BMW F650GS Dakar vs. Honda XR650L

[XTreme]

HERE! (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=71)

[BawdyMonk]

Interesting comparison, pretty honest for an Amercan review, they always seem to try and be nice to everybody, I suppose advertising revenue talks :Julian:

With all the debates we've had on this forum recently about what constitutes a good DS bike, I thought this question at the end of the review was very pertinent...

The question remains: Do you want some dirt in your streetbike or some street in your dirtbike?

Viva la différence... is my point of view ;)

[Suzuki Al]

That seems a very fair review of both machines Bawdy. They are both DS machines in my view, even though they have quite a bit that seperates them.

It would be interesting to have a comparison between an XR and the V Strom. At what point does the comparison become meaningless is an interesting question don't you think? This is a fascinating class of bike - I love'em all.

By the way: I've seen a Dakar doing the Cwmystwyth to Llangurig track (Find the location to the right of Devil's Bridge on a map of Wales), it went pretty well on this tough route and seemed as off road capable as my XT.

[Shagger]

I've often wondered why, after four years, Honda hasn't upgraded the L to R spec. The R is delivered in the US in choked for the street form and is available as a street bike in some markets. Unchoking them is a little fussy but easy enough, replace intake manifold and toss airbox blockers then rejet.

IMO the R’s engine is far smoother. The chassis is a step above also. I’ll not mention weight because who knows where that would end up once bastardized for the street by the factory.

[Stuart Fordyce]

Originally posted by Shagger@Nov 22 2004, 04:27 PM
I've often wondered why, after four years, Honda hasn't upgraded the L to R spec. The R is delivered in the US in choked for the street form and is available as a street bike in some markets. Unchoking them is a little fussy but easy enough, replace intake manifold and toss airbox blockers then rejet.

IMO the R’s engine is far smoother. The chassis is a step above also. I’ll not mention weight because who knows where that would end up once bastardized for the street by the factory.
6157


I think what Shagger's talking about has just hit the street in the UK with 'supermoto' wheels.

http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/2005/gallery/fmx650_7.jpg

Do you know if it's coming to the US?

Personally I don't fancy one - at 11 litres the tank is too small, and at a quoted £4,300 list, it's too expensive. I've seen a couple of very nice F650GS Dakars complete with panniers and some warranty remaining for much less than that.

Stuart

[Shagger]

That's an air cooled rig. I was referring to the water cooled engine.

[Hardware]

Wow, some cutting edge journalism. Eight pages to come to the conclusion that the XR is cheaper than the F650GS, that the XR is better off road and the GS is better on the street. :shocked:

[Tym]

Hi Hardware! How ya doing? :FFonRF:

[Hardware]

Hey Tym. I'm doin' fine.

[Tym]

Cool! :lg:

Glad ya made it over herre :thumbsup:

[Hardware]

I don't even think they discuss motorcycles anymore in that "other" place...

[XTreme]

What other place is that? :Julian:

[Hardware]

Originally posted by Pete@Dec 8 2004, 09:14 AM
What other place is that? :Julian:
8584


PsychoWorld Flamefest...I mean CycleWorld Forums... :faintthud:

[XTreme]

I'm banned from there! :laughing:

[Tym]

maybe we should see if www.PsycoticWorld.org/NYU/ism will take us Pete...

Cause i cant help myself :Julian:

[XTreme]

I coulda beena contenda! :(

[Hardware]

Originally posted by Pete@Dec 8 2004, 09:51 AM
I'm banned from there! :laughing:
8593


What was your handle over there?

[XTreme]

Originally posted by Hardware@Dec 9 2004, 01:57 AM
What was your handle over there?
8752


BJ....but I very rarely go there anyway.
Only made about 500 posts in nearly 2 1/2 years.

[Tym]

Jee Pete, why would they ban you? :rolleyes:

i never saw you post anything therre that violated

any axe~cepted form of forum decorum~~~~ :pete:

[XTreme]

I was Guilty by association Tym! :Julian:

[Hardware]

Originally posted by Pete@Dec 9 2004, 03:31 PM
I was Guilty by association Tym! :Julian:
8817


Seriously? Tym wasn't banned, was he?

[Tym]

A week before thanksgiving, me and Hamayar were banned and our accounts suspended fir no reason. We hadnt posted nuthing wrong. And i had even posted a public apology to 919 to try to cool the bad vibes derre. iWas also ignoring Hacksawedhead and his giggle biker chit.

i posted to Hack, after an unsolicited tie raid about giggglebikers, that he should go fir aride, cause the weather was nice, Kerb saw the post, Darth nuked it and banned me and Hamayar.

And Darth then proceded to ban everybody who spoke up fir me, mass bannings, mass ip blocks, new people report they cant register now...twatism rules the Dark Side, who isnt a rider btw, the mod at cykoworld isnt a rider. its like letting a virgin mod a S&M forum, right?

Darth cannot provide any proof i did anything wrong, cause i dint...i know it, and Brian(Darth) knows it, and CWEddy knows it.

Btw, before the thanksgiving holiday, CWEddy wrote me and said this would all blow over in a week....long week, eh?

ps, i'm downloading a deals gap mpeg, 58mb, a run thru the Dragon, oh goodie :D

Gunna fry my dial up posting herre and downloading the gap at the same time :lg:

[mess]

Back to the subject at hand

http://www.dualsportuk.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10019/normal_vc349-2010200314297moto003.jpg

Here's my L when she was nice and purty....she doesn't look so nice now that i have put almost 5000 kilometers on her offroad :grin:
...it's a tough as nails bike and has with stood my beating and crashing on it remarkably well.
i would buy another one without hesitating at all.