F 750 GS and F 850 GS arrival and pricing

BMW’s two new middleweight adventure bikes, the F 750 GS and F 850 GS, will go on sale in Australia in June 2018.

Pricing for the two models, which have a new engine and chassis, updated suspension and additional electronics over the superseded F 700 GS and F 800 GS, is as follows:

F 750 GS

• F 750 GS: $13,190, with two riding modes, ABS, Automatic Stability Control, heated grips and cruise control as standard.
• F 750 GS Tour: $17,190, which includes two optional packages: ‘Comfort & Touring’ and ‘Dynamic & Lights’ (listed below).

The optional packages, which can be also purchased for $1900 each, incude the following:

1. Comfort & Touring: Keyless ride, centrestand, luggage rack, tyre pressure monitor, Dynamic Electronic Suspension Adjustment and navigation preparation.
2. Dynamic and Lights: $1900: Dynamic Traction Control, Riding Mode Pro, LED headlight and indicators, Quick Shift Assist Pro, ABS Pro and Daytime Running Light (DRL).

Options
TFT screen with connectivity: $950
HP Akrapovic exhaust: $1100

F 850 GS

• F 850 GS $17,590
• F 850 GS Rallye $17,990 (similar livery to R 1200 GS Rallye X, as well as hand protection)
• F 850 GS Tour $21,790 (same two optional packages as F 750 GS Tour above)
• F 850 GS Rallye X: $22,290 for F 850 GS Tour plus off-road tyres

Options
TFT screen with connectivity: $950
Anti-theft alarm system: $330
Low seat: no cost
Comfort seat: $190

Both versions are powered by the same 853cc parallel twin engine with a 270-degree firing interval, though the 750 is tuned for 77hp at 7500rpm and 83Nm at 6000rpm, while the more extreme 850 variant gets 95hp at 8250rpm and 92Nm at 6250rpm. A conventional fuel tank now replaces the underseat unit of the outgoing machines.

Matched to a six-speed gearbox and a new anti-hopping clutch, it’s mounted in a monocoque style tubular-steel bridge frame with the chain final drive now on the left-hand side of the bike. Similarly, the exhaust is now located on the right-hand side of the bike instead of the left as on the duo’s predecessors.

The 750 is suspended on conventional 41mm forks, it rolls on a 19-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear and boasts a standard seat height of 815mm. The 850 gets 43mm upside-down affairs and a 21-inch front wheel. For the first time, the larger of the two bikes benefits from tubeless tyres thanks to the offset spokes on the wire wheels and its standard seat height is 20mm lower than its predecessor at 860mm.

Standby for a full review on both bikes in coming months.