2019 BMW F 850 GS vs. 2009 F 800 GS: Time to Upgrade"
The 2019 BMW F 850 GS may have more power, greater ground clearance and tons of electronic whiz-bangs, but is it really worth the upgrade from the original F 800 GS" Photo by the author.
Dang! Just when I thought my first-year F 800 GS was perfectly set up I spent a week on a 2019 F 850 GS in the Premium (“soup to nuts”) configuration. Having upgraded my suspension with Traxxion Dynamics fork internals, and a HyperPro rear shock, then adding a Scott?s steering damper (read: lifesaver), AltRider body protection, a Sargent seat and other goodies, I figured my GS was tricked out nicely. Over the past 60,000 miles, we?ve worked quite well together. Then here comes BMW with a brand new bike for their middleweight adventure slot. Do I need one"
Read our on- and off-road review of the 2019 BMW F 750 and 850 GS here.
It?s the 850?s new engine that I find most appealing. The whizzy doo-dads like dynamic traction control, electronic suspension adjustment, various riding modes, ABS Pro, keyless ignition and tire pressure monitoring have their place, but I?ve survived several decades of dual-sport and adventure riding without them. And though I was able to strafe my rocky test road with more speed and confidence using the 850?s electronic suspension helpers, most of my adventuring isn?t at a blitzkrieg pace. For newer riders, I see the technology advances as beneficial for making the sport more accessible and the learning curve less painful.
The ...
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