BMW F 800 GS 2014 — Specifications

Six years after its debut, the BMW F 800 GS had already carved out its place in the mid-size trail category. Not the polished city bike of the F 700 GS, nor the road-going behemoth of the R 1200 GS, but something in between, designed for those who really want to leave the pavement without ruining their backs or emptying their bank accounts. The 2014 version marks a first measured evolution, at the precise moment when the Triumph Tiger 800 XC begins to seriously nibble at Bavarian market share.

BMW hasn't reinvented everything, and that's a conscious decision. The silhouette has been refined, particularly at the front where the lateral profiling gains visual lightness. The smoked turn signals, the new master cylinders, the switches borrowed from the rest of the range, and the now standard display of fuel level and engine temperature constitute the essence of the modifications. Nothing spectacular, but attention to detail that counts when you consult the BMW F 800 GS technical specifications and compare it with less well-finished machines. The inverted fork goes from 45 to 43 mm in diameter, a technical detail that doesn't revolutionize dynamics but testifies to a consistent update of the whole.

The 798 cc parallel-twin remains identical, and that's where the essence of the machine's character lies. Its 85 horsepower at 7500 rpm and its 83 Nm of torque at 5750 rpm define a supple and generous temperament, smooth, easy to dose on trails as well as on the highway. The BMW F 800 GS top speed announced at 200 km/h clearly positions the machine in its register: not a circuit bomb, but a real all-rounder designed for long distances. The consumption, around 3.8 liters per 100 km, and the 16-liter tank offer respectable autonomy for long crossings. Useful novelty: the possibility of restricting the engine to 48 horsepower for A2 license holders, which opens the BMW F 800 GS used market to a younger clientele.

Where this evolution makes sense is in the electronic enrichment. The dual-channel ABS, standard and disconnectable for off-road use, was already present, but now the traction control ASC and the ESA continuous damping system with three operating modes can be added as an option. On a machine whose BMW F 800 GS seat height is 880 mm as standard, but can drop to 820 mm on request, this philosophy of adaptation to the user is consistent. Pilots of modest stature, long hampered by the high ergonomics of serious trails, find a concrete answer here. The wet weight of 214 kg remains within the standard of the segment, without being light for all that.

Priced at 11,064 euros new, the BMW F 800 GS positions itself in the high end of its category. Faced with the Triumph Tiger 800 XC, the comparison is tight: the English play the card of a more lively three-cylinder engine and a very sharp chassis, while BMW focuses on finish, modularity of settings and a solid after-sales network. For the globetrotter who is looking for a machine capable of swallowing the kilometers of everyday life as well as the rocky trails of the weekend, without requiring a high level of technical mastery, this F 800 GS 2014 represents a serious and well-built proposition. Those interested in a BMW F 800 GS Adventure for long-distance travel will find here a solid base to enrich with accessories, the list of options being sufficiently comprehensive to personalize the machine according to its ambitions.