BMW

BMW goes fully naked with 2009 F800R

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Category: BMW

Written by Suzie Healey

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The Biker Gene

BMW’s F800S and ST have been around for a couple of years now, and the combination of the 87 horsepower, midsize parallel twin and its compact, flickable chassis have won many fans worldwide. Britain’s BIKE magazine even referred to it as “the new VFR” - high praise indeed. And since super-stunter Chris Pfeiffer rode a stripped F800 to the 2007 and 2008 Streetbike Freestyle World Championships, many of us have been wondering how long it would take for BMW to get a production naked happening.

To read the rest of the article: http://www.thebikergene.com/naked-bikes/bmw-goes-fully-naked-with-2009-f800r/

2009 BMW F800GS

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Category: BMW

Written by Suzie Healey

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By Neil Graham

Few scenarios lend themselves so naturally to comedy as a German language press conference spontaneously translated into English. But here we are, outside at night, breathing in dense African air and listening via tiny headsets to BMW product planners tell us of its newest motorcycle, the F800GS.

The translator—who rightly knows that fluidity trumps hit-it-on-the-head accuracy—pours forth a sea of language about the featured motorcycle, but the combination of German through the loudspeakers, English through an earpiece and a couple of pre-conference cocktails causes me to fixate on the bald spot of the man sitting in front of me.

I wake the next morning remembering only the fruity beverages that appeared on serving trays held aloft by fair maidens. But press launch planners anticipate travelers’ amnesia, and a glance at the press kit literature shows that BMW is chuffed about its latest addition. To read the rest of the article: http://www.passionperformance.ca/motorcycle/articles/2190/

Life With the BMW F 800 GS

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Category: BMW

Written by Suzie Healey

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Special Report by H.B.C. for webBikeWorld.com

Part 1: BMW F800GS Review

Part 2: Farkelization (coming next)

Summary
What’s not to like?  It is a BMW after all and it really does represent excellent value for the money and a very good return on the investment.

The price is more than offset by its design, quality and functionality and don’t forget that three-year warranty.

The smaller GS already seems to be a winner with new and experienced riders for all the right reasons.  For many adventure riders out, BMW has tabled a really viable option that should not be ignored.

The School Boy Syndrome
The introduction to and much of this article was sketched out some time ago, well before Christmas actually and about two months after picking up my new F800GS from Motorrad Ottawa on a cool clear early October day.  But like so many things in life, bringing a work in progress to completion is easier said than done.

Between my part time employment as a test driver and motorcycle test rider for a Canadian government department, and with riding still an option into late November and early December, sitting at the keyboard always seemed to be a lower priority.  Then in early January another Beemer, one with lots of carbon fiber, dual overhead cams and blue rims joined the stable - another distraction of sorts.

Even though riding up here was out of the question by late December, less one or two warm breaks allowing some quick block by block runs, two trips south over the winter kept the wheels turning and the smiles coming.  The first trip was to the Blue Ridge area of Virginia at Christmas and the second to Florida for the usual Daytona Speed Week frenzy.

To read the rest of the article: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles/bmw-f-800-gs/