Observations after 1st ride on my Dakar

JohnnyBoxer · Mar 29, 2005

Well had my first ride on the Dakar.........that I picked up on Sat from the dealer... Rainbow @ Sheffield

It's a 2000 Black/White one with 12500 miles on the clock and hasn't suffered the usual 650 corrosion (that is common to 650 range so i'm told) and is pretty clean

It has been pre-enjoyed by 2 GS riders on the this Forum.......

All the usual maintenance has been done and receipted ie
Head Bearings
Chain/Sprockets
Battery
Swing Arm Bearings
New Tourances

It has an alarm (not keen on) that I will persevere to see what it's like......but at the first sign of trouble....it's being removed

So had a 100 mile blast around the Yorkshire Dales in the company of 2 oilhead GS riders on a new Adventure and 1200GS
The roads were wet 'under foot', so to speak......however it was dry overhead.

Initial observations ;-
On wet roads................boy do you get dirty and so does bike

Bike goes well for a single and is quick and nimble

On B road bends it will leave the 2 bigger bikes for dead and is more nimble by a long way

Grin factor is very good

Handles well on Tourances in the wet and never had any 'scary moments'

Powerful and bike will see 3 figures on a good straight road

Seat.........pretty comfy for a BMW

No centrestand is a pain for cleaning and oiling chain

Questions for the future enjoyment -

How to stay clean ? Do you fit a TT lower mudguard and rear splashguard

Fork seals look really vulnerable - must fit gaitors

Storage - hate topboxes...........so anybody fitted a TT rackbag

Best Centrestand - TT or Wunderlich

How effective are the following accessories - ?????
TT Chainguard
TT Sprocketguard
TT Toolbox reinforcers and rear no. plate part
TT Low mudguard
TT Shockguard
TT Fairing Guard
TT Chainguide
BMW Crashbars seem the best .....are they??
TT Alloy luggage rack
TT Handlebar risers
TT Dakar footpeg kit

First job is to fit an Arrow single silencer, that I've been offered this week

JohnnyBoxer · Mar 29, 2005

Quick Pic

andy · Mar 29, 2005

Hey johnny you been takin pics of my bike

got his/her twin in the garage.
better add a rear brake resorvour (spelt wrong)
frame protector to that list before those marks get any worse.
best colour and all that sh**e

Cheesy Mike · Mar 29, 2005

Johhnyboxer is henceforth known as Johnnythumper

JohnnyBoxer · Mar 29, 2005

andy said:
Hey johnny you been takin pics of my bike
got his/her twin in the garage.
better add a rear brake resorvour (spelt wrong)
frame protector to that list before those marks get any worse.
best colour and all that sh**e

Thanks Andy.........

I'm going to fit a reservoir protector from an 1150GS (£7 and it'll fit with a spacer/longer bolts)

Frame protector has been rubbed.........but not marked frame yet and it's on the 'list'........bike is completely stock at present.

brassmonkey001 · Mar 29, 2005

Fastest colour etc.
Better nick than mine though.
To mine I've fitted:
TT lower front mudguard
TT number plate reinforcement bracket
Scottoiler HCR
TT chain guard
Bar risers
BMW engine guard
TT centrestand (now removed and sold - didn't like it much)
Koubalinks (to lower the rear suspension)
standard centrestand (fits now suspension lowered 2")
HEL steel brake hoses
BMW topbox rack
Proline neoprene fork gaiters
an ally rear brake M/cyl cover from ebay
TT flexi indicators
TT pannier rack and 35l panniers
a BMW single seat
and I've got a TT rear shock guard to fit when I get around to it.
I think that's about it.

Christ I've spent some money!

Colt · Mar 30, 2005

Great looking bike JB

Brassmonkey you aint spent enough yet

JohnnyBoxer · Mar 30, 2005

brassmonkey001 said:
Fastest colour etc.
Better nick than mine though.
To mine I've fitted:
TT lower front mudguard
TT number plate reinforcement bracket
Scottoiler HCR
TT chain guard
Bar risers
BMW engine guard
TT centrestand (now removed and sold - didn't like it much)
Koubalinks (to lower the rear suspension)
standard centrestand (fits now suspension lowered 2")
HEL steel brake hoses
BMW topbox rack
Proline neoprene fork gaiters
an ally rear brake M/cyl cover from ebay
TT flexi indicators
TT pannier rack and 35l panniers
a BMW single seat
and I've got a TT rear shock guard to fit when I get around to it.
I think that's about it.

Christ I've spent some money!

What was wrong with TT Dakar Centrestand and why is the standard 650GS BMW one better ????

Spout · Mar 30, 2005

JohnnyBoxer said:
I'm going to fit a reservoir protector from an 1150GS (£7 and it'll fit with a spacer/longer bolts)

For £7 Johnny it'd be better to do a bit of hacksaw trimming and reshaping with a soft hammer - the spacer/longer bolts will rub on your boots when stood up.

BMW stand is/was only £65 - you'll need to weld extensions of course.

TT do a chain guide which I'd recommend if you're going off road - can be used with the chain guard.

The TT front sprocket cover helps keep things clean (mud) but you'll get a bit of chain lube spatter on the engine.

The radiator is a bit exposed - I fabricated a guard out of stainless mesh (£1.22)

Bar risers will make off road so much more comfy.

Have fun.............

Dave Hall · Mar 30, 2005

Hi Johnny........Most of my riding is on the Dales back roads and I love the 650 on those.

TT lower front m/guard.....seems to keep about 60-80% of the crap of me and the bike so I can recommend it.

When I first got the bike I would come back with mud spattered on my back as well as front so I put my `Heath Robinson` £2 dustpan mudguard on the bottom of the number plate and thats cured the crap from the back tyre coating the back of my helmet.

I`m not a big fan of tank bags but the TT item for the 650 works well and does`nt get in my way.

Colt · Mar 30, 2005

Hi Johnny,I have fitted some of the parts you have listed.
you can see from my bike pic it was in a sorry state.

the backlight unit had cracked around the rear numberplate and toolbox plastics have separated.
So i think the t/t reinforcers would help this vunerable area.
the fairing was smashed exactly where the fairing guards fit.
so the guard may save your fairing.
the risers fit with standard brake hose.
not sure about the bmw crashbars,look like they catch some debris?and make the clearance a bit lower.
the tt rear shockguard is more like apiece of guttering .
it only fits the oe bmw shock.

just my observations.i am not quite ready to use it properly .yet.
you need to speak to the experts,

meet you all when its ready and legal to ride it.
ps your welcome to come over to Lancs to look at the parts ,

Spout · Mar 30, 2005

"not sure about the bmw crashbars,look like they catch some debris?and make the clearance a bit lower."

They actually only come down as low as the centrestand lugs, and create a flat plane - handy for sliding over rocks/logs etc
The centrestand stops would be vulnerable without similar protection. It isn't that well secured though with the mounting points only welded tabs on the frame which soon get bent (suppose it's better than damaging frame with a hard knock?). You'll have fun lining up all the bolts at oil change time!

I'd go for the TT fairing protectors - they actually stop the radiator being pushed out of position in a fall (fairing panels mount directly onto rad). I think they're designed to 'give' rather than be solid tho.

Mine:

Colt · Mar 30, 2005

nice pic spout.
need to get mine finished so you lot can hold my hand on a run .
you reckon chain guide is useful?

I wasn't sure about the bmw guard,
not using one in real life like

not yet anyhow,.

Spout · Mar 30, 2005

I only fitted the guide shortly before I sold the Dakar

But I'd always been worried that the chain could easily get pushed off the rear sprocket in 'tricky' conditions. Although I have to admit it never happened.

I think the TT guide is actually made by KTM.
I had to visit A&E during the fitting of it. "Be careful with that Stanley Knife you'll have someones finger off!"

brassmonkey001 · Mar 30, 2005

JohnnyBoxer said:
What was wrong with TT Dakar Centrestand and why is the standard 650GS BMW one better ????

I found it quite hard to get the bike onto the stand possibly down to me only being 5'8" (Spout had a go when I mentioned it to him and he did it no problem, but he's bigger than me). Also I lowered the rear suspension which made the TT stand redundant but allowed me to fit the standard GS stand in its place.

ROLLINSDAN · May 24, 2005

Some advice needed!!

Just reading through this thread........

I currently own an R1100GS, I do like it but find it too much sometimes (I'm 5'9", 11 stone) the beast is too heavy when loaded and I want to do try some off road too. Would the 650 Dakar be too tall for me? And would I miss the power of the 1100?

I plan to do a trip through Spain and down to Morocco next year and I'm thinking of changing before then.

Has anyone else made the swap without regrets?

JohnnyBoxer · May 24, 2005

Re: Some advice needed!!

ROLLINSDAN said:
Just reading through this thread........

I currently own an R1100GS, I do like it but find it too much sometimes (I'm 5'9", 11 stone) the beast is too heavy when loaded and I want to do try some off road too. Would the 650 Dakar be too tall for me? And would I miss the power of the 1100?

I plan to do a trip through Spain and down to Morocco next year and I'm thinking of changing before then.

Has anyone else made the swap without regrets?

Reckon you'd be ok on a Dakar..........and you could always fit a lower GS seat, instead of a Dakar taller one.

That's why I bought the Dakar.............for a trip to Morrocco, sometime next year and as a winter bike (so the Adv stays warm and dry)

Jeremy · May 25, 2005

The 650GS is a cracker and I found that the following additions just improved it:
TT sports seat (3cm higher than standard)
BGSTUFF alu chain guard/brake guard/duck bill mud flap
Remus exhaust
Wunderlich tail pack
Conti TKC80 tyres

JohnnyBoxer · May 25, 2005

Jeremy said:
The 650GS is a cracker and I found that the following additions just improved it:
TT sports seat (3cm higher than standard)
BGSTUFF alu chain guard/brake guard/duck bill mud flap
Remus exhaust
Wunderlich tail pack
Conti TKC80 tyres

How much was the BG stuff........all shipped to UK
Can you post a pic

Jeremy · May 25, 2005

Think it all came to $80 approx but would need to check. Well pleased with it.

Observations after 1st ride on my Dakar

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