BMW F850GS Adventure - The review from KNOX
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- Опубліковано 28 кві 2020
- BMW F850GS Adventure - The review from KNOX
This is our review of the BMW 850gs adventure
Undoubtedly the BMW GS range are the most popular motorcycles in Europe and have progressively changed the style and type of motorcycles people ride. From the Long Way round, the the GS Trophy events to training schools all over the world, the BMW GS adventure range is a marketing machine and it has been really great to get hold of the BMW 850GS in recent months!
Loaned from BMW Motorrad UK, we used the bike to shoot our 2020 collection with, and the results were great in our opinion www.planet-knox.com/category/.... The BMW gs 850 is a great looking adventure motorcycle!
The f850gs is a truly excellent on-road motorcycle with fantastic plushness on offer, the F850GSA is like riding a magic carpet, with fantastic suspension, electronics and comfort like no other bike I have ever ridden… a real mile muncher.
Also featuring a great 95hp power plant and handling, it’s a joy to ride. While this review didn’t major on the BMW 850gs off-road (forgot to strap go pro on, sorry), it’s not a bad bike for off-road terrain too when put in the right scenario of lighter trails and have someone with you.
The Specs for the bike we had are as below:
F 850 GS Adventure Sport - £11,910
Rallye Pack - £300
Premium Pack - £800 (Dynamic ESA, cruise control, Aluminium Pannier fastenings)
Comfort Pack - £615 (keyless ride, heated grips, tyre pressure control, centre stand)
HP Sports Silencer - £525
Further details - www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/mod...
In all, we are fans of the bike and hope we get the chance to ride it a bit more once lockdown is over!
In the review, we were wearing:
All the Knox products we were wearing on this shoot are here:
KNOX Urbane Pro Utility Shirt - www.planet-knox.com/product/u...
Knox Brighton Jeans - www.planet-knox.com/product/b...
Knox Hanbury gloves - www.planet-knox.com/product/h...
Plus others from the 2020 collection - www.planet-knox.com/category/...
As discussed in the video, Devitt insurance provided us a quote for this machine for Mr Average for £232/year Fully Comp. Details as below and here, www.devittinsurance.com/motor....
Based on a 40 year old married Bank Clerk, living in LA13, 2020 BMW F850GS Adventure 95hp worth £11,999. Kept in a Garage, held full bike license since 2000. Bike has Biketrac and a Datatool S4 C1 Red security. No accidents or claims. Comp cover, 3000 miles, 5 years protected NCD and just SDP use.
We also mentioned the tool kit that we have from SBV and is perfect for anyone considering an Adventure trip on a BMW GS, this is available here www.sbvtools.com/en/toolsets/....
Hope you enjoyed this review video on the BMW850gsa, please like, comment and subscribe for more!
Aaron
KNOX
www.planet-knox.com/ - Авто та транспорт
I bought one and am riding the daylights out of it in Idaho mountains and twisties. This was the right bike for me. I chose it over the 790 Adv R because my wife likes to ride with me to camp and tour. I love this bike.
That's great David, great choice! Many happy miles! Aaron KNOX
@@JG-od3xy Dave Does the lack of a shaft drive bother you ? How often do you have to tighten the chain on your trips?
@@markkleinberg I thought it may bother me. I have come to enjoy cleaning my chain. Gives me some intimacy that shaft didn't. I am a geek and clean it every couple of weeks. I haven't had to adjust it 8,000 miles in. I take the bike to the shop for the service intervals and they check the adjustment.
@@davereinhart9933 that’s all you need to do. It needs adjusting about the time the bike needs servicing.
I own BMW F 850 GS 2021 and it is my first bike. It is fantastic and so easy to ride. I have done offroading yet because I think I'm still not ready.
I took my 850GSA from Miami to Thailand -- 30,000km -- only crossing water on the Atlantic, otherwise, it took me to 17 countries including China, Russia, Laos, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan... Ok, I agree 100% with your analysis. Though the USA, Canada and Europe, it's a dream. Once off-road, I had the EXACT same feeling about dropping it. Its a super fear to be alone and drop it although it only happened to me a couple of times. So my next trip is from Miami to South Africa -- huge trip. I am thinking of getting a KTM 790S -- I'm 5'9" -- its 100lbs less weight and that is huge when alone. On my travels through South America and all over, BMW owns the world adventure market. For every nomad traveler, its 10 BMW's and maybe 1 KTM. That said, this time to Africa, its half off-road and I will s*it my pants if I dropped 550-600lbs with all my stuff in a bad place. I really dont like the reliability of KTM or the comfort covering 30,000 or 40,000km's but I need the weight loss sadly. BMW's never break -- I've seen tons of broken down KTM's on my travels. I also own a 2018 R1200GSA and when I cross the USA, no machine is better. Anyway... If anyone has experience with KTM 790's on long trips on road and off-road (10,000km plus), please let me know your experiences...
Thanks for the comment and glad you agreed with points in review.
I can imagine that it is very difficult to choose that correct balance between off road performance, long distance and reliability etc... Tenere 700 and the 701 Enduro (with some mods) have to be contenders right? The Tenere being a great all rounder with fantastic Japanese reliability, the 701 Enduro being a lightweight combination and beating all of them in the dirt...
Anyway, thanks and best of luck, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour Thanks. Tenere is way too tall for me. Not sure about 701 -- will do some homework. I love comfort on super long rides - spoiled :). Let me check it out. Thanks again.
I can identify with your “dropping it” fear. Once I had learned to pick it up properly and with technique it’s easy. Reverse squat or front handlebar lift. Also some good UA-cam videos about hill drop recovery. Just practice before you travel 😁
@@mtscott Hahaha. You're right. I have rode 100's of thousands of miles around the world -- and I just cant get it right. My technique sucks when the ground is not flat.
I absolutely love the GS BMW. All of them are amazing bikes to ride no matter what you want them for.
The only thing putting me off any of the new bikes, is the horrendous price. Anything over £10k for a medium sized engined bike is too much.
We are not all on £45k a year.
That said, if I could I would have one of these in a heart beat.
Great review. 👍👍
Thanks Gary, yes they are premium bikes and high cost, but to be fair the PCP deals are normally pretty good if you go that way! Many thanks! Aaron KNOX.
Well, it is about 20000 euros here, thanks to socialists.
@@howarethingsindenver that makes literally zero sense.
I know... I got a great deal because I got one loaded with options and extras and paid the equivalent to 15,000 wich was good enough considering my country economics
I own this bike in Hawaii on the big island. It's heavy off road but manageable. Its good for 2 up and long road rides as well. Jack of all trades master of none but i love it. Ride it everyday.
Thats great David, thanks for the comment! Aaron KNOX
I just love the camera work in your reviews. I'll watch just for that, even if I'm not interested in the two wheel SUV. ;)
Thanks Lasse, really appreciate your feedback!! Two wheel SUV 🤣
I own the Exclusive version, great bike for touring and light adventure biking. What I don't like- its heavy moving about the garage but once on the move it disappears. I also change the seat to a lowered seat being vertical challenged. Its really refined and a great bike for all types of riding.
The battery in the keyfob does need changing every six months its very easy to do 5 minute job. I keep a spar one under the seat just in case.
Thanks for sharing! Aaron KNOX
Great video Aaron, fully agree with all of your comments, comfortable well-built bike, great for long journeys, though also on the heavy side in weight. I have recently purchased a 2019 BMW F850GS Adventure in the exact same specification, however running on Bridgestone A41 tyres which I find are a 90/10 tyre. Living on the Wirral near to North Wales I have just purchased Mitas E07+ tyres, mixed reviews on You Tube on this tyre brand, though I am looking to get on some track roads, nothing to extreme, though more adventure type riding, it will be interesting to see how the bike performs on these tyres on/off road. Ride Safe Regards Jez
Thanks for the very balanced review and great footage
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Aaron KNOX
Are you using a skydio drone? I've never seen a DJI do what your doing with your drone.
I just bought one!!!!! It arrives in 2 weeks. I cant wait. i simply cannot wait :) Good review........If only everyone realised that riding motorbikes from the mundane commute to the tour holiday was worth every second. Best decision i've done in my adult life :)
Awesome, enjoy it! Aaron KNOX
Thanyou for an excellent review. Subscribed!
..nice review, tnx for bringing it ....After about 10 years with the amazing but heavy GSA, I'm considering downgrading to something that will fit my age, and the F850GSA which is about 50lb lighter, is the one on my top list....
I did that and am super happy. The 850 GSA hits the spot for me. Big enough for travel and comfort, small enough to be nimble off road.
Thanks.JHB-SA.
That redhead looks fantastic
Really appreciate your honest assessment of maneuverability off road, in that the folks we see in vide are as you put it, "one in ten thousand". I cannot be the only rider who feels a bit "lesser than" when seeing promo videos.
Yeah, definitely, and having ridden the F850, its definitely one of the harder bikes to ride like that as it is very heavy and quite top heavy when compared to others. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
amazingly good video. Subscribed.
Awesome, thank you!
Congratulations!! From Brazil!!
Hi from England :)! Aaron KNOX
Wow great review. I loved It.
Thanks so much!
Hi, could you please share the name and model of the tyres one time please? 🙏
Thank you
Got the GSA 1250 Exclusive it’s big brother, awesome piece of kit too, worth the expense.
Sounds great, would love to try one! Aaron KNOX
nice job! from TEXAS !
Thanks! Appreciate it! Aaron KNOX
just finished to watch KTM 790 adv R and now this review, great both videos and bikes for sure, was thinking to get 850 GS but 790 R with better off road capability and weight made me go w KTM specially for Colorado high country passes... anyway thank you, But wait do you have the link on that tool kit,,,,,? Keep up good work, thank you V!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Would definately agree that the 790 Adventure R is a better off road bike, lighter, more manageable, longer travel suspension... Yes the link for the tool kit is www.sbvtools.com/en/toolsets/203-all-complete-motorcycle-toolset-75-pcs-5425030525302.html. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
Awesome review!!!Stay safe 👍
Thanks, you too!
well done top review
Glad you liked it!
I do like the look of this bike and coming from a Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin this BMW seems to be the nearest comparison in terms of specs, BHP, torque, weight etc. It even seems the same size. Hopefully it doesn't have the problems my Honda did.
Fantastic review. I'd really be interested in your thoughts between this and the regular 850GS. I'm selling my 800GS and am trying to decide between the 850GS or GSA. Any viewer comments are welcome if you've ridden both.
Main difference is the tank size, plus the suspension on the GSA is slightly longer travel. However, due to the bigger tank, the GSA is heavier and a bit top heavy too. If we were planning more off road work, we'd always choose the lighter option, and therefore the standard variant. Hope that helps. Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour Thanks so much for that. My "off road" will be consisting of mainly logging roads etc. No knarly single track or anything like that. I don't bounce like I used to!
Awesome bike
:)
Great review, enjoyed watching. Given a number of review description being top heavy, being taller seat as well, would you recommend this bike for inexperienced rider, with intent for longer touring, two up riding, 70% pavement/ 30% gravel no technical trails, I am 5ft 9in. I debating this over KTM 790 Adventure. Thanks.
Thanks Aleksander, glad you enjoyed it. Yes the F850gsa is an awesome bike for how you describe your riding. In terms of longer touring, the F850 is almost unbeatable in terms of comfort and composure and rides through gravel tracks with incredible ease... Thanks, Aaron KNOX
😎🏍💨💨💨💨💨👍🏻🇨🇦 thanks for the review. Keep looking at these,be big difference from my Harley ultra
You should watch Bret Tcaks on how to pick your bike up on inclines video. Anyone can do it if you follow his training in his video 👌
Great review, I love these type of bikes but could never own one has I am to small. :-( leg's dangling in the wind, even the benneli smallish adventure bike am on tip toes, so sports tourer and older sports bikes for me. Lovely bike though, does look like a smooth bike on road good comparison with a plush range rover. :-) thanks vinny.
Thanks Vinny! Yes they are tall and hard to manage for shorter people no doubt. My GSXR is super low and easy to manage as are bikes like Z1000sx too! All the best, Aaron KNOX
Just to add to this; I have exactly the bike in the video and I am fairly short at 5'8, 30" inseam. You can get low seat and the low suspension option and it makes the bike managable! More so than other adv bikes i found.
£232 insurance! Holy Heck. I was in the BMW showroom on Park Lane a few weeks back - literally about to buy one and the insurance quote came back to me at £5k! So....that was me walking out the door and staying with my WR250 a bit longer :/
Omg 😲! That's not great!! Obviously other stuff comes into play, age, location etc, but Devitt are normally pretty good on the quotes. Thanks Aaron Knox
Nice review! But please quit calling it keyless entry! There are not doors on this bike! Lol. Called it "keyless ride"
🤣 thanks, yes sorry about that, got keyless in my BMW car and just mixed it up! Lol Aaron Knox
So what is your opinion of the T700?
A great bike no doubt! I havent ridden one yet, but my friend Ed from Redtread runs several for his company in Spain and thinks they are amazing. Certainly, they will be better off road than the F850gs, but probably not as plush a road ride. That would be my 2 cents! Thanks Aaron KNOX
Do a review one the Yamaha 900 GT
Would love to!
Amazing bike. It is sooo nice. My only concern is the weight.
It really is a great bike... weight not an issue once you are moving, but at slow speed and off road (technical work) it is heavy and very difficult to pick up once you drop it. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour Depends. I got the old 1200gs and tried some wood ways. Got myself in few inch of silt where the tires were only half assed and not cleaning themselves. Until no forward moving and rotating back wheel.... Dropped it 6 times in a row. It is not that heavy, its more of a trick how to pick it up.
Harley’s Panamerica is already looking dated even compared to this and the African Twin. How does this compare to AT?
Something I don't quite understand is why reviewers never ever mention the reliability of the bikes they ride. So the bike being reviewed is better for going around the planet, faster, meaner etc BUT would it need repairing every 5000km? Probably/possiblly?? . They are not necessarily renowned for their reliability. Lets be honest here. Yamaha for example are THE best of any brand when it comes to reliability. Surely that is worth mentioning or comparing across bike??
It's just something I (as an end user) really consider as vitally important. Something that seems to be lost on the professional test riding community globally. That's why the MSF is so good.
Thanks Craig and great point, however, obviously its a really difficult area to navigate when you only have the bike for a couple of weeks normally. Unless we had a bike as a long term test bike, it's difficult to do this with hands on experience. However, we do talk to customers and friends who own the models and get a good feel for it, but in these reviews its difficult to fully comment on it. However, we do have our own bikes and will be commenting on reliability etc when we run long term machines like our new Husqvarna 701 Enduro as we put more miles on it ua-cam.com/video/2h0NoY7XIqs/v-deo.html. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
It’s a BMW. It’s a given that reliability is not of much concern. They are reliable compared to nearly every other bike in its class.
Absolutely correct. The 850 engine is manufactured by Loncin in China, one of the largest producers of engines I believe but it has cam chain tensioner issues, use in dusty conditions and grit bypasses the air filter and almost instant failure. Not good if you want to circumnavigate the globe. Add to that radiator and oil seal leaks and you have a bike that maybe is best described as a commuter or long term occasional highway use.
As a long term BMW devotee, some 45 years plus, I know from experience BMW used gearboxes manufactured by the Lindt chocolate people and had four replaced in the 1100 RS & GS models years ago.
BMW R & D department is generally the buying public, that said they do, or did honour their warranty commitments.
I have a 2008 GS, air cooled still and that has been brilliant, so simple, but it has been meticulously maintained “in house” and a couple of weeks ago went in to the dealer for recalls, including a new fuel pump. Good old BMW, not so the technician who carried out a health check. Commented on a leak from the drive drive train from evidence on the wheel rims…..it was dust on water that had settled and spun off after the last wash…no leak at all which is why all our machines are serviced in house. Don’t trust a spotty faced yoof with a computer with your life…..check and double check, you’ll be amazed what you find.
Very much doubt that Loncin engine will cover the same mileage as the old boxers, although I believe many of the parts are from Rotax.
No doubt these silicon chips with wheels are fantastic for general use but “adventure” is stretching the imagination.
So its a slow bike that rides comfortable!?
Bit more than that really, its a very capable motorcycle for a lot of riding, but its not the fastest and yes it is comfortable... Aaron KNOX
For 20 kg difference go the 1250gsa. 😎
‘BMW have done a better job than anybody in terms of getting people to buy into a certain style of style of motorcycle’ - um, HD?
As someone looking for a new bike I am one of those who are concerned about reliability. I am trying to be open minded and not listening to the "sirens" that say "japanese bikes are more reliable", so I say to myself "let's consider BMW and watch the review". And here it is, problem with the keyless system, already from the review on a new bike! Of course it does not immobilise the bike but you are on your trip and suddenly you see that message on the screen, it makes you worry for not so important reason. Too complicated, and if there is a problem in the review I don't want to imagine how many problems are going to arise later. I have a META alarm fob for 15 years and still works with the same battery, not the same system but 15 years is something. It is so difficult to trust this manufacturer as it looks they want to keep taking a lot of money from you for the years to come even after the purchase.
I find that every bike on this category has it's issues. ATs suffer from fork seals, in 15 thousand KMs i managed to destroy the front bearings on the 850gS. KTMs suffer from fuel pumps usually on long trips. pick your poison and be prepared accordingly.
i think you are comparing it with a 1199 ducati
Do you mean in terms of power and performance?
If you would put 850GS (non adventure) vs 790R. Let's say 790R is at 100% in off-road capability. Where would 850GS be on the same scale?
And I'm talking about non adventure 850 GS - which has the same suspension, but is less bulky & 20kg lighter.
Hi Roberto, the standard GS has shorter suspension than the GS Adventure so on the suspension front it less capable than the GS Adventure. Honestly, I think whatever, the 790 R is the better aggressive off road adventure bike. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour well, at least bmw website states that both - front and rear suspensions are the same for 850 GS and 850 GSA
Lmao I only disagree with how difficult it’s to pick it up, guess I’m just huge 😂
You must be! The F850 is a beast! Aaron KNOX
KTM 890 adv is on top far away from bmw made in china... lets talk again about problems after 5 years of use or 60.000km
The white, red and blue with gold rims is a staight-up rip-off of the Honda Africa Twin. That has always been their most in-demand color scheme.
Another reviewer who obviously never rode an old air head GS. This is a very light and nimble off-road bike to me.
Whether or not Ive ridden an old air head GS, this is not a light and nimble off road bike... Thanks, Aaron KNOX
Afraid of bike when alone .😅
Amateur
If being concerned about dropping a heavy bike in a remote off-road location and unable to pick it back up makes me an amateur... sure no problems! 😅
On the flip side, I would view someone who got in that same position naive and irresponsible to themselves, their families and the emergency services who might need to help them get out of the mess they've got themselves in...
Thanks, Aaron KNOX