I tried a 2014 spec F800R and compared it to 'Captain Black'

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Man-of-Mystery
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I tried a 2014 spec F800R and compared it to 'Captain Black'

Postby Man-of-Mystery » Thu May 28, 2015 1:24 pm

'Captain Black' was in for an MOT/recall/tyres and John Clark's loaned me an F800R. It was nippy, flicky, and accelerated beautifully. The ride was fun, reminding me of my old F650 Strada, but with loads more power.

Image

I had been feeling that 'Captain Black' was too heavy to manhandle, and had been wondering about trading down to an F800R. Although I enjoyed my ride on the loan bike, two important factors stopped me.

Firstly, the layout of the controls on the l/h bar. I have a slightly arthritic ball-of-thumb, and there is a big stretch both to the clutch lever and to the indicator switch. Although the F800R's clutch is lighter than the R1200S's, it was a strain reaching for the lever. As for the indicator switch, I had to pull my hand right back until I only had the tips of my fingers curled round the grip; and then flicking the switch either way, or indeed off, hurt the bad joint like mad. On 'Captain Black', however, I use my left thumb less than half as much, because the right flicker and the cancel button are on the right. I'm told that one can get sports levers for the F800R, which lie closer to the grip, but that bloody indicator switch would still make it hard work for me - I got back home with a pain up my left forearm. My fault for getting old, of course.

Image

Secondly - and this is the important but silly reason - I turn heads on 'Captain Black', whereas I wouldn't on the F800R.

Image
07 R1200S

Love your enemies - it'll drive the bastards crazy!

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Blackal
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Postby Blackal » Thu May 28, 2015 1:45 pm

I got a loaner a while back and ran it down to Galashiels (A7 - which is a great road when little traffic) - and came away with the opinion that the F800 made a good little commuter, but was totally uninspiring on the open road.........

Plenty of bikes I would buy before that, I'm afraid..... :?

Al :)
If I am ever on life support - Unplug me......
Then plug me back in..........

See if that works .....
:?

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Man-of-Mystery
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Postby Man-of-Mystery » Thu May 28, 2015 2:34 pm

Last year I fancied a Harley Iron 883. Work of art to look at. Utter pig to ride.
07 R1200S



Love your enemies - it'll drive the bastards crazy!

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Taz
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Postby Taz » Thu May 28, 2015 7:22 pm

[Work of art to look at. Utter pig to ride.]

I had a girlfriend like that ......
Taz

R1250RS

So when is this 'Old enough to know better' supposed to kick in?

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Man-of-Mystery
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Postby Man-of-Mystery » Thu May 28, 2015 7:32 pm

Taz wrote:[Work of art to look at. Utter pig to ride.]

I had a girlfriend like that ......


You bragging or complaining?
07 R1200S



Love your enemies - it'll drive the bastards crazy!

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Topcat
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Postby Topcat » Sat May 30, 2015 7:39 pm

There's someone close to this forum that would toast a lot of people (me included) on one of those :wink:

Depends what suits your style of riding I guess.

Corvus
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Postby Corvus » Wed Jun 03, 2015 11:11 am

Topcat wrote:......Depends what suits your style of riding I guess.


Hear hear.

There was a time when an 800 was a "big" bike. I wouldn't necessarily view the move as a step "down".

Care about being seen? Pull a freakin wheelie. Or dig out your 90s purply /pink /white leathers
:D

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Man-of-Mystery
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Postby Man-of-Mystery » Wed Jun 03, 2015 11:28 am

Corvus wrote:
Topcat wrote:
Care about being seen? Pull a freakin wheelie. Or dig out your 90s purply /pink /white leathers
:D



I like your style.
07 R1200S



Love your enemies - it'll drive the bastards crazy!

Corvus
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Postby Corvus » Wed Jun 03, 2015 11:59 am

Blackal wrote:I got a loaner a while back and ran it down to Galashiels (A7 - which is a great road when little traffic) - and came away with the opinion that the F800 made a good little commuter, but was totally uninspiring on the open road.........

Plenty of bikes I would buy before that, I'm afraid..... :?

Al :)


Not fit for backroads then?

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slparry
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Postby slparry » Wed Jun 03, 2015 12:05 pm

Man-of-Mystery wrote:
Corvus wrote:
Topcat wrote:
Care about being seen? Pull a freakin wheelie. Or dig out your 90s purply /pink /white leathers
:D



I like your style.


Or even get one of these ;)

Image
--
Steve Parry


Current fleet: '14 F800GS, '87 R80RS, '03 R1100S BoxerCup, '15 R1200RT LE Dynamic, '90 K1

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slparry
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Postby slparry » Wed Jun 03, 2015 12:25 pm

Topcat wrote:There's someone close to this forum that would toast a lot of people (me included) on one of those :wink:

Depends what suits your style of riding I guess.


if it's who I think you're on about she's damn hard to get past :)
--
Steve Parry


Current fleet: '14 F800GS, '87 R80RS, '03 R1100S BoxerCup, '15 R1200RT LE Dynamic, '90 K1

Corvus
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Postby Corvus » Wed Jun 03, 2015 12:27 pm

slparry wrote:
Man-of-Mystery wrote:
Corvus wrote:
Topcat wrote:
Care about being seen? Pull a freakin wheelie. Or dig out your 90s purply /pink /white leathers
:D



I like your style.


Or even get one of these ;)

Image


What a Jerk.

He's put a third wheel on.

:D :D

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Topcat
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Postby Topcat » Wed Jun 03, 2015 1:20 pm

slparry wrote:
Topcat wrote:There's someone close to this forum that would toast a lot of people (me included) on one of those :wink:

Depends what suits your style of riding I guess.


if it's who I think you're on about she's damn hard to get past :)


It is :D

I never had to worry about getting past, she was doing the passing!

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Topcat
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Postby Topcat » Wed Jun 03, 2015 1:34 pm

slparry wrote:
Man-of-Mystery wrote:
Corvus wrote:
Topcat wrote:
Care about being seen? Pull a freakin wheelie. Or dig out your 90s purply /pink /white leathers
:D



I like your style.


Or even get one of these ;)

Image


Or like this

Image

He was in Camden a few years ago. I kid you not but when he pressed a button on the bars (swords) a flame shot out the dragons mouth! Missed it on the photo.

I hadn't been drinking nor sampling the local roll ups, honest :oops:

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slparry
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Postby slparry » Wed Jun 03, 2015 1:36 pm

what a waste of a Z1000 ..... no wonder we went to war with the "Argies" ;)
--
Steve Parry


Current fleet: '14 F800GS, '87 R80RS, '03 R1100S BoxerCup, '15 R1200RT LE Dynamic, '90 K1


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