Motorcycles

F 750GS and F 850GS: BMW's middleweight adventure bikes get complete overhaul

F 750GS and F 850GS: BMW's middleweight adventure bikes get complete overhaul
BMW's latest iteration of its middleweight adventure bike, the F 750GS (left) and the F 850GS (right)
BMW's latest iteration of its middleweight adventure bike, the F 750GS (left) and the F 850GS (right)
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The new 2018 BMW F 750GS at EICMA 2017 finished in Austin yellow
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The new 2018 BMW F 750GS at EICMA 2017 finished in Austin yellow
The new 2018 BMW F 850GS at EICMA 2017 with the Rallye exterior package
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The new 2018 BMW F 850GS at EICMA 2017 with the Rallye exterior package
Different riding modes allow the rider to adjust settings such as the ABS, Stability Control and Traction Control to suit the riding conditions
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Different riding modes allow the rider to adjust settings such as the ABS, Stability Control and Traction Control to suit the riding conditions
The BMW F 750GS and F 850GS are offered with 3 exterior packages each which really smarten up the bike. Pictured is the F 750GS (left) in Austin Yellow Metallic and the F 850GS (right) fitted with the Rallye package which comes with a glossy white paint job as well as some classy gold rims.
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The BMW F 750GS and F 850GS are offered with 3 exterior packages each which really smarten up the bike. Pictured is the F 750GS (left) in Austin Yellow Metallic and the F 850GS (right) fitted with the Rallye package which comes with a glossy white paint job as well as some classy gold rims.
You can spec up the new F 750GS and F 850GS with plenty of luggage options such as panniers (pictured) as well as an extensive electronic package to make it the ultimate lightweight adventure tourer
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You can spec up the new F 750GS and F 850GS with plenty of luggage options such as panniers (pictured) as well as an extensive electronic package to make it the ultimate lightweight adventure tourer
The F 750GS is more road orientated while the F 850GS more suited to the rough stuff
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The F 750GS is more road orientated while the F 850GS more suited to the rough stuff
The new BMW F 750GS and F 850GS now comes with optional LED headlamps with daytime running lights
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The new BMW F 750GS and F 850GS now comes with optional LED headlamps with daytime running lights
The new F 750GS and F 850GS comes with a face lifted exterior and a sharper front
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The new F 750GS and F 850GS comes with a face lifted exterior and a sharper front
To reduce burns to the rider when pushing the bike BMW has moved the exhaust to the right hand side
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To reduce burns to the rider when pushing the bike BMW has moved the exhaust to the right hand side
Due to its more road focused nature, the F 750GS is fitted with a 41mm conventional telescopic fork as well as die-cast aluminum wheels
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Due to its more road focused nature, the F 750GS is fitted with a 41mm conventional telescopic fork as well as die-cast aluminum wheels
The silhouette of the new 2018 F 750GS
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The silhouette of the new 2018 F 750GS
The new F 750GS and F 850GS utilizes a deep-drawn steel bridge frame with the engine as a stressed member
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The new F 750GS and F 850GS utilizes a deep-drawn steel bridge frame with the engine as a stressed member
The wheelbase has been extended and steering rake angle reduced to help with handling characteristics
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The wheelbase has been extended and steering rake angle reduced to help with handling characteristics
The new F 750GS and F 850GS can be fitted with BMW's optional Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) which automatically adjusts suspension stiffness based on road conditions
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The new F 750GS and F 850GS can be fitted with BMW's optional Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) which automatically  adjusts suspension stiffness based on road conditions
The new 853cc parallel twin with a 270 degree firing order fitted to the new F 750GS and F 850GS
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The new 853cc parallel twin with a 270 degree firing order fitted to the new F 750GS and F 850GS
The new F 750GS and F 850GS can be optioned with BMW's Gear Shift Assistant Pro to allow smooth clutch-less upshifts and downshifts
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The new F 750GS and F 850GS can be optioned with BMW's Gear Shift Assistant Pro to allow smooth clutch-less upshifts and downshifts
The new optional 6.5-inch full color TFT display features music streaming, hands-free telephony and navigation
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The new optional 6.5-inch full color TFT display features music streaming, hands-free telephony and navigation
BMW's latest iteration of its middleweight adventure bike, the F 750GS (left) and the F 850GS (right)
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BMW's latest iteration of its middleweight adventure bike, the F 750GS (left) and the F 850GS (right)
BMW have provided an 'SOS' button on the new bikes to help you reach emergency services faster in the event of an accident or fall
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BMW have provided an 'SOS' button on the new bikes to help you reach emergency services faster in the event of an accident or fall
The BMW F 850GS comes standard with 43mm inverted forks with 204mm of suspension travel to help it cope with the lumps and bumps off road
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The BMW F 850GS comes standard with 43mm inverted forks with 204mm of suspension travel to help it cope with the lumps and bumps off road
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BMW's middleweight adventure bikes have changed little since their inception a decade ago, and if you thought a major overhaul was on the cards, you were right. Unveiled at EICMA 2017, the F 750GS and F 850GS are all new from the ground up with a re-designed front end, new frame, updated engine and a fresh suite of electronics.

853cc parallel-twin engine

The old donk in the previous generation middleweight (the F 700GS and F 800GS) was a 798cc parallel twin. BMW has given the new engine a complete redesign to give it a lot more character. The parallel twin configuration remains the same, but displacement has been bumped up to 853cc and the firing order tweaked to give it that lovely V-Twin rumble. Power and torque figures are rated at 77 hp (57 kW) and 62 ft-lb (83 Nm) for the F 750GS, and 95 hp (70 kW) and 68 ft-lb (92 Nm) for the F 850GS.

The new 853cc parallel twin with a 270 degree firing order fitted to the new F 750GS and F 850GS
The new 853cc parallel twin with a 270 degree firing order fitted to the new F 750GS and F 850GS

Drive is provided by a six-speed transmission that now comes with a slipper clutch as standard. This will provide a lighter clutch pull, reduced engine braking as well as smoother downshifts. The transmission can also be optioned with BMW's latest Gear Shift Assistant Pro, which is designed to deliver buttery smooth clutch-less upshifts and downshifts. Further internal changes include the use of twin balancer shafts to reduce vibrations and the use of a dry sump with a dedicated oil pump to provide lubrication.

Sharper looks

The overall look of the bikes have been sharpened, with the front end getting a complete facelift that includes optional LED headlamps and daytime running lights to gives it that R1200GS look.

The new BMW F 750GS and F 850GS now comes with optional LED headlamps with daytime running lights
The new BMW F 750GS and F 850GS now comes with optional LED headlamps with daytime running lights

The plastics have been updated and the previously rear-mounted 15-liter fuel tank has been moved to the front of the bike to improve weight distribution and add a little muscle to the overall look. The exhaust system has been moved to the right-hand side to reduce burns to the rider when pushing the bike and the chain drive has been moved to the left-hand side, similar to a Japanese motorcycle.

The new 2018 BMW F 850GS at EICMA 2017 with the Rallye exterior package
The new 2018 BMW F 850GS at EICMA 2017 with the Rallye exterior package

There are also significant differences between the two bikes.The F 750GS much like its predecessor, is a more road focused machine in comparison to the F 850GS. It comes with die-cast multi-spoke aluminum wheels as standard (19-in on the front and 17 on the rear) running tubeless tires and a conventional 41mm telescopic fork with 151mm of travel. The more off-road focused F 850GS comes with a premium 43mm inverted fork with 204mm of travel, wire spoked wheels (21-in front and 17 rear) and tubeless off-road tires – a first for the middleweight adventurer.

The new 2018 BMW F 750GS at EICMA 2017 finished in Austin yellow
The new 2018 BMW F 750GS at EICMA 2017 finished in Austin yellow

Another notable change is the deep-drawn steel bridge frame that replaces the tubular steel of previous models. This monocoque construction uses the engine as a stressed member to help increase rigidity. BMW has also decreased the steering angle rake and increased the wheelbase for both models. Rear suspension is a centrally mounted shock with rebound damping adjustment.

The new F 750GS and F 850GS utilizes a deep-drawn steel bridge frame with the engine as a stressed member
The new F 750GS and F 850GS utilizes a deep-drawn steel bridge frame with the engine as a stressed member

Electronics aplenty

BMW has provided a vast suite of electronics as part of the 2018 re-design. The biggest change in the cockpit comes in the form of an optional 6.5-inch full color TFT display, which the rider can use it to make phone calls and a listen to music if paired to a Bluetooth equipped device. Using the BMW Connected smartphone app, the rider can also gain access to turn-by-turn navigation that can be integrated into the display itself. Putting all these services into the one display reduces the clutter on the dash and the need to purchase additional devices.

The new optional 6.5-inch full color TFT display features music streaming, hands-free telephony and navigation
The new optional 6.5-inch full color TFT display features music streaming, hands-free telephony and navigation

On the safety side, BMW has fitted the F 750GS and F 850GS with an optional "Intelligent Emergency Call" function that allows emergency services to be contacted faster in the event of an accident. This function can be activated automatically or manually using a covered button on the right-hand switch block. The rider can then communicate with the emergency operator through the provided microphone and speaker fitted to the bike. There are two scenarios where this function can be activated automatically – in a serious fall or collision the function is activated automatically and the rider is put through to the BMW call centre until help arrives, but in the event of a minor fall or collision the rider can choose whether or not to proceed with the call depending on the nature of the accident. BMW is also offering keyless go for the first time on the middleweight adventurer.

BMW have provided an 'SOS' button on the new bikes to help you reach emergency services faster in the event of an accident or fall
BMW have provided an 'SOS' button on the new bikes to help you reach emergency services faster in the event of an accident or fall

Riding modes include the standard Road and Rain modes as well as the optional Dynamic, Enduro and Enduro Pro (F 850GS only) modes, which are part of the optional Pro riding package. Each riding mode affects the bikes throttle characteristics and the harshness of the ABS, Stability Control (ASC) and the optional Traction Control (DTC). The Pro package introduces further safety features like lean sensitive ABS and the ability to further adjust the ABS and DTC of the bike to suit the riding environment. Enduro and Enduro Pro modes allow the DTC to be deactivated so the rider can perform controlled rear wheel slides. Much like its sports bike cousin, the BMW S1000RR, the Enduro Pro mode on the F 850GS can only be activated by plugging in a special dongle under the seat. Combined with the optional Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) the bike can be setup to suit each riders personal preference.

The new F 750GS and F 850GS can be fitted with BMW's optional Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) which automatically adjusts suspension stiffness based on road conditions
The new F 750GS and F 850GS can be fitted with BMW's optional Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) which automatically  adjusts suspension stiffness based on road conditions

BMW hasn't announced a release date yet, but we're expecting it to be available early next year along with other new models. Pricing is expected to be in the same $10-14K ball park as the current model F 700GS and F 800GS.

In the meantime, check them out in the video below.

Source: BMW

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1 comment
1 comment
possum1
Great looking evolution of an already great machine. However, suitcase style opening on the plastic panniers is a major PITA - use the metal panniers that are sure to come with the GSA later in the year ! I have had three sets of top loading metal panniers on various bikes, and they are far superior to the side openers.