F800 Gs

[dramer]

I am a current owner of a 02 1150GS. I love it!!! I have traveled many places on it. I want to get more dirt riding under my belt. My GS is just to big to get very serious off road. If you know what I mean????
Sometime early next year, I am looking to buy a more dirt friendly bike. I have researched alot about the new 800 GS. It sounds pretty sweet!!!! I would like to get someones personal opinion. If somebody has already bought one I would love to hear what you have to say about the bike.

[knary]

I am a current owner of a 02 1150GS. I love it!!! I have traveled many places on it. I want to get more dirt riding under my belt. My GS is just to big to get very serious off road. If you know what I mean????
Sometime early next year, I am looking to buy a more dirt friendly bike. I have researched alot about the new 800 GS. It sounds pretty sweet!!!! I would like to get someones personal opinion. If somebody has already bought one I would love to hear what you have to say about the bike.

Or you might look in our own F800 forum (look for F-twins). :D

[jasonTDI]

What kind of dirt riding? Fire trails? If you are going off road and it involves anything like SERIOUS trail technical riding you need something a lot smaller and lighter. The new G450X is nice or for 1/4 the price get a used Suzuki DR650 with a nice suspension set up. Tons of others to chose from too....The F800Gs needs serious beefing up of the rims and some other changes to ride hard off road. Plus 400+ whatever pounds SUCK when it falls on you. And it WILL.

[drbike]

The 800 is no dirt bike, it felt a lot more like the 1150 than I thought it would. Take one for a ride before you sell your 1150.

[108625]

I have a GasGas EC300DE for real trail riding. My wife has a GasGas 250 Pampera.
If you want to ride in the dirt, there is no substitute for a dirt bike. I know the G/S crowd may feel differently, but I've never seen one on the trail. Besides, they're not legal for off road use.
If you're thinking about a dual sport, make sure it can be registered for both on and off road use (license plate and trail sticker), has a U.S. Forest service approved spark arrestor and a quiet exhaust, and that it weighs well under 300 pounds wet.
There are some nice 450cc four stroke singles out there that would do well, but you must do oil changes and valve adjustments religiously.
For dedicated trail-only riding, you could go for a KTM or GasGas 200, 250, or 300 two stroke, and have a lightweight, low maintenance, easy to live with, fun bike.
If you're buying used, look for an old Kawasaki KDX 200 or 220.