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2013–2019 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Light, Connected, Easy Miles
The F 800 GT is the light end of sport touring: a 798 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin with 90 hp at 8,000 rpm and 63 lb-ft at 5,800 rpm, carried in an aluminum twin-spar frame and driving the rear wheel by belt. At 470 lb (213 kg) wet on 17-inch wheels, it's a light bike for one with a full fairing. The equipment picture is simple: ABS is standard, while traction control, ESA electronic suspension, heated grips, tire pressure monitoring and the luggage system were all extra-cost options. The fairing and windscreen are fixed in place, and the protection behind them is complete.
On the road it's unflappable: planted at highway speed, eager through bends and docile in traffic. The twin is sized right for the job, so you never feel like you're managing it. It ages well too, because nothing on it feels cost-cut. Two things to know on a used one: the halogen headlight bulb is a pain to reach, and a small number of bikes that sat unused for long periods leaked coolant from the water pump seal. The honest caveat is the fork, which has no adjustment at all, and 90 hp is on the modest side once you load it up two-up. For solo riders who want easy miles, it fits. Controlled competence!
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 90 hp (66 kW) @ 8,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 63 lb-ft (86 Nm) @ 5,800 rpm |
| Displacement | 798 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 59.6 in (1514 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Wet weight | 470 lb (213 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gal (15 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Safety
What follows isn't from a press kit. It's what riders have told me over the years: paddock talk, owner chats at club nights, conversations at fuel stops, and the messages that land in my inbox from people living with the bike daily. On the F 800 GT the pattern is unusually consistent. Owners describe a bike that quietly does everything asked of it, with a handful of gripes that show up often enough to be worth knowing before you buy.
The engine draws the most praise. Riders consistently report a smooth twin that pulls cleanly from low revs, happily runs to the top of the tacho, and returns real economy on the road. That flexibility feeds the second theme: owners use these bikes for commuting, weekend backroads, and long tours without feeling they've compromised on any of it. Handling comes up almost as often. The GT is described as light on its feet through corners and settled at speed. Wind protection and a quiet, comfortable cockpit round it out, and belt-drive owners bring up how little the bike asks of them between rides.
Vibration is the most common complaint. Worked hard, the twin gets buzzy through the bars and pegs. Some owners also mention heat off the engine on hot days in slow traffic. A smaller number find the gearbox notchy and needing deliberate rev-matching on downshifts.
Rear side reflex reflector obscured
Recall 17V591000: on 2014-2016 F 800 GT, the rear reflectors may not be properly visible, failing FMVSS 108. BMW repositions the reflectors free of charge.
Headlight bulb replacement difficult
Access to the halogen low/high beam bulb is tight, making roadside or DIY replacement frustratingly time-consuming; many owners switch to LED for longer life.
Water pump seal failure
A small number of owners have reported coolant leaks from the water pump seal, likely due to a dried-out seal on bikes that sat unused for extended periods; typically addressed under warranty.
Where this BMW F 800 GT pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the F 800 GT is actually built for.
The best fit of the three: full wind protection and a relaxed seat for long day stages, then 470 lb (213 kg) and a wide bar when the corners arrive. Check whether a used one has the optional luggage.
Made for Highway 1 / Big Sur · Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway
A good match if you ride for technique, not speed: easy handling, wide-bar leverage and decent lean clearance. The non-adjustable fork limits how far you can tune it to your style.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
It'll do the distance solo, but be honest with yourself: 90 hp, a 4.0 gal (15 L) tank and no cruise control are thin for two-up, fully loaded touring. A partial fit at best.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2006–2012
Middleweight Touring Without Drama
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this BMW F 800 GT. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
