BMW

Nothing amiss with the F700 and 800. BMW fix it anyway

Redesigned chassis and engine, new ergonomics, better accessories. BMW aren’t dicking about with their refreshed mid-weight adventurer. It’s even got its fuel tank in the regular position and the chain on the left. Out goes the steel tube trellis frame, replaced with fabricated steel sheet. The design is like a CBR600RR, with twin spars and triangulated links dropping to the engine, and a steel subframe bolts on. BMW say it has significant advantages off-road, and they avoided aluminium for

reasons of robustness. Geometry is crisper, with slightly steeper rake and reduced trail and wheelbase, for lighter handling. The parallel twin grows from 798 to 853cc. Firing interval is revised, with offset journals bringing bangs at 270 and 450 degress, rather than 270 and 360. So it’ll sound different. The old twin was balanced by a dummy con-rod off the centre of the crank, but now has twin balance shafts. There’s 77bhp at 7500rpm for the 750GS (still 853cc) and 95bhp at 8250rpm for the 850GS. Suspension is new with extra travel (RWU fork on the 750, USD for the 850), and the 850 has a lower seat than the old 800. Superior weather protection from redesigned bodywork, too. Auto Stability Control (ASC) is standard, with two riding modes, but as ever there’s a vast array of options, from colour TFT dash to electronic suspension, quickshifter and more modes. The cast-wheel 750 comes in white or yellow, or grey if you go for the Exclusive model. The spoke-wheel 850 is either red, or matt grey in Exclusive guise, or white in Rallye form. Bike says: ‘This isn’t a subtle massage but complete reinvention. Let’s hope it keeps some feel of the F800GS...’