BMW F650 Dakar

[BawdyMonk]

http://www.motoring.co.za/site/30/picdb/article0/2/5/36322

While getting the paperwork sorted last week for my K1200GT, I took a Dakar out for over an hours test, although a short ride I did manage some off road (gravel track and across a field), city traffic, "B" class type roads and even a couple of kilometres on a highway.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

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Firstly, it's a high bike, the seat must be close to a GS Adventure in height, however, as it's much slimmer, I found it easy to flatfoot it at a standstill, it feels almost feather lite in weight and I felt very confident belting across a field on it, it seems to go where you point it with pin point accuracy, which for me, wasn’t the case with the big GS.<o:p></o:p>

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What did scare the shite out of me were the brakes, for over 2 years, on both the GSA and the RT, I've been cosseted by BMWs servo assisted ABS system, the first time I used the Dakar’s anchors they felt like two bits of wood were on the disc, having said that, I soon got used to the extra effort needed and the brakes actually do a good job of stopping the bike. <o:p></o:p>

If I get one it will be ABS equipped so will have a servo….(I assume:unsure: <?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id=_x0000_i1025 style="WIDTH: 15pt; HEIGHT: 15pt" alt="" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:href="http://www.maximumbikes.com/forums/images/smilies/unsure.gif" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\PAULAL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\cli p_image001.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape>)<o:p></o:p>

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In city traffic the high seat gives a great view and the light weight makes manoeuvring very easy, an ABS equipped model must be one of the best short/medium range commuter bikes available.<o:p></o:p>

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On the “B” type roads the Dakar is good competition for the Adventure, until you get past 140kmh, at this point the Dakar seems to lose its puff a bit and the frame tells you you’re riding a single cylinder “thumper”, it’s not as composed on fast undulating sweepers as a bigger bike. <o:p></o:p>

The lack of grunt takes away a lot of spontaneity in overtaking, it’ll do it, but more planning is needed than I’m used to. <o:p></o:p>

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I wouldn’t like to do high and regular highway mileage on a Dakar for the reasons mentioned above, as well as the fact that the standard screen is as much use as a postage stamp in the wind noise reduction league, to be fair though, I found the seat comfortable and for anybody able to cruise at the legal maximum there wouldn’t be any issues, for a light bike it seemed pretty stable, and again, the height gives good observation.<o:p></o:p>

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Would I buy one? Yes, and I probably will, the big GS gave me a taste for going off road, but as I usually went alone, the weight was an issue, the Dakar solves this and it’s certainly seems comfortable enough for me to spend a long day out and it’s the only bike in its class (I think) that has the ABS option, which you can turn it off for off road use.<o:p></o:p>

For local commuting and nipping into town I could see me using it instead of the KGT, and probably more than I used the GSA, which I often left in favour of my son’s scooter when nipping to the local shops.<o:p></o:p>

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Now to convince the Mrs….:rolleyes:

[Gnomad]

I think you have the F650 (and the Pegaso) figured out perfectly-boiled down, the 650 is better off road and the GS is better on the road. This meshes with the experieince of those times I have ridden in the company of GS1100/1150's, at highway speed the GS is just getting going and the 650 is running out of :poop:, but once the road turns to trail and the trail turns to crap you'll want the 650.
I learned this on a trip to Whittier-the GS pilots took off and passed a whole string of cars, we with the 650's tried to keep up, then tried to catch up, and eventually we had to give up. Both bikes have their happy place.

[Suzuki Al]

Good review Bawdy, which tallies with what I know of the 650. I saw one doing some pretty difficult terrain last year as its rider followed the Welsh 2 Day Enduro around.

[tsiklonaut]

Go where your heart leads.

But remember what you may miss, the truly unique features:
-Boxer engine
-Paralever
-Telelever
-Shaft drive
-ABS
-KAT (for nature protection on a DS bike!)
-Bloke

Other than that, you're good to go with any bike in this class, coz others are all the same gray-mass - the differences between them are monotone tiny and there's not much to think about. And I'd go for strict TKM 525EXC this case and get hands oily :rolleyes:

[tom_at32]

I did the BMW off road weekend in south Wales two years ago. They have GS650s GS650dakars and one or two GS1150dakars. Or at least they did. They've probably all been nicely spruced up and sold on to main BMW dealers by now.......

Anyway..the 650 Dakar I picked (6ft2" - me, not the bike, that would be silly) was absolutely brilliant. It felt light, indestructible and so easy to balance. I'm no trail bike expert but I felt a bit like one on it!

The only reason why one year later I went for a Transalp was that realistically I knew that I would need something to cruise more comfortably at 80mph on and also when I went for my test drive (on the Transalp) the motor felt stronger. I'm pleased with my choice but for shorter blatting around would choose a black and white Dakar.

[Wildbeeste]

I knew that I would need something to cruise more comfortably at 80mph .
Yes the Dakar cruises at 85 mph. :cla:
The abs brakes would be nice though as the 1100 and 1150 all can outbrake the Dakar by several car lengths from motorway speeds:o:

[Dirtybill]

The 650 Dakar is what they should've used on the Long Way Round.

[bakernks]

I have found the Answer, gents.

'05 F650GS, with ABS. No, they are not servo powered. This ABS is the way it should be, non linked, non servo'd, invisible until you Really Need IT. Flat works. Adds just $500 (over here). Regeared with three less teeth on the back for 80 mph cruising at less than 5k rpm. 70 mpg in town, 60 at speed. Brilliant. Dakar seat for comfort, and Wunderlich's new windshield for protection, and it works real good, quiet at 80 mph, stable at 90 in a headwind.

"04 R1150R for longer road trips or when really windy out, or when you just want a heavier, more powerful motorcycle under you. Cee Baily windshield on BMW touring windshield mounts. City cases, Wolfman tank bag. 52 mpg at 85 mph, at 3800 rpm.

With both bikes I have all corners covered.

[bakernks]

The big one
http://bake.smugmug.com/photos/38270213-M.jpg

[bakernks]

The little bike
http://bake.smugmug.com/photos/38823978-M.jpg

[Amir]

The 650 Dakar is what they should've used on the Long Way Round.It's what they are going to use in the Dakar, in the continuation to "The Log Way Round"

http://www.racetodakar.com/ (Race Team -> The Bike).

[YamaHead]

Haven't always been a really big fan of Beemers.....but the 650 Dakar is where I make an exception.:cool:

[Gnomad]

Haven't always been a really big fan of Beemers.....but the 650 Dakar is where I make an exception.:cool:

And you can feel free to make that exception, becuase at it's heart it's not really a beemer. BMW knows a great concept when they see it, though.

[Suzuki Al]

The actual bikes they race are so developed that they bare little comparison to what you can get in the shops. A bit like comparing a Citroen in your local showroom to their WRC winner.

[Pete Rock]

A bit like comparing a Citroen in your local showroom to their WRC winner.

don´t be daft, race bikes and production bikes have always been closer to each other than race cars and production cars

[Buckster]

My bike has a race proven engine.

[Suzuki Al]

don´t be daft, race bikes and production bikes have always been closer to each other than race cars and production cars

You mean the actual Dakar racing bike will only have 50bhp and struggle to reach 100mph and that's before all the extra fuel capacity and other gubbins are put onboard :o:

I suppose they'll run it with OE suspension as well :ljl:

Looks pretty different to me:

http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/BMW/PD1.jpg

[Amir]

They ride in those speeds in the Dakar ?

[Pete Rock]

You mean the actual Dakar racing bike will only have 50bhp and struggle to reach 100mph and that's before all the extra fuel capacity and other gubbins are put onboard :o:


No Alan, they´re going to put the Bandit engine in it and break all speed records with their superior allround torque and power, not to mention reliability and consumptions. Stop being so destructive for once, 100mph is all a winner bike needs these days, and 50hp isn´t far from the normal 70hp for good private KTM singles.

[Gordy]

I've had a lot of fun on my little 650.

http://gordy.smugmug.com/photos/15443759-M.jpg

[Gordy]

http://gordy.smugmug.com/photos/40115392-M.jpg



http://gordy.smugmug.com/photos/40115395-M.jpg



http://gordy.smugmug.com/photos/6537432-M.jpg


http://gordy.smugmug.com/photos/6542957-M.jpg


I'm slowly converting my GS into a Dakar. Since these pics, I have put Dakar forks on it. I need to put a decent rear shock on it and might put a 21 on the front. The 19 is OK in the dirt and is much better on pavement, so it may stay.

Very verasatile bike.:ys:

[Amir]

I've had a lot of fun on my little 650.

http://gordy.smugmug.com/photos/15443759-M.jpgThat's one dam nice pic !

[Buckster]

There were 13 KTM 640 Adventures entered in the 2003 PD, and every year it is the bike of choice for any who cannot afford a factory 660, it is reckoned that a well prepped 640 is totally competitive in this environment as the bike is basically an improved version of the factory entry upto 2002 when the 660 became de-facto.

[Suzuki Al]

No Alan, they´re going to put the Bandit engine in it and break all speed records with their superior allround torque and power, not to mention reliability and consumptions. Stop being so destructive for once, 100mph is all a winner bike needs these days, and 50hp isn´t far from the normal 70hp for good private KTM singles.

You miss my point, which was in response to your claim that the bike you buy in the showroom bears comparison with the bike that will race in the Rally.
If it isn't substantially modified to make more power than the standard bike's 50bhp pushing 193kgs (wet) + the addition of better suspension I would be amazed. The standard BMW Dakar struggles to reach 100mph without all the additional gear the Dakar race bikes have to carry. I would also say that 70bhp is a lot more than 50bhp in the context of this race. Shop KTMs are far close to the actual race bikes that the BMWs are.Remember where this started - My saying that a WRC Rally car bares little resemblance to the Citroens you can buy in a showroom.

No pro-Bandit point scoring was intended or implied in anything I have written in this thread.

BTW I think that the F650 is a pretty decent and capable bike.

[Pete Rock]

OK, you got a point









No pro-Bandit point scoring was intended or implied in anything I have written in this thread.

but you´re dying to, aren´t ya? :ljl:

[bustupbiker]

*** BTW I think that the F650 is a pretty decent and capable bike ***

Thats not rite Al. it's a BMW! now i no you have lost it:cla:

[Amir]

BTW I think that the F650 is a pretty decent and capable bike.But the question is weather or not an F650 owner qualifies as a "bimmer twat" in your eyes or not...

[Suzuki Al]

*** BTW I think that the F650 is a pretty decent and capable bike ***

Thats not rite Al. it's a BMW! now i no you have lost it:cla:

You've got me all wrong Lyn. My only problem with Beemers is the undeserved mythology of great build and quality that is attached to the brand and the associated snobbery that so many (although not all) owners indulge in.

Beemers are actually pretty good bikes and the ones I have ridden, although not my personal cuppa rosy lea, have been pretty good. Nothing special, but pretty good.

Frankly, very, very few bikes are really outstanding. I can think of very few that are, objectively, totally brilliant from virtually every standpoint - performance, build integrity, engine and component quality, suitability for purpose etc, etc:

In my life I could count these bikes on my fingers:

Pre-VTEC VFRs, FJ1200, ST1100 and maybe a couple of others, are the only ones I can think of in the last 10/15 years which could be called "Great Bikes".

[bustupbiker]

No what you mean Al:smile: only takin the P1ss just like you do, do you remember what Mike T-Max used to say! a bikes a bike as long as you ride it does not matter what it is so long as it has two wheels. Plus a bikes fer ridin not cleanin:cla:

[Suzuki Al]

Here, we used to call him Scooter Mike. He's a real biker, who went anywhere and everywhere on his T Max no matter what the weather. And he always rode the tits off it - flat out everywhere.

I remember one ride with the nearly all the Aber Boys in tow. He set the route and it took in every single track road for miles around. The sportsbike riders hated it, they were in genuine pain:ljl: .