After about 8,000 miles on the BMW F800ST, I now fully understand its character and personality. And, I like it. It is exactly what I thought it was when I got it. It is an “old guys” sport bike. Hopefully BMW won’t find this insulting, but of all the sport bikes I’ve ridden, this one is the best fit. It has a more upright riding position than most sport bikes. However, it has enough forward lean to take pressure off my aging spine. It is also a more comfortable to ride than a traditional sport bike. I don’t know if this was BMW’s intent when they designed the bike, but it sure works for me.
When I was first looking at sport bikes, a read a lot of reviews. The BMW F800ST jumped out at me. It has received a lot of good reviews. At 800-cc’s, it seemed big enough, without having too much power to get me into trouble. And, 8,000 miles later, it has lived up to all of my expectations.
BMW F800ST Model Overview
The BMW F800ST is classified as a middle-weight sport-touring motorcycle. In BMW’s product line, the F800ST is considered an entry level motorcycle. And, it fits in this category very well. The F800ST is powered by a water-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder engine producing 85 horsepower. Although it looks like a sport-bike, it has a full fairing, high windshield and touring-oriented ergonomics, such as raised handlebars. The F800ST feels equally at home riding around town, carving twisty mountain roads, or doing some light long-distance touring. Weighing only 450 pounds, the F800ST is much lighter than most touring bikes such as the BMW R1200RT, Kawasaki Concours 14 or Honda ST1300. This makes the bike light and maneuverable, and not very intimidating. The gas tank is located under the seat, lowering the center of gravity, and further improving the F800ST cornering and handling. The Brembo brakes add excellent stopping power, and optional ABS rounds out the safety features.
Performance and Specifications
The BMW F800ST has 85 hp (62.5 kW) at 8,000 rpm and 63 lb/ft (86 Nm) of torque at 5,800 rpm. This is more than enough power for most riding, even highway passing. There is enough power and torque at low RPM to put along with traffic, while at mid to high RPM the F800ST performs more like a high-performance sport bike. Don’t mistake me, this isn’t a Yamaha R1 in racing form, but it will add excitement to your ride. On the touring side, the windshield provides reasonable wind protection, especially compared to most sport bikes. However, you will find that long rides at highway speeds can be tiring after a few hours.
The instrumentation is very nice, with an analog speedometer and tachometer, and digital screen with an optional on board computer. The onboard computer will tell you things such as how many miles until you run out of gas, when your tire pressure is too low, how many mpg you are getting, and when you are ready for your next service.
The Brembo brakes work very well, providing more than enough grab for a quick stop. The ABS system also works very well. You don’t feel too much pulsing even during hard stops.
One of the key features of many BMW motorcycles is the seat height options. Tall? Short? No problem! The F800ST has a standard seat height of 32.3 inches, with a low seat option at 31.1 inches, and a low suspension option lowering the seat height by approximately 2.4 inches.
I’ve had endless complements on the look of the F800ST. Even my daughter thinks the F800ST looks cool, and I don’t often get complements from her. I’ve even had riding buddies tell me how the sound of my F800ST turns heads of pedestrians as I’m riding by them.
I have only two minor complaints. Wind protection is good, up to a point. Long rides at 65 mph can get tiring, since the windshield channels considerable wind to the chest and head. You can always tuck behind the windshield, as most sport bike riders do, but that’s not comfortable for long rides either. The other issue is the mirrors. I have relatively broad shoulders, but not outrageously wide. Although the mirrors look great, and have very little vibration so you can see clearly behind you, I see as much of my arms as the road behind me. It is easy enough to move around on the bike to see behind you, but as they sit, they are better design for a narrower or smaller body than mine.
Is the BMW F800ST Right for You?
Is the BMW F800ST right for you? The F800ST has been right for me for the past two years. BMW positions the F800ST as a motorcycle for three types of riders. It is a middle-weight, sport tourer with a good all round bike demeanor for those that don’t want sport ergonomics or touring bike weight and bloat. It is a good size for those moving up from a smaller, starter bike in the 250-cc to 450-cc category. It is also a good bike for shorter folks, especially those who can benefit from the low-seat option.
If you want a sporty looking bike, but don’t want, or can no longer stand, the discomfort associated with sport bike ergonomics, the F800ST may be right for you. It is great for booting around town, commuting to work, and heading into the hills or country on weekends. However, if your view of riding is heading across the country doing 500 miles a day, the “touring” in sport touring may not live up to your expectations. Wind protection is only marginally better than a sport bike, and a long distance in the seat at highway speeds can be tiring.
review: Motorcycle Reviews
Picture tag: motorcycle, road trip, BMW R1200RT, Powder River Pass, Highway 16, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming
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Thanks for this review. Very helpful!
Hi to all F800ST riders. I took a 2009 F800ST for a test drive, its the first time that I driven one. During the ride I picked up that you can here the engine roar under you. After the ride I asked the salesman about the roar, but he informed me that its absolutely normal on all the F800 bikes, he also mentioned that its the question that everybody asked after their first ride.
What I want to ask from the F800ST riders is if they experienced the same thing as I had. Another question that I would like to know is what other problems did you experience with the F800ST.
I’m not sure what you mean about an engine roar. Every motorcycle has its own unique sound. I didn’t notice anything unusual about mine. After 8,000 miles, I never had any major problems. Only service other than break-in and 6,000 mile service was to replace the ignition key detector ring and an air intake hose. Both were warranty recalls. I never noticed any problem. I occasionally had a weird neutral indicator problem. I would put it into what seemed like neutral, but the display didn’t show it being in neutral or 1st gear, just blank. Dealership couldn’t find anything wrong. Never interfered with riding the bike, but occasionally I needed to play with the gear to find neutral when starting.
I have an 09, bought new with 7500 km on the clock now. Mine has ABS, tyre pressure monitor, factory panniers and top box, all of which are options on Australian bikes. Aust. models get the computer and centre stand as standard. My wife also has an 09, bought new, the factory low suspension model, but standard seat, with ABS. Low suspension examples lose the centre stand for clearance reasons. On standard pipes, ours sound reminiscent of the flat twins. They have a great feel to all the controls, maybe a little less vibration and high revs would not be unwelcome. A fairly upright riding position works well for we “over 50-but not ‘old’ riders”. No reliability issues with either bike. We love the sharp handling and flick-ability. The under seat fuel tank helps, as do the wide bars. Very comfy on a long trip, very thrifty on fuel. While the ST does not have huge power and torque, what is does have is delivered in a very linear fashion from low revs. I had an Aprilia RS1000T (Futura) and a VFR800 (pre-v-tec) previously. The BMW is 30-35 kg lighter than either of those, so the on-paper power deficiency well offset.
oldboystoys.com is full of interesting articles!
I have not been able to test drive this bike yet, I’m still learning. However I like its look and paper spec and I’m definitely an oldie. However a younger acquaintance test rode one recently and said at low speeds it felt like he was driving a smaller bike (he drives a Honda VFR800 and a NTV) and that at cruising speeds i.e. 55mph and over there was a pronounced vibration in the lefthand bar. If the latter is correct I’d have thought BMW would have addressed the problem or would that have been bike specific?
The F800ST doesn’t have the smack you in the face acceleration jolt of some sport bikes. But, if you are just learning to ride, this may be a good bike to start on. I rode a Triumph Speed Triple not long ago. Crank the throttle and it just about pulls your arms out of their sockets. Maybe I’m just getting old, but I’m more into the fun of riding, rather than the adrenaline rush. The F800ST has about 85 horsepower. There are 600cc sport bikes out there with over 100hp. Your friend’s VFR800 probably has about 110hp. If you are looking for the fastest bike around, the F800ST definitely isn’t it. However, it has a nice smooth throttle response, and pulls well from 0 mph on up. If you are justing learning to ride, 85hp is plenty, and you will be less likely to get into trouble with too much power. I find the F800ST upright riding position more comfortable than a sport bike. It has a nice balance of your weight between the seat, handlebars and foot pegs, while still looking like you are on a sport bike. As for highway speeds, I’d agree that there is some handlebar vibration, but it never bothered me too much. My biggest issue at highway speeds was wind. The small fairing seems to direct the wind right onto your chest. After about 3 hours of riding, I’m tired from the wind. If most of your riding will be 0 to 55 mph, then the F800ST is a fun bike. You definitely won’t regret buying it. If you plan to do a lot of highway riding, or track days, I’m not sure that I’d recommend it. I’ve never found the perfect motorcycle for all types of riding. My R1200RT is wonderful on the highway, but big and heavy for speeds below 55 mph. My Triumph Bonneville T100, at about 65hp, is probably the most fun for just tooling around town, but lacks the suspension for twisty mountain roads. It depends on what you want in a bike, and what type of riding you do. Take a test ride and decide for yourself. Let me know how your test ride goes, and if you have any questions after the ride.
I am thinking about the BMW 800, your review is a great source of information. I have an old ’82 CB750 which I love. I wondered if you could give me some comparison on the relative weights of each bike. I don’t want something much heavier than my old 750, do you think the BMW is heavier?
Chris, I once had a 1982 (or so) Honda CB650 custom. But, that was a long time. To the best of my memory, here is what I think. Your ’82 CB750 is probably quite a bit heavier than the BMW F800ST. Back in those days most motorcycle parts were made of metal. The BMW F800ST has a lot of plastic parts, making it lighter. The F800 twin cylinder is narrower than the CB750 four cylinder, and probably considerably lighter. I think the F800 might feel taller than the CB750, but its lighter weight shouldn’t make it feel more top heavy. Your CB750 probably has a more upright riding position than the F800. The F800 has a sportier forward riding position. You will also notice that the F800 has a stiffer sport-oriented suspension. The F800 is designed to handle twisty roads, so will have less sway, or sideways movement, in turns than the ’82 CB750. On the other hand, the stiffer suspension means you may feel road bumps a little more on the F800 than the CB750. A lot has changed in bikes since 1982, so I’m sure you will notice many more differences. Most should be positive, though.
I have a 2007 F800ST. When I went for my first long ride, I thought to myself what the hell have I bought. The riding position was sooo uncomfortable…. 2 hours later I couldn’t feel my hands, both my neck and wrists hurt not to mention a numb bum, I was happy to get off the thing. Basically, the handle bars are too low and footpegs too high. Ok for 20 year olds but not for those of us who are older…..The good news is that with around $500 you can rectify the ergonomics and make the F800ST into a truely comfortable sports tourer. First thing I got was a set of Verholen Adjustable Handlebar Risers (plus an addition front brake hose extension as my bike has ABS) which raised the bars 70mm. Second thing was a foot peg relocator kit, this dropped the pegs about 30mm and bought them ~10mm forward. Having made these changes I now can spend a couple of hours in the saddle without pain, but I’m still considering an Airhawke seat cushion for longer rides. Having made these changes, am I happy with my F880ST? I certainly am Ollie.
My limit was about 3 hours. I had people suggest changing the handlebars. I wasn’t convinced that was my problem. Glad to hear it helped you. I explored getting a Corbin seat, but wasn’t convinced that was my problem either. To me, it seemed like the windshield funneled all of the wind onto my chest above about 55 mph. I think that was the route of my problem. Did you do anything with the stock windshield? On the positive side, I’ve ridden several pure sport bikes. They are even worse at highway speeds unless you tuck behind the bikini windshield. Compared to them, the F800ST seems comfortable.
I’ve left the original windscreen however, after you fix one problem the others seem to become more noticeable. Speaking of sports bikes, a friend bought a Honda CBR 600 RR and now it’s up for sale as he can’t ride it! He cramps up just after 30 mins and has to stop and stretch. He said that at high speed the wind on his upper torso actually alleviates the pressure on his lower arms but to do this he needs to ride above the speed limit. I have seen one or two F800STs with larger windscreens and would investigate if I was to plan a major trip.
I got a GIVI Double Bubble Windshield from F800depot.com. It’s 2.75 inches taller than the standard ST windshield. It helped somewhat. I could ride at about 65 mph, rather than 55 mph, before the wind started to bug me. I was told that anything taller and I would get too much wind buffeting, and it would defeat the purpose.
Although I try to avoid riding in the rain….How do find that GIVI in the rain? Is there any noticeable benefit ? Any dryer?
Although you wouldn’t know it given the last few months, we don’t get much rain where I live. I can usually ride 10 months of the year without any rain. Even when it rains, it is usually only a light sprinkle, not the huge downpours in many other areas in the country. I guess that’s a long way of saying I’m not sure. I try to avoid riding in the rain. I don’t recall much of a difference, but I’m not sure I’ve ridden enough in the rain to make a fair comparison.
One other comment. Have you sat on an air seat cushion? If not, you may want to try it before buying one. I have a friend with one on his Harley. He loves it. I sat on it, and hated it. To me, it seemed like you lose touch with the seat. I think that I use my butt and hips to control the bike as much as the handlebars. You lose that ability with an air cushion. I have an Alaska Sheepskin butt pad for my BMW RT. I used it for awhile, went back to just the stock seat. I think that I move around too much on my seat when riding to be comfortable with anything that loses feel of the bike. If you try something, let me know. Maybe I’m not giving this solution enough time.
Matter of fact I just bought one, so I’ll keep you posted on how I find it. I was warned by the salesman however, not to over inflate it. He claims that if you do, any benefits would be negated…
Maybe that was my problem with the one on my friend’s Harley. It had to be 1-1/2 inches thick. It felt like you were sitting on an air mattress on a motorcycle seat. A very uncomfortable feeling for me. But, he loves it. It may be a matter of taste, or a matter of riding style. I’m not sure.
Took some time however, I can finally report on the Airhawke seat cushion: After a bit of experimentation I’ve found it to be extremely comfortable and well worth the $160. I was warned not to over inflate it and that advice proved spot on. The best result was when it was barely inflated, just enough to separate me from the saddle. Due to the low inflation, you don’t feel like you’re on an air mattress and as a result no undue slipping around on the saddle. So all I need now is some time and good weather to enjoy the ride……
Bought a pre-owned ’07 F800ST in March of ’08. I was getting back into riding after about 35 years off. My age – middle 60′s. This bike is optioned out with the trip computer, ABS, heated grips, center stand. Nice. I am 6′ tall, 175 lbs. and the bike fits me perfectly. First – power: This bike is beyond merely adequate for all intents and purposes except maybe racing. It will do 0 to 60 in about 3.5 seconds. It can rip by traffic at highway speeds with a flick of the wrist. With the broad torque curve you do not have to continually downshift to accelerate through turns . . . above about 5K rpm the bike is simply fast. Handling – I found the front suspension too mushy with considerable dive during hard braking. Not confidence inspiring for me. Bought a set of HyperPro progressive rate springs. The kit included a quart of 15 wt hydraulic oil. Changed out the springs and the factory 10 wt shock oil, and it’s a different bike. Most of the nose dive under hard braking is gone, and it’s far more stable holding a line through the corners. For some reason way better in cross winds, too. This is definitely the single best thing you could do for this bike. If you are not a good home mechanic, simply buy the kit and have your dealer install it. I strongly recommend it. Seat comfort – not the best. Seat is not broad and flat enough for my bony butt. Tried an Alaska Leathers sheepskin . . . a fair improvement but not quite the answer. Now have an Air Hawk inflatable pad . .. this costs some security on the seat as my butt floats around a bit, but it’s another step up from the OEM seat. Still not perfect, and it’s tempting to try the Sargent seat offering, but that’s pricey . . . so will wait on that. ABS – has worked flawlessly for me . . . can get some rear brake ABS flutter during a hard stop but never a rear wheel lockup, thank you. One nice thing about that ABS flutter in the pedal is that it has helped train me to get the pedal pressure just right to avoid the flutter and the impending lock up during a hard stop. The brakes are great with good feel and light lever pull, light enough for easy two finger operation. Clutch pull is light also with very smooth engagement. Windscreen – could be better. The turbulence hits your square in the chest and is annoying at 60 mph+. I tried a couple of options but settled on the SkidMarx Double Bubble available from Rob at F800 Depot. The air still hits your chest but the flow is smoother at high speeds so far less annoying. This screen looks very nice too. After 10,000 miles this bike has proven to be highly reliable with the only two problems a dead battery (new batt fixed that) and an oil leak at the cam cover gasket (fixed under warranty). Also had the recalls for the fuel hose and the ignition key sensor ring. Dealer support has been outstanding. At the 12,000 mile service they checked the valve clearance and it was right on the factory spec. The dealer technician told me that if it stays the same to 18,000 miles it will probably never need adjustment over the life of the bike. In sum I am very pleased with the F800ST. My use includes the usual around town stuff plus weekend rides of up to 250 miles per trip so far. Planning a longer trip for this fall so will see how that works out.
Ron, did you see Jeff’s comment about the Airhawk seat cushion. He just barely inflates it and finds it comfortable without feeling like your butt is floating around. You might experiment with the amount of air. One other thing you might experiment with. I have an Alaskan Sheep Skin butt pad on my BMW RT. I found it quite comfortable, and you don’t get the floating feeling. It is relatively inexpensive. Here is some information:
http://oldboystoys.com/2010/09/09/blog/alaska-sheepskin-buttpad/
On the flip side, after almost a year of riding my RT with the Alaskan sheep skin butt pad, I took it off because it got wet. After riding the bike without the butt pad, I discovered that I no longer find the seat uncomfortable. I guess the butt pad helped me get used to the seat. I just did a 10,000 mile ride across the country and back with the stock seat and found it quite comfortable. Like me, you may find your butt gets used to the seat after a while, and you no longer need the Air Hawk.
Anybody know of a good passenger backrest available for our beasts?
I put a Givi V46 top box on the back of mine and paid the extra to include a back rest. Unfortunately, it sits a little too high for the small of my wife’s back, it’s ok but not that comfortable. To compensate I moved the top box further back. Depending on the pillions height, the top box back rest could be an option.
dear all.
there’s a lot, we are talk about f800st, not even ones telling how bad this bike. . i own zx10 2010, 2006 yamaha r1, and really enjoy with my latest ducati 1100 hypermortard. .but why im keep looking an issue, proberly something bad about this bike…. coz i just comeback from 1500 miles road tour with f800st 2009, not mine. . it really enjoy…rilex..and fun bike to ride on.. and plan to get it next month.. will cost me,, malaysia ringgit 70k. . and its worth it.. just tell me. . where can i find bad thing about this bike..
regard.
kz
malaysia..
and im only 62kg weight. 5.7′ height..
Hi brotherkz,
In my opinion, the only bad thing about the f800st is that it can be uncomfortable (seat and original riding position). But if you have ridden one for 1500 miles and found it comfortable, then my friend there are no problems.
Regards
Geoff
I agree with Geoff, the only negative issue I found with the F800ST is comfort. Particularly when you first get the F800ST, and are not used to the forward-leaning riding position. But, it’s all relative. It depends on what bike you compare it to. The forward-leaning riding position can be tiring on the arms after a while, but not as uncomfortable as a pure sport bike like an R1. Try doing 1500 miles on your R1. After a few weeks of riding the F800ST, I actually started to like having some weight on my arms. It has a nice balance between weight on my feet, hands and butt. It was much easier on my back, especially if I hit any bumps. Although I explore some alternative seats, I eventually got used to the stock seat. I also got used to the forward riding position. For me, the only remaining negative is wind at over 65 mph. Even a larger windshield didn’t dramatically help. Maybe if I did a lot of highway riding I’d get used to that as well. Brotherkz, maybe being 5.7′ tall is an advantage, since you are more tucked away from the wind. Regardless, any bike you can do a 1500 mile road tour and say you enjoyed it is great in my view.
Bryan
I have a 2008 F800st just came back from a trip in canada just about 900 miles, the bike just hit 15,000 miles and is working great…. love it … I change the windshield with a 19.5 in by ztechnik and got a corbin seat and is much more confortable,,, love the power and good balance of the Bike….
I just took my first test drive on a 2007 F800ST. Loved how it handled, love it’s safety features, but the sides right where the inside of my upper legs grip the bike were hot as the devil. Maybe I’m positioning myself on it incorrectly, having ridden a Yamaha Silverado 1100 for the last two years (totally different species of bike!) or maybe it’s my height (5′ 6″). Has anyone else noticed this as a problem?
Carolyn
I notice the same thing on very hot days. Especially if I just wearing jeans. The engine gives off quite a bit of heat. I find wearing protective motorcycle pants also protects from the heat.
Just been bought the f800st….Im short, 5 foot nothing, so luckily hubby bought a factory lowerd one! Fab! My feet touch the ground. My problem is, well not a problem as I LOVE this bike is my neck….being short the reach means that I am fairly streched, and my head neck is in a weird postion to see! Wrists, hands are fine, just the neck. No problem with wind, in fact can’t believe how protected I feel. My last bike was a Virago 535, so a HUGE change for me…love love this bike, just need to sort neck pain, any ideas?
If you just started riding the F800, you might want to give it a few weeks. My neck and arms bothered me for about the first 3 weeks. I wasn’t used to leaning forward, and the weight on my arms and my head rotated upwards. On standard bikes or cruisers, your head is upright and you are simply rotating your head sideways to shoulder check. This doesn’t put much strain on your neck. On sport bikes, and to some degree on the F800, you are rotating and lifting your head to shoulder check. This puts more of a strain on your neck muscles. It took several weeks, but the muscles in the back and side of my neck eventually adapted to the riding position. I was fine after that. Maybe someone else can comment if the did anything specific for this. Bryan.
Thanks for that…..def the riding position…..doing lots of stretches, today felt better, but not a lot….struggling with the mirrors, elboes IN to see anthing, but am so very happy with bike!
Yes, the mirrors are great for looking at your elbows. I found that if I make sure the arms are straight out rather than angled back it helps. It gets them as far out as possible. Then angle the mirrors appropriately, while keeping the arms straight. That may seem obvious, but I rode for a few weeks simply adjusting the mirrors by moving the whole arm, with the mirror straight with the arm. Bryan
Will try and re ajust the mirrors later on today. Thank you for helping out! I’m having such fun! Going for a group ride today, so will take pain killers before i leave and probably a heat patch for my neck! THANKS
Hi Carolyn,
I had a similar issue with my neck [see my initial post], I fixed it with handle bar extenders.
http://www.creativecycleconcepts.com/index.cfm?carttoken=8OX14X2101811031244&action=ViewDetails&ItemID=538752&Category=1938
As for the mirrors, you might want to get some extenders:
http://f800depot.com/evolution-mirror-extenders-s-st.html
Cheers
Geoff
I’ve had my used 2008 F800st for just over a year. Got it with 31,000 miles on it and have now gone over 41,000. One owner and still under waranty at the time of purchase! Absolutely love it. Put over 1,000 miles on it last weekend. I was waiting to comment until the 1st longer trip. It satisfies all my needs: daily commuter, weekend get about, and long trip. I added handle bar risers, Sargent seat (eliminates the crotch creep), peg lowering kit, throttle lock (for longer cruising), and a Parabellum windscreen. The wind just hits the top of my helmet (I’m 6’0 tall). The wind screen even reduces the wind off of the hands & arms. It is also adjustable depending on how much wind you want. I have riden several types and models over the years and haven’t found anything yet that makes me want to trade. I get no lower than 50mpg no matter how hard I ride it. Averaging 55.5mpg since the purchase. Just plain fun!
Sounds like you’ve got the F800ST dialed in. It is particularly nice to hear about a windshield that provides better wind protection. I checked out the Parabellum web site to see the windshield. Wow, it is really tall. I was told by one of the after-market windshield providers that a tall windshield would cause a lot of wind buffeting due to the front end design of the F800ST. Obviously Parabellum have found a design that blocks the wind without creating buffeting. Which height windshield do you have? Thanks for sharing information on your modifications. It’s very helpful. Bryan
25″. It is a very easy install. It has 2 adjustable bolts that allow you to set the height angle as you need. I found the stock screen to force the wind just under my helmet and would start to lift at higher peeds. I haven’t found any buffeting. I looked at VStream as well. I think the Parabellum gives you more flexibilty to adjust for summer riding (more air) and winter (less air). I’m very satisfied.
As my rear foot peg rubbers were starting to come away, I rang up the local BMW dealer to get a price for replacements……After falling off my chair I did some searching and found the following
http://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/Parts.php?T=5&NU=15&M=70&Ct=MA&SbCt=BA_15_70_MA_30
Ordered the following:
4 x Footrest rubber front and rear ( F800S / F800ST ) | FRA71079
4 x Bracket ( F800S / F800ST ) | FRA71229
8 x M5x12 torx screw for foot peg plate ( F800S / F800ST ) | FRA04849
Delivered for AUD $120
How does the 800 st do for 2 up riding? I’ve got a klr 650 and my wife rides with me probably 80% of the time these days. We really need a bigger bike for 2 up riding.
Don,
I may not be the best person to answer this question, but here are my thoughts. I got the BMW top case with the back pad to make the F800ST more comfortable for a passenger. My teenage daughters didn’t complain, but I think that kids would enjoy a motorcycle ride even if strapped to the fender. I don’t think that my wife would enjoy riding on my motorcycle regardless of comfort level. I’ve never ridden a KLR 650, or been a passenger on one, so I don’t know how it compares to the F800ST. Power wise, the F800ST has over twice the horsepower of a KLR650, so you will see a major improvement in performance with a passenger. In my opinion, the passenger seat of the F800ST is more comfortable than a sport bike, but that isn’t saying much. Compared to my BMW R1200RT, however, the RT has a much better passenger seat. But, the F800ST is more fun and sporty to ride. I did look into getting a Corbin seat (http://www.corbin.com/bmw/bmwf800st7cds.shtml) to improve the riding comfort for both me and a passenger. It looks quite nice, and I’ve heard good things from friends with Corbin seats. But, I got used to the stock seat, and don’t carry a passenger very much, so I never followed through with the purchase. Hopefully someone else can give a wife’s or girlfriend’s perspective.
Regards, Bryan
Thanks. I have a Corbin seat for my klr and it did improve the comfort. Little pricey but worth it. It’s leather and I have always liked a leather seat better than vinyl.
I’m sold on the 800st if it provides a good passenger ride. I’ll go to the dealer as soon as I get my tax return and take one for test drive with my wife.
The F800ST is a very fun bike. Assuming that your wife finds it comfortable, I think you will enjoy it.
what about the stalling of the bike at any speed.have read a lot of complains about it and with no solution .it can be quite dangerous.i have read some other problems common for many owners which most got fixed in warranty some not ,but what stops me from buyiing this bike is the stalling.
THGANK YOU AND WISH SAFE DRIVES!
Madmax,
I’ve never had any problems with my bike stalling. I also don’t know anyone who had the problem to find out how it was fixed. In 2009 my bike was recalled to fix a breather hose under the seat that could be pinched, and needed to be rerouted. The problem apparently affected F800ST’s from 2008 to 2010. I don’t know if this was the problem you are referring to. I searched the web and found some posts about the problem. It is difficult to tell from the posts if the problem still exists on new bikes. I’ll do some research to see if I can find any specific information about the problem, and the fix.
Bryan
thx!
actually the people who mentioned this problem did not find solution.in some cases bmw said it was the fuel pump and after the change owners saw only improvement but not totaly resolve of the problem.in other cases they were told this and that but no permanent solution.
Manos