F800GT or K1300S
Discussion
I'd appreciate some views.
I need a bike for daily commuting 40 miles each way: mostly the M4 with a little bit of A roads and filtering at the start and finish. I will be putting serious annual mileage (15,000 miles) all year round. So it needs to be reliable and comfortable with urban, rural and motorway.
My previous bike was a VFR750. I'm 5'6'' and aged 52.
My head tells me that the F800GT is the sensible choice (belt drive, narrower and good fuel economy) but the K1300S keeps catching my eye (shaft drive and well, it's an incredible machine).
My concerns with the K1300S are the weight of it (I'm 75kg) and it's size when filtering. I can get the seat height low enough so that's not a problem. Notwithstanding the fact that this bike is a rocket - but I think I can restrain myself.
What advice can anyone give me?
I need a bike for daily commuting 40 miles each way: mostly the M4 with a little bit of A roads and filtering at the start and finish. I will be putting serious annual mileage (15,000 miles) all year round. So it needs to be reliable and comfortable with urban, rural and motorway.
My previous bike was a VFR750. I'm 5'6'' and aged 52.
My head tells me that the F800GT is the sensible choice (belt drive, narrower and good fuel economy) but the K1300S keeps catching my eye (shaft drive and well, it's an incredible machine).
My concerns with the K1300S are the weight of it (I'm 75kg) and it's size when filtering. I can get the seat height low enough so that's not a problem. Notwithstanding the fact that this bike is a rocket - but I think I can restrain myself.
What advice can anyone give me?
I did 6 years, 15,000 to 18,000 miles a year, mostly commuting, on two K13000Ss and they were superb. 50mpg, 200 mile range, huge torque in any gear and surprisingly easy to filter on. (Folding mirrors made some very narrow gaps possible.) They really are excellent for long distance commuting.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Harley have been using belts to great effect for donkey's years. Set & forget.I rode an F800GT a couple of times, very uninspiring I thought, so between the two I think I'd go for the K
BMWs generally (and boxers especially) are cheap to service IMO so if you are looking at that style of bike then an R1200 RS would be another good option. You can get a low seat for that which would make it low enough for you. Alternatively BMW do make factory lowered suspension versions of pretty much everything, it would just be a question of finding one.
Edited by Wombat3 on Sunday 3rd January 00:26
I went from an F800GT to a K1300S
No issues filtering and probably average around 54-55mpg with mixed usage
I had a belt changed on the F800 (stone got stuck in it, didn't want to risk it falling to bits) and it wasn't cheap to replace
It's only a rocket ship if you twist the throttle!
I'm about 75kg (but 5 10) and after a while you don't feel the weight except when moving the thing around the garage
No issues filtering and probably average around 54-55mpg with mixed usage
I had a belt changed on the F800 (stone got stuck in it, didn't want to risk it falling to bits) and it wasn't cheap to replace
It's only a rocket ship if you twist the throttle!
I'm about 75kg (but 5 10) and after a while you don't feel the weight except when moving the thing around the garage
Edited by CookieR on Sunday 3rd January 12:51
Aha! I had an F800ST, old 57 plate with piston slap but still got 58-60mpg on my A road commutes doing 12k a year, probably 200 ish tank range for my bored riding. I did that for maybe 2 years and then got my first K1300S. 09 plate. Did 15k ish a year, averaged mid fifties mpg, but was a heck of a lot more fun! That bike could eak out 200 miles on a tank.
When that got to 50k BMW showed me a 15 plate Motorsport so I had that and did the same again. That seemed to get 10-15 miles less from a tank no matter what. I can't remember what I took that up to.
Anyway. I think it's like deciding between a mondeo and a... I dunno, nice 5 series. They both do the job... Wait, a mondeo that you service somewhere expensive. They both do the job, but one is a bit more expensive to run but a much nicer place to be. If you have the margin get the K.
Edit: filtering. Actually for the last 3 years my commute was also M4 and then a roads either end. The K was a treat to filter down the M4 on. And angry enough sounding when needed.
When that got to 50k BMW showed me a 15 plate Motorsport so I had that and did the same again. That seemed to get 10-15 miles less from a tank no matter what. I can't remember what I took that up to.
Anyway. I think it's like deciding between a mondeo and a... I dunno, nice 5 series. They both do the job... Wait, a mondeo that you service somewhere expensive. They both do the job, but one is a bit more expensive to run but a much nicer place to be. If you have the margin get the K.
Edit: filtering. Actually for the last 3 years my commute was also M4 and then a roads either end. The K was a treat to filter down the M4 on. And angry enough sounding when needed.
alsclark said:
Much appreciated guys. I think I'm swaying towards the K now. Now just got to convince my wife to let me get the K I've spotted right now rather than wait 6 months. 17000 miles, all the extras for £4750.
The K1300S has some known "features"! Remember, I've had two so these aren't significant but worth knowing about.Check out www.eurokclub.bike for details of what to look for. They're very knowledgeable and always willing to help.
alsclark said:
Much appreciated guys. I think I'm swaying towards the K now. Now just got to convince my wife to let me get the K I've spotted right now rather than wait 6 months. 17000 miles, all the extras for £4750.
That K is due a major service btw. It doubt it would be cheap. Sold mine at the same mileage.snagzie said:
alsclark said:
Much appreciated guys. I think I'm swaying towards the K now. Now just got to convince my wife to let me get the K I've spotted right now rather than wait 6 months. 17000 miles, all the extras for £4750.
That K is due a major service btw. It doubt it would be cheap. Sold mine at the same mileage.snagzie said:
alsclark said:
Much appreciated guys. I think I'm swaying towards the K now. Now just got to convince my wife to let me get the K I've spotted right now rather than wait 6 months. 17000 miles, all the extras for £4750.
That K is due a major service btw. It doubt it would be cheap. Sold mine at the same mileage.Wombat3 said:
Is it not a rotating 6 & 12K interval ? (which would make it a minor service)
No, Big service is 18k. Had this done last year myself, can't remember too much about cost but circa £750 is about right. I choose not to remember, as I had a lot more needing to be done and my bill was considerably more than that. (Radiator, front suspension bushes, tyres)Wombat3 said:
snagzie said:
alsclark said:
Much appreciated guys. I think I'm swaying towards the K now. Now just got to convince my wife to let me get the K I've spotted right now rather than wait 6 months. 17000 miles, all the extras for £4750.
That K is due a major service btw. It doubt it would be cheap. Sold mine at the same mileage.black-k1 said:
Wombat3 said:
snagzie said:
alsclark said:
Much appreciated guys. I think I'm swaying towards the K now. Now just got to convince my wife to let me get the K I've spotted right now rather than wait 6 months. 17000 miles, all the extras for £4750.
That K is due a major service btw. It doubt it would be cheap. Sold mine at the same mileage.Wombat3 said:
black-k1 said:
Wombat3 said:
snagzie said:
alsclark said:
Much appreciated guys. I think I'm swaying towards the K now. Now just got to convince my wife to let me get the K I've spotted right now rather than wait 6 months. 17000 miles, all the extras for £4750.
That K is due a major service btw. It doubt it would be cheap. Sold mine at the same mileage.The F800 series are boring as sin. Engine is characterless, doesn't like to be revved. Suspension poor quality and very bouncy. Handles ok when it is stationary... (the GT I occasionally ride is better than the ST that went before it). Its reliable and has a belt but your money is best spent elsewhere.
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