The former “grey cardigan” of motorcycle companies is going after younger riders, but not just men racers, with its first parallel-twin-powered motorcycle. With a whole new generation of sharper, sportier bikes in its repertoire, BMW is letting go of its image as an old rider’s bike company. And now comes the F 800, BMW’s first parallel twin; an entry level sports-oriented bike.
BMW Motorrad Australia national sales and marketing manager Cameron Cuthill suspects the main competition for the F 800 S half-faired bike will be the Ducati Monster while competitors to the F 800 ST fully faired sports tourer will be the likes of Honda’s ageing VFR, Suzuki’s SVs and maybe even old Yamaha TRX850s. He says they are not particularly targeting young 600cc supersports riders.
Just as well, because the F 800 is not a firecracker supersports machine. Instead, on the Australasian launch last week in New Zealand, both versions of the new twin proved to be smooth and torquey, rather than raucously racy. They are refined and sophisticated machines that also have plenty of go and adequate handling. The S comes in solid red or yellow and the ST in metallic grey or blue. There are no race replica graphics here.
Prices, which were released in the weeks before the launch, are strongly competitive. The S costs $14,500 (Ducati S2R $14,995) and the ST $15,000 (VFR $17,490, SV1000S $13,990). “We fought pretty hard to get good pricing on this,” Cuthill says. The S is a sportster-style bike with low screen, clip-on handlebars, steering damper, black wheels and a half fairing. It also has creature comforts such as heated handgrips and an on-board computer that gives all the usual details plus average and instantaneous fuel economy, ambient temperature and distance to empty.
The ST adds a centre stand, higher screen, rear rack, silver wheels, bigger fairing and one-piece handlebar. Despite the introduction of the first parallel twin in a BMW bike, Cuthill draws more attention to the belt drive also used in the now-defunct F 650 CS (Scarver). “It is quieter than a chain and has a longer life,” he says, claiming it will last until 40,000km with a check and adjustment at the first 1000km service and then only a check every 10,000km service.
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