VOL. 55 ISSUE 46 NOVEMBER 20, 2018 P77
(Above) Dynamic ESA will allow
on-the-fly rear suspension changes.
(Below left) ABS comes standard
with the 850, but the knobby tires
are an extra. (Below) A ground-up
redesign has produced an excellent
twin-cylinder from BMW.
The bodywork
is much sharper
and longer than
the outgoing F
800 GS.
Optional Equipment
•Lowered suspension
•Seat bench for two, low
•Comfort seat
•HP Sport Exhaust
•Off-road tires
•Center stand
•Alarm system
Select Package
•Heated grips
•Cruise control
•Luggage rack with
saddle bag mounts
•Connectivity incl. 6.5
inch TFT color display
•Ride modes Pro
including DTC, ABS Pro
•Gear shift assist Pro
Premium Package
Includes all the equipment
in the Select Package, plus:
•LED Style Element
•Keyless Ride
•Tire Pressure Monitor
•Dynamic Electronic
Suspension Adjustment
(ESA) or Low Suspension
It's easy to shout about a
motorcycle's relative merits
when faced with such naturistic
wonders as dinosaur footprints.
That's something you don't see
every day—maybe ever—so it's
important to keep the journalistic
integrity, be objective about the
motorcycle you're evaluating and
not too swooned by what sur-
rounds you. Sometimes this can
be very difficult indeed, simply
because a manufacturer may, in
the depths of their soul, know
the bike they are trying to get a
favorable write-up from isn't up
to scratch and hope to distract
the writer with shiny things and
lots of alcohol. Oh look, a free
backpack. Thanks!
Thankfully, I can say wholeheart-
edly say this is not the case with
the new 2019 BMW F 850 GS.
This is a motorcycle that's got a
cemented place in the hearts and
minds of proper adventure riders
across the globe, and for 10 years
was essentially untouched from
when it came out in 2008 in F 800
GS form. Therefore, making the
new one better was of top priority
to the bosses in Munich.
Grown in moniker by 50 to now
go by the name F 850 GS, this mo-
torcycle is a ground-up redesign in
everything from a new motor, chas-
sis, bodywork and electronics—it's
a comprehensive overhaul and one
that will likely stick with the brand
for at least another 10 years.
We evaluated two machines
in Utah, the predominantly
road-focused BMW F 750 GS
and this 850, our test bike fitted
with the center stand and all the
electronic bells and whistles in
