Big singles, i.e 650cc

[neatbik]

Quite fancy a big single as my next bike, only one i've ever ridden was a ccm ft 710 - which i loved, but too impractical for me really.

Anyway, im just wondering if a 650cc (or similar) would provide enough poke for the road - will i get frustrated after a while coming from an inline 4 600....

I'm far from a fast rider, i prefer torque to top end power, the thing i loved about the ccm was the punchy acceleration and the noise.

So, anyone gone to a single from an inline 4? If so how did you find it after a while?

Bike wise im looking at BMW F650's, Aprilia Pegaso's, Xt660's and anything else i havent thought of.
I'd like to do some very mild green laning, but mostly i'll be riding on the road.
Cheers

[27cows]

I had a DR650 a few years ago. Loved it. Plenty quick enough for me...but that's not saying much Was a bit breathless on motorways but no one buys a thumper for speed. Nothing beats the chug chug chug of a big single.
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[Faldo]

TBH, I found the DRZ400 'pokier' than the DR650. Granted, I didn't do many miles on the 650 and it was pretty old, but as an all round package I found the DRZ a much better bike on and off road, unless you want to do any motorway work that is.

[27cows]

Would agree with the above - the DRZ is the better bike. But the 650 used to come up pretty cheaply, which is how I ended up with one Used to love pottering round the back lanes on it at low revs. Bop bop bop bop...brilliant
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[Charlie]

I think it is a bit far from you... (think you're done south) but I saw a Honda Dominator on another forum... Not sure it has all the power you want but looks alright
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[Faldo]

[Itchy]

Yup I came off my CBR600 and went and did 20,000 miles on my XT600E, it felt horrible at first and would jarr my teeth out, I got used to it about 2000 miles later.

you won't get any speed though as the XT600E won't go beyond 95 and your vision starts going blurred by then.
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[tatters]

I,m currently commuting to london a 2001 KLR650, heavy for its type but around the same power as XT,s DR etc but more suitable for road use with a big tank/seat and a very smooth engine for a single there also very cheap to buy, mine will cruise at 70-80 with the right gearing.


Trying to improve mine by fitting a XR front end and replacing the steel swingarm and wheels with alloy ones.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[G]

[Feasty]

I've got an SLR650 and absolutely love it! It's very quick from the go and the thumper bit feels great, you get a real feel of the power through the bike. Motorways aren't too bad for a couple of junctions but any more and you'll feel the wind trying to throw you off, it'll hit 90/95 but revving quite highly at that point for long periods of time doesn't feel right.
I use the bike for commuting on mostly dual carriageways which suits it perfectly, unfortunately my company is moving my work place a lot further away so I'm going to have to sell very soon and get a bike more adapted to daily motorway travel...
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[G]

[Feasty]

[G]

I'm around your kind of way now, but unfortunately didn't put the GSXR in as I was tempted to, otherwise you could have had a play.
Get a ride on a modern sports bike some time just to see what it's like.
My KTM 690 (claimed to be the most powerful production single, though I suspect Maico may have something to say about that!) tops out at 107mph with standard gearing, a bit more with higher gearing.
The GSXR seems to top out at an indicated 103mph in first gear and gets there in 5.5s or so, according to the stats - a lot faster relatively.

[hmmmnz]

ive owned a xr650, dr650, xf650, xt600, klr650 xr600 and currently own a mz500 (rotax lump, but basically a xt500 with a cam belt)
out of all of them i would have the xr650 if i had to choose just one,

they all have advantages, but the xr despite being water cooled, is really really simple,super reliable and probably has the most power of the lot,
the klr650's have problem with the counterbalancer adjuster, (gear driven on the xr)
my dr650 leaked oil, nothing major, just unsightly, the xf was just a road bike under the guise that it was a dirt bike, but had none of the advantages.
the xt.. well its a good solid lump, much like the xr600, no surprises with either bike and would happily own either again,
the mz500, is so solid its just ridiculous, much the same as the mt500,
or the ccm with the same rotax lump. of course owning a british assembled bike would be nice, and there are loads of hot up parts for the rotax lump, and they can easily get upto 70hp with not alot of work


for me it would be a toss up between the xr650 or the rotax powered ccm..
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[fresian]

Leftfield choice, but good all the same MZ Mastiff or Bagheera. YAM 660 engine, but looks different and can be picked up pretty cheaply, because of the badge. Forget about the old 2 strokers, these things are good.

[Paxovasa]

I have an XT600 and a Bandit 600 going from one to the other is not a problem. The only thing is the XT has better engine braking. The XT will quite happily travel at NSL speeds and is comfortable.

Just take a few out for a test ride

[pa_broon74]

Still have my TDM850 IL2.

Got a KTM LC4 after that, great fun but not overly practical. Now have a F650GS. No where near as viscious as the KTM but still has the kind of punchy power you'd associate with a big single.

I chose the BMW over the XT (for example) as the 660 engines (i'm told) are underpowered, the rotax engine in the BMW is marginally a bit more punchy.

The BMW is very comfy and sits happily at 70 or 80. It'll do 100+ but its fucking scary so not advisable. I took it over to Belfast recently and did notice that going on the M8 then the M74 left it gasping ever so slightly, it didn't struggle as such, it just felt strained after a while. But thats not what these bike are for, on the return leg I skipped most to the motorway for single A roads; at 9pm on a Sunday night it was certainly more fun than church.

I'd agree with Hmmmz but would sway toward the BMW for comfort, being a wee bit different and far less desirable, so not as nickable as the XR.


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[lewis87]

I had a DRZ400SM, then got a 2007 ZX6R and sold that and I have a KTM 625 SMC and I love it.

The LC4 KTM's are reliable and make good power, my bike with the FCR41 carb makes 55bhp and is very punchy low down with great throttle response.

Much more fun on the road than a 600cc sportsbike in my opinion. But saying that big singles are not for everyone, some people moan about vibrations but I don't think it's a problem at all.

[Pie-Roe]

It's a different sort of riding completly. If you gel with it you'll like it, some people can't deal with it.

I had an old xt600 for a week, hated it, bought another IL4. After that a DRZ400 came up at a good price, bought that and loved it.

My aim by 2011 is to have a blackbird and a sm'd crf450, so I'm a little weird in that sense, especially as I'm only 19.

As far as I know, the GS650 provides a balanced amount of power, weight and reliability. Just go with whatever G says, apart from using a GSXR thou as a commuter. Oh and older KTMs have electrical gremlins.

Pyro
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Previous: GSF600, FZR600 x2, ZXR750, XT600 Tenere, CB125, CZ125, ETZ 250, ER5, CCM R30, DRZ400, RF600x4, RF900x2, GS500, VTR1000F, 640 SMC, CB250 NIGHTHAWK, GT550x3, GPX750 TE610, CB500, X11x2, SV650, ZING 125, TL1000R,CB250 Superdream, CBR1100XX

[lewis87]

[Faldo]

Perhaps someone can clear this up for me as I've been wondering for a while.

I'm sure I read somewhere that the BMW G650 has an engine made by Chinese company Loncin, but I keep hearing about their apparent reliability.

Is this true? If they are made by Loncin, are they actually reliable, or are we not hearing about poor reliability yet as they are still under warranty? Or do Loncin have much higher standards than their Chinese counterparts?

[lewis87]

The older engine was manufactured and assembled by Rotax.

The newer engine is manufactured by Rotax in Austria, sent to China to be assembled and then sent to BMW in Germany where the bikes are built.

So the Chinese just put the engine together, I don't know how reliable they are though.

[G]

[Faldo]

I only asked, jeez .

[chris-red]

I called them Bingles
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