I’ve been eyeing the BMW F800 GT for a while now. It’s a sleek machine, and I finally decided to take the plunge and get one. It wasn’t easy, but I did it anyway. Since getting it, I’ve been doing some digging around to see what kind of issues people have been having with these bikes and what I might need to watch out for.
First off, I noticed a bunch of folks talking about problems with older F800 models, especially the ST. Things like pulley and rear axle bearing failures, and even stator issues. Sounds scary, right? But from what I can gather, it looks like BMW worked out most of these kinks by the time they rolled out the GT. That’s a relief! But then again, there was this one forum thread where everyone was discussing problems with the first-generation of the model, dated back in April of 2024.
I also stumbled upon some official-sounding stuff about recalls. Apparently, a recall is when they take a product off the market or fix something that’s gone wrong. I looked into some complaints other F800 GT owners filed, and most of the reports were related to the 2016 model. I haven’t found a recall for my bike just yet, so I think I’m in the clear for now.
One thing that kept popping up in my research was this headlight bulb. People were saying it’s a real pain to replace. Some riders even switched to LED lights for better visibility. I haven’t had to mess with mine yet, but I’m keeping that in the back of my mind. I might just swap it out for an LED to avoid the hassle later. Even better, there was a forum thread back in 2008 that summarized all the F800 problems. So I have an idea of what to expect now.
Now, I did see some discussions comparing the F800 GT to other bikes, like the Sprint ST. On paper, the F800 seemed like a better fit for me, especially for daily riding. But then there were these horror stories from people who had terrible experiences with their F800s. One guy even had issues from riding a F800GS in 2010. Makes you think twice, you know? It’s a shame, really, awesome bikes but a terrible experience. On the other hand, someone mentioned the F800R in a forum, so I guess it depends on the model as well.
I also found this one post where someone was talking about how tracking down certain problems on the F800 GT can be a nightmare. These issues are hard to replicate when the mechanics are trying to diagnose them. Sounds like a real headache. Someone in a thread brought up the BMW 1800 as well. I think they’re having the same problems, too. And another person, who owned a 2014 red F700GS, had to sell it because of problems.
There was also mention of engine issues and rear belt drive issues on some older models, and this was a decade ago. It sounds like they had a rough start. But I guess, like one person said, sometimes the problems are because of the rider, not the bike. Like, maybe they messed up the suspension or something.
The Verdict
Despite all this, I’m still pretty happy with my F800 GT. From what I’ve read, it’s generally considered reliable and economical. Plus, it’s got some nice accessories that make long rides more comfortable. They’re not cheap, that’s for sure. I did see something about a recall from BMW North America, but it didn’t seem to apply to my bike.
So, yeah, that’s my experience with the F800 GT so far. It’s been a bit of a research rollercoaster, but I feel like I have a better idea of what I’m dealing with now. Fingers crossed I don’t run into any major issues, but at least I know what to keep an eye out for!
