03 650 Dakar maintenance

[Beetroot]

Hi all,

I am looking at buying a 03 650 Dakar.
I've read up a fair bit about them and they sound like the bike for me.
I had a DR650 but want something more comfortable on the road, I don't mind sacrificing some off road ability to get a much smoother ride.

The one I'm looking at has had a service recently from a BMW specialist and had no problems.
The bike has done 95,000kms, that's about 60,000miles.

Just wanting to know what kind of mileage you can get out of these bikes before you need to start look at doing engine work, or clutch or gear box stuff.
And what kind of price it is to get the parts, I'm confident I can do the work, just not sure of the price of parts.

Cheers

[Waipukbiker]

Unless you specificly want a Beemer, Have you thought about a KLR650, Lot less kms for the same price, Moore comfy on the road than a DR plus a bigger tank and still does the job off road, bit heavier but not a prob for a good rider.
My DR has a modified seat so no probs with road comfort and now a bigger tank so Im good for about 350 kms. Just hope you have thought it through well before spending ya hard earned bucks.

Cheers

[Transalper]

My old 2000 F650GS (same as Dakar except the 19" vs 21" front wheel and taller suspension) was more shuddery and just as vibey as the DR650 IIRC.
And just when you think your coming on the cam, getting it to pull, it red lines.
Awkward to stand on too.
Guess how you see it may depend upon how you define 'smooth'.
Just saying take it for a decent test ride first.

[thepom]

The service manual goes up to 120 k......so it should be good for another 25k,......they have a fuel filter that when blocked stops the engine....120 odd dollars to replace on a service....avoid it by putting an in line filter in before the bmw one..... transalper is right....parts expensive but I,ve had two and found them great fun untill it goes wrong.....I now ride an xt600....more fun,more reliable,cheaper ,lighter and more power.....try other bikes first.....good luck....

[Beetroot]

I was looking at a KLE 500 but it sold, and the BMW was my next option.

I have considered the KLR but there isn't any in my price range at the moment I think they are just a bit hard on the eyes.

The main thing I didn't like about the DR was the hard seat, small tanks and lack of fairing/windscreen. It really needed a wind screen.
I know I could have brought all the mods but my the time I spent the money I could have just brought something else that'd still be better.

The only thing I'm worried about with the BMW is the kms, I know they are known to go for ever, but if it does crap out, will it be an expensive fix.

[pete376403]

While looks are subjective, KLRs aren't THAT bad to look at when you're riding one, and they do make a pretty nice road bike that can handle a bit of off road.

[Padmei]

Agree with the above re KLRs - great comfy bikes which will go anywhere if you want them. Parts are cheap, easy to work on. i'd think long & hard before spending money on a well used BMW.

[Beetroot]

Looks aren't the biggest concern, mainly the price and maintenance will be the deciding factors.

I used to live in the Waikato, and wasn't far from Auckland so had a lot of options available, but down here there isn't so many options.

[JATZ]

Agree with the above re KLRs - great comfy bikes which will go anywhere if you want them. Parts are cheap, easy to work on. i'd think long & hard before spending money on a well used BMW.

: :

Oh the irony....
Get the Beemer. If it's been maintained it should be o.k. But all bikes break down and be prepared to spend some extra coin fixing a euro bike.

[pete-blen]

BMW....

KLR...

XT660R....


I'm leaveing now....

[pampa]

I had a Dakar up to 85000K no problems other than crashing it, then once fixed it sold it and it was going really well.

Parts are expensive if you buy them on BMW NZ, I sourced many parts from overseas and it wasn't too bad. I now ride same engine with more power and less weight G650X .

While everybody seems to think that KL|D R are good, which is true for 35 year old design, the fuel economy and power delivery of the beemers is beyond those bikes moding limits and with all regular mods you still can't get same power that the stock BM has. I get 230k of 9L of fuel regularly the Dakar had more fuel and also a very good range

Now note I haven't owned a DR or KLR (simply didn't like them not even to test them) and in the end IMHO that counts too, but what do I know.

[Cpt Lepi]

Did a trip around Europe on one of these a couple of years ago. Found it to be very comfy but heavy and always would of liked a little more power. Got all my parts from Motoworks in the uk which should give you a good idea of pricing as I imagine (that means I dont really know) that they would be competitve after shipping. Met alot of people riding them with miles that were double that and no real problems although almost everything on mine broke and the big end went at 20000ish kms on clock. I doubt the odometer was accurate and the last guy really abused it.

I will be selling my adverturised KTM 625 SXC in the near future if thats a option for you but will be a couple more than the Bmw. I live in Christchurch if you want to chat about either.

[Beetroot]

An update.

I was really keen on the BMW but it'd sold before I could buy it which was annoying.
I then went and looked at a DR650, which I didn't really want but I was running out of options.
But what do you know, that sold too.

So I was thinking that I'll be stuck with getting a road TF125 or something.

But then a bike that I wasn't that keen on turned up, on trademe.
An 03 KLR650, now I was never that keen on the KLR but the price was right and it rode well and was in good condition, so I brought it.

I'm pretty happy with my new purchase, its going to do everything I hoped for which is great!
Just looking for some rides to do now, I'm thinking either the Lees Valley ride, or mailings pass.

[pete376403]

Welcome to the dark side!

Let the farkeling commence! (seriously, check the doo, they are considered a known point of failure in the gen 1s. KLR650.net has lots of information (some good, some not-so) and http://www.watt-man.com/ is a mine of good info as well

[Transalper]

Good to hear you got something now.

Do Lees Valley first, Mailings is harder.
Over in the 'Looking for Christchurch Adventures' thread we just done Molesworth/Mt Altimarlock and there are several people looking at Lees Valley possibly even this weekend but have not posted as not firm plan yet.
What day works for you or you going to go it alone?