Motorcycle.com

The latest member of BMW’s Enduro line arrived at U.S. BMW Motorrad dealers a couple of weeks after the 2009 F650GS made its debut.

Like its smaller sibling, the F800GS is powered by a water-cooled 798cc twin-cylinder four-stroke engine. While the F650GS had been detuned, the unfettered F800GS has a claimed output of 85 bhp at 7,500 rpm with 62 lb/ft of torque at 5,750 rpm.

Also different is the front suspension with the F800GS getting a 45mm upside-down fork, compared to the F650GS’s 43mm telescopic fork. The difference gives the F800GS 9 inches of travel up front, 1.9 inches more than the F650GS. Rear travel is also greater, at 8.5 inches compared to the F800GS’s 6.7 inches.

The F800GS is also equipped with 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wire spoked wheels, wide foot pegs, an under-engine skid plate and a 4.2 gallon underseat gas tank for off-road riding.

BMW will showcase the F800GS’s off-road capabilities with the inaugural BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy on Oct. 15-24 in Tunisia. BMW will select teams of six, three BMW owners and three journalists, from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Japan to participate in the team competition.

BMW motorcycle owners Brad Hendry, of Thornton, Colo., Jim Stoddard, of Middlegrove, NY and Jason Adams, of Rosendale, NY were selected from a field of six finalists to represent Team U.S.A. at a tryout in Spartanburg, SC on Aug. 28. They were seleced evaluated on their performance in a series of challenges including an offset slalom course, sand relay and a team trail challenge. The other finalists, Kevan Harder of Paso Robles, Calif., Bill Dragoo, of Norman, Okla. and Brienne Thompson, of San Diego, Calif. will serve as alternates.

The 2009 BMW F800GS is available in Dark Magnesium Metallic and Sunset Yellow for $10,520. A package including heated hand grips, anti-lock brakes, an on-board computer and white turn signals retails for $12,025.

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