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2009 BMW F800GS First Ride Photo Gallery
It's been one of the most anticipated multi-purpose bikes to arrive on our shores in 2009. The new
BMW F800GS
has arrived and we found it more than agreeable during our ride in southern Utah.
2009 BMW F800GS
Ergonomics are very comfortable on the new 800 and we stood at virtually every opportunity with ease - not that sitting is unwelcome either.
Jumping the Beemer taxes the suspension easily, but were were brave enough to try a few things.
Try doing this with the R1200GS. BMW's new F800GS was designed with the dirt enthusiast in mind.
With more confidence in the machine beneath us, we were able to appreciate the surrounding scenery of southern Utah even more.
rake components are both a stong and weak point for the F800GS. The dual setup on the front is excellent, but the rear has issues with a hard-to-reach pedal.
A plastic skidplate mounts to the underbelly of the un-cradled motor.
The motor acts as a semi-stressed member of the frame. Overall the chassis is comfortable for pavement touring or off-road exploration.
We hit an indicated 120 mph before running out of nerve, but the motor still had a little room.
Thankfully, BMW opted to use a spring shock rather than the air-damping contraption found on its previous "dirt-oriented" machines, the HP2 and XChallenge.
It practically oozes temptation, but, at least for our dirt-biased tester, this GS model actually delivers matching performance.
With its agreeable nature, movable weight and manageable cost, the F800GS can, and will, punch the ticket on Average Joe's passport.
This Sunset Yellow is our favorite, but the Dark Magnesium Metallic isn't too shabby either.
The 2009 BMW F800GS is designed to get you to more remote places with greater ease, and it succeeds in every aspect.
Our test bike was equipped with the Standard Package upgrades ($1505) which included optional ABS.
As with any new bike, make sure to check the torque on bolts after the first ride to avoid losing parts. We saw a brake caliper fall off.
The mirrors work great, and the views you'll find in them can be impressive.
