So last month I finally pulled the trigger on the BMW F 850 GS after months of YouTube rabbit holes. Wanna know if it’s any good in real life? Yeah me too. Here’s exactly how it played out.
The First Ride Jitters
Unboxed that beast at the dealership. First thing I noticed? Freaking tall. Like tip-toe tall. Dropped it twice trying to U-turn on my gravel driveway. Felt like a total noob. Pro tip: crank the preload down if you’re under six feet.
Commute Test Week
Swapped my car keys for a week. Real talk:
- Engine vibration – Hands went numb after 30 minutes on freeway. Installed aftermarket grips immediately.
- Fuel economy – Got 58mpg doing 70mph. Tank lasted all week. Big win.
- City handling – Filtering traffic? Feels like piloting a school bus through McDonald’s drive-thru.
Weekend Warrior Mode
Took it fire road chasing near Big Bear. What nobody tells you:
The stock tires might as well be skateboard wheels on wet leaves. Slid out entering a dirt corner – bike spun 180 degrees. No damage but ego thoroughly crushed. Spent $200 next day on proper knobbies.
The Good Stuff Surprises
- Rain mode actually works. Hit a surprise downpour – ABS kicked in smooth when some idiot cut me off.
- Heated grips worth every penny. Frozen fingers in morning gone.
- That boxer engine sound below 4k RPM? Pure motorcycle ASMR.
After 1,000 Miles Truth Bomb
Last Saturday coming home from Joshua Tree, winds hit 40mph. Bike got pushed across two lanes like a shopping cart. White-knuckled the bars till my shoulders screamed. Would I buy it again? Yeah – but only after these fixes:
- Must get taller windshield ($189)
- Non-negotiable seat upgrade ($350)
- Crash bars immediately ($295)
Real verdict? It’s a Swiss Army knife that sucks at being scissors sometimes. But damn when you’re carving canyon roads at sunset? Forget the vibrations. You’ll just be grinning like an idiot.
