The words ‘affordable’ and ‘GS’ don’t usually go together in one sentence.
They really don’t. But in the case of the F750 GS, it really is the most affordable expressway-legal GS in the BMW Motorrad Philippines stable, and by a huge margin. The 750 starts at P765,000. Its more loaded twin, the F850 GS, starts at P885,000. Go one step further and you’re already looking at P1.575 million for the R1250 GS.
Of course, there’s always the G310 GS that only goes for P320,000, but we all know that bike won’t get you across tollways.
Very well, then. What does P765,000 get you?
Like I said, the 750 and 850 are twins. They’re both powered by an 853cc liquid-cooled, twin-cylinder engine. The F750 GS, however, only churns out 77hp at 7,500rpm and 83Nm of torque at 6,000rpm—18hp and 9Nm less than what the F850 GS can produce. Not that it’s a deal breaker, but more on that in a bit.
The 750 also gets a new TFT display—it now has the same instrument cluster as the higher R1250 GS, allowing for smartphone connectivity through the BMW Motorrad app. It also gets that dial on the left side of the handlebar which actually makes it really easy to navigate the head unit.
So, about that 853cc engine…
Still punchy, mind you. Much fewer horses here, of course, but still torquey even at lower revs. It isn’t a gas-guzzler, too, as it can do around 21km/L even when you’re always going heavy on the throttle.
While it won’t be as quick off the line as, say, a sport bike of a similar or even lower displacement, it won’t have any problems crusing alongside other big bikes on the highway. It’s still relatively lightweight and has more than enough power for roads on this side of the globe.
I was able to prove all this during a quick out-of-town ride to Batangas with BMW Motorrad Philippines. On the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the STAR Tollway, the 750 had no issues keeping up with the likes of the F900 XR, R18, and even the S1000 XR. We weren’t going flat out, though, as we only kept things to within legal speeds.
Does it handle like a proper GS?
If you’re asking if it moves like the bigger R1250 GS with the boxer engine, then no. It’s not that precise. What it is is nimble and agile despite its size, which still makes it worthy of bearing that GS badge. And like I said, it’s lightweight—significantly more so than its bigger stablemates—making it easy to maneuver whether on tight city streets or winding mountain roads. It’s got a pretty low seat, too, so it’s a friendlier option for us not-so-tall Filipinos.
Now, in case you have to ask, it’s pretty comfy, too. Not the comfiest in the BMW Motorrad family, of course, but its suspension still eats up most bumps on the road with ease, making for a very pleasant ride overall.
How does it do off-road?
Hold your horses—this is something I can’t talk about. Not only am I an inexperienced off-roader, but I also wasn’t able to try this thing out on the dirt. But if we’re talking solely about specs, then I can assure you that this thing has more than enough power for light trails and then some.
As for its versatility on unpaved surfaces, there are different ride modes available. You just don’t get all the bells and whistles and miss out on features like switchable ABS or traction control, for example. But just throw on some all-terrain tires on this one and I’m sure you’ll have no problems when you try to get off the beaten path and towards the great outdoors.
Would you pick it over the other bigger GS models, then?
Frankly speaking, and to give you the short answer, no. If I’m going for a GS anyway, I’d rather go big and get the one with the boxer engine and all the tech that comes with it. But that’s just me.
But for some of you guys out there, I reckon the F750 GS will be more than enough. Whether you’re looking to get down and dirty on some light trails or you just want a capable bike for your weekend trips, this one could potentially be a good fit for you. Heck, even if you lived right outside the metro and just want a nice two-wheeler that could get you across tollways, you should also add this to your shortlist, too. It’ll give you a taste of that GS experience without breaking the bank. Sort of.
