2008 Middleweight Sport-Touring Shootout BMW F800ST vs Honda VFR800 Interceptor – Motorcycle Review
2008 Middleweight Sport-Touring Shootout BMW F800ST vs Honda VFR800 Interceptor - Motorcycle Review Motorcycle.com rode from Los Angeles to Monterey, CA on a BMW F800ST and a Honda VFR800 Interceptor. After more than 900 miles of twisties and fast pavement, we compare these two middleweight sport tourers. Competitive in price, performance and comfort, it's in the details where these bikes differentiate from each other. Read the full comparison at Motorcycle.com. www.motorcycle.com...
BMW, comparison, comparo, f800st, HONDA, interceptor, Motorcycle, Review, shootout, sport-touring, vfr800
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I own the VFR and I love it, so anything I say is going to be heavily biased. Having said that, the BMW has recently caught my eye too! The “which bike” debate can kick on forever with opinions from others. Only way to find out for sure is go visit your dealer and ride both. Good luck choosing, the BMW looks nice too IMO.
I’m really interested in a VFR, but I’m skeptical about the linked brakes… It’s not possible to get it with independent brakes, is it?
I own a VFR and have ridden the F800ST. In a nutshell, the VFR is most sport and the BMW is more tour. So if you like to carve the corners and maybe do the occasional track day, the VFR comes out on top. But, the VFR is still usable day to day as well. The BMW is easily more upright seating and a tad more comfy but harder to get down on the tank in a tuck.
I have seen independent companies advertise (UK) to effectively disable the combined braking system. Will probably mean you will not have ABS.
Puede que sea mejor, pero la BMW gasta una media de 5,0l/100Km
I own an F800ST. It’s fun bike, handles well, and more power than you’ll ever really need. But I would never say it offers “all day comfort”…nope – not really. On the day & weekend trips I’ve taken, my ass, knees, and the muscles near my shoulder blades ache like hell after just a few hours. If you want REAL all-day comfort…go with a Gold Wing, or something along those lines.
I must also comment on the F800′s motor. It works…but why did BMW & Rotax build a vertical twin with both pistons having the exact same firing sequence? It’s like a single, only with more moving parts and more rotating mass. Who knows…it seems Germany can really over-engineer the crap out of some things. And the thing leaks oil, at 4000 miles! I like the BMW, but I’m going back to Japanese for my next bike.
I wondered myself about it. I must say that I actually prefer them linked after the first year on it. I find the brakes easier to distribute the pressure evenly.
15,000+miles in the first six months on my VFR. Can’t wait til this next season.
23.5 miles on my new 08. So far I have only gave her a peck on the cheek.
I hade a Blackbird before with linkt brakes and it works great. The only real downside is if you comes on lose ground and brake harde on your backbrake the its a chans you lock your front tire. But you dont have to be a pro to stop your bike fast. But linked brakes is best in most senarios
If you mean that both pistons fire at the same time: it is not so. Both pistons go up and down at the same time, but with a four stroke, only one in two down movements is a firing stroke, the other is an inlet stroke. So when one piston is doing an inlet stroke, the other is doing a firing stroke. And vice versa ofcourse. The result is a firing stroke every revolution of the engine, instead of one every two revolutions as with a single cylinder. This makes the engine way smoother.
This is not over engineering, this is how all straight twins work, or should work, except when marketing dictates a staggered crankshaft to make the firing sequence uneven and make it sound like a V2, as they do on some Triumphs and the Yamaha TDM.
beginner? for vfr?
I’ve gone 15 hours on a GSX-R 1000. Honestly, everything is uncomfortable after 15 hours.
no, NOT BEGINNER U NOOB
bmw CanT CuT bikes there bikes are shit stick to Cars bmw we need imPreza bmw
how would the vfr feel with me being 6 foot 5. I was looking for at the new R1′s. but maybe the vfr will fit better. any thoughts, I know Im huge.
unfortunatley your going to have to cut your legs shorter… but seriously a mate of mine is 6ft4 and he is having to seel his 07 r1 because his legs just dont fit, a zzr1400 is excellent for the larger/taller gentleman
go with the bmw
cool thanks alot
I agree, even the best car begin to wear on the rear and back after longer distances, same way with all bikes.
I am 6’3″ and my interceptor is just fine.
It really depends on your riding style/ speed preference. The VFR eggs you on. The accelleration as the RPM’s come up is WAY better- and takes the weight off your wrists if fatigued. If you like to “cruise” around and just throttle out of corners near the “speed limit” the comfort of BMW may be wiser.
I prefer the VFR. if you disagree get handlebar risers!! ; ) and a throttle lock, and slightly taller shield. = GOOD TO GO!!
I have both in my garage right now – a 2008 F800ST and a 2007 anniversaryVFR800. The BMW is for sale, and the faster it leaves my garage, the better. A good bike, but clinical and boring, with a powerplant that sounds like electric hedge clippers. The VFR, in my opinion, is a more enjoyable machine, all around.