2023 BMW F 850 GS: Performance, Price, And Photos

BMW carries over its proven F 850 GS platform into the 2023 model year with some new paint, but that’s about it for this MY18 design. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, so the MY23 remains largely unchanged, save for some new colorways and revised optional-accessory packages. Being part of the BMW GS Series, the packages let you set the F 850 GS up specifically for off-road work, or for long-distance touring with a side gig as a serious commuter platform.

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A proven parallel-twin engine powers it, and a top-shelf electronics suite sweetens the deal to provide excellent control and safety, no matter your riding surface of choice. The GS, or Gelände/Straße (over land/street) first rolled back in ’07 just as the ADV-bike sector was starting to take off to make this the genuine article rather than a Johnny-come-lately copycat bike.

BMW Motorrad

Racing Red 2023 BMW F 850 GS parked at trailside

2023 BMW F 850 GS

Model

F 850 GS

Engine:

853 cc Parallel Twin

Power Output

90 HP

Torque

63 LB-FT

Transmission

Constant Mesh 6-Speed Gearbox

Driveline

Chain Drive

MSRP

$12,595

Pros

• Good Looks, Fit And Finish
• Wide Range Of Seat Heights
• Excellent Electronics

Cons

• Tires Not As Off-Road As You Might Hope
• Not Many Painted Components
• Tank Capacity Is On The Low Side

RELATED: BMW R 1250 GS Review: Dual-Sport’s Enduring Champion

2023 BMW F 850 GS Performance And Capability

BMW Motorrad

2017 BMW F 850 GS coming out of an S curve

The Bayerische Motoren Werke powers its F 850 GS with a transverse-mount parallel-twin engine. It has a 270/450-degree firing order for smooth operation and a pair of counter-balance shafts to tune the rest of the vibration almost completely out, so no tingly or numb hands or butts, even on long trips.

Liquid cooling gives it thermal stability and stamina for work in hot weather and slow speed due to traffic or while negotiating rough terrain. Bore and stroke mic out at 84 mm and 77 mm respectively for an 853 cc displacement and speecy-spicy 12.7-to-1 compression ratio that’ll prefer high-octane pusholine. The 2023 BMW F 850 GS produces 90 ponies and 63 pounds of torque, and its top speed is set at 125 mph, so you’ll never do it justice on U.S. roads.

Dual over-head cams time the 16-valve head while individual throttle bodies feed each cylinder. A slipper-type clutch couples engine power to a constant-mesh, six-speed transmission that all come integrated with the crankcase to keep the drivetrain nice and short front-to-back.

Beemer’s ACS (traction control) prevents you from breaking the rear end loose due to over-enthusiastic acceleration inputs, and it comes paired with a quartet of Ride Modes. You’ve got one for rain and one for dry roads, plus a Dynamic mode for max road performance and an Enduro mode for off-road work.

All U.S. models automatically come with the Premium Package that bundles GPS prep, LED headlights, Ride Mode Pro, Gear Shift Assist Pro, heated grips, TPMS, Dynamic Engine Brake Control, and Dynamic Electronic Suspension control to really put this sled over the top. Note, however, that if you opt for the low suspension, you can’t get Dynamic ESA.

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Design

BMW Motorrad

2023 BMW F 850 GS parked in the desert

Tall front fender uprights on the F 850 GS act as spoilers for the front end and keep the inverted inner-fork tube grit and grime free. A short bill on the front fender gives the bike a distinctive look but doesn’t actually add to the fling coverage.

Dual LED headlights split the night and ensure good visibility to the rest of the world during daylight hours. LED blinker bars complete the forward lighting and come mounted fairly high to keep them from getting wiped off due to a brush strike. The vented windscreen prevents turbulence at the top of the pocket and is also adjustable, so you can dial it in for preference. A single TFT display handles the instrumentation and control of all the higher electronics with color data and a black background for some high-visibility contrast.

The fuel tank carries four gallons of gas in its characteristic hump with a precipitous drop to the sculpted standard saddle that rests 33.9 inches high. Optional seats are available for a range from 35 inches tall to 32.9 inches short, and with the optional low suspension kit, you can drop that on down to 32.1 inches off the deck for really vertically-challenged riders.

Pillion gear comes stock, and the bike finishes out with a small luggage rack out back. An LED taillight rides in the tip of the tail above a short mudguard that mounts the rest of the gear in the rear. Overall, the F 850 GS fits the adventure-bike mold to a “T.”

BMW F 850 GS Specs & Dimensions

Length

90.8″ (2,305 mm)

Width

36.3″ (922 mm)

Height

53.4″ (1,356 mm)

Seat Height

Rallye Seat: 35.0″, Comfort Seat: 34.4″, Standard Seat: 33.9″, Low Seat: 32.9″, Low Suspension Kit: 32.1″

Wheelbase

62.7″ (1593 mm)

Ground Clearance

9.8”

Fuel Capacity

4.0 gal (15 l) w/ 0.9 gal (3.5 l) reserve

Curb Weight

504 lbs (229 kg)

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Chassis

BMW Motorrad

2017 BMW F 850 GS cruising on the road

Steel members make up the bridge-type frame on the F 850 GS, but cast aluminum in the yoke-style swingarm keeps unsprung weight low out back. Upside-down, 43 mm forks float the front end on fixed damping and preload values, while out back you can adjust both the spring preload and rebound damping values to dial in the desired ride.

The steering head sets a rake angle of 28 degrees from the vertical with 4.9 inches of trail to lend it some stability while maintaining a certain level of agility. Suspension travel measures at 8.0 inches up front and 8.6 inches out back, and this more than anything else indicates what kind of ground you can tackle with this bike.

Wire wheels, ever the favorite of the off-road riders, round out the rolling chassis. It rocks a 90/90 up front on a terrain-tackling 21-inch front wheel, and a fat 150/70-17 out back. Dual 305 mm discs and twin-piston calipers slow the front wheel with a 265 mm disc and single-pot anchor out back. ABS comes stock and is switchable if you prefer a raw ride on-road or off.

Chassis & Suspension

Frame

Bridge-type frame, steel shell construction

Front Suspension/ Travel

43 mm Upside-down telescopic fork/ 8 in

Rear Suspension/ Travel

Cast aluminum dual swing arm, central spring strut, spring pre-load hydraulically adjustable, rebound damping adjustable/ 8.6 in

Rake

28°

Trail

4.9″ (126 mm)

Front Wheel

Laced 2.15 x 21″

Rear Wheel

Laced 150/70 – 17 69V

Front Brake

Dual 305 mm floating disc brakes, dual-piston floating calipers

Rear Brake

265 mm disc brake, single-piston floating caliper

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2023 BMW F 850 GS Price And Availability

The 2023 BMW F 850 GS starts at $12,595, though for the U.S., bikes automatically include the Premium Package for $1,890. You can choose between the Gravity Blue Metallic in the GS Trophy package, Racing Red over black, or Triple Black if you want a bike that looks like Darth Vader. It might seem a little pricey, but it’s a nice bang for your buck.

Pricing & Features

Features

ABS, Adjustable handbrake lever and clutch lever, ASC (Automatic Stability Control), Engine guard, LED headlight, LED tail light, On-board computer Pro, Selectable Ride Modes (Rain / Road), 12 V power socket

Warranty

Three Years or 36,000 Miles

Colors

Gravity Blue Metallic, Racing Red, Triple Black

Price

$12,595

Competitors

Given Beemer’s location, I decided to look around Europe and the U.K. for something closer to home than Japan. I found the Triumph Tiger 850 Sport.

Triumph Tiger 850 Sport

The Brit fits the ADV mold with as much aplomb as the German, down to the short bill up front and luggage rack/mudguard rear end. I mean, the Trumpet might have cooler two-tone color combos, but looks-wise, it’s like a brother from another mother.

Triumph Motorcycles

Red 2022 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport cruising through town

Triumph shoehorns in a liquid-cooled triple with an 888 cc displacement that churns out 84 horsepower and 60 pound-feet of torque versus 90/63 to slip a little against the Beemer. The Tiger comes with a slipper clutch, switchable traction control, and a pair of Riding Modes, but this pales in comparison to the Beemer’s electronics suite with the addition of the Premium Package.

Triumph offers a trio of sharp, two-tone colorways, though the color is only a couple of splashes around the front end. Starting price is close enough to suggest a conspiracy at $12,290 for the slimmest of edges in favor of the Brit at the checkout, but I doubt it will buy business away from BMW just based on the sticker.

He Said

“Nice bike with a solid pedigree, but I have to ding Beemer for the hoops. Sure, they are great on the street and fine on soft surfaces like gravel and sand, but I want to see some gnarly street knobbies on my “off-road” bikes. Know what I mean?”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says,

“Fit-and-finish is spot on. The bike is solid and well put together, but what else would you expect from BMW? The handlebar controls are easy to manipulate, the display is easy to read, and the menus are intuitive. The ride is smooth. Overall, it’s a nice adventure bike, but I’d like more fuel capacity for a proper ADV. If the 1250 GS is more than you want, the 850 might be just what you’re looking for.”

FAQ

Q: ​​​​​​​Who makes the BMW F 850 GS engine?

Chinese manufacturer Loncin produces motorcycle parts, engine components, and complete engines for BMW since 2007. Loncin makes the engines for the F 750 GS and F 850 GS. In addition, the BMW C 400 X and C 400 GT mid-displacement scooters come off production lines at Loncin.

Q: ​​​​​​​What is the gas mileage of BMW F 850 GS?

The BMW F 850 GS has a claimed fuel economy of 56 MPG, giving it a range of about 200 miles.

Q: ​​​​​​​How much horsepower does a BMW F 850 GS have?

With the 853 cc parallel-twin engine, the F 850 GS produces a claimed 90 horsepower at 8,000 RPM and 63 pound-feet of torque at 6,250 RPM.

Q: ​​​​​​​What does GS stand for in BMW?

In 1980, BMW started using the G/S designator for its adventure bikes. “GS” stands for Gelände/Straße (off-road/on-road) and Gelände Sport.