I had a test ride on an 850 GSA today, taking it along as many different types of road as I could find in two and a half hours. The roads included, some motorway, decent dual and single lane A roads, some reasonably busy town work, some B roads and a decent amount of pretty rough (grass up the middle) single track stuff. This is what I found.
It’s comfortable enough, with the standard seat, pegs and bar position. I reckon I could ride it all day. The controls are all standard BMW gear, not so very much different from my 1600.
The TFT screen is bright enough and easy to read. It’s the first bike I have ridden with a modern TFT screen (my HP2 was very basic) I quite like it. As I didn’t ride the bike in the dark, I don’t know if it dims; I guess it does?
It’s quite a high bike, especially when you jack the suspension up. But the seat is quite narrow, so it’s not a huge issue. More about the suspension later.
There’s a handy standard BMW power socket up on the left of the fairing and an equally handy USB socket on the left.
The standard screen is OK. It’s two position (basically up or down) and easy to lift or lower on the move. I am not someone who demands no buffeting, so it would do me as is.
The ESA suspension is easy to adjust, using the toggle switch, the relevant setting(s) appearing on the TFT screen.
The engine (a touch over 90 bhp, I think) has enough go in it, enabling you to whip past cars on B roads without too many difficulties in ‘Road’ mode. The quick shifter (up and down) works fine. I didn’t bother trying it in ‘Rain’ mode.
There were no overly intrusive vibrations from the twin engine that I could detect.
I deliberately rode without ear plugs, just so I could hear what noises went on. There was an odd bit of noise that came up on some roads, a bit like a bod blowing across a tube. Whether it was road noise from the Anakee tyres, I don’t know but I suspect it was. The tyres were in decent condition and at the right pressures. The standard exhaust and cat make an OK noise, with a bit of pop and bang. I don’t see any need to change it.
The small Touratech tank bag from my 1600 will fit shape wise, so there’d be no need to buy another. I guess its larger brother would fit, too.
I think the bike looks OK with the frames for the spam tins fitted. There again, I am not too fussy on this front.
I can’t speak for the lights, as I didn’t ride the bike in the dark. I did though have a look at the indicators, when I stopped in an empty car park. They seem bright enough in daylight.
When in the car park I tried some slow speed manoeuvres and just pushing the bike around, both of which were OK. Similarly, the bike is easy to put onto and take off its centre stand. I should have looked under the seat but I guess there is no room for anything; that doesn’tt bother me. Emergency stops from about 60 mph worked but…..
…. And here we come to the sticky bit. Even making an allowance that I usually ride a heavy 1600 at 320 kg with telelever suspension, the fork dive and apparent ‘softness’ to the brakes is horrible. The brakes you can get used to and are definitely better than they might appear. I do though like a bike that is firm to hard on the suspension, which in standard trim this bike is NOT. The only way I could get it anywhere near ‘right’ was to stick it in ‘Dynamic’ and set the other electronic adjustment to ‘Two up with luggage’. This was much firmer for one up riding, getting rid of some of the very soft fork dive. In my world, a trip to MCT to get it sorted out would be on the cards, for sure. It is the only major criticism I have of the bike.
Overall?
A. Definitely better value than the 1250 GS / GSA. It will do anything that they’ll do and ‘go’ just as well for 95% of the time. Having ridden the WC versions of the bikes, I just don’t like them.
B. All day comfort, definitely.
C. A plenty adequate enough fuel range; most people will be stopping for lunch well before the fuel light comes on.
D. The chain is easy to adjust. I’d probably fit a Scottoiler, simply because I like them.
E. The softness of the suspension, especially the front, would definitely need sorting out. That shouldn’t be too difficult. My F800R had appalling suspension as standard; once sorted out it was a really good bike. For anyone who likes things on the soft side of comfy, it’ll be fine.
It’s comfortable enough, with the standard seat, pegs and bar position. I reckon I could ride it all day. The controls are all standard BMW gear, not so very much different from my 1600.
The TFT screen is bright enough and easy to read. It’s the first bike I have ridden with a modern TFT screen (my HP2 was very basic) I quite like it. As I didn’t ride the bike in the dark, I don’t know if it dims; I guess it does?
It’s quite a high bike, especially when you jack the suspension up. But the seat is quite narrow, so it’s not a huge issue. More about the suspension later.
There’s a handy standard BMW power socket up on the left of the fairing and an equally handy USB socket on the left.
The standard screen is OK. It’s two position (basically up or down) and easy to lift or lower on the move. I am not someone who demands no buffeting, so it would do me as is.
The ESA suspension is easy to adjust, using the toggle switch, the relevant setting(s) appearing on the TFT screen.
The engine (a touch over 90 bhp, I think) has enough go in it, enabling you to whip past cars on B roads without too many difficulties in ‘Road’ mode. The quick shifter (up and down) works fine. I didn’t bother trying it in ‘Rain’ mode.
There were no overly intrusive vibrations from the twin engine that I could detect.
I deliberately rode without ear plugs, just so I could hear what noises went on. There was an odd bit of noise that came up on some roads, a bit like a bod blowing across a tube. Whether it was road noise from the Anakee tyres, I don’t know but I suspect it was. The tyres were in decent condition and at the right pressures. The standard exhaust and cat make an OK noise, with a bit of pop and bang. I don’t see any need to change it.
The small Touratech tank bag from my 1600 will fit shape wise, so there’d be no need to buy another. I guess its larger brother would fit, too.
I think the bike looks OK with the frames for the spam tins fitted. There again, I am not too fussy on this front.
I can’t speak for the lights, as I didn’t ride the bike in the dark. I did though have a look at the indicators, when I stopped in an empty car park. They seem bright enough in daylight.
When in the car park I tried some slow speed manoeuvres and just pushing the bike around, both of which were OK. Similarly, the bike is easy to put onto and take off its centre stand. I should have looked under the seat but I guess there is no room for anything; that doesn’tt bother me. Emergency stops from about 60 mph worked but…..
…. And here we come to the sticky bit. Even making an allowance that I usually ride a heavy 1600 at 320 kg with telelever suspension, the fork dive and apparent ‘softness’ to the brakes is horrible. The brakes you can get used to and are definitely better than they might appear. I do though like a bike that is firm to hard on the suspension, which in standard trim this bike is NOT. The only way I could get it anywhere near ‘right’ was to stick it in ‘Dynamic’ and set the other electronic adjustment to ‘Two up with luggage’. This was much firmer for one up riding, getting rid of some of the very soft fork dive. In my world, a trip to MCT to get it sorted out would be on the cards, for sure. It is the only major criticism I have of the bike.
Overall?
A. Definitely better value than the 1250 GS / GSA. It will do anything that they’ll do and ‘go’ just as well for 95% of the time. Having ridden the WC versions of the bikes, I just don’t like them.
B. All day comfort, definitely.
C. A plenty adequate enough fuel range; most people will be stopping for lunch well before the fuel light comes on.
D. The chain is easy to adjust. I’d probably fit a Scottoiler, simply because I like them.
E. The softness of the suspension, especially the front, would definitely need sorting out. That shouldn’t be too difficult. My F800R had appalling suspension as standard; once sorted out it was a really good bike. For anyone who likes things on the soft side of comfy, it’ll be fine.