08/09 JFR vs BMW F800ST

Jbrewton45 · Mar 29, 2011

Well apparently Ive been lurking since "04-June 08" when I was just joing the Navy. Ive been to busy with training and life to get a bike, but Im about to head on a deployment (Monday actuallu woo) and thats going to clear up some "funds". I'M currently looking at my favorite sicne....well '08 andd the BMW. Im 5'7 with about a 29in inseam....went to the ealership today to sit ont he bike, and well I am on the balls of my feet...thinking a lowering link and a new seat I could almost flat foot it. I ahvent actually seen the BMW in person but its a very nice bike. I live in the DC area so anywhere I go to find twisties will be a skip and a hop away...so after all of my rambling....pro and cans? Recomendations? (I know yall have seen this a million times and I'll be a nother

)

P.S Anyone actually document the lowest seat height attained on an FJR by lowering it? I havent actually seen numbers.

PhilJet09 · Mar 29, 2011

I'm 5'4" with a 29" inseam and just ride without the adjustment plate under the seat, which lowers it a little more and don't have much of a problem on the balls of my feet. At a stop, I'm usually on my left foot flat and my right is on the brake. I'm a little more careful about where I park, but otherwise it's not a problem. I never wanted to lower the bike and screw up the geometry the engineers worked so hard to perfect.

I never rode the 800ST, but it was on my short list, nice bike.

wheatonFJR · Mar 29, 2011

I have a 29-inch inseam and have never flatfooted a bike in my life. I bought the FJR and I am comfortably on the balls of my feet at a stop with no lowering devices. I definitely DON'T want the bike lowered as that will reduce ground clearance for the chassis.

Why does someone need to flatfoot a bike? I don't get it.

As far as the FJR vs an F800...1300cc 145hp vs 800cc ??hp...you do the math, which do you want?

New BMWs typically will cost more than a Yamaha of the same engine size...do you really want your money to go into the bike...or into trip$$$ Well do ya?

JR'SFJR · Mar 30, 2011

I rented an 800 ST in Switzerland last fall and put over 2000 miles on it riding in the Alps and Pyrenees. It weights about 200 lbs. less than an FJR and at 85 hp., its not slow. It ran just fine with the big bikes, was a great mountain bike and ran down the autobahn just fine with a 6th gear. Other riders that rode it, really liked it. Having said that, it felt good to get back on the FJR with loads of low end torque.

Go to the BMW 800 forum for good info. The earlier years had some stalling problems, piston issues(Rotex engine) and rear wheel bearing failures. The belt drive replacement at the dealership is around $600? The BMW expandable saddle bags are small, but worked.

carlson_mn · Apr 1, 2011

The FJR does a lot of things very well. The BMW is more focused. You'll have to make the decision. Have a great deployment and thanks for your service!