By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Sport Tourer
BMW F 800 R (K73-2) vs F 800 GT (MY2013)
BMW F 800 R vs F 800 GT: where they split, and which one to buy.
You'll grab the BMW F 800 R's flat bars with elbows raised and weight forward, and it's squaring up like a streetfighter. The BMW F 800 GT's wide bar sits in a relaxed reach behind full wind protection. Once the corners tighten, it gives you leverage and flies.
So which one do you buy?
The F 800 R has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: F 800 R
Day in, day out, the F 800 R nudges ahead in traffic. What tips it: easier maneuvering in tight spots. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
A touch ahead: F 800 R
The F 800 R is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. Credit more feel through the bars and lighter steering.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Slight edge: F 800 R
Learning the ropes leans slightly toward the F 800 R. Your own comfort on it should come first.
What makes each one tick
F 800 R
The F 800 R's twin runs refined without feeling tamed, and there's still enough pull to hold your attention on a mountain road. Left in Comfort, its chassis goes soft and doesn't hold a clear line in the middle of a bend. Sport mode fixes that. From there, the bike slows off the brake lever with ABS standing by, then it turns in clean and doesn't wander through the arc. The twin's still pulling as the revs climb.
Nils rode the F 800 R in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
F 800 GT
Hundreds of miles slip by on the F 800 GT, and your back doesn't complain. Wind protection is complete, and the seating position is easy enough to rack up long days in the saddle. Down low, the twin lopes along without fuss, yet it doesn't mind a few more revs. Corner entry's eager on the rigid aluminum frame, even at a brisker pace. It drops in and holds.
Nils rode the F 800 GT in Spain in 2019 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The F 800 R has the lower wet weight: 439 lb (199 kg) vs 470 lb (213 kg).
- The F 800 R has the larger fuel tank: 4.2 US gal (16 L) vs 4.0 US gal (15 L).
- Ride Modes: option on the F 800 R, not offered on the F 800 GT.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong tool: F 800 R
Leave the F 800 R out of any touring plans. Big miles aren't what it's made for.
There's no real gap on running costs. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
F 800 R
Strengths
- Cultivated, tractable twin
- Sharpens right up in Sport
- Streetfighter riding position
- Five seat-height options
- Eager parallel-twin engine
Trade-offs
- Vague in the soft setting
- Jerky low-speed running
- Indicator switch niggle
- Vibrations at highway speeds
F 800 GT
Strengths
- Right-Sized Twin Engine
- Tours, Then Picks Up Pace
- Nothing Feels Cost-Cut
- Excellent wind protection and comfort
- Low-maintenance belt drive
Trade-offs
- Fork Has No Adjustment
- Fixed Screen, No Cruise
- Comfort Extras Cost More
- Headlight Bulb Access Is Tight
- Engine vibration at higher rpm
Known problems to check before you buy
F 800 R
- Indicator switch failure A few owners report the left-hand indicator switch becoming intermittent or failing.
- Rough low-speed engine running Some riders experience jerky throttle response or uneven idle during low-speed riding, particularly at steady throttle under light engine loads.
F 800 GT
- Rear side reflex reflector obscured Recall 17V591000 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.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 7-year-old F 800 R with a 7-year-old F 800 GT.
- F 800 R
- about $8,200
- F 800 GT
- about $7,400
At seven years old, the BMW F 800 R sits around $8,200 while the BMW F 800 GT lands near $7,400. That's an $800 gap in the GT's favor. These are estimates from the used market, not live listings.
What they share
- Displacement
- 798 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 90 hp (66 kW)
- Peak power at
- 8,000 rpm
- Torque
- 63 lb-ft (86 Nm)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| F 800 R | F 800 GT | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Wet weight | 439 lb (199 kg) | 470 lb (213 kg) |
| F 800 R | F 800 GT | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.2 US gal (16 L) | 4.0 US gal (15 L) |
| F 800 R | F 800 GT | |
|---|---|---|
| Final drive | Chain | Belt |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) | Telescopic |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| F 800 R | F 800 GT | |
|---|---|---|
| Ride Modes | Option | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Option | Not offered |
| Navigation | Not offered | Option |
| USB Charging Port | Option | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
