650 Dakar or 660 Tenere?

[Martin]

Sold my 1200GS last summer as a job change meant working away from home and it seemed crazy to have a £10k bike sitting in the garage doing nothing. I am now thinking of getting a smaller cheaper bike for weekend use.

I prefer an "enduro" style bike as it suits my 6'5" height.

Dakar, Tenere, Versys...

Anyone got any advice?

 

[Rushy]

I would say that Versys is the better road bike of the 3 with better handling and a bit more oomph than the other two

 

[finn]

Are you keeping it on the tarmac?

 

[harry]

The latest G650GS is a nice looking tool, frugal too, I'd guess a little more lively on the road than the Yamaha. I'm seriously considering one as a second bike. Good value at £5k

 

[Pixter]

I can highly reccommend the F650GS Dakar. Recently traded mine in for a 1150GS because I wanted a bigger capacity bike but if I could have had both, I'd have kept the 650 for hooning the goat tracks and green lanes.The 650 did an average MPG of 65 no matter how it was ridden. It had the odd foray off road and it is a very capable bike on the rough stuff.
The Dakar is tall as hell and should suit your height well.


Go on....you only live once!

 

[v8legend]

I realise that it might push your budget, but you could do worse than look at the F800GS. Some of them are 3 years old now.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I've just got a KTM 640 Adventure. Cracking bike, not too vibey and good for tall people

The Versys is underrated and as a pure road bike, a great option as Rushy says.

 

[Simon_h]

I did 20k miles on my xt660z in 8 months. Crap on the motorway (buffeting and low top speed) and a shorter rev band than a diesel (typical single)...but bags of character, sounds amazing, very leggy tall bike for big guys, massive tank range and frugal mpg (280 miles was the best I got from 23ltr) and has real offroad potential.

I bought the GS due to the motorway deficiency, but miss everything else about it.

 

[GFJ]

Never had a Tenere, but had 3 Dakars over the years.

Cracking bikes, and upto 78mpg on tours (though slowish roads mind). Can be a bit viby at times, though aren't most singles. Best suited on A & B roads.

I'd look for FSH and good condition. Paint will quite often flake on the engine near to the water pump. They hold their money though - so I wouldn't expect to find one cheap.

I'd have another but I can't fit it in the garage unless something else goes

 

[motorbike]

had the tenere now have a dakar...tenere is a nicer bike to ride but has serious quality issues,,if you intend keeping it for a while then go for a dakar better build quality and resale value

 

[gspod]

Have a look at the TDM900 - nearly as tall as my 1100gs similar torque, faster exceleration and top end. It's also very light for it's size and capability. You can pick them them up fairly cheap because they're not fashionable in this country, however very popular on the continent.

As far as off road is concerned we do easy summer green lanes in this country and unpaved mountain roads and forest trails on the continent. The TDM (my wife's) has been everywhere my gs has on road tyres with no problem.