F800GS or F900XR
Discussion
Hi all,
I need help making a decision.
A few months ago I had a bit of a wobble with my riding.
My Mum had just passed away and that same week I dropped my S1000XR and I was so upset with myself. The next day my partner and I went out on a group ride, the weather was naff, I skidded on mud and I just chucked my toys out my pram. I had had it. Called my time on the ride and we went home.
After that, I started to panic about riding. At one point I was fully kitted up, sat on the bike with it running and couldn't even pull off the drive for fear and anxiety.
The XR was subsequently put to one side.
A few weeks later we were talking and I thought it a good idea to downsize to get my confidence back so we nipped to Honda to have a look and picked up a nifty CB650F. In essence, a beefed up version of my CB125 I learned to ride on, just on a 15 plate and I love her.
She has done wonders. I'm back riding, did about 300 miles in one weekend up to the Scottish borders, been taking myself to and from work and even filtering in traffic. Big girl pants well and truly on.
Here's where I need the help with the pro's and cons:
We're looking at riding through Europe next year and I don't want to take the 650 as, in my opinion, she's too old and I don't want to run the risk of taking an older machine all that way and having problems. I know there are unforeseeable circumstances that may arise on any bike but I'm thinking of something newer.
The S1000XR is flatly not an option for me. Too big, too loud (Black Widow exhaust) and she will be getting sold.
However, I want to stick with BMW.
I'm either looking at the F800GS, which I test rode a couple of weeks ago with a lowered chassis and lowered seat and weirdly, even though on paper it weighs the same as the S1000XR, it felt lighter, less cumbersome and easier to handle. Maybe because I was more stable being able to flat foot it which subconsciously gave me more confidence?
OR
The F900XR, which again I have test rode previously (pre wobble) and did put a deposit down on but then cancelled because on that particular day it was windy as hell and on the way home I rode the S (which was my partners at the time) and it felt so secure and planted to the floor. So, I took that and he got himself a new M1000XR. The 900XR is also said to be 10kgs lighter than the 800GS, but I don't need the 105bhp.
I don't ride top speed. I'm happy cruising in the slow lane on the motorway at 60/65mph. The only thing that will catch me out will be the slow manoeuvres like car park stuff which is what happened when I dropped the S. (Poxy banked petrol station at Whitby).
When I sit on my 650 I'm flat footed and my knees are slightly bent. Ideal. And I do understand the seating position from my 650 to one of these other bikes is completely different.
So... drop me your recommendations, pros and cons. Help a girl out!
I just need to make a decision but don't want it to be one I regret.
I need help making a decision.
A few months ago I had a bit of a wobble with my riding.
My Mum had just passed away and that same week I dropped my S1000XR and I was so upset with myself. The next day my partner and I went out on a group ride, the weather was naff, I skidded on mud and I just chucked my toys out my pram. I had had it. Called my time on the ride and we went home.
After that, I started to panic about riding. At one point I was fully kitted up, sat on the bike with it running and couldn't even pull off the drive for fear and anxiety.
The XR was subsequently put to one side.
A few weeks later we were talking and I thought it a good idea to downsize to get my confidence back so we nipped to Honda to have a look and picked up a nifty CB650F. In essence, a beefed up version of my CB125 I learned to ride on, just on a 15 plate and I love her.
She has done wonders. I'm back riding, did about 300 miles in one weekend up to the Scottish borders, been taking myself to and from work and even filtering in traffic. Big girl pants well and truly on.
Here's where I need the help with the pro's and cons:
We're looking at riding through Europe next year and I don't want to take the 650 as, in my opinion, she's too old and I don't want to run the risk of taking an older machine all that way and having problems. I know there are unforeseeable circumstances that may arise on any bike but I'm thinking of something newer.
The S1000XR is flatly not an option for me. Too big, too loud (Black Widow exhaust) and she will be getting sold.
However, I want to stick with BMW.
I'm either looking at the F800GS, which I test rode a couple of weeks ago with a lowered chassis and lowered seat and weirdly, even though on paper it weighs the same as the S1000XR, it felt lighter, less cumbersome and easier to handle. Maybe because I was more stable being able to flat foot it which subconsciously gave me more confidence?
OR
The F900XR, which again I have test rode previously (pre wobble) and did put a deposit down on but then cancelled because on that particular day it was windy as hell and on the way home I rode the S (which was my partners at the time) and it felt so secure and planted to the floor. So, I took that and he got himself a new M1000XR. The 900XR is also said to be 10kgs lighter than the 800GS, but I don't need the 105bhp.
I don't ride top speed. I'm happy cruising in the slow lane on the motorway at 60/65mph. The only thing that will catch me out will be the slow manoeuvres like car park stuff which is what happened when I dropped the S. (Poxy banked petrol station at Whitby).
When I sit on my 650 I'm flat footed and my knees are slightly bent. Ideal. And I do understand the seating position from my 650 to one of these other bikes is completely different.
So... drop me your recommendations, pros and cons. Help a girl out!
I just need to make a decision but don't want it to be one I regret.
My 10 pence... do it on the Honda. You've said you're happy with it so why change if you're not certain. It is a popular bike from a mainstream manufacturer so even if anything does go wrong it will get sorted easily (but I'll remind you it's a Honda so it won't). Doing big trips is far nicer on a bike you know and trust and a CB650F is easily up to the job. Some will say you cant tour on a naked bike but I do and it's fine.
I guess the real question is what are you expecting to actually gain from changing bike? If it is just the bling of a newer bike then I wouldn't bother.
I guess the real question is what are you expecting to actually gain from changing bike? If it is just the bling of a newer bike then I wouldn't bother.
Almost any old Honda will be more reliable than a current model BMW, anecdatally...
In terms of riding ability and confidence, can I recommend Doodle on a Motorcycle's youtube videos. Her vids about doing 1000s of U turns and figure 8s in a car park are very good on slow speed control. She's US-based so the courses she goes on won't be any use to you, but I'm sure there are equivalents here, too.
"Europe" covers a multitude..are mostly motorway and A roads, mostly mountain passes with gravel and cobbled hairpins, etc etc?
In terms of riding ability and confidence, can I recommend Doodle on a Motorcycle's youtube videos. Her vids about doing 1000s of U turns and figure 8s in a car park are very good on slow speed control. She's US-based so the courses she goes on won't be any use to you, but I'm sure there are equivalents here, too.
"Europe" covers a multitude..are mostly motorway and A roads, mostly mountain passes with gravel and cobbled hairpins, etc etc?
So we haven't decided on a particular route yet but The Black Forest in Germany has been mentioned.
I do imagine I'll need to be prepared for various different terrains and weather conditions as we're looking at either June or September, but we definitely won't be going off road as we're going with another couple and the wife will be on a Hornet 500.
I do imagine I'll need to be prepared for various different terrains and weather conditions as we're looking at either June or September, but we definitely won't be going off road as we're going with another couple and the wife will be on a Hornet 500.
EmDubs said:
So we haven't decided on a particular route yet but The Black Forest in Germany has been mentioned.
I do imagine I'll need to be prepared for various different terrains and weather conditions as we're looking at either June or September, but we definitely won't be going off road as we're going with another couple and the wife will be on a Hornet 500.
So why adventure bikes. I'm not surprised your confidence is shot to pieces riding about on these.I do imagine I'll need to be prepared for various different terrains and weather conditions as we're looking at either June or September, but we definitely won't be going off road as we're going with another couple and the wife will be on a Hornet 500.
Between those two, for road use, I would pick the F900XR. I would say that neither is a particular step down in height or weight from a S1000XR, have you considered the F450GS? For a human on the smaller/lighter end of the scale they look good.
How much time do you spend practising slow speed manoeuvres? I'm the opposite in terms of confidence, I don't consider myself to be very good at corners and high speed riding but I can ride at 0.5mph and do full-lock U-turns on big heavy bikes no problem. I attribute this to many hours spent practising in car parks before my DAS and treating every ride like a game of the floor is lava.
How much time do you spend practising slow speed manoeuvres? I'm the opposite in terms of confidence, I don't consider myself to be very good at corners and high speed riding but I can ride at 0.5mph and do full-lock U-turns on big heavy bikes no problem. I attribute this to many hours spent practising in car parks before my DAS and treating every ride like a game of the floor is lava.
Remember reading your other post about the issues. Glad to hear you've got the bug back.
You sound chuffed with the Honda, I wouldn't be in a rush to swap it. Especially if your happy toddling along. You may even love it more after a euro trip. It's always easier to put up with a car or bike you really like.
If you are set to swap it though and your main issue is weight, manoeuvring and pushing it around. Just go sit on both back to back on the same day. Pick whichever feels best. Don't overthink it. Go with your gut. I don't think you can go far wrong with either.
You sound chuffed with the Honda, I wouldn't be in a rush to swap it. Especially if your happy toddling along. You may even love it more after a euro trip. It's always easier to put up with a car or bike you really like.
If you are set to swap it though and your main issue is weight, manoeuvring and pushing it around. Just go sit on both back to back on the same day. Pick whichever feels best. Don't overthink it. Go with your gut. I don't think you can go far wrong with either.
So when I progressed from my 125 to my F900R I had no confidence issues.
Bar the standard slow manoeuvres that I have always had dramas with and the fact that I couldn't go for more than an hour without having to get off and stretch because it was uncomfortable and with it being a naked I got battered around in the wind.
But I didn't have the fear and anxiety on the 900. I was also flat footed with that one too. The anxiety and confidence knock developed when I front braked the S1000XR. It was like I just had the worst week ever with my Mum, dropping the bike and then skidding on the group ride. Everything all happened all at once.
I don't think it's necessarily the fact of it being an adventure bike that dinged my confidence. If that was the case, then maybe I wouldn't have even test rode the 800?
Bar the standard slow manoeuvres that I have always had dramas with and the fact that I couldn't go for more than an hour without having to get off and stretch because it was uncomfortable and with it being a naked I got battered around in the wind.
But I didn't have the fear and anxiety on the 900. I was also flat footed with that one too. The anxiety and confidence knock developed when I front braked the S1000XR. It was like I just had the worst week ever with my Mum, dropping the bike and then skidding on the group ride. Everything all happened all at once.
I don't think it's necessarily the fact of it being an adventure bike that dinged my confidence. If that was the case, then maybe I wouldn't have even test rode the 800?
TurboHatchback said:
Between those two, for road use, I would pick the F900XR. I would say that neither is a particular step down in height or weight from a S1000XR, have you considered the F450GS? For a human on the smaller/lighter end of the scale they look good.
How much time do you spend practising slow speed manoeuvres? I'm the opposite in terms of confidence, I don't consider myself to be very good at corners and high speed riding but I can ride at 0.5mph and do full-lock U-turns on big heavy bikes no problem. I attribute this to many hours spent practising in car parks before my DAS and treating every ride like a game of the floor is lava.
Exactly why I recommended Doodle above..How much time do you spend practising slow speed manoeuvres? I'm the opposite in terms of confidence, I don't consider myself to be very good at corners and high speed riding but I can ride at 0.5mph and do full-lock U-turns on big heavy bikes no problem. I attribute this to many hours spent practising in car parks before my DAS and treating every ride like a game of the floor is lava.
I ignored my own advice and learned about hairpins by taking a 320kg cruiser I'd owned for 4 months down the Route Des Grandes Alpes last year! Steep and tight learning curves!! I have been riding since the late 80s so I had the basics down, but I still learned a HUGE amount on day one in the Alps. I'm pretty confident on it now, too.
Speaking with my local dealership (which are fab by the way) they have said I can test ride them both back-to-back but as the weather's drawing in now it's trying to find a Saturday where the weather is tolerable!
My boss has the 900XR and loves it.
Regarding slow manoeuvre practice... I'm fine creeping through traffic etc but U-turns in a car park? No, ta. I'll paddle it
My boss has the 900XR and loves it.
Regarding slow manoeuvre practice... I'm fine creeping through traffic etc but U-turns in a car park? No, ta. I'll paddle it
k about with adventure bikes. moanthebairns said:
black-k1 said:
Got to love PHBB. Ask the question of A or B and you'll get every other letter of the alphabet. As mentioned above, the amount of off road riding suggests the XR is the better choice.
trickywoo said:
As long as it s had a new reg/rec recently 
Had to comment, my 2003, 80,000 mile Honda is on it's original reg/rec. It's this bikes reliability so far that led to me suggesting above to take the Honda. Now we know the trip is with a Hornet 500 it seems to make even more sense to do it on the CB650F. OP - What are you aiming to gain from the change? Comfort? Wind protection? Just want a new bike? Just want a BMW? I don't think that's clear so far but will help massively in advice anyone might give. Apologies if I've missed it.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff