650GS owners

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lytl dirty

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Hello to all the BMW fans.
I have just decided to ditch the sport bike and get into some adventure/touring. The 1150gs adventure is on the top of my list as the price of a 1200 is a little dear. Obviously the 650gs would be easier to handle on the trails but what is it like to do 800km days on?
Any input is appreciated, cheers
 
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Are you talking about the newer 650gs?? I can speak for the older 50hp 650 gs. Yes you could do 800km, but why would you want too if your on a road trip....unless you had to get somewhere or the scenery sucked. The older 650 is gutless and travelling at highway speeds all day is a bit tiresome. I did a trip to alaska this summer and had a couple of 800+ km days. I tell you every time a larger bike passed me i wish i was on that bike....

You need to decide what you want to do more, touring or off road. And what are you expectations off road with the 650gs. Its hardly the off road machine its advertised to be. Ya you could do logging roads all day, but anything more and your just beating on the bike.

I sold my 650gs this summer and got the 800gs. I dont plan on beating this bike up like i did with the 650gs. I will do the average logging road but nothing els. More touring for me.

That just my 2 cents, people have the 650gs and travell the globe

look at the 800gs.
 
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stratus

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The HP increase came with the displacement increase (650 to 800), so that would be this year.
 
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Not sure. Mine was a 2006. I think the 2008 is a detuned 800cc engine that is 70hp.
They still call it 650gs.

650gs, 800gs, 800st, and the 800s all have the twins.
 
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ssurfer

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I looove the 650! It's awesome. As for long trips, I did a Vancouver-Moab trip last year and (because I had limited time) hauled :mb: most of the time....roughly 4500kms in 8 days in total.2 days of 1000+ km's. This bike can do it! my butt just can't....;)
It's just a matter of how comfotable you need to be.I've ridden the 1150gs adv and it's definately a much easier ride. 200km/hr cruising? no Problem on the 1150!
The 650 I was able to cruise (fairly comfortably) at about 160km/hr.
Most of my riding these days is off-road, and for that, the 650 will be the better candidate..
But now there's the 450.....hmmmmm...
 
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cruise fairly comfortably at 160km. Are you kidding, the bike barely can do that. Fully loaded, can the bike even do 160km/hr?????
 
leeloo

leeloo

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My first bike was a 650GS - husband had 1150GS. We did a 6,300KM tour through BC/Yukon and loved it. Obviously, the 1150's better on highway, but offroad it's very heavy and not very confidence inspiring (for the offroad newbie). I didn't know any better and just gave it. Over $4,000 in repairs later, I've now gone to a 250 dualsport to hone my offroad skills. The most we ever did in a day was around 500KM. While the bikes could take it, my body and butt could not. The 650's comfortable at 120kms
 
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mcmxcivrs

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I've done some 600-700 Km days on mine fully loaded with no trouble. I don't ever carry a passenger though, that would be a very different matter. The bike will easily maintain a highway speed fast enough to get you busted, what more do you really need. It is a bit weak if you get stuck behind a line of slugs and only have a short passing opportunity. One thing that made a world of difference for me in comfort was replacing the stock seat with a Sargent one. Much much more comfortable and supportive.

If I was only going to have one bike (I also ride an R1100RS), I'd probably lean towards the big GS just because it would be a bit better for really long tours and has the power to haul azz when you need to pass. But for me, the F650GS is perfect. Its good enough to do a days travelling, yet lighter and a bit easier to manage off road than the big boys. Since my main intent for the GS is to get where I could never get with the RS, I like the agility of the 650. Even at that though, it can be a bit of a pig sometimes and has limits to where I dare to take it.
 
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BMWNut

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aurora wrote:
cruise fairly comfortably at ). Are you kidding, the bike barely can do that. Fully loaded, can the bike even do 160km/hr?????
Click to expand...

When Tom, and gang, and I went to Baja they were bugging me that the Dakar wasn't as "dirty" as their bikes. So I said it might not be as "dirty" as yours but try to catch me on the highway. I then held the throttle wide open until the next gas stop ~240 KM. Speedo read 175KMH GPS said about 170KMH. Rev limiter would cut the engine every minute or two and then creep up again. Engine idled really smooth after that. :)

Brian

P.S. Nobody passed me! Well that section at least....
 
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ssurfer

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I said "fairly"...but Yes..I get 160 out of my bike..Remove all unnecessary weight, get an aftermarket muffler and away you go...
 
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dakar72

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It totally depends on the kind of roads you ride too. I find that I can cruise between 120-130 km/hr without being too conscious of it, but you can start to feel pretty small on an interstate or any other freeway. This bike is best on smaller highways with single lanes etc where you can use something besides the top gear once in a while. I actually feel like I could use another gear when cruising long distances.

As for comfort, I put a parabellum screen on it to block wind on long distance rides. That helped quite a bit though the bike isn't as nimble. I also use an airhawk cushion on the seat to add some height and prevent soreness. Works great.

Overall, I wouldn't plan to take this particular bike on a cross country haul unless it was on lesser highways and not chasing someone with a 1200. That just gets sad after a while and hurts the ego..

All that said, I have been extremely happy with the performance off road. I'd never take a 1200 on much of the single track I see.
I've learned why people have (or lust after..)a full quiver of bikes but the 650 GS is truly a great comprimise for those with a budget to stay within..
 
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lytl dirty

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Thanks for all the replies!:clap:

I am still not sure what bike I am going to buy. :?
- I don't plan on riding real aggressive in the dirt.
- I want some comfort on the street
bikes in the running so far are DRZ, KLR, BMW probably the 1150 or 1200
 
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