The F800ST is actually a solid dependable BMW compared to a lot of the other bikes. The engine is an 800cc Rotax. It'll last forever, oil changes on it are a breeze compared to a lot of the other BMW's. The belt drive, imo, was an excellent choice for this particular bike. When they came out I was convinced that was my next bike because it's going to be the most dependable BMW you will ever own. I wasn't as impressed with the power as I thought I was going to be after I worked on a couple though and that changed my mind about buying it. It handles amazing and it's going to be quicker and more nimble than a c50, but it's not in the same league as a 500cc "sportbike" if you will. The other thing I don't like about BMW after becoming certified to work on them, that I knew before I became certified, but was reinforced after becoming certified...They have all sorts of electronics and if one throws a code the bike can go into fault mode and the only way to have it fixed is to go to a dealer and have it plugged into the BMS and reset. I've seen where the bike will throw a false code and this happens and you're out at least 30min for a diagnosis charge at any dealer. So my final opinion from the view of a BMW mechanic...There's a better bike out there for the price. If you are set on a BMW though this is one of the best smaller cc bikes you'll find.