, not less.
E. The quick shifter up and down is quite fun but not essential.
F. The ergonomics are good, though the footplate thing for the centre stand hides beneath the near side pillion peg. The bike is a doddle to put onto its stands and to take it off again.
G. The lights are fine as they are.
H. The TFT screen is vey clear. It’s my first real (all day) experience of one and it’s OK. I quite like it.
I. It got buffeted around in the gusting winds over the flat lands of Suffolk.
J. Being much lighter and with lesser quality suspension than the big 1600 you do pitch about a bit over the bumpier Fenland roads. Never enough to be frightening or horrendous and nothing that a bit of suspension work can’t sort out….. MCT is on the cards.
K. All in all, quite a nice motorcycle and different enough to the 1600 to be interesting. I liked the engine in my F800R, so am reasonably familiar with the earlier twin. I definitely prefer it over the 1200 WC / 1250 WC engines.
PS I had to use the top box as I couldn’t find the Velcro to attach the spare Touratech tank bag harness thing.
Next a moped and my life will be complete.
C400GT? I’ve just got one to go with my R1250GSA
The gear assist pro (quick shifter), on the 850 bikes have a strange effect upon the clutch lever feel when changing gear using said lever. The clutch is cable operated and one can feel a discernible click as lever is released, as though the cable is frayed and catching. This has been discussed at length on an F850gs forum and it seems a feature of all f850 bikes. Nowt to worry about - they all do that Sir.nice looking bike and glad you are enjoying it . I had a 900R yesterday as my Evo was having a recall done , charger diode / cable or something . I think The F900 has a similar engine . Thing I noticed on the 21 plate demo was how odd the clutch felt . It felt grabby and it seemed shagged out . It had 1700 miles on it . I asked the fine chap at my dealer and he said there had been issues with clutches going in young bikes . I know there is a 3 year warranty but did you notice anything ? I know cable clutches feel different to hydraulic . Nice Motor though
The gear assist pro (quick shifter), on the 850 bikes have a strange effect upon the clutch lever feel when changing gear using said lever. The clutch is cable operated and one can feel a discernible click as lever is released, as though the cable is frayed and catching. This has been discussed at length on an F850gs forum and it seems a feature of all f850 bikes. Nowt to worry about - they all do that Sir.
Alan R
The gear assist pro (quick shifter), on the 850 bikes have a strange effect upon the clutch lever feel when changing gear using said lever. The clutch is cable operated and one can feel a discernible click as lever is released, as though the cable is frayed and catching. This has been discussed at length on an F850gs forum and it seems a feature of all f850 bikes. Nowt to worry about - they all do that Sir.
Alan R