2014 EICMA: 2015 BMW F800R Preview
The BMW F800R gets new wardrobe and more power
After a brief hiatus, for 2015 BMW is bringing back the sporty F800R. Unveiled today at EICMA 2014, BMW is hoping the F800R appeals to both new and experienced riders alike.
The most noticeable difference to the revamped F800 is the new clothes its wearing. With its newly designed fairings, radiator shields, front mudguard and wheels, plus a new range of colors, the sporty roadster cuts an extremely dynamic figure. And remember the asymmetrical headlight of yore? That’s gone, replaced with a more visually pleasing symmetrical unit BMW says gives the bike its “face.”
Look past the bodywork to find BMW has massaged more power from the Twin. While the engine is the same basic liquid-cooled, four-valve unit as before, tweaks to it have resulted in a 90 hp output, 3 hp more than before, according to BMW. Apart from the new engine, the F800R gets an inverted fork, radially mounted brake calipers (with ABS standard), revised ratios for the first two gears and lighter wheels.
Ergonomically, new tapered aluminum bars and footpegs placed 10mm lower and 10mm further forward help give a more neutral riding position. Seat height has also been dropped 10mm, to 790mm (31.1 in), which should help the bike appeal to shorter riders.
A host of options and accessories will be available for the F800R, including Automatic Stability Control (ASC), Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA), panniers, exhaust kit, different seats to raise or lower the height, heated grips and alarm system, just to name a few.
Pricing and availability have yet to be announced as of press time.
Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
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It looks the part, but the weight (along with a boring engine) was always the main issue with the old version of the F800R, keeping it out of serious contention with the segment leaders. I wish KTM would hurry up with its own 800cc-ish Duke, since it likely would be both lighter, more powerful and more engaging.