Anyone had a BMW F650 GS or Dakar?

[froggeh]

Right. In less that 2 months I am emmigrating to Sweden.
I am gonna leave my beloved Hornet over here, for when I come home (for the time being)
I am gonna another buy a bike over there.

The thing is they are even hotter on speeding than over here...

There are lots and lots of empty roads of all varieties, and as far as I know a decent number of greenlanes.

So my biking will be mostly road , in town commute / bobbing around etc, plus weekend jaunts around some of the many twisties they have plus some greenlaning.

I was originally gonna take a step up from my current 90 BHP hornet and get something like a fireblade.

But very high insurance for sports over there, and the distinct likliehood of losing my licence has led me to the BMW

As far as I know its a decent handler, will be ideal for town use, and twisties, and will greenlane perfectly...

So anyone any experience?

Cheers.

[Zen Dog]

I sat on a Dakar at the NEC and it was the comfiest seat ive ever tried. Like, armchair good. Er, unfortunately, thats the limit of my experience with them....

Zen Dog
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, 2011 CBF125 Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[G]

I suspect it won't be that amazing on green lanes - but should be fine for the rest.

[Finglonga]

[Type_Mo]

i tried one on saturday, just went up the road on it, felt comfy and ALOT slower then my hornet
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- Typhoon ?0 - Yamaha DT125R - Aprilia SR125 - Yamaha DT125R - Honda Hornet 600 -

[G]

[Itchy]

Dominator , cheap indestructable , proper trailie , which works on the road , seen a dispatcher put 50k on one , big ass single that doesn't go faster than 90 at a push.
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[carlmalibu]

Its one of the bikes that BMW do their "advanced offroad training" courses on so I imagine it'll be fine for green-laning.

My ex-stepmum/her boyfriend are BMW bike obsessed, she got a F650 GS and she mostly does Sussex-London commute on it and she's never complained.

I had a blast around a big car park in tun. wells last time I went down to see her and its a lot of fun. Very grunty.
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Shine on, you crazy diamond
CB500, woop.

[Finglonga]

[mr.z]

If i'm not mistaken its also what they use for the dakar rally (albeit in a somewhat altered form)

There well supported for extras and solid bikes all arround, what you want in shitty conditions is steady dependable predictable power not a snarling fire-breathing monster..
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[Itchy]

[G]

It's what Charlie Boorman got for the dakar. Believe the 'better' people go for the 1200 which has the speed for the road sessions, but more of a bitch if you get it stuck.

As could be seen from his TV thingie, the bikes used on the dakar are far different to what can be picked up in ya' local dealership.

[map]

[Itchy]

[Itchy]

[G]

[Itchy]

I know how about bikes max cost of £2500 , inc labour and parts.

hence mr richy rich can't buy a 100% carbon fibre bike?
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[mark83]

[MarJay]

[froggeh]

I'm now wondering what the new G650X range will be like...

I like the look of the XCountry Scrambler.
https://www.mcnews.com.au/wallpaper/BMW/g650x_country_scrambler/g650_xcountry_lhs_1024.jpg

[BigChris]

I have both a 650 and 1200GS, and they're great!

They both do 200 miles to a tank, bomb proof, easy to maintain, and a joy to ride.

The 650's do 90-100mph, and are fantastic for twisties. Admittedly, they only have 50bhp, but have quite a lot or torque, so while top speed is down, you get there quickly!

I've got a zx12r as a comparison bike, and I have to be honest, I prefer both beemers to the kwak.

If you get yourself to any bmw dealers, you can sort out a testride no problem.
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