650gs (funduro) vs Dakar

[FERRET]

I am considering getting rid of my KTM 525, fed up with all the servicing!, and also want to get more involved with some of the gs rallies and and big bike rallies, due to this i am considering buying a BMW 650gs, i know that the DAKAR version is the best for greenlaning etc as i presume the suspension is upgraded compared to the standard 650, my question is have any members used the early version FUNDURO model as an offroader, greenlaner and if so how were they off road and what are there limitations/ what needs doing to them to make them more usable off road?.

Would members consider it better just to go straight for the DAKAR, once my KTM is sold i reckon i will have a budget of upto £2500, wish i had an extra £1000 i would get an 650 xChallenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ferret

 

[D6]

the funduro is a very good bike but only for light off road, sold mine for a dzr 400

 

[twisticles]

You might get better responses on the 650 singles forum - this here forum is for the 650 Twin (08 onwards) model.

 

[samuelsnow]

I am considering getting rid of my KTM 525, fed up with all the servicing!, and also want to get more involved with some of the gs rallies and and big bike rallies, due to this i am considering buying a BMW 650gs, i know that the DAKAR version is the best for greenlaning etc as i presume the suspension is upgraded compared to the standard 650, my question is have any members used the early version FUNDURO model as an offroader, greenlaner and if so how were they off road and what are there limitations/ what needs doing to them to make them more usable off road?.

Would members consider it better just to go straight for the DAKAR, once my KTM is sold i reckon i will have a budget of upto £2500, wish i had an extra £1000 i would get an 650 xChallenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ferret

I had a 96 Funduro and loved it. Amazingly reliable - lots of people use them for light green laning but there are better bikes for this purpose. If you decide to take the plunge I have a 02 Dakar for sale...I replaced it with an 800GS last year

 

[Spout]

If you can get an Xchallange on your budget it'd make a far better trail tool than the funduro.
I've had a Dakar, and like the Funduro, they are too heavy for serious off roading.
From what I've seen of the Xchallange they seem a good trail/rally/tour compromise - light (ish), with a engine and chassis able to cope with the road (once a TT tank has been bought).
I'd look there.

 

[PaulXC]

I am considering getting rid of my KTM 525, fed up with all the servicing!, and also want to get more involved with some of the gs rallies and and big bike rallies, due to this i am considering buying a BMW 650gs, i know that the DAKAR version is the best for greenlaning etc as i presume the suspension is upgraded compared to the standard 650, my question is have any members used the early version FUNDURO model as an offroader, greenlaner and if so how were they off road and what are there limitations/ what needs doing to them to make them more usable off road?.

Would members consider it better just to go straight for the DAKAR, once my KTM is sold i reckon i will have a budget of upto £2500, wish i had an extra £1000 i would get an 650 xChallenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ferret

Keep looking for an XC if you have the time I reckon. I've seen a couple go thru Ebay over the last few months in the the mid / high 2k's. Something will come up.

I had the Dakar before my XC and yes it would pretty much go anywhere offroad but the XC is just much tougher.

Paul

 

[FERRET]

Thanks everybody for your experiences and thoughts, from what i have read i think i will start looking for an Xchallenge, if anyone knows of one for sale upto the £3000 mark please drop me a message

thanks again

ferret

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Thanks everybody for your experiences and thoughts, from what i have read i think i will start looking for an Xchallenge, if anyone knows of one for sale upto the £3000 mark please drop me a message

thanks again

ferret

Get the XC....................you've seen what they can do

 

[Udders]

You might get better responses on the 650 singles forum - this here forum is for the 650 Twin (08 onwards) model.

I'd have a look at the section header if I were you!

 

[Flipfly]

BoLarks to the lot of ya

I'll take the Dak up and across pretty much anything an xchallenge can do Admittedly it may be a touch harder on the Dak, but I'll tour Europe, scratch around back lanes and carry far more on the Dak than the xc will ever do.

The Dak is a true dual purpose bike, where the XC is a bit of a one trick pony unless heavily modified.

I know I'm gonna gett stick cause my Dakar is highly modded, but I did some fairly good laning on it before I modded it, so I'll stick to my opinion.

The main complaint is about weight, all I can say is ya a but of perry como's and should grow some muscles

 

[samuelsnow]

BoLarks to the lot of ya

I'll take the Dak up and across pretty much anything an xchallenge can do Admittedly it may be a touch harder on the Dak, but I'll tour Europe, scratch around back lanes and carry far more on the Dak than the xc will ever do.

The Dak is a true dual purpose bike, where the XC is a bit of a one trick pony unless heavily modified.

I know I'm gonna gett stick cause my Dakar is highly modded, but I did some fairly good laning on it before I modded it, so I'll stick to my opinion.

The main complaint is about weight, all I can say is ya a but of perry como's and should grow some muscles

lets see some Pics of this modified Dakar then If I cant sell mine I may just look at some modding bits

 

[SeanC]

Took a 1995 Funduro along these roads.

But DID buy a Dakar for when it got serious!

 

[Flipfly]

lets see some Pics of this modified Dakar then If I cant sell mine I may just look at some modding bits

Ask and ye shall recieve

You'll be lucky to get hold of the rear swing arm though

 

[samuelsnow]

Ask and ye shall recieve

You'll be lucky to get hold of the rear swing arm though

Awesome
Care to list the mods and how much lighter my wallet will be for them (roughly speaking) I prefer that to my 800GS - dont let that get into the 800 forum though!!

 

[Flipfly]

Awesome
Care to list the mods and how much lighter my wallet will be for them (roughly speaking) I prefer that to my 800GS - dont let that get into the 800 forum though!!

WP KTM front forks with Touratech yokes and ignition barrel holder
Renthal Fat bars
Acerbis supermoto mudguard
BMW F650 hubs laced with heavy duty stainless spokes onto Excel rims
Ex works Schalber rear swing arm with longer WP rear shock
TT pannier frames
Supertrapp titanium exhaust (now replaced with standard one as it was too noisey for me.
TT rallye footrests and hangers (incl gear lever and brake lever).

I think that covers it.

As for building a similar one, you'd better sell ya 800 or have a very keen eye for the parts on ebay. Thankfully a very good friend of mine has the latter and sourced all the parts for his own project. Unfortunately he didn't use the parts, so he sold them to me.

Brand new i reckon you'd be looking at 3+k for the parts to do the job (without the swing arm as they are not available anymore).

Had a tickle at bidding for the Tt39 tank kit, but it went for silly money

 

[komatias]

If you want to get some serious fun out of the GS or Dakar you have to put better suspension on. The same goes for the Funduro era bikes.

I have had my 2000 Dakar since 2004 and have since put on many miles. Front end is from a 2005 KTM 950S adventure (4860) with 245mm travel. Rear strut is a Wilbers. Still fettling with the system to get it just right.

Start Line

While being built

And here it is flying and bottoming

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[Flipfly]

Standard ones aren't too shabby though

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[rc mad]

another option

for front forks is a set from a Yamaha yz. Mine are off a 2000 yz426f.

So much better than stock with the stock Yamaha springs, but could benefit from stronger springs and a revalve. both of which I'll do over winter. The dive under braking is something else

So far it's cost me £320 for the front end including a new axle and brake calliper relocation bracket and a new brake line. the forks have an extra 2 inch of travel over stock, doesn't seem to affect handling but I'm planning on raising the rear of the bike at some point as well, then I'll not be able to get on it

also got a wilbers on the rear too

 

[john_aero]

for front forks is a set from a Yamaha yz. Mine are off a 2000 yz426f.

So much better than stock with the stock Yamaha springs, but could benefit from stronger springs and a revalve. both of which I'll do over winter. The dive under braking is something else

So far it's cost me £320 for the front end including a new axle and brake calliper relocation bracket and a new brake line. the forks have an extra 2 inch of travel over stock, doesn't seem to affect handling but I'm planning on raising the rear of the bike at some point as well, then I'll not be able to get on it

also got a wilbers on the rear too

its all looking well after the fork upgrade, doesnt seem o have messed wih the height in the front too much

 

[rc mad]

it's not much different, the forks are at full height now, i think the stock springs are a little on the weak side for this setup, but i know that once i get the correct springs I'm going to have to lift the rear up. Straight rate springs are only £60 so possibly the end of the month i'll get em