BMW1150 v's G650

[TetaXVI]

Good Afternoon All.

Medium-term rider, first time poster.

Previously been riding mostly sports bikes for commuting and weekend rides.

Been looking at getting into doing some Adventure-Touring with a friend who has done a few short rides before.

Done plenty of long journies and overnight work but never carrying gear and never with even a hint of offroad.

Interested in two BMW's the old 1150GS and a newer G650 both adventure-tour.

I'm trying to decide if there is any advantage at all of the larger bike for medium distance tours (7-21 days)... With a 75:25 highway:dirt track split, Mostly UK and Europe with plans for a USA tour as well.

The larger bike seems heavier, more cumbersome, less fuel efficient, less traffic-savvy and more expensive to ship with no real advantages over the 650.

Anyone got any helpful advice?

[G]

What sort of dirt?

You're pretty limited in choice in the UK.

I'd stick with a sports bike over the 1150.

I presume you mean F650.
I'd consider (then discount probably) the F800GS for dirt use.

If I cared about the dirt riding and wanted to be in with the Euan and thingy chic, I'd go for a G650X-Challenge.

If I didn't care about the dirt, we're back to the sports bike .

[TetaXVI]

Cheers for the reply.

Yes the F650 sorry i didnt make that clear.

The dirt trails around my area, and most of the places i aim to visit would be compacted mud, mountain-bike and hiker friendly sort of trails.

A basic level of off-road ability is pretty much top of my list at the moment, how much would i use it? no idea, but as a keen camper (who normally travels by car) the number of times ive pulled up to a road and though *christ, i wish i could go down there... but my car couldnt handle it...* is probably in double figures

[c-m]

I went from an Aprilia Falco to an F650 Dakar. Never regretted it. The F650 was the first non-sports bike I'd ridden. Soon got used to it's lack of power.

Did a couple of tours on the F650. It was painfully slow on the autobahn, but really enjoyable off it.

I changed to an xCountry as I wanted something newer, and didn't need a 21" front. 19" is the enough for the trails I ride.

I guess it all depends on what you want to do with the bike.

[TetaXVI]

Thanks for your help C-M. The plan for this year and next year is poodle around europe.

However the eventual plan for me and my better half's belated honeymoon is to do a two month tour of Australia, hence why fuel efficiency and comfort is of far greater importance that raw power and speed.

[G]

I'd suggest a sports bike has much of a 'basic level of off road ability' as a big GS. Get appropriate tyres on either and while the GS has more ground clearance and wider bars, it also weighs a good chunk more and that high CoG will make it harder to hold/pick up.

[c-m]

I don't think the G650 will be for you then. It's great on fuel, it's comfortable, and you can go pretty much anywhere, but it will bore you to death on Europe's motorways.

The big GS would be a better Europe wide tourer even if you do encounter a bit of gravel. It will be better two up too. I did Spain two-up on the F650 Dakar and it was good fun, but then I'm weird like that.

If you're considering the GS then why not the tiger, or the versys either capacity model.

Now if you go to Oz it would make more sense to rent a bike as shipping is crazy expensive.

I'd happily ride the F650 two up or solo round Oz, but I think a 990 adventure might be more fun in that setting.

[Polarbear]

Tiger 800. XC model if you want off road bias but still a great road bike.
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[Furrybiker]

Have you read other peoples experiences?
Will Wilkins and his wife rode from Oz to the UK https://www.wollongongtowoolwich.co.uk/ He was on a large trailie she was on a 250.
Others have done long trips two up[url] https://www.jamesandcat.com[/url] Two up on a KTM990.

May give you food for thought.

[yodagoat]

Tried both. Get the 1150. They are both really heavy when compared to a proper offroad bike. the 1150 is great for touring.

https://yodagoat.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/random-bike-photos-part-2.html



Mike
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[G]

[yodagoat]

They feel a bit lighter when they're rolling. Even loaded with camping gear they feel OK pootling along a gravel road. I'm just back from NZ where I tried the f700 on gravel roads, still too heavy to be battering along and, didnt feel much different to the 1150 or 1200 weight wise.
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[yodagoat]

One thing about the 1150/1200 is that they feel lighter thanks to the low CoG. They're heavy but much of the weight is low down and central to the bike.
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