Trash
Well-Known Member
Now that I have accumulated a little over 3,000 miles on my "little" GS, I thought I would post my observations in comparison to my previous 2009 R1200GS.
I purchased the F700GS instead of an F800GS for two main reasons:
1)The std. seat height of 32.5" matches my 30" inseam a lot better than the 34.5" F800GS.
2)The cast wheels with tubeless tires on my bike suit me a lot better than the spoke wheels and tube-type tires on the F800GS.
When comparing the F700GS to my old R1200GS, these things stand out:
1)The "R" had a lot more power (DUH), but I would characterize the "F" power as adequate.
2)The "R" is a smoother running bike. The "F" tends to buzz the handlebars at higher rpm's- grip puppies grip covers help dampen the vibes somewhat.
3)The "F" gets much better fuel economy- about 10 more miles out of each gallon of fuel.
4)The "F" is considerably more nimble than the "R". Credit goes to narrower profile and lighter weight.
5)Although I was very hesitant to purchase a chain driven bike for adventure touring, I have been pleasantly surprised that the chain has not yet needed adjustment
I have added many farkles to tailor this bike to my needs, and will put it to its first test on a trip to South Dakota and Wyoming next month, where we will be doing a mix of two-lane and forest roads. I will try to follow up this review with more observations at that time.
I purchased the F700GS instead of an F800GS for two main reasons:
1)The std. seat height of 32.5" matches my 30" inseam a lot better than the 34.5" F800GS.
2)The cast wheels with tubeless tires on my bike suit me a lot better than the spoke wheels and tube-type tires on the F800GS.
When comparing the F700GS to my old R1200GS, these things stand out:
1)The "R" had a lot more power (DUH), but I would characterize the "F" power as adequate.
2)The "R" is a smoother running bike. The "F" tends to buzz the handlebars at higher rpm's- grip puppies grip covers help dampen the vibes somewhat.
3)The "F" gets much better fuel economy- about 10 more miles out of each gallon of fuel.
4)The "F" is considerably more nimble than the "R". Credit goes to narrower profile and lighter weight.
5)Although I was very hesitant to purchase a chain driven bike for adventure touring, I have been pleasantly surprised that the chain has not yet needed adjustment
I have added many farkles to tailor this bike to my needs, and will put it to its first test on a trip to South Dakota and Wyoming next month, where we will be doing a mix of two-lane and forest roads. I will try to follow up this review with more observations at that time.
