BMW F800S (2006 - 2010) Review

Version: ST

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £280

A comfortable, reliable and fuel-efficient workhorse that pulls like a train through the rev range. A comfy seat, heated grips and ABS makes it easy to ride for long distance, hence ST. Sounds OK with Akrapovic Slip-on but lacks excitement when revs hard. Handling is sweet and it wind protection is adequate even with standard screen. It is also easy to maintain and has long service intervals. Being a 360 crank parallel twin, it has a unique soundtrack that mimics boxer twin (I had a GS1200 parked side by side and I couldn't tell the difference in note)

Version: F800ST

Year: 2009

Annual servicing cost: £250

This is my first big bike and an excellent all rounder.

Buying experience: I bought this from a private seller who had obviously looked after it. The bike itself was low miles and very cheap in comparison to other similar models.

Version: S

Year: 2006

Annual servicing cost: £150

My F800S was a 2006 model with 20,000 miles on the clock. It had 5 previous owners, the first few owners had it regularly serviced at a BMW dealership, one also spending £900+ on a suspension upgrade. It was also fitted with a Remus silencer and a taller screen. The later owners had it serviced at non franchised or self- servicing with plenty of stamps in the service book and lots of receipts. I owned the bike for 9 months covering 1,500 miles. The bike is light and agile with the fuel tank under the seat to lower the centre of gravity.

Buying experience: Bought privately. Advertised at £2,400 paid £2,200. Sold 9 months later for £2195.00. Expensive when new and generally owned by older caring owners so well worth considering for a general all-round bike. Check the belts mileage as you can spend up to 25% of a second-hand bikes value if a replacement is required with the pulleys.

Version: F800s

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £150

My return to biking after 12 year sabbatical as I wanted something a little sporty but not full on head down super sports. Had it just over a year now, reasonably comfy, though my ageing hands still feel a little tingly - grip puppies help enormously. Also not being very tall the pegs do cause a tiny bit of discomfort after a couple of hours, but again thats probably down to my age! Keep looking at newer bikes but cant decide on an all rounder that will do the same without breaking the bank.

Buying experience: Ebay, seller a great guy - goy it about £1000 less than other private sellers. Had a short MOT and needed a few minor items but as with any blind purchase you pays your money and take a chance.

Year: 2006

Annual servicing cost: £180

One of the best midrange bikes I’ve had over the past 30 years so nice for sort and long trips but doesn’t like town traffic. Very reliable even after 15 years and 50,000 miles it still looks fab runs like the first day and so easy looked after.

Buying experience: From a dealer it was the first one delivered in Northern Ireland loved it and great price

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £200

Excellent, great fuel efficiency, comfy to long distance trips for 2.

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £150

I had an F800s for around five years and it did just about everything - it commuted, toured and cornered beautifully. Something a little different from the mainstream as well.

Version: ST

Year: 2010

Once you get the hang of it it's great fun, I've the st and initially despite enjoying the test run on longer rides it became unbearable, vibration and pressure from the bars and a hell of a racket in my lid. I'd bought the bike 2nd hand from a dealer and the bars came rolled down to encourage a kind of tucked riding position, this was the problem. After a bit of messing I've settled on having them swept up and back, it's working for me my hands are lighter on the bars and my head seems to be in a turbulence sweet spot, I'm learning to love this bike. Short shift a bit and relax the torque's got you covered if you need to roll on past 5k, on the other hand you can ride it where the real fun is between 6 and 8. Clutchless up shifts never miss and rev matching back down is smooth as you effortlessly tip her into the corners This bike loves corners, at low speed it seems to flop into them and the closer to the edge of the tyre it gets the more planted it feels, at high it just rails around them. Good fun

Version: T

Year: 2009

Annual servicing cost: £60

Beautiful to look at, lovely torque curve. Yes, I would recommend to a friend. I love this bike but it always tests my commitment in hot weather. It's so comfortable and goes beautifully when it goes properly but when you're filtering down a crappy motorway tailback on a hot weekend in July the last thing you need is the problem described in the next section.

Buying experience: Easy

Version: ST

Year: 2006

Annual servicing cost: £500

I want a bike that makes me want to ride it. This bike makes me want to ride it!

Buying experience: Bought from a dealer on Ebay without viewing first. I had recently ridden the newer GT version though, so knew I was going to like it. I haven't regretted it one bit.

Version: Review is for a 2012 F800ST, which isn't on this list for some reason

Year: 2010

Light, decent handling bike let down by every other aspect.

Year: 2010

A very good back-to-biking/1st big bike. On the other hand, competence does not equal brilliance and there are are few irritations. Therefore, it gets a better than average grade, but I would give it 3.5 out of 5 if I could.

Buying experience: Bought from dealer Chuard Motos in Geneva. Very competent, friendly, helpful, etc.I get it serviced in a local non-BMW garage because its closer and easier to get to.

Version: F800ST

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £200

This bike is quite economical on fuel, I get about 65 mpg. The mirrors are poor and need extenders. I would not recommend this bike to my worst enemy, let alone a friend. BMW's are not as well made as they used to be.

Buying experience: I bought a black Touring model new in 2012 from my local BMW main dealer and got a small discount. I wanted a lupin blue one, but this was a £300 option! Now different colours are a no cost option.

Don't but this bike if you actually need it on a daily basis. Multiple recalls and unbelievably long lead times for servicing/recall work mean you're likely to be off the road for months, like me. Poor engineering and quality control have led to issues with the fuel pump sensor (let me down in the middle of Bristol) and rear bearing (replacement needed at 24k miles with two months wait to book it in). Don't believe the hype with BMW 'quality'- they just don't match up to their Japanese competitors. Shame - otherwise a good and economical bike.

Best bike i have owned. Where are MCN testers coming from 182kg is heavy? mpg 38 I get 68 and flying. Smooth comfortable, handles really well, very torquey, very little vibs. Brilliant bike.

This is my fifth bike and I have bought a lot of new Japanese middleweights before. I use it for commuting where the belt drive is really useful - why bother with chains and their short life, frequent adjusts and continual requirement for lube? (Even when I had a scotoiler I didn't find it as good as this). Running costs are very low. Servicing is every 6000 miles and many services are fairly basic checks whilst the economy of this is better than my old 250R. Quality is way better than Japanese and it just doesn't rust even when left a few days with winter water and salt on it. I also appreciate the advanced electronics ABS, Tyre pressure monitoring, calculation of mpg and miles left etc. It goes very well but I would prefer a Hornet. I know because I have ridden one and back to back the Hornet handles slightly better and I prefer the exhaust note and the real kick at the top end. That said the engine in the F800 is very good and provides much better low end drive with a real rasp and push at the top end. But the hornet would cost more to run (economy is lower and servicing is more frequent and expensive) and would be colder and wetter in the winter. Range isn't bad and since the fuel tank is below the seat it is easy to fill to the top even on the side stand. It is a bit uncomfortable when riding below 50 because of the bars but this adds to the character. I like its physical size. Its good for commuting (not too big for filtering) and is easy to touch the ground but isn't CBR125 small. Overall very pleased. Its a keeper...

I have a 2007 F800S. I go out to my garage every morning and out of five bikes I usually pick this one to commute on. Light, responsive, good in-town manors a plus. At the other end of the scale, it's got too much back lash in the gearbox and the water pump weeps a bit every now and then. Lots of weird mechanical noises from engine but didn't break yet. Uneven clutch release makes me feel like I'm beter off to just drop it and leave slipping to a minimum. Crap tyres.. i lost both ends in the rain. Good riding position, good brakes, perky engine and nice exhaust sound. It's a keeper!

I bought this 2006 bike unseen ( silly me), though I had sat on one at the bike show at the NEC and felt it was a comfy riding position. How memories can fool you or perhaps its the fact I have 2 years riding under my belt. The thing that reviews dont point out is that if you are a taller person say over 5'11 then the handlebars are too close and the pegs too high. Whether its this but the balance of the bike doesnt feel right. This combined with a very soft front fork and engine like a thrappy diesel means I cant whizz smoothly round tight roundabouts like I could in my cbf 600. Low speed commuting is also a chore because the engine is gutless at low revs, Ist gear feels like 2nd ( easy to stall), the mirrors are poor and theres the awful bmw indicators. Accessories are painfully expensive. I havent had any reliability issues but the corrosion on the engine is shocking for a premium brand. On a plus note paint quality is otherwise good and the bike has impressive style. Fuel economy and tank range are very good ( see Fuelly). I'm overall dissapointed with it though, the ergonomics, handling, corrosion are worse than the middle of the road Honda I had and I long for a nice smooth reliable Japanese bike. If you are commuting a lot you just dont want the distractions that this bike has given me. If you are a leisure sort of biker or like touring then I expect the bike will suit you better.

I have a 2006 model, I say this because I would hope that the problems have been ironed out for the newer version. This is a lovely bike to ride, the engine is punchy with great midrange, though snatchy at low revs which takes a little getting used to and gentle throttle control. The ride is great for a bit of everything, but don't be fooled by the s in it's title it's no thoroughbred sports bike. I want to love it because it is so capable but I can't. The downside is the build quality, this bike has had problems, check the forums. Engine cutting out for no reason (now resolved, fault unknown), piston slap (only resolution is a rebuild), rear wheel bearings going at around 15000 (modified bearings fitted, had to pay labour only), and a few smaller niggles, corrosion is a problem. These are not uncommon faults and you should check the mods have been done before buying. Incidentally BMW will not directly admit to these faults (except the rear wheel bearings), but will try to resolve. I can only assume they are reluctant to except responsibilty due to a lack of backup from Germany. Overall a good bike, but be warned make sure any problems have been fixed on your bike, check the forums for details of common faults.

BMW is missing a trick with the F800ST - it is a superb all-rounder but relatively few people seem to know about it. Having tested the usual all-rounders (VFR800, CBF1000, etc), I found the ST completely by accident through BMW's low seat range. Vines of Guildford were excellent (as were most of the competitor brands I spoke to), offering an extended test ride despite having passed my test just one week earlier and doing a very competitive deal on their ex-demonstrator. A recent ride to Switzerland was a revelation - 550 miles in one hit and felt completely fresh when I arrived. The alpine roads were well worth the trip, although the high altitude revealed that the coolant had been over-filled at the factory, forcing the excess to leak out. Occasional false neutrals between 5th and 6th seem to be a common problem on the forums but a heavier boot up the gears seems to have fixed that. I regularly ride the bike two-up with full panniers and it is never short of performance or comfort while delivering over 55 mpg in all conditions. The optional expandable panniers are ample for touring and will each hold a full face helmet to save carrying them around on day trips. Insurance and servicing costs(6K intervals) are very reasonable, while the belt drive minimises maintenance. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the ST - it has certainly raised eyebrows amongst my more experienced biking mates.

Just returned to biking after 25 year absence. Last bike a Z1B, middling brakes and very suspect handling. What a refreshing change the ST is, it goes and stops brilliantly. Comfort good with plenty of space at the back for the larger lasses. Cannot believe what a brilliant package Bee Em have come up with.

im not the tallest guy in the world with only 29" inside leg but the bike is a nice height for me (standard height seat) i bought mine from a bmw dealer in grimsby and found them most helpful. The ride and handling are a delight and the engine is a treat, especially when sha gets busy at over 5000 revs. the quality and finish are top notch as you would expect for a beemer but the worst thing is the gearbox talk about kerrunch!! im sure ill master it its comfy nice riding position and VERY economical (66mpg). Its my first bike for 25 years and im pleased i bought it sure it was more than the equivalent jap bike but its worth it love it to bits

Being a tall rider [all leg] and coming back to two wheels after a gap of 18 years this bike ticked all the boxes for me. It looks big, but feels just right on the bike, its got lots of low down grunt and nippy through town. The local dealer lent me one for the day and after 3-4 hours [avg 55 mpg] in the seat I was still up for some more riding. Compared to the VFR 800, which was high on the list this bike excels in every area and is right up my street and shows that its in a different league altogether. I've order in 2008 colours for 09 plate delivery, just 26 days to go and I can't wait. The only down side for me was the location of the indicator cancel button, in winter with thick gloves this proved to be a little tricky, especially around town but will come with practice. Ive also ordered a slightly higher aftermarket screen, as per the demo bike as this made the high speed journeys slightly more bearable with the wind going round instead of into the helmet face area.

On my second f800 now, First did 21,500 miles went down to south of Morocco on an "S" model kitted out, 67 mpg in all weather and climate. Unfortunately had a head on crash 2,100 miles from home, bike saved me, no injuries but after riding it all way home it was written off,(100 pc to Carole Nash). Now on second bike, f800st, same attributes, very safe and comfy and very economical. Have you noticed what high mileages owners of this model cover?

We have got a 800ST for our mobile service engineer and we have had it for 2 months,so far we have been averaging 60+MPG and on a metzler Z6 rear we got just over 7000 miles!great bike,great handling,very cost effective

It had been 25 years since owning my last motorcycle. I had always wanted a BMW so I started to do some homework. I read all the reviews of the different BMW bikes. I wanted a motorcycle that was fun to rideand easy to handle, it had to have many safety features I was looking for (ABS, self-canceling turn signals). I wanted it to be smooth, reliable and great on gas. Well, I found the perfect bike, a 2007 BMW F800S. It is all of those things and more. It is also sporty. I even added the side bags and top case for touring. This bike is a dream. It is VERY comfortable as well. It gets great gas mileage. The specs say 38 mpg, but I get 60 mpg doing 70 mph. If I get on it I still get high 40's to low 50's. It handles like a cat on carpet. Love the torque curve on this bike, not too touchy, very smooth and fast. If you are looking for one GREAT motorcycle the F800 is is a very terrifc motorcycle. I can't stay off it :-).

I have owned the bike now for over a year and have done over 9000 miles across europe, a few 9 hr days and its done everything I have asked of it, great tourer, I wont be selling it !!

What a rush. When you hit 5-8k revs from 2nd to 3rd to 4th and are doing a fair whack in the blink of an eye, you know you made the right choice. I bought a one year old S version, and bought full luggage kit to boot. Tob box is small which is annoying (had old givi E52 on my old SV). Engine cuts out when you whang the throttle open at traffic lights, or popping the revs to hold your balance at low speeds - can be VERY annoying and embarrasing. Customer service is fantastic.

I've had my F800s nearly a year now and i love it more and more every time i go out for a ride. Stick it in fourth gear on a nice sweeping country lane and you can just play with the throttle as the response from the sublime parallel twin engine gives you so much feed back. Just fitted a skidmarx double bubble screen and an akrapovic exhaust. The screen is a massive improvement over the stock version and the exhaust gives the bike a little more punch with a great sounding note. I have also found the the new exhaust has cured the low speed stuttering that i used to get. I use this bike all year round and find it can handle anything i ask of it. Great value too.

It's not perfect. I agree with all the positive comments so far, but must say 1) the gearbox is sh*te, 2) the ST screen directs wind (and flies) straight onto your visor and the noise even at modest speeds can be deafening - and yes I wear plugs, 3) 2nd gear roll-on/off is snatchy as hell. However, I commute 60 miles per day with plenty of overtakes and still average 66 mpg!

Tried the ST preferred the S. Can ride it like a tourer or sports bike. First bike from direct access - 4500 miles in 4 months, 63 mpg, £250 insurance - no oil added. Goes and corners better than I can - don't think I'll reach its limits any time soon. Definitely recommended for first medium/big bike.

Top bike. Quality build, fantastic ride. Just going in for a 6k service after 6 months. I find it an easy commuter bike, superbly balanced and easy to flip around. Gearbox and drive pulley mods are essential [warranty]. Highly recommended.

I bought this bike new two months ago and currently I would not exchange it for anything else. It is a joy to ride. Twisty roads are a delight. And it's rather eye-catching if you like that sort of thing. Still running it in and it's getting better! Strengths: It has splendid balance. I swear it could stand up on its own without a side stand. Light and manoeuvrable. Much torque. Weaknesses: Very minor weaknesses like uncertain first to neutral, false neutrals - the usual!

This is a fantastic bike and you're getting a lot of quality and value at a pretty decent bike (especially for BMW). If you've never been interested in the usual BMW motorbikes than I would recomend taking a look at this one before your next buy - it's not what you would expect. It's great fun to ride, solid and very stable on the road. Strengths: The best part is it's low down torque that just pulls and pulls when you open the throttle - a wonderful feeling! Weaknesses: If only it had full fairing for less cleaning...

Comfortable, powerful with bags of torque and useful computer readouts.Characterful sound. I just love this bike. It's forgiving way of handling has helped me after such a long time away. Had ABS, centre stand, computer trips and panier mounts added. Strengths: Engaging looks, torque, quality and comfort. Weaknesses: Fairing and screen could give better protection. Expensive add ons.

Strengths: Great handling, superb engine, easy to handle. Weaknesses: Wind protection from screen is poor at motorway speeds. Mirrors are almost useless.