BMW F850GS

853cc | 229kg | 93.8bhp | 860mm

Cash price £9875 Deposit £1959 Mileage 5000pa Rate 9.9% APR Optional final payment £4901.21

The star of BMW’s 2018 range has to be this great-looking new F850GS, which brings styling cues from the old F800, but little else. This is a totally revised model and brings a huge array of new features and updates to BMW’s adventure middleweight. At the heart of the new bike is the 853cc parallel twin (which it shares with the F850GS Adventure and the F750GS uses a detuned version), that’s gone through more than just a capacity increase. The engine has been completely redesigned with a new crank and 270-degree firing order, to give it more of a V-twin soundtrack and power characteristic. Paired with this new engine is a new electronics package that includes Road and Rain riding modes plus optional Pro modes that include Dynamic, Enduro and Enduro Pro. Keeping all that in check is a

new steel bridge frame plus new suspension for both bikes. For the first time BMW’s electronic Dynamic ESA suspension, which alters the rear damping and preload, will be available.

The little twins also join the bigger bikes in offering the 6.5in TFT dash and associated connectivity plus options such as keyless ignition and a quickshifter. All of these extras come as standalone items, or as part of BMWs Comfort, Touring and Dynamic packages to help tempt buyers to spec-up their BMW. The F850GS has just made the world a smaller place for fans of middleweight adventurers.

The F850GS’s characterful engine both purrs and roars, handling is faultless, it’s comfortable, practical and a piece of cake to live with. It’s the bike most bandwagon-jumping R1200GS owners should buy.