In town and at lower speeds, the front sags a little too easily, a victim of rather soft springs and shock damping. However, the rear proves too stiff when negotiating a series of small bumps at low speed, the price to pay for it's undeniable efficiency at higher speeds.

The ABS brakes (available for $850) work well on pavement as well as on slippery surfaces.

The ABS brakes (available for $850) work well on the pavement, as you would expect, but also on more slippery surfaces, ensuring your safety on wet or dirty roads. And if you decide to hop off the road for some playtime in the dirt, the system can be deactivated in order to allow you to use the appropriate braking and sliding techniques.

Comfortable? Yes, but boy is that seat hard!
The driving position is rather straight up, allowing your hands to fall effortlessly on the grips, and the levers and controls are easy to use. The dashboard features the usual instruments, including a clock and gear indicator, useful information that helps alleviate the monotony of long journeys.

Let's talk about the seat, well proportioned but a bit stiff for my taste. I even wonder if you can actually get used to it. Thankfully, silicone gel seat covers now enable you to mold it to your liking. Hooray for technology!

The rather small wind deflector blocks the storm up to shoulder height, leaving your head to deal with headwind and turbulence, which is what some riders prefer. For wimpier riders (like me!), a larger windshield is available at no extra cost, as well as the hand guards missing from the bike we tested.

A pleasure to ride
The F800GS is one of those machines that are mastered almost automatically, allowing you to ride as you please without having to learn about any idiosyncrasies - as it does not have any!. Its torque, agility, comfort and easy-to-use controls make it an ideal mount for those who learned the basics atop a 125 or similar bike and want to upgrade to a large machine. The 85 ponies won't scare anyone, and the brakes and suspension know how to win your trust.

The 800GS loves uneven roads, with which we are all too familiar here.