BMW F 800 R

• Video

The engineers didn't have much work to do on a new nudist called the F 800 R. It was based on the F 800 S or ST presented three years ago, which was based on the then new two-cylinder engine, which can also be found in the "small »GS, but which successfully plunged into the world of adventure last year. ...

We tested the S / ST sports car upon arrival on the market and we can say without hesitation that it is a very good product with the right size knot, which is not too weak, and at the same time, the whole motorcycle is not as huge as the big BMWs, and therefore ideal for anyone who does not need even a liter of displacement for a satisfying journey around the world.

For beginners, girls who returned to the world of motorsport. . But look at the shot - the F 800 S and the more travel-oriented Twin ST didn't sell very well. Was it because they were much more expensive than our bestsellers such as Fazer and CBF, or because of the exterior design, which was especially different from the (Japanese) competitors? Would a nudist be better?

So the R is the S without the plastic half-handle, with different lighting and a wider, higher handlebar. But there is another interesting novelty - the torque is transmitted to the rear wheel through a classic chain instead of a belt! Chris Pfeiffer, who already uses the upgraded Ra in his breathtaking performances, said at a presentation at the Milan Motor Show that it's now easier to get sprockets of different sizes and thus adjust the gear ratio.

Previously, when there was a stuntman "fural" with a belt, any pulley, except the standard one, had to be made to order, but now the gears can be obtained in any size. The chain was chosen mainly due to its lower price, and it is also less sensitive to dirt on the road.

The set-up was also touched, so the R has two more horses than the Sa and GS and three Newton meters more torque than the GS. However, the gearbox has a different gear ratio and the steering damper is installed differently, the new rear swingarm is new, that's all. Wow, that's not true!

Another major change has been made to the bike, namely the new derailleurs. Turn signals are no longer triggered by two switches, each on one side of the steering wheel, but as we used to do with all other two-wheeled vehicles. Well, this BMW is just not like everyone else, the switch on the left does not remain mechanically in position behind the left or right turn signal, but always remains in its original position.

In practice, it turns out that such a switch at higher speeds, such as when changing lanes on a highway, does not give the left thumb sufficiently accurate information about whether we have actually turned the turn signal on or off. The body works, which is also indicated by the well-visible warning lights on the dashboard, but there is no real feeling. Or you need to get used to the fact that the thing just works, even if your finger doesn't pick up the click.

R is one of the largest in its class. For example, the Monster 696 plays next to it like a 125cc toy. However, the seat is not too high, but we can still choose between different heights. There's a lot of legroom here, as with my 182 inches above my knees, I still had three toes to the rim of the fuel tank. Sorry, it's not actually a fuel tank - it's hidden under the seat, and the lead is refilled through an opening on the right side.

What's amazing about this simplistic BMW is the wind protection. Don't get me wrong - it's just neutralized and there's more than enough draft around the helmet, but depending on the class it's in, an above-average shell is well protected from the wind. By that I mean mostly the legs, which at higher speeds are not pushed off the bike by the wind, and also the torso in front of me is quite well protected due to a piece of plastic above the headlights.

The unit emits a muffled drumming sound that requires replacing the muffler with a sportier one. If only I thought about the sound of the Pfeiffer car that I tested last year at the Logatech racetrack. ... Wow, that's different.

The engine impresses with its instantaneous response from 2.000 rpm in city driving, as well as a significant torque gap between four and five thousandths of a second. Interestingly, this was not felt in the GS with the same engine. While there is a possibility that they deliberately improved responsiveness at the lowest speeds of urban convenience, it is nevertheless more important in our opinion continuity throughout the area. But maybe they can fix this "error" with a simple operation via a laptop?

Above 5.500 rpm, the two-cylinder engine becomes clearly jittery, and then the F 800 R becomes sporty. The bike is consistently above average in fast corners, which has always been a good trait for most BMWs. Even on deep slopes it stays calm and follows the direction indicated, and thanks to the wide handlebar, it can easily "bounce" even in shorter corners.

For those who like to ride comfortably on (bad) Slovenian roads, the sporty suspension can be frustrating, as the bike is quite hard to swallow bumps for the Bavarian, who we used to treat our buttocks more friendly. Does the F 800 R have a street fighter? It's hard to tell as it otherwise lacks a humiliating character with a very cool look to fit next to a Tuon, Street Triple, or TNT. Let's say he is a street user, that is, a street user, not a warrior.

BMW-level finishing, but again, there are a few small things that could have been made even prettier. I emphasize - not better, but better! For example, passenger footpegs are what a mechanical engineering student might present in a practical session. . Functional but not nice.

It pleases with quality and a rich set of accessories, such as an on-board computer that displays the outside air temperature, average and current (!) Consumption, power reserve, average speed, there is even the ability to measure the lap time. The brakes are great (front levers are offset adjustable) and also anti-lock brakes, then there are the heated two-stage levers and alarm, and we just got a hot catalog of accessories with various spoilers. , covers for passenger seats, suitcases, different masks, engine protection. ...

In short, the Germans have prepared a long enough list of accessories for you to raise the otherwise reasonable price of the base model. Do you think that white is not recognizable enough? In addition to the metallic gray, you can also think of a flashy orange to make the new R even more recognizable. In the city or on a winding karst road.

“It’s bad, man, but it looks like a sports BMW,” said a former gas station classmate who was “horny” in high school about cars and wasn’t too interested in motorcycles. I briefly explain to the forum that this is a kind of ultrasonic sports engine without plastic. “Oh, such a more urban scene,” he understood my explanation.

Yes, Al, that sounds pretty crap to me. It looks like BT doesn't work for me either. But he's good at it too!

BMW F 800 R

Base model price: 8.200 EUR

Test car price: 9.682 EUR

engine: two-cylinder in-line, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 789 cm? , electronic fuel injection.

Maximum power: 64 kW (87 KM) at 8.000/min.

Maximum torque: 86 Nm @ 6.000 rpm

Energy transfer: Transmission 6-speed, chain.

Frame: aluminum.

brakes: two coils ahead? 320mm, 4-piston calipers, rear disc? 265 mm, single piston cam.

Suspension: in front of a classic telescopic fork? 43mm, 125mm travel, rear adjustable single shock. 125 mm movement.

Tires: 120/70-17, 180/55-17.

Seat height from ground: 800 mm (+/- 25 mm).

Fuel tank: 16 l.

Wheelbase: 1.520 mm.

Weight: 199 kg (177 kg dry weight).

Representative: BMW Group Slovenia, www.bmw-motorrad.si.

We praise and reproach

+ responsiveness of the unit at low speeds

+ roominess

+ wind protection by segment

+ brakes

+ rich list of accessories

+ difference

+ workmanship

– Torque hole at 4.500 rpm

- flimsy turn signal switches

Matevž Gribar, photo: Aleš Pavletič