5th Gen VFR / BMW F800S initial comparison

Hey Gang,

Ever since I saw a BMW F800S I just liked the look of it. While I love the VFR (both my former first gen and my current 5th gen) my eyes kept coming back to the little BMW. I posted here to see if anyone had one so they could give me an honest comparison. Maybe this was a plea for someone to talk me out of buying one. Well, no one replied so I guess someone had to buy one so I could get my comparison. In this initial "comparo" I'm mostly preaching to the choir about the VFR but perhaps a lurker who isn't on a VFR and can't decide between the two will make use of it.
So, here is my initial comparison of two bikes that aren't produced anymore:

Currently, I am digging the look of the F800S. I just love the look of a half-fairing bike and the Sunset Yellow color (I call it yellow/orange) color is so damn cool. The belt drive makes for a clean look... And a clean bike! I wish the engine was black like the new BMW F800R but hey, you can't have everything. Maybe if the engine blows up under warranty they'll give me a black one. (No, I'm not hoping for black engine that badly).
The VFR is an amazing machine and I know why we all love it so much. The 5th gen engine really is phenomenal. For starters it is the best sounding bike that I've ever heard. Like a Ducati but with civility and more technology. And the gear-driven cam sound is a sound you don't really hear outside racing engines. That said the "seat of the pants" feeling on this bike is off the charts. When you twist the throttle it feels like someone is just grabbing you by the chest and yanking you forward. I say yanking you forward instead of pushing you because it doesn't have that inline four, out of control, front end in the air, feel. It is a direct rush of power. While the BMW F800S is supposed to have a lot of torque feel for the weight and has almost the same 1/4 mile time the VFR, the VFR feels like it has 400 more CCs than the BMW. Maybe I just have really good VFR (hey, it could happen). The Beemer needs a slip-on as it currently sounds anemic (I'm not into loud bikes, in fact, they annoy me, I just like it to sound good). Also on the plus side VFR side it is crazy stable. At low or at high speed it feels like it is half magnet and half gyroscope. I'm not a top end guy but it pulls right through 100mph with abandon and complete composure and shows no signs that it will stop pulling or lose its cool while doing it. Finally the VFR is supposed to be one of the most reliable bikes ever. There are guys out there on the VFRD forum with HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of miles on a VFR without a rebuild. That is crazy for a bike with a 12,000RPM redline.
As for the F800S. I bought it because I'm a serious bicyclist and former long time bicycle racer. A few times a week I'm on my 17lb. titanium road bike. I'm so comfortable with bicycling that I actually feel more comfortable shooting through a downhill corner at 50mph (while wearing wearing lycra) on 1" tires than I do when I'm on a motorcycle and in my Vanson and Sidis. That said, I wanted something that felt lighter than the 500lb VFR and the 400lb F800S feels lighter... significantly so. I think one reason would be the lower center of gravity from the engine and the under the saddle gas tank (yup, that hump has no fuel in it. The steering feels much lighter too. Almost too light when tracking though a corner even though it comes with a stock steering dampener. In parking lots it handles much more easily than the VFR. The suspension on the BMW is definitely better for me. (Stock set up on both bikes and I'm 6'0" and 175 lbs.) The BMW seems to be smoother over the little bumps (holding the road better) and it doesn't transmit the big bumps in the same way that the VFR does. In all fairness though neither bike has had the suspension tuned or modified so that could even the playing field. The ABS and tire pressure monitoring on the BMW are both definitely welcome safety additions in my book. I don't know that I would ever buy a new bike without ABS if that was an option. The shifting is smooth but not quite as smooth as the VFR. Even so, I don't have any issues with it. This sounds silly but the BMW is fun to ride in a way that a moped was when I first hopped on one as a kid. It just feels like more of a fun (albeit sophisticated) toy than a racing machine. It's funny but if these were cars I would say the the VFR is more like my Mercedes (which I love) and the F800S is more like my old Acura Integra (which I also loved). I'm not an iron butt kind of guy. While I'm fine doing a 200 mile day on a motorcycle I spend most of my riding within 50 miles of home, bombing the backroads. That's why I think that the F800S just feels more suited to that for me than the VFR right now. The F800S is just a fun bike. On the highway or long distance, no contest... I'll take the VFR's power, reliability and wind protection.
I was tempted to buy a bigger BMW as I love the idea of a ton of HP and a fast bike but I have to be realistic about what kind of riding I'm doing right now. Right now the VFR is for sale. Will I regret selling the VFR? Probably. I was bummed after I sold my '86 VFR and I tried other bikes in between until I came back to it. Here we go again...[image: Posted Image]

Thanks for the comparison, it is very interesting. I've always liked this BMW, ever since I've test-driven one--although I had next to no experience on sport bikes at the time and couldn't really appreciate its qualities, except maybe weight which I think is great. I really like the idea of a mid-size sport tourer such as this BMW (sport touring version is not the one you tested, but my understanding is that it is basically the same bike) considering how much power they can produce. Now, for riding with a pillion, that may not be ideal... But i believe they have a good engine on their hands. As for the VFR, well, we all know it's darn good--although I never rode the 5th gen, I own a 6th.
One question though, why do you say that BOTH bikes are not produced anymore? Don't they produce this BMW anymore?
In any case, thanks!
C

[image: View Post]PolarBear, on 12 November 2010 - 02:01 PM, said:

One question though, why do you say that BOTH bikes are not produced anymore? Don't they produce this BMW anymore?


Well, kinda... The F800S was only available in the US in 2007 although I think the run overseas was from 2006-2010. It has been replaced by the very similar but completely naked, final chain drive F800R.
You can still get the F800ST which is BMWs solution to the VFR800. It is the sister bike to the F800S but with the addition of a full fairing, bars instead of clip-ons and different wheels. BMW also has call kinds of fancy stuff available like the onboard computer and heated grips (both of which I have on my F800S). It should also be noted for riders with shorter legs that BMW offers three seats, the stock seat, low and extra low.

I added a new BMW F800R to my VFR800 (6 Gen) in April, and i've ridden it more than the VFR or the KLR combined. I bought it with the intention of riding it in the city only, but i have found it is such a likeble bike to ride, I use it as first choice when ever I go out.

I would agree with most of what AvalonRacing had to say. My R has the computer (distracting that one!), heated grips and ABS and I've used them all. Unlike the S/ST mine has a chain. It doesn't come with a centre stand, but BMW makes a kit that has everything in it to install a centre stand (took 30 minutes). Now I can check the chain and lube it with out gimmicks!

I am fine with the exhaust, the sound has (to my ear-plugged ears) a nice raspy bite to it, and it crackles nicely on the over run, so no change there. I put a Ventura rack system on it, which holds a Givi top box, and mostly vanishes when there is nothing on it (the rack pops off - sort of).

The R feels significantly lighter than the VFR, more so than the specs indicate it should. At slow speeds it is a blast it is so manouverable.

The seat is not much fun after an hour or so, and 200 km is agony! The low beam headlight is wimpy (it does a great job of letting other drivers see you, not of illuminating the roadway), the high beam is great.

The engine is kind of buzzy as you would expect from a twin, even with the vestigial third conrod for balance, and it aways feels like it needs to be wound out to get anything done. I find it really hard to ride the vFR and then the R and convinc emyself they are both 800 cc engines. The VFR feels like it has more low end torque and masses of higher rev HP. The VFR does the acceleration thing way better than the BMW, and it is far more stable in cross winds than the BMW as well.

I haven't reached the point of selling the VFR, and probably won't, but it won't pack on any serious miles any more! It is a truly fun bike!!!!

John

Thanks for the comparos, guys. :fing02:

I looked at the BMW 800s a few years ago, and even entertained selling/trading my VFR for a leftover bike during a fall sale at the local dealer a couple years ago, but couldn't convince myself to do it. They seem like terrific bikes, but with my VFR already customized to my liking, I just couldn't see selling/trading for such a similar machine, esp. one with less power than mine.

To be clear - my VFR has enough power for me, but I wouldn't want less hp than what I already have. :tongue:

Can't say I'm surprised at your decision Avalon, I've got two mates that have variations of these F800 thingys and they swear by 'em.

I like that there's some good choices around the 800c mark these days. Yeah, sometimes I feel I could upsize but let's face it, most of us really don't need much more HP/Torque than what's available from your average 750/800cc bike (doesn't matter what configuration).

I've had half an eye on one of them F800GSs ever since they've been released. Just can't bring myself to make the decision to leave my 5th Gen and spend the $s. Plus now there's the new Trumpy 800 and the new Honda Crossrunner - both of which I really like .... choices choices :mellow:

Thanks for taking the time to write up the comparison. What about the gas mileage on the beemer? I've heard those Rotax motors get mpg averages in the 60s. Any truth to this? If so, that's awesome mileage, which makes my 46 mpg average appear paultry. Definitely a cool bike. I really like the F800GS, and if I had $13k burning a hole in my pocket, I'd buy one.

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 12 November 2010 - 04:10 PM, said:

Plus now there's the new Trumpy 800 and the new Honda Crossrunner - both of which I really like .... choices choices :mellow:


:offtopic: If you're intersted in a capable off-road bike, I would say the Crossrunner does not belong in the same category as the new off-road Triumph and the F800GS. I think the CR is almost completely street oriented. All cool bikes though.

[image: View Post]jaimev34, on 12 November 2010 - 04:24 PM, said:

Thanks for taking the time to write up the comparison. What about the gas mileage on the beemer? I've heard those Rotax motors get mpg averages in the 60s. Any truth to this? If so, that's awesome mileage, which makes my 46 mpg average appear paultry. Definitely a cool bike. I really like the F800GS, and if I had $13k burning a hole in my pocket, I'd buy one.



I haven't done an exact check of the mileage but yes, it seems to get crazy mpg. I can't get the bars to go down the the gauge. I'm not a commuter or a distance guy, so I'm kind of either on the throttle or off of it. Because of that I would be surprised if I ever got 30mpg on the VFR. According to people on the F800 forum they are regularly getting well in to the 50mpgs. I would think that if you could get 46 on the VFR you could get 60s on the Beemer.

[image: View Post]jaimev34, on 12 November 2010 - 04:27 PM, said:

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 12 November 2010 - 04:10 PM, said:

Plus now there's the new Trumpy 800 and the new Honda Crossrunner - both of which I really like .... choices choices :mellow:


:offtopic: If you're intersted in a capable off-road bike, I would say the Crossrunner does not belong in the same category as the new off-road Triumph and the F800GS. I think the CR is almost completely street oriented. All cool bikes though.


Yeah thx Jamie, I know that - and I agree that these three bikes aren't necessarily all in the same category (Crossrunner is the odd one out).

But I'm not really after off road, I'm looking for a capable and comfortable crap-road muncher (longer suspension travel) plus more upright ergos.

And, if I'm being honest, I'm looking for something with ABS - I don't reckon I can justify to myself much longer not having that safety feature - especially with a young family!

Member Olive had the BMW800 and put around 20k miles on it before trading/buying a new leftover 08VFR800 last month. You can read her reports on them both in her threads.
:fing02:

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 12 November 2010 - 05:31 PM, said:

Yeah thx Jamie, I know that - and I agree that these three bikes aren't necessarily all in the same category (Crossrunner is the odd one out).

But I'm not really after off road, I'm looking for a capable and comfortable crap-road muncher (longer suspension travel) plus more upright ergos.

And, if I'm being honest, I'm looking for something with ABS - I don't reckon I can justify to myself much longer not having that safety feature - especially with a young family!


10-4. The crossrunner probably fits the bill then. The only thing that would make me shy away is the weight, but the longer travel and upright seating position make that bike very appealing.

[image: View Post]AvalonRacing, on 12 November 2010 - 05:27 PM, said:

[image: View Post]jaimev34, on 12 November 2010 - 04:24 PM, said:

Thanks for taking the time to write up the comparison. What about the gas mileage on the beemer? I've heard those Rotax motors get mpg averages in the 60s. Any truth to this? If so, that's awesome mileage, which makes my 46 mpg average appear paultry. Definitely a cool bike. I really like the F800GS, and if I had $13k burning a hole in my pocket, I'd buy one.



I haven't done an exact check of the mileage but yes, it seems to get crazy mpg. I can't get the bars to go down the the gauge. I'm not a commuter or a distance guy, so I'm kind of either on the throttle or off of it. Because of that I would be surprised if I ever got 30mpg on the VFR. According to people on the F800 forum they are regularly getting well in to the 50mpgs. I would think that if you could get 46 on the VFR you could get 60s on the Beemer.


According to the onboard computer I am getting around 4 litres/100 KM on average on the R

John