BMW F 850 GS - Test Ride & Review

The new BMW F 850 GS - How good it is?

Finally I had the chance to ride the new BMW F 850 GS. It's came on the motorcycle market last year, but just a month ago they delivered that model in the BMW shop Berlin. I never been a fan of the brand, but I have to confess that it is very good bike. It has 21 -17 wheels, nice design, very good engine and lot of extras. It looks like from BMW really hit the jackpot now. One of the cons I found is the price. This model, with all the extras they offer could easily go over 15,000 euro, which is far more than I am happy to pay for middleweight adventure motorcycle. Also it has a massive weight of 230kg. Anyway, it could be the choice for many of you and I highly recommend to give it a try.

Many of you asked me: what gear I use and where they can find it? I have created this Amazon shop to make it easy for you.
Note: The links I am going to provide are Affiliate. An affiliate link means, that I will earn a small commission, if you decide to buy something and it doesn’t cost you any extra. I don’t feel as if you owe me anything, but if you are going to buy the product anyway, then why not?

[Chris-vqvr]

I thoroughly enjoy watching this guy talk bikes. Top notch reviews. Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺

[CLbiker]

I am very happy with this bike. I don't really feel the wind because I am not that tall like you. Anyway, I love your honesty.

[ioandragulescu]

@22:22 for that money you can get the 2020 africa twin, the non adventure sports manual one, with crash bars and tall windshield and engine guards. And that's a lighter, more powerful and probably a more off road capable machine. Also I would guess cheaper to run and more reliable. Yeah, you would loose the electronically adjustable suspension and tubeless tires but, really ...

[billybilly]

Another frank and honest review - thank you. If you ever run out of ideas for a video maybe you could interview and test ride bikes owned by other adventurers like yourself - like a review of what 2nd hand bikes to buy (self interested as currently looking but with a very limited budget!) - with all the different modifications and tips they have done!

[akiraqato]

Thank you. It‘s always a pleasure to listen to your frank reviews. This happens to be one of my favourites, and I‘ll see how I like it when I take it for a test ride. It is too easy to quibble about the price, but quality does have its price and so does prestige and the brand name. The services have to be done by BMW if you want to keep the warranty, otherwise any good mechanic can do it. The BMW service is only important if you want to maintain the resale value high. Clearly not a budget option, but it is a quality machine, a luxury. The more people there are that can afford this kind of luxury, the better. If more wealthy people spent their time and money going around the world in very expensive motorcycles, it might also make the world a better place for all.

[KristofferBlix]

Hi Pavlin.

I´ve got the 09 F800 GS with a 16L tank. When touring I´m able to do almost 400km on one tank if I avoid highways and speeds over 100km/h. I don´t recon the range are as bad as you may think on this one. The reserve tank on mine is 4L and every F800 GS owner knows to calculate the range by the trip meter and not the computer or the fuel gauge.

Cherrs!

[billybiker]

Hi Pavlin, thank you for the review, nicely put together :)

[inspectorchicken]

Hey Pavlin, thanks for all your input, your reviews and your tips. I followed most of your advice and just came back safe from two weeks of riding from Munich to Montenegro and back. No issues with the bike or the rider. Best Regards :-)

[brucekendall]

The review is incomplete without a dirt ride.I can tell you she is great in the dirt.thks.

[frankmalone]

Spot on and agreed. BMW make very good adv bikes, but too much money

[yorkchris]

BMW was seen as having a good warranty in the industry not long ago. I remember when they tried East German con-rods on one of their later K-bikes. The shop had to return the whole engine to Berlin. BMW seems to do well with engines they part out completely, but I haven't followed any forums lately.

[JakubNvk]

Great review! I've never given the F850GS a thought..thanks for showing it to us :)

[TheGhosTech]

For the price of that bike. You could get a 2nd hand bike for €5000 with low mileage, spend €5000 On all you motorbike gear and accessories and €5000 On a long motorbike road trip some where around the world and still have some money left over for the next trip.

But it's still a nice bike.

[petergoddard]

That’s pretty much all the attention I’ll give this bike. Thanks for the review, Pavlin. You just told me all I wanted to know. Of course it’s a superb piece of engineering, and of premier quality. But it’s heavy, expensive, costly to equip for serious travel, and it will sell just fine for the marketing people. The aftermarket industry will go into overdrive to sell their share of ‘essential’ extras as alternatives to the BMW catalogue, all dripping with superlatives telling us how we must have this and that. It’s a proven cycle, and a bandwagon I prefer to avoid. No decent screen as stock. Again. At least the tank is back where it belongs.

[charakable]

great review again!
funny, learned motorcycle riding at the same place 25 years ago... fond memories :-)

[Mikethebike]

I bought a fully equipped small camper van for that price. Absurd paying 15000 Eu for essentially two wheels and an engine even with a BMW sticker! Crazy. I'll buy a Honda or Yamaha equivalent, but nice review Pavlin

[christovonlimbo]

Hello Pavlin. Another great video. Thanks. I’ve watched many of your videos. Sometimes more than once, and there are still so many more I haven’t watched. You have reviewed many bikes and you address them all pretty consistently. i was wondering if you had a leader board for all these bikes? Thank you kindly. Yeah, i’ve changed my avatar and screen name.

[Telecasters]

How do you think the 850 GS compares to the Africa Twin CRF1000? I remember you liking it a lot too.

[md]

i have a 2017 F800GSA 2300 miles i like it alot but recently it sputters and stalls on me. bad gas?? im taking it to the dealership. but my 2016 KLR woth 8300 miles had this problem only one time.

[migueld]

Why not considering The Tiger 800? Very comfortable, build like a tank (several people used it to travel around the world), real smooth engine, light and agile, 19L tank at around 5L/100 km (in my personal experience). The XC-version is perfect for off-roading. It's my second Triumph, and definitely not my last! A little while ago I met this older guy who had 2 Explores over 8 years time, and 1 GS during 1 year. He said the GS had costed him more over 1 year, then the Explorers during 8 years! Issues all the time with the Beemer, and they cost a fortune!