BMW F 800 ST reviews

Could a 64 year old guy re-enter street riding after thirty years afoot? Perhaps with the right ride. It would have to provide smooth substantial power, be a nimble turner; feature powerful brakes; have a comfortable riding position and be techy enough to please the picky ex-engineer. Enter the F800ST. I found a fine a pre-owned '07 in April of '08 at a friendly NC BMW dealer. I loved it at my first somewhat awkward ride. I still do. This bike is a natural. A perfect re-entry machine. It does all things well. Power - It can seem oh-so-modest in the torque department with a gentle right hand but still blast off at stoplights with equal ease. Twisties - Face it, motorcycling is all about turning and this bike has it down; precise turn entry, ease of lean, stability over bumps with silky roll-on at turn exits. It loves transitions. This is confidence inspiring and even forgiving to the relative newbie. Stopping - Front brakes feel a bit squishy under the right hand even after bleeding, but are powerful with smooth progressiveness both on and off. Easy to modulate which is essential to avoid evil lockup or ABS operation on hard stops. Some nose dive, yes, but entirely manageable even for a retread rider like me. Rear brake twitters the ABS in hard stops occasionally but no grief in that regard. Comfort - For me just the right combo of upright seating position with forward lean to balance the wind lift at speed. By straightening my (long) arms a bit I can ride upright if I choose, but the forward lean feels natural. Windscreen could be a bit taller for wind protection and may face an aftermarket switcheroo. My knee positions pick up engine heat on cold days. Hot days in stop and go can warm the legs a bit but not uncomfortably so. Not much wiggle room on this seat but still for an hour or two between stops not a problem. Techy - yes! Light alloy abounds; the instruments charm; the belt drive is quiet; the engine is just smooth enough for comfort but sends the right vibes into the bike to let you know it's there; the fit and finish are precisely what one might expect from BMW, perfect. In sum, this bike fits my needs for around town and reasonable length fun rides perfectly. Sons (younger w/Ducati 1000S2R & older with BMW R1200ST) drooled over it, and that alone would surely make an old guy smile! Show less

Thank God and thank my wife. I've owned a Suzuki 750cc Intruder and a Suzuki SP500cc street/trail bike, but I've never owned a bike in this size range that could run so smoothly after reaching speeds of 60 and above as does this 2007 F650 GS that I now own. I am in love with this bike, or so my wife tells me. This bike is beautiful and big and streamlined, when a guy my size rides it the bike appears to others that it's large enough for me. I am so happy with it I just want to go buy another just in case BMW forgets to make a bike this nice again. You might think the heated handle bar grips are for sissies but trust me they will make a sissy out of most riders and they'll be thankful. One personal safety note, if you plan on doing any serious mud and trail riding I would invest in a set of true trail tires since the ones that come with the bike are better suited for the pavement. This bike has larger dark wind screen, ABS breaks that can be turned off and on for street and trail riding, tension control knob to increase tension when you let your wife on the back and a digital clock on the dash so you won't be late for work. Two very good books that come with bike explain how to do just about everything you need to know how to do to your new or used bike. The other book is an excellent maintenance schedule. I can't remember them all. Show less

First I must confess I am a newbie rider. Finished the MSF Basic course, received the certificate 2 weeks later, following day at the DMV for the written and that Saturday drove away with the F800ST. However during the 2 week wait period I went looking at bikes trying to decide what to buy. I didn't want something too small and grow out of quickly nor too large/heavy to handle as a new rider. The first place I visited was BMW by advice of my Brother-in-Law who owns 4 bikes, one of them being a BMW K1200R. The Blue F800ST grabbed my attention immediately. Great looking bike, period. The price vs. CC's forced me to look at other Mfrs. Visited Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and even HD. There is no argument one can get a lot of bike for the price going Japanese but can one get the performance, safety and service that BMW is known for? I bounced around my purchasing decision several times and ultimately came back to BMW as that was the bike I was glued to from the start. I decided the extra $ was not going to alter my life and I will get what I really desire. Aside from perhaps the Italians, few can beat German Engineering. Now for the review: OK, I'm new to riding so what do I really have to compare it to? The Yamaha 250 from the MSF Class? I can only honestly say it's the easiest bike one can imagine to ride through the twisties as well as on the freeway. It's lightweight and simple to turn at low speeds. It seems to make up it's own mind when executing a turn in a smooth fashion. It's spontaneous with the slightest push/pull on the grips. What a fun and exciting bike to ride! Seat is comfortable and although my longest ride non-stop had been approximately 120 miles, I had no discomfort except for my right wrist which has nothing to do with the bike, but as being new to riding perhaps gripping the throttle too tightly. Cruise Control would have been a good option for BMW to include on this model as they do emphasize this bike as the Touring version of the F800S. Pros: ABS Brakes may be controversial to some, but it can prevent a spill. Fortunately I have not had to use them in any emergency stop yet, but I feel good they are there when needed. Handling of this bike is nothing less of awesome. Computer is nice and already came up with one warning that the front tire pressure was low. It's those little things that make this bike seem safer to ride. Cons: 70 mph plus one gets you a head-full of wind. An aftermarket 4 inch taller windshield will take care of that. Also, as with most bikes, the stock exhaust is heavy and restrictive. I installed a Remus exhaust and not only it sounds sweet, but tests show an increase of 10 to 12 HP plus removing the lag/slight hesitation from starting out from 1st gear. Lastly, there is some heat coming into the left fairing and onto the leg although nothing major and actually would have been better if the hot air were to have been distributed to both legs for those cold days. Conclusion: When I decide to get a larger (touring) bike for long trips, I plan to keep this as the bike of choice for the enjoyable handling through the mountain and coastal roads! Show less

Recently traded my 2006 F650GS for a new F800ST. I liked the 650 very much but it was not well suited for longer trips. The 800 is a more all purpose bike for both short and long runs. The extra power, 6th gear, smoother gearbox and drive, more comfortable seating and riding are all well worth the small additional weight and price. Super easy to keep clean and looks fabulous. I added most options and love all the information available with the on-board computer. I'm not sure yet if this is even a flaw but the motor does generate quite a bit of heat, handled well by the radiator and fan but still runs up the left fairing. Not very noticeable when the bike is moving but in traffic or stop and go, it does get a bit warm on the left side. Too bad the heat could not have been distributed more evenly and you'd have a great leg warmer in winter or cooler weather. In any case, it's not much to complaint about - more an observation. All the other superb features and quality far outweigh this minor issue. Show less

Being on foot for about two years and last 2 bikes being BMW RT1150's, I was somewhat concerned about a single cyl. bike. After my first day of 375 miles in eastern Colorado, concern is no longer on my mind. Every time I ride this bike I love it even more and more than any I've had in the past. I ride primarily on the road but more and more off and plan on more yet this summer. So far no problems, just pleasure. A more comfy seat may be in order, but I'll wait and see after I feel I have my M/C butt back in shape! If you're thinking of one for road and gravel and dirt roads and some light trail...go for it!!! Show less

Stable, relatively fast, very comfortable. This bike is fun to ride, especially with inexperience as a sport bike pilot. It's not the K1200 which I strongly considered, but actually, I think having driven one of those, this one is more approachable. Like any BMW, the 800 rides like it's on a rail. The seating position is very comfortable with no back strain, arm strain or hand strain at all. Ergonomics-A+ for me. It's a tad windy at speed and the wind noise requires earplugs. Not a good bike for the rain not because of instability but because of the lack of faring. At least in downpours, I got caught in one and learned the hard way. The bike accellerates very quickly. 6 speed gearing is great, the clutch has been flawless. The seat is very comfortable for long distances. As a light weight, it's easy to maneuver, quick and nimble on it's feet. Great cornering--has inspired in me a lot of confidence. After 2,000 miles I'm just now getting used to what I can do and the bike can do, but it seems like the bike will let me do a lot and we are one on the road. What I like about it vs. the K1200 which was my other choice, is that this bike is much less expensive, the maintenance in theory will be much less, the insurance on this is 1/2 of the K1200 (I'm 51 and married and was quoted $1,200 a year on the K vs. $600 a year on this machine). I use the bike principally for commuting and man does it fit that bill like a glove. I go on one or two week long trips a year and I won't hesitate to take this bike. It's a big seller in Europe and I'm surprised that here in the U.S. it doesn't seem to garner as much press. I think here we like bigger, badder, faster but to overlook this model is a mistake and the bike should be considered. It certainly is much more practical from an expense point of view. And the 50 mpg I'm averaging is real sweet. And I don't need a bike that goes 167 mph, because my brain won't let me do that. Bottom line is although 2,000 miles is a little early for a review, I absolutely love this bike. It's one I think I've been looking for in the 20 plus years I've been riding. Previous bikes-Suzuki 450, Suzuki GS 750, Shadow 1100, BMW R1100RT. The 800S vs. a K is like driving a Mazda Speed 3 vs. a Corvette---yeah the Corvettes a dream car but the Mazda 3 does supposedly everything the same-just 40,000 bucks cheaper. Oh, and this 800S goes 0-60 in 3.8 which beats the Corvette, so there you go. The only caution I have is on the gas guage, computer driven. Rely on your odometer like the old days because the gas guage is weird on the computer-it tells you you have a full tank until you have about 20 miles to go. Otherwise, no other nitpicks. Show less

For as short and skinny as I am, this bike is fairly easy to handle. It has all the power for my needs in the city or the highway; the upright seating is much more comfortable for me than the 800s model. It would be awesome if the bike were an inch or so lower, but there are ways to get around that with a little planning. Smooth ride, good power, and lots of fun. Show less

I eagerly anticipated this bike when it was unveiled in 2006 and my anticipation was well rewarded. I purchased my F800ST for my girlfriend as a lighter, more agile replacement to the 2001 R1100S she was riding. She insisted that I rack up the first 600 miles before she'd get on it, and during that time I discovered the F800ST can be ridden significantly faster, and with more control and comfort, than the R1100S. I'm talking about the real world, on real roads, not potential 10/10ths performance on the racetrack. This bike is amazing. The torque curve isn't a curve -- it's flat and substantial across the rev range and allows the rider to pull away at almost any RPM without shudder or complaint. The handling is extremely nimble, the brakes are perfect and thanks to the smooth running engine, the bike is super comforable for hours on end. Plus I dig the belt drive -- clean, quiet, compliant, no fuss, no muss. My personal reference point is my K1200RS with over 100K miles on it, which I've always felt was one of the most comfortable, smooth and controllable bikes out there. In many ways, the F800ST has superior real-world performance, and it's definitely more fun to ride than the K1200RS (and the R1100S). Believe it. Show less

This is one sweet handling motorcycle. It replaces my 95 BMW R1100RS so many of my comments are comparisons to that bike (Which by the way served me faithfully for nearly 70K miles). The F800ST is lighter and more nimble with about the same amount of power. Up to 80 mph at least, plus it has a 6th gear. I still have the stock windshield which provides little wind protection so speeds in excess of 70 I don't consider pleasant whereas the RS was just getting into its zone about then. Riding comfort also doesn't quite match the RS but an after market seat undoubtedly will improve that (I had a Corbin on the RS). Also there is enough heat flowing thru the fairing unto ones shins and feet, especially on the left side, to make riding in temps above 90F a little more unpleasant. Overall however, I expect the bike to be a blast for shorter rides (200 miles) on curvy mountain roads and California Hwy #1 when ever I can get to it. Show less

My riding is 90% on the highway to remote places where the road turns into twisting shale rock, most of which is up hills. The engine guard allows for log jumping on trails and the occasional rock mishap without any damage. The factory tires work well in most conditions, if you plan on doing much in the mud replace them though. This bike has plenty of power for on and offroad use. The only complaint I have had is on long trips ( 2+ hours )the seat becomes uncomfortable. Show less