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redtwin
5,843 posts
51 months
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wiliferus said: Jazoli said: redtwin said: F800 would be my pick, preferably in ST guise. Should have more than enough power to make cruising a breeze, belt drive for low maintenance and I am sure I have heard of 60MPG+ fuel consumption which means you could get away with filling up once every two days. Also had optional ABS, panniers and heated grips if that's your sort of thing.  Would get my vote too (even though I said I wasn't going to recommend anything)  I think thats an outstanding shout. Do it. There is a 40K mile, 57 plate in that blue on Autotrader at the moment. ABS, heated grips, tyre sensors (to let you know if you have tyres I guess?) pretty much everything except the panniers...£2,500!!.
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Pothole
18,021 posts
151 months
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redtwin said: wiliferus said: Jazoli said: redtwin said: F800 would be my pick, preferably in ST guise. Should have more than enough power to make cruising a breeze, belt drive for low maintenance and I am sure I have heard of 60MPG+ fuel consumption which means you could get away with filling up once every two days. Also had optional ABS, panniers and heated grips if that's your sort of thing. Would get my vote too (even though I said I wasn't going to recommend anything) I think thats an outstanding shout. Do it. There is a 40K mile, 57 plate in that blue on Autotrader at the moment. ABS, heated grips, tyre sensors (to let you know if you have tyres I guess?) pretty much everything except the panniers...£2,500!!. That seems like huge value to me...
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mojitomax
1,185 posts
61 months
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Pothole said: hat seems like huge value to me... +1 Mine did 210 miles and 65mpg on Leicester to Cov daily commute. Servicing relatively straight forward. Oil changes easy. But you have to take most of it apart to get to the spark plugs. Belt drive very smooth but expensive to replace. Check it's had the valve cover gasket replaced with the updated version or if not, get some decent sealant and do it yourself. Cracking bike for the commute. You may want to consider a touring screen. There is quite a bit of wind blast at motorway speeds. Hope that helps
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RizzoTheRat
8,062 posts
61 months
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HeatonNorris said: Dr Jekyll said: And shaft drive! This is a very good point. When I used to commute by bike, I hated the chain maintenance and replacement - it's a dirty, oily job and not something you want to have to do on a freezing cold evening in the rain when you've just got home from work. It's hard to recommend anything which doesn't have a shaft if you're doing lots of commuter miles. Or just top up the scott oiler every few thousand miles and fit a new chain every 30,000 miles or so. It's not really much effort compared to a shaft drive and a lot cheaper to replace when it wears out. F800 is a good call though, very frugal engine and supposed to be quite comfortable.
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HeatonNorris
1,649 posts
17 months
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RizzoTheRat said: Or just top up the scott oiler every few thousand miles and fit a new chain every 30,000 miles or so. It's not really much effort compared to a shaft drive and a lot cheaper to replace when it wears out. You still need to adjust it, and clean it, even if you have a Scottoiler. Plus deal with all the crap it flings over the back of the bike. I'm not sure what you mean by 'cheaper to replace when it wears out', as a shaft drive isn't a consumable / generally replaced component.
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jhoneyball
838 posts
145 months
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Got my full license 3 weeks and 2 days ago. Took delivery of my factory special order F800ST on the same day -- now done 600 miles :-)
Fab bike. fast enough, even when keeping to 5k revs for running in -- can do 90mph in 6th at 5k. allegedly
Getting around 200miles on full tank using about 15 miles of reserve.
Very comfy, light, easy to ride. Love the belt drive.
Mine is factory lowered suspension and low seat cos a) I've got a 29" inside leg and b) I'm a newbie. So I like feet on floor.
Riding it most every day, into work etc. Loving it.
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VR46
289 posts
12 months
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Shaft drive saps power and belts are not as durable as a chain.
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jhoneyball
838 posts
145 months
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I think bmw say change the f800st belt at 25k miles?
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Jazoli
3,383 posts
119 months
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VR46 said: Shaft drive saps power and belts are not as durable as a chain. I don't think it matters much to be honest, most shaft drives have 100bhp or more so its irrelevant really, and belts are as durable as a chain and don't need any adjustment or messy lube.
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VR46
289 posts
12 months
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Belts are in no way as durable as a chain; fact.
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Jazoli
3,383 posts
119 months
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VR46 said: Belts are in no way as durable as a chain; fact. Who's facts, yours? want to back that up with some evidence?
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G Man
3,993 posts
129 months
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Done this before but hey I am one of the few who commute 50k a year
As a priority your bike needs
1 Shaft Drive
2 Heated grips
3. 20+ ltr fuel tank
4 Twin dipped/main headlamps
5 ABS .. for when Mr SMIDSY needs your Mr Bosch to save yourself
6 If its booted on Michelin Pilot Road 2 or 3 good
7. Adjustable Screen
8 Topbox already fitted
9 6K service intervals min
10 Narrow enough to filter
I run a Yamaha FJR 1300 which is v quick and reliable, but BMW k1200s , fit the bill, Old R1200GS will do it.
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HeatonNorris
1,649 posts
17 months
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Jazoli said: I don't think it matters much to be honest, most shaft drives have 100bhp or more so its irrelevant really, and belts are as durable as a chain and don't need any adjustment or messy lube. Belts do need adjustment - and they're at least double the cost of a chain to replace - and the interval isn't that much longer, either. The big advantage is that they're clean and quiet.
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mojitomax
1,185 posts
61 months
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jhoneyball said: I think bmw say change the f800st belt at 25k miles? Mine went at precisely 25k. Stripped all the teeth on the belt. That's German precision for you!
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RizzoTheRat
8,062 posts
61 months
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HeatonNorris said: You still need to adjust it, and clean it, even if you have a Scottoiler. Plus deal with all the crap it flings over the back of the bike.
I'm not sure what you mean by 'cheaper to replace when it wears out', as a shaft drive isn't a consumable / generally replaced component. True, a quick chain adjustment every thousand miles or so takes maybe 3 or 4 minutes depending on whether I'm using the underseat tool kit which takes a bit longer to pack away than my tools in the garage. I never have to deal with crap flung over the back of the bike either, we're talking commuters here not show bikes, mine gets a wash and coating of ACF50 a couple of times a year. Don't have any references to back it up but I've heard of quite a few BMW shaft drive failures at around 40,000 miles, and some on a lot less miles than that on early 1150GS's
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Playsatan
252 posts
96 months
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rmuss said: Playsatan said: I commuted on one for 18 months and always got 170 before the light came on. Wow really? The furthest I got with my gsxr-600 was 120 miles before the light came on. That's with social riding though. What are the newer ones like with fuel? Mine is a k7. It's a K2. I've still got it although I've not used it since I got the V Strom. Don't get me wrong on a mad Sunday I could bring that down to less than 100 on a tank but commuting I could do a weeks worth of 36 mile round trips a day.
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Mark-C
Original Poster
1,712 posts
74 months
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wiliferus said: Jazoli said: redtwin said: F800 would be my pick, preferably in ST guise. Should have more than enough power to make cruising a breeze, belt drive for low maintenance and I am sure I have heard of 60MPG+ fuel consumption which means you could get away with filling up once every two days. Also had optional ABS, panniers and heated grips if that's your sort of thing. Would get my vote too (even though I said I wasn't going to recommend anything) I think thats an outstanding shout. Do it. Liking the look of that - will have a poke around in Norwich Linds this week.
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Mark-C
Original Poster
1,712 posts
74 months
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Dr Jekyll said: +1 for the Deauville. Comfortable, reliable, 200+ on a tank, cheap to maintain.  And shaft drive!  You could get a good one for far less than £5K. I'm still not sure I can get with the Deuville for looks but shaft drive appeals from a maintenance POV ... the trusty (and , let's face it, rusty) Zephyr is chain drive and has no centre stand - a proper ball ache. I'll go and ride one (as well as the BMW F800) and see how it goes. Had a little nip round the block on the Zephyr today and definitely back in a biking mood.
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UnluckyTimmeh
2,508 posts
82 months
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I look forward to seeing you Mark Let me know when you're coming in, bring both bits of your license and I'll arrange for you to take it for a morning/afternoon if you'd like PM me if I can be of any help between now and then
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Mark-C
Original Poster
1,712 posts
74 months
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And this is what the commuting tool will be replacing. Had her for about ten years and may well be giving her to a local lad that I know will look after her. No real trade in value but she's been a hell of a friend 
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