benos Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I had the 650 Dakar in the shop for some service, when I first saw the 800 GS. The first words in my head were - I have to have that bike. I couldn't remember ever seeing one on the road. Then a few days later, me and my girl were in Jerome - I rode the Dakar and she rode her Sportster over Mingus mountain - I saw an 800 GS cruising through town with several other dual purpose bikes. I got temporarily silly and screamed out, There it is, there it is, that was the bike I was telling you about. I knew it was all over at that point. I love everything about it. At 85 HP vs. the 650's 50, it's WAY faster. Of course it's not sport-bike fast, but it's solidly fast enough. It may be the perfect on-road/off-road machine. I wasn't sure I could like a bike any more than I liked the Dakar - it was always sort of dream bike for me. But I'm going to have to let her go - the 800 is the shit. All I want to do is ride it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckS Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Self-control can be highly overrated. Congratulations... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I LLLLOOOVVVEEE BMW bikes. Had a 1976 airhead followed by an 81 K100. Well built, comfortable rides. Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kz45 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 I want one so bad, but i don't want a note, and at 5'4" I can't touch the ground, I guess I'll just have to be happy with my K1200RS, the K bike is a beast! I load it up with all my 3 gun stuff and hit the road. Congrats on your new bike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treym7 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Nice! I don't have a BMW bike, but I have ridden the K1200RS and it was awesome. Trey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpolans Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 I want one so bad, but i don't want a note, and at 5'4" I can't touch the ground, I guess I'll just have to be happy with my K1200RS, the K bike is a beast! I load it up with all my 3 gun stuff and hit the road. Congrats on your new bike You can touch the ground on a K1200RS? Is it lowered? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kz45 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 I want one so bad, but i don't want a note, and at 5'4" I can't touch the ground, I guess I'll just have to be happy with my K1200RS, the K bike is a beast! I load it up with all my 3 gun stuff and hit the road. Congrats on your new bike You can touch the ground on a K1200RS? Is it lowered? I have to slide off the left side, and tippy-toe I haven't fell over yet, (knock on wood) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Hell, my 100 was that way... Had to do the LEAN at traffic lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avezorak Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Nice bike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Nice ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gohuskers Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 (edited) The 800 is great. Never understood why they quit making the Dakar but that's the way it is. Natural progression will push you to a GS Adventure! Edited March 26, 2011 by gohuskers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninemmbill Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Sweet ride, congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Hello: Those are great bikes--both of them. I can't touch the group either with those bikes. A 31" inseam doesn't help I am getting an old Honda CB350 running right now and have to bleed the brakes on my Suzuki SV650. Having more than one bike can be like work but fun when they are running Brian great looking bikes and now you need an 1100 Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Nice! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastmtnbiker33w Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Those and the big KTMs are all over the dirt roads in Colorado during the summer. Those guys put a thousand or so miles on them checking out mining towns and ski villages. However, they always look beat at the end of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 Thanks everyone. Got back last night from it's first out of town trip with my girl (rides a Sportster), to Tucson (the back way through Florence). And buzzed up and down Mt. Lemon Sunday afternoon. Way fun. For you guys that can't touch the ground with the 21" front wheel, have you tried the newer 650 GS, with the 19" front wheel. My buddy (5' 5"), who I got the Dakar from, loves his. be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belus Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 I had dinner at this guy's place in Glendale last summer. I was very jealous of all the fabrication equipment in his garage (not to mention the dozen bikes he has for "prototyping purposes".) http://www.jesseluggage.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 I had dinner at this guy's place in Glendale last summer. I was very jealous of all the fabrication equipment in his garage (not to mention the dozen bikes he has for "prototyping purposes".) http://www.jesseluggage.com/ Way cool stuff - thanks for the link. I might have to email him to see who made the seat that's on the 800 GS: http://www.jesseluggage.com/f650-800gs.html The factory seat is a real butt-numb'r after about an hour or so. be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markcic Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I picked up a 1200GS last year and kick myself for not buying on sooner. The GS is the best bike for Arizona. There are a ton of places ride. I can be on the dirt in 10 minutes from my house. The guys at Ironhorse in Tucson marked up a map with some good rides. The yellow is paved and the pink is dirt in the attached PDF. ADV Rider has great forums as well. AZRides.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Freeman Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Very cool. I have an older 1100 GS that I have thought about selling and getting either a 1200A or an 800. I just need to spend some more time on the two and figure it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Thanks for the map Mark. The 191 from Egar to Clifton is one of my favorite AZ roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candis Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 The map is great! I need practice to get more comfortable on mountain-y roads and have the summer off from teaching. Looking forward to heading north out of the desert heat while everyone else works! Thank you, markcic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diehli Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I had dinner at this guy's place in Glendale last summer. I was very jealous of all the fabrication equipment in his garage (not to mention the dozen bikes he has for "prototyping purposes".) http://www.jesseluggage.com/ Way cool stuff - thanks for the link. I might have to email him to see who made the seat that's on the 800 GS: http://www.jesseluggage.com/f650-800gs.html The factory seat is a real butt-numb'r after about an hour or so. be Looks to be a Rick Mayer-customized seat. http://www.rickmayercycle.com/BMW_F650GS_09_Solo_L.html Estranged brother Bill also customizes seats. http://www.billmayersaddles.com/BMWF800GS.html I'll be seeing Rick in mid-May to get my seat customized. Gotta be in PA in mid-June and I'm not too keen on flying right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted April 1, 2011 Author Share Posted April 1, 2011 Thanks diehli. I've been doing some research on custom seats, and Bill Mayer is at the top of the list so far. be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markcic Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 Check out Sargent Seats, Touratech, and Russell. They all seem to get good reviews on ADV Rider as long as the seat fits you. I'm still trying to figure out what to get for my GS. I'm good for about 30 minutes or so before I need to stand up or start moving around so I'm looking for something that I can go for a couple of hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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