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- 800 cm3, neither too road nor too sporty.
- 182 kg and options
- A Japanese BMW ?
- If we were talking about price.
- Contact
- National
- Conclusion: an economical motorcycle for beginners.
800 cm3, neither too road nor too sporty.
The sun is pointing its nose. The desire to go out and ride tickles the
biker. The desire to change frames too.
My R1100 S is getting old … replace it? an idea that hangs around
corner of my brain among the cobwebs. My notebook
charges become clearer: rather light consumption,
acceptable performance, reliability, a little sporty side
(not too pronounced) and above all economical; It is necessary
pay for speeding tickets and points catching up courses.
Quite naturally, I drag my boots and the tires of my motorcycle
at my dealership. Willing to do anything to sell a motorcycle
he gives me one for the day but I just want to take
contact with a possible future. My dealership displays a sign
Teutonic whose first specialty – and displayed
proudly – is to mount the protrusions of his flat.
My gaze naturally falls on the new F800S: shapes
a little identical to mine, a position not too road but
especially not too sporty either, a belt as a
secondary transmission, an 800 cm3 engine that displays fuel consumption
rather reasonable, an after-sales service that I know
(by the way, is that a guarantee of reliability?)
Small discussion while dipping the croissants in the free coffee
by the house (yes, he knows how to receive my motorcyclist). We do the
motorcycle ride.
182 kg and options
Light, it looks like it: 182 kgs on the scale
(204 full kgs made). Two colors for the S: red or yellow. A little
fork head equipped with a low screen team
the front of the motorcycle and above all protects a meter that appears
full. Okay he’s supposed to protect the pilot too
but for the moment I don’t know, I haven’t gone up yet
above. The counter and tachometer are placed one above
on the other in order to make room for the on-board computer (in
option) small rectangle placed on the right. Complete accessory
which includes lots of indications and I won’t tell you more because
I did not go around it; I even wonder if there isn’t
a word processor on it. The size of an electronic organizer.
I saw anyway that it indicated the gear engaged,
the number of kilometers traveled, gasoline, consumption
etc … Finally lots of things that will allow you to start the discussion
with people who will ask you what it is for. "Is this
a GPS? "is in my opinion the question that will be the most
frequent but the answer is no. Pity.
A Japanese BMW ?
The handlebars bracelets are equipped with handles and
BMW commodos of which only regular users arrive
to use on a daily basis. And still it happens sometimes to me to seek
the horn or the lighthouse call. The reservoir (which is not
in fact) is not deformed by the appendix intended
to its filling. This is located under the saddle and inherits
therefore a plug located on the rear side cover
right. The saddle is equipped with a superb protuberance
the main purpose of which is to prevent the passenger from slipping (finally
I guess) but somehow a seat cowl (optional) hides
the rear seat to transform the beauty into a single-seater. Of them
superb grab handles will allow – when you are ready
to take one – the passenger to hold on.
During the visit from the back, we necessarily stop
on the secondary transmission system. In fgeneral
at BMW the common name used is gimbal. On this one she copies
the 650 by adopting an impressive belt width which fits
in a toothed wheel supported by a superb single arm.
No maintenance, no grease just an exceptional lifespan
announced by BMW. Enhancement of the spoiled rear wheel
by the classic exhaust. Under the saddle aesthetics
would have been improved. The turn signals well
protruding and white in color on the testing machine. Color
despite everything optional at BMW. The Teutonic brand is working a
little look lately. Why do turn signals always
figure of great forgotten each time? It was enough to
draw cool and integrated turn signals, even if it means
put them in option.
Let’s get down on our knees to take a look at the losing engine
its outer protuberances to resemble a
classic Japanese engine whose cylinders are in line facing
to the road. Except that in this case we are in
presence of a BMW engine of the rotax style. This gives a side
narrow to the beauty to which a behemist accustomed
the flat has to get used to. But it seems that consumption is found
scaled down.
It can be seen on the test model that the machine is equipped
of ABS. However it has changed or rather it takes on the aspect
the very first ABS of the brand while seeming to have lightened.
Could there have been any problems with the previous models
?
Admiring the ABS, it is clear that the beautiful adopts the system
valve of the new K series. The valve incorporated in
the rim and therefore horizontal and not vertical: undoubted improvement
for those who have already tried to inflate their tire
before. The diameter of the brake discs takes up a lot of space.
Difficult to put on the inflator nozzle between the short distance
existing between the branches and the disk. In the present case
you can even keep your gloves on to check the inflation.
If we were talking about price.
A naughty little motorcycle that has a "face"
that is unique to it. On paper the performance seems correct
and even nice. Lots of options that will not all be given.
The ABS II which looks like 1 is trading around 710 euros
price catalogue. The alarm and the on-board computer are labeled
marked 190 €. The motorcycle remains economical to buy
since marketed at 8,950 €; what we can
call a reasonable price.
Insurers should like its reasonable, not too sporty side.
This should translate into an insurance premium that is also reasonable..
Well we talk, we talk but maybe we should roll now
no ?
Contact
Contact ! Like all motorcycles, you no longer need to worry
permanently lit dipped beam headlights.
The picture is spoiled. The noise is not awful but it is
frankly not beautiful. I know very well that our neighbors do not attach too much
importance to this criterion, but we do. All the same
a little ! How to get people to love the motorcycle if the noise is not nice. I do not
I’m not going to stop at that and I’m going on it. Good
position, the controls fall well in the hands. I am 1.83 and my
tummy leans on the tank. Finally when I say on the tank
This is for the picture. The tank I’m sitting on.
Full of information on the computer but I’m here to ride
to read a manual. And since the weather is nice, you might as well take advantage of it. First,
I let go of the clutch and get out of the parking lot.
First impressions: light, fine, good power
a small 800 that seems agile.
National
Direction national to push a little and try to see what
can give its 85 CV. The right handle responds well.
The 85 nags answer the call and make themselves felt. The
800 cm3 imply a feeling of lack of torque at low revs:
normal for someone coming out of a 100 hp 1100.
A few roundabouts later the conclusion is obvious, the machine holds
the road. The aluminum deltabox frame does its job well
and the conti attack with which the rims are equipped suit it
good. The machine plays with the road. Precise, she goes on
the turns one after the other without presenting a single
sign of dissatisfaction. The steering damper plays its sound well
role. The engine follows well if it is kept in the revs. Finally
I hope because with the noise it makes, we would stop
good for him to stop suffering. First reflex oil.
The dealer will confirm later that the quantity of this liquid
so valuable for mechanics was in quantity
sufficient.
The vibrations? Okay, they are there. More important
than on my flat but you have to see in use.
And to stop you have to brake. First observation
when you are used to a BM: you easily forget that a
motorcycle it plunges forward when you brake.
The 800 reminds us that it does not have the damping of
its big sisters but a classic rear shock absorber and a
hydraulic fork at the front. These two elements
were asking to be adjusted to support my
100 kgs. Besides the ABS did not convince me and I prefer
braking of R1100S without ABS.
Conclusion: an economical motorcycle for beginners.
Clearly a good little bike for beginners. The motorcyclist can
change it to 34 hp without any problem. Reduced consumption
and a size that will allow it to do the city as well as
of the road. A nice dress that should please. An engine, which
losing its protuberances should attract new customers.
But an ugly noise like everything: do not buy it without having listened to it.
Exhaust pipes should quickly emerge for
compensate for the sound of the pot but the noise of the mechanics
will remain present in spite of everything.
We must not forget that this is a first contact. Now
you have to travel with it. Torture her over long distances to
see his reactions, feel his comfort as well for
the passenger than for the pilot. Test it on circuit to verify
his limits.
Thank you to the INDIGO dealership in Evry for giving it to me
tried. If you want to get an idea for yourself
even, go see Bruno on behalf of the Biker Den. It is
will be happy to offer you coffee first and then to you
talk about it and maybe he’ll lend it to you if you know
to convince him.
Strong points
- economy
- belt
- look
- displacement
- front wheel valve
Weak points
- the noise, again the noise
- the lack of engine guard (even optional).
- blinkers
- options
User reactions and testimonials on the
motorcycle test forum.
User reactions and testimonials on the guide
motorbike
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