BMW G450X My new ride.

[hawk]

imported post

imported post

I did love the way the Husky rode. THe suspension and power were unbelievable compared to what I was used to on the DRZ400. I crashed the Husky 4 hours after I got it and tore off the whole tail section...from then onit had nagging electrical problems which weren't all related to the crash, for instance I put those heated grips on under the grips without enough insulation but the overall effect for me was that it left me not trusting that I would have a good ride. The dealer did the best he could for me but being almost 2 hours away and me having a lack of time to bring it back left me working out the final issues. I think I managed to work them out (the guy who bought it hasn't had any issues). So the electrical issues and the fact that I like smaller tighter trails made me decide on the BMW. The one thing that I didn't like about the Husky was the turning radius. A better rider wouldn't have any trouble with that, but it kept catching me off guard.

 

[hawk]

imported post

imported post

I finaly got to do a little test ride to see what the actual mileage is now that I reset the throttle and put a little more mileage on the bike. (have my first 2 hour service done as well.) It is now running about where I expected it at about 5.54l/100km, about 144km / 8 litre tank. or 157 if I think the manual reads right. It says 8 l of usable and 3/4 l of reserve. I rode to Abbotsford and back about 94km at about 80km /hour to see this. I still expect it to get a little better as the bike gets broken in a little futher. :dr:Might have to test it agin offroad tommorrow up thurston!:ss::ss::dr:

 

[Guest]

imported post

imported post

I was considering getting the G450X as entry bike into the dual sporting world, but when I went tothe dealership to take a look at one I was very unimpressed with BMW. They "forgot" to put a keyed ignition in the bike and the saleperson was saying that holding it at highway speed RPMs MAY result in a void warranty. The self retracting kick stand was a pain in the ass too.

 

[malachi]

imported post

imported post

hawk wrote:

I finaly got to do a little test ride to see what the actual mileage is now that I reset the throttle and put a little more mileage on the bike. (have my first 2 hour service done as well.) It is now running about where I expected it at about 5.54l/100km, about 144km / 8 litre tank. or 157 if I think the manual reads right. It says 8 l of usable and 3/4 l of reserve. I rode to Abbotsford and back about 94km at about 80km /hour to see this. I still expect it to get a little better as the bike gets broken in a little futher. :dr:Might have to test it agin offroad tommorrow up thurston!:ss::ss::dr:

so how did it feel at highway speeds? Vibration? Power? Handling?

 

[tomcycle]

imported post

imported post

This bike is not entry level, start with something like a DR400 of KLX250

T



Tibarus wrote:

I was considering getting the G450X as entry bike into the dual sporting world, but when I went tothe dealership to take a look at one I was very unimpressed with BMW. They "forgot" to put a keyed ignition in the bike and the saleperson was saying that holding it at highway speed RPMs MAY result in a void warranty. The self retracting kick stand was a pain in the a** too.

 

[Guest]

imported post

imported post

tomcycle wrote:

This bike is not entry level, start with something like a DR400 of KLX250

T



Tibarus wrote:

I was considering getting the G450X as entry bike into the dual sporting world, but when I went tothe dealership to take a look at one I was very unimpressed with BMW. They "forgot" to put a keyed ignition in the bike and the saleperson was saying that holding it at highway speed RPMs MAY result in a void warranty. The self retracting kick stand was a pain in the a** too.

I'm not talking my first bike here, but still, I wish BMW had done a better job with refining it for the streets, a keyed ignition would have been nice.

 

[hawk]

imported post

imported post

I never really tried to maintain it at 110 km what I consider highway speeds, at 80 kms it was nice but the front wheel still feels a bit lumpy, I haven't done the wheel balance yet so when I do I expect that'll be ironed out. My butt was a bit numb after the ride but not sore so I say the vibration is not too bad. Certainly not worse than my 400 or the 610. It still had lots of get up and go, a couple of times I looked down and I was doing a 110 km without even trying. I took the winding back roads and even on the wet, leaf covered road it handled spectacularly, I never once felt like it was going to slide out on me.

BMW never really touted this bike as a "dual sport" bike. They've really said its an enduro that is street legal. It all depends on the type of riding you want to do. If it's mainly road and fire roads then I think it's probably not the best option. It wants to be ridden in tight single track, up hills and round tight corners. I think that as the options get better, and if BMW sees the "dual sport" market segment take most of the 450 sales they may add the options dualsporters would really like to see. It may end up like the DRZ400's where you buy the bike and then as a matter of course, install bigger tank, heated grips, bark busters, etc. I read somewhere that a guy installed a KTM mapping switch on the BMW so he could quickly switch to the lower mapping when he went out on the roads. I'm going to put some sort of an anti-theft device on the bike...probably a kill switch somewhere but lets face it, if someone wants your bike bad enough, it gone...no matter how much damage they do stealing it.

The manual states "your motorcycle is not designed for extended periods of revving in excess of 8000rpm. Riding with the engine revving as speeds in excess of 8000 rpm can result in damage and engine revolution excursions above this limit are logged in the controls units memory. BMW Motorrad refuses to accept liability for engine damage if engine-revolution excursions above this limit are stored in the control units memory. Apparently it will give you a warning if you ride it in excess of 110km (68mph) for an extended period of time. If you don't back off (before 30sec) then it registers the event.

I been up to 120 kms without seeing the warning but frankly at that speed with knobbies and an enduro style helmet is just plain not fun for me. In fact when I owned the DRZ400 I lowered the top speed with sprockets down to about 100km so I'd have the better responsiveness in the trails. Guess it all depends on what you want to do with the bike.

I also think that even if you did want to ride at extended high speeds if nothing goes wrong then you've got nothing to worry about. Basically the same as the other bikes if you keep them at extended high speeds you run the risk of something breaking. At that speed if something breaks bad things are going to happen.

 

[Strongleftleg]

imported post

imported post

Neil,

How many RPM's at 110kmh? At 100kph?

 

[sueandal]

imported post

imported post

Sweeeeeeeet ----rock:clapn:clap:bmw----
Much appreciate the postings:ted:
Suzuki,Husky,BMW____ wow what next
BTW great meeting up with you this sum:ss:mer.

Al

 

[baxter650]

imported post

imported post

Glad to see your mileage is becoming more like a motorcycleand less like my wifes Landcruiser. Neil was kind enough to let me take his new baby for a ride, i like it ok.

 

[Choulton]

imported post

imported post

Can anyone compare the G450X to a KTM450EXC ?
I'm looking for a new bike and these two are top of my list.
My current XR650R is too heavy for the tighter, more technical stuff.
I don't ride on the road much so the more off road the better.
I'm 6ft, 185lbs. As much as I think I want a MX'er with lights, I don't want an unreliable bike that needs lots of maintenance.

 

[burgerd]

imported post

imported post

I can't speak for the BMW, let Neil help you there.

I ride an '05 KTM450EXC (RFS motor) which I plated (with all theOEM parts). Put it to you like this: onSat I do the Dead Zone for 12 hrs, then Sun I go across the mountain and race the Monkey Wrench with the same bike.

Willie took his 450 to Africa and did a6 000 km trip with no problems.Ken took his 525 and put a stroker crank on it and raced the Morroco Ralley. What more can I say?

I will admit that KTM does not know anything about making seats - they just take a 2x4 and wrap it with some seat cover, but you should be on the pegs! EE amkes a great seat.

My bike does 100 mph (160 km/h) on the highway with knobly tires and is very stable - I have not held it at that speed for a long time, just wanted to see how fast it would go, but I have done it a few times. I assume the BMW will do the same. You should try to ride both back to back.

Take Neil & myself down to Baja and give us enough beer for aweek, then we give you the bikes to test.

cheers

Burgerd

 

[malachi]

imported post

imported post

judging by TT's recent Baja trip.....the pumpkins weren't so bullet proof............the new BMW450X is slick.....it will be my next bike:tup:

 

[joker650]

imported post

imported post

malachi wrote:

judging by TT's recent Baja trip.....the pumpkins weren't so bullet proof............the new BMW450X is slick.....it will be my next bike:tup:

Where was the "Baja prep" done?:?

 

[Choulton]

imported post

imported post

I was pleased to see the BM held up so well on the Baja trip, it was great reading the updates. I think I made the right decision, thanks to all those who helped with advice. I went with the high tech BM as I am somewhat of a teckno geek.

I thought with all that white plastic, it might be more at home in the snow and float on top. At least it got a lot further than my old BRP.

 

[Choulton]

imported post

imported post

Neil or anyone else with a G450X.
How far are you getting on a tank of gas ?
Mine is only going 80kms, which puts at at worse fuel economy than my 1 ton pickup truck.
The shop are saying that all 3 G450X's they have sold are getting similar millage so it looks like its normal. I find this hard to believe. I was told they would go 160kms on a tank.
10kms per ltr of gas ?
What do KTM EXC's get ? or CRF450X's ? trying to get a comparison.

 

[old trials guy]

imported post

imported post

I have a Sherco 450 4T thumper, fuel injected. Stock tank (and only one available) is 8.5 liters. My range is from about 110 km where most is off road and FSR to 150+ km where it was about 50/50 pavement and FSR. I pack 1.5 spare liters which I can nurse for about 20 to 25 km.

I would imagine I would run out at 80 km riding single track like McNutt. I clocked 116 km before running empty at the Fall Noobie Ride on the AA loop pushing it fairly hard up Thurston.

Perhaps it will improve with some more time on the engine and of course you could try therunning the tallest gearing that comes with the bike as that should help.

otg

 

[quaff]

imported post

imported post

Hey Choulton congrats on the G450x,:tup:.I have a 05 crf450x and get around 80k per 8.5 ltr tank on the trail.I thought the G450x tank was around the 8.5 ltr mark as well.if it is then that would put you in the same ball park as the rest of the 450s.

 

[hawk]

imported post

imported post

Yup.. about right I've been clocking aroung 90k without pushing it on the high power setting. Going to try it this week-end on the newbie on the low power setting to see what kind of mileage that gets me. Indications are around 160km in that mode. As Tom says "Ya gotta feed the ponies" Hope they comeout with a larger gas tank soon.

 

[Choulton]

imported post

imported post

Thanks for the reply's. Looks like my fuel range is about average then.
Just my expectations were way off.
Lucky I have a buddy with a KLR, now all I need is a siphon tube.

What range would I need for the Spring Newbie ride ?