Why do you hate BMW 650s?

[sAsLEX]

on the Adv, big 28L tank, top fairing/lights, tacho, low front guard, centre stand & slightly different seat. Post 05 the Adv got bigger diameter forks & twin discs up front also.

You sure?

[GaZBur]

I have been looking around for the next bike (sold Yammie XT600), and was looking for something ....
And no, I'm not going to buy a DR650!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like there is only one possible course of action available to you as far as I can see. List all your possible options, then go to the shops and ask for a test ride!!! Buy what feels best to you after that.
Hell we all buy what we want and then justify it with logic afterwards anyway, so why not have some fun making your decision. Don't forget to test the DR though - you may even be converted.

[clint640]

You sure?

Not anymore :-)

The 05 on ones definitely have the low guard. Lotsa people replace 'em with a high one.

Cheers
Clint

[warewolf]

2002 I was playing on, will get to 100MPH if you are trying hard, but thats ringing its tits off which aint that flash for a single?

It had decent head lights , but a high guard , and one disc brake.

What year bike are you looking at?

Mine's an '05.

'04, after the 950 was released, the 640 Adventure got basically the same front end as the 950: bigger diameter forks, twin discs, low guard. '03 they got the "High Flow" head, negating the need for mild port work. One of the benefits of the low guard is better aerodynamics.

People seem to be happy running rear tyres a size or two too small, which will lower the gearing and make the thing rev its tits off when on the highway.

[tipper]

Thanks all, looks like I'd better ride both, the BMW does appeal (gettin' fatter and older) but the LC4 does appeal to the hoon in me. Still hate the Adventure 'look', so a 640 Enduro with tank and/or seat looks promising. Will be a struggle finding one methinks.

[Zukin]

Like everyone else here has already said, we love all bikes

Me however, I have the 650GS, and I use it all them time for gravel and road riding, and all I can say is it is brilliant
Great for those long trips

I would never use it for anything much harder than gravel roads (eg Trail, mud etc) that is why I also have a DRZ for trail riding

If I was looking at a KTM, I would wait until the 690 hits our shores (2009 I believe), that might be worth waiting for

Cheers Scott

[westie]

Rode the 650f once. It broke down at the bottom of the mountain, half way up and at the top. Funnily enough when ever I stopped the electrics would just give in. Never got to the bottom of the problem. Just shook the wiring loom and associated square box things and off down the road for a jump start.
Not a bad bike for touring around an island tho

[ZReX12]

Why do people hate F650's?
Because they are boring boring bikes, do everything OK but nothing that makes ya smile and want to ride it. Good for getting to point b or c, but ridings more about fun and getting there than just the destination, otherwise you'd take the train to work (the GS train).
Get a KTM they have the sex appeal BMW's can never have.

[Zukin]

Why do people hate F650's?
Because they are boring boring bikes, do everything OK but nothing that makes ya smile and want to ride it. Good for getting to point b or c, but ridings more about fun and getting there than just the destination, otherwise you'd take the train to work (the GS train).
Get a KTM they have the sex appeal BMW's can never have.

Blah Blah Whatever!!!

I have taken a 990 for a few rides now, and I have to say I prefer the price I paid for the GS, I can get 3 for the price you paid for your one

Horses for courses, I am certainly not a Paris to Dakar rider, so therefore I cant ride like one, so I don't think I would need the horses that the 990 has

As for sex appeal, you are right there, you have to spend a lot of money to get it in the first place, your bike gets hot fast, starts to leak all manner of juices, lets our a scream before coming to a screeching halt, and crashes into a heap when its all over. So its rooted!!

[fleethaul]

Some like to go fast, some like to go far, some like to polish, some like to bullshit. There is a bike for every purpose.
I like my Dakar, abs and all. It takes me to places that to me are fun
and challenge my riding skill, that I'm sure others might find boring.
But thats fine by me, Doesn't matter what or how others ride
they might enjoy riding as much as me , but not more.
I also own a Pegaso, with theoretically the same power plant and similar
setup. They are actually chalk and cheese. The pegaso is much less powerful
and has much less fuel range than the f650, yet in it's own way it is just as much fun.
The great thing about the Pegaso is that it lives in a shed in Sydney and I
get to ride it in totally different terrain than here in NZ.
I'm meeting some mates to ride to Phillip Island to the MotoGP via the Victorian highcountry, to ride some more of the roads and tracks we identified while riding there in May. A riding mate is currently in the Outback, I speak to him via Skype most days. He is sorting out our next years ride and tells me we need a couple of KTM950's for that trip.
My choice would be the f650 but he says you need a bit more power to get past road trains safely.
Thats my biggest bugbear with a loaded 650, passing
But as I said at the start, some like to bullshit.

[marks]

I am certainly not a Paris to Dakar rider...

I dunno about that...

You gave a pretty good impression of one riding through the forest at the end of the mmmm...

cheers

Mark

[oldrider]

Some like to go fast, some like to go far, some like to polish, some like to bullshit. There is a bike for every purpose.
I like my Dakar, abs and all. It takes me to places that to me are fun
and challenge my riding skill, that I'm sure others might find boring.
But thats fine by me, Doesn't matter what or how others ride
they might enjoy riding as much as me , but not more.
I also own a Pegaso, with theoretically the same power plant and similar
setup. They are actually chalk and cheese. The pegaso is much less powerful
and has much less fuel range than the f650, yet in it's own way it is just as much fun.
The great thing about the Pegaso is that it lives in a shed in Sydney and I
get to ride it in totally different terrain than here in NZ.
I'm meeting some mates to ride to Phillip Island to the MotoGP via the Victorian highcountry, to ride some more of the roads and tracks we identified while riding there in May. A riding mate is currently in the Outback, I speak to him via Skype most days. He is sorting out our next years ride and tells me we need a couple of KTM950's for that trip.
My choice would be the f650 but he says you need a bit more power to get past road trains safely.
Thats my biggest bugbear with a loaded 650, passing
But as I said at the start, some like to bullshit.

I had the pleasure of riding with fleethaul and in one short ride and a wee mishap, his BMW650 won both my admiration and respect.

His bike suffered a minor (but difficult) breakdown and my first reaction was "bloody BMW"!

The on bike tool kit enabled him to repair the bike on the track and get it back on the road just on dark.

The delay meant we missed our last fuel stop and he had to ride home on an almost empty tank!

He made it with a little to spare and I was more than impressed with the bikes whole performance.

They are in my estimation an excellent choice for a venture bike in NZ.

(man that was difficult to say but I seriously mean it)

Cheers John.

[Skinny_Birdman]

I used to have one of the BMW F650 'Funduro's (which are really a rebadged Aprillia Pegaso) Damn good 'allrounder' type bike. Very comfy and capable on the road and quite competent on the gravel and tracks, (but its no trail bike.)
It was ok 2 up, and was reliable.

Whereas (and I'm sure I will get lambasted for this)I had one of the same ilk and thought it woeful. Ran beautifully, was a pleasure to ride and took me pretty much everywhere I wanted to go, but little things like the fragility of the plastic switchgear, or the poorly designed chain-run or the huge variety and number of fasteners which had to be undone before carrying out pretty much any maintenance, or any one of a dozen other things made it expensive to own and hard to live with... My biggest beef overall was its fragility.

Having said that, I agree with R:

In Chch there are at least 4 Dakars and 4 DR650s that I can think of right now, plus an assortment of KLR's etc etc. Take your pick - they all work perfectly well and they all have "issues" to watch out for. The KLR and Dakar are similar in abilities and the DR650 is slightly more dirt orientated. Plug has taken his Dakar pretty well everywhere I've taken the DR (or is that the other way round) so they are plenty capable with the right tyres and rider.

The Dakar and GS seem to be altogether more robust animals, and I wouldn't consider tarring them with the same brush as the poor old Funnyduro.

I have just bought TA's Transalp to see if it can measure up to my exacting standards.....

[ZReX12]

[QUOTE=
But as I said at the start, some like to bullshit.[/QUOTE]

If it looks like bullshit and smells like bullshit......best guess is it's probably bullshit

[far queue]

And no, I'm not going to buy a DR650!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, go on, you know you want to really