04-22-2015, 02:29 PM
I previously owned a BMW F800ST (an almost-identical predecessor of the GT, with a shorter wheelbase). It was not a positive experience.
That motor, built by Rotax, can sometimes sound like a skeleton dancing around inside a 55-gallon steel drum. As you might already know, it's a vertical twin with a 360-degree firing order. Both pistons rise & fall together, firing alternately. The output is almost exactly what you'd get from a 400cc two-stroke. At 2007, mine was an early model, but it developed piston slap inside of 13,000 miles, which took BMW over a year to even admit such a thing existed. I think there may have been a class-action suit, but not sure. And then came the play in the rear-wheel bearing. I'll admit that it was a great-riding bike, when it was in good shape, but that was one bike I was happy to get rid of.
I'm hoping those problems are sorted out by now (they must be), but I still don't think the F800's are worthy of the BMW name. The design's just not on par with the R-twins they produce. The Interceptor would be my choice for something like this. Good luck.
That motor, built by Rotax, can sometimes sound like a skeleton dancing around inside a 55-gallon steel drum. As you might already know, it's a vertical twin with a 360-degree firing order. Both pistons rise & fall together, firing alternately. The output is almost exactly what you'd get from a 400cc two-stroke. At 2007, mine was an early model, but it developed piston slap inside of 13,000 miles, which took BMW over a year to even admit such a thing existed. I think there may have been a class-action suit, but not sure. And then came the play in the rear-wheel bearing. I'll admit that it was a great-riding bike, when it was in good shape, but that was one bike I was happy to get rid of.
I'm hoping those problems are sorted out by now (they must be), but I still don't think the F800's are worthy of the BMW name. The design's just not on par with the R-twins they produce. The Interceptor would be my choice for something like this. Good luck.