F650 Dakar vs R1100 GS - Decision time....

dcarvoss

dcarvoss

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your views on this would be valued… as I have two choices…. (well more than two, but two choices that I want to discuss).

I have the 2007 Dakar below…. This has approx. 33,000 mile on the clock, is £2050, comes with a top box, and a spare exhaust, and has ABS + Heated grips… and as you know, will do about 60mpg :thumby:. It is scruffy and has surface rust, I get the feeling that the mechanics have been looked after, but not the appearance… It’s a good potential and has the added advantage that it comes with a low seat for the vertically challenged of us (my last Dakar saw me on tiptoes with it’s normal seat).

We also have the R1100GS…. It’s a beast. It does sport 89,000 miles, comes with all the features that the Dakar has, (ABS/Heated Grips), but only does 40 (ish) MPG… :eek: I do like the big bikes, and I know the owner.. This has the added advantage in my eyes that it is shaft driven, which means I don’t have to worry about the chain at all… plus these engines are indestructible. This can be purchased for £1200, but probably needs new tyres.

My journey will be through lanes in the morning, and on the motor way at night (afternoon)…. Part of the business case was that the motorbike is better on fuel than the landcruiser… the R1100 GS only just pays for itself, but the Dakar makes me quids in by about £250 / year….

The other choice that I have is a Honda MSX125 that does 120+ mpg…. But who wants a 125cc right ?!?

Any thoughts ? :confused:

Dan C
 

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Boxer GS for me, if you like riding it and can handle it ok.....................then it will be the most satisfying to ride over a number of years, in my opinion

BMW Singles are great, but you can't beat cubes, Telelever front suspension and the ability to cover distances/carry luggage & pillions - as you can on a Boxer GS
 
This is really up to you, all we can do is tell you what we would do and why with little likelihood that our opinion and choice is relevant to you. That's my disclaimer now I will happily give you my choice!

I would go with the R1100GS. Your right they are bullet proof, they do all things to an acceptable level. It's been my view that a bike that appears ruff on the outside has not been looked after mechanically on a long term basis.

Good luck with making your decision and enjoy which ever bike you decide on .
 
I understand your dilemma , but riding isn't just about saving money, it's about smiles per mile, and the boxer will probably give
you a few more smiles.
You can never tell what's going to go bang on second hand bikes, so they are always a gamble with future repairs and servicing. Don't be 100% sensible, and buy with whatever feels right for you.
Good luck.
 
Having had both 1150 and 650, it basically boils down to what you want.

The 650 is a very capable bike. I toured Europe (2 weeks 3500 miles) on mine with my wife on her Transalp. It was brilliant fun scratching around mountain passes and doing a little off road up the Stella on it. It averaged 65-70 mpg and cruised motorways at 75-80 mph for mile after mile.
The 1150 is my current steed and is also excellent (I've had other bikes, tried other bikes and always seem to end up back on the 1150). It cruises at 80-85, returns 46 mpg and will off road happily and scoot through the lanes happily.

The 1150 is the bike for when you want cosseting. I have been down to Almeria in the South of Spain for the last 2 years. Wife and little un fly over and I ride the 1750 miles in 2 days down and 2 days back. I avoid motorways as much as possible, so they are long days in the saddle. There is no other bike I'd rather be on that I can think of. The 1150 just cracks on, makes me smile and nannies me along. It never seems a chore, never buffets me around and munches the miles with aplomb.
The 650 was also great, fun to thrash around on, a hoot off road and in the twisties, but ultimately, when the weather is shitty and the winds are up, it became a bit tiresome. You have to have a certain lack of mechanical sympathy with the 650.
If you can ignore the engine sounding like you are thrashing it, it is every bit as capable as the bigger bike, but the bigger bike will always feel easier.

Personally I would look for an 1150 though, the 6 speed does make it feel better at motorway cruise, but you lose a little bit of the punch the 1100 has.

Alternatively, save up and get an 800, it's the best of both worlds, power of the 1150, fuel economy of the 650 and size is more 650 sized so easier to hoof through the bends.
 
Interesting Posts all, thanks for the comments...

I am currently leaning towards the big-un, thinking that I'd be hard pressed to lose money on it if I decide to move it on in a year or so.... whereas the F650 would definitely depreciate somewhat.

I understand Flipfly's comment regarding waiting and saving... however being bikeless for a couple of years and having the possibility within my grasp NOW would make any man impatient me-thinks...
 
Definitely the biggun went from F650gs straight to 1150gs toured now on both would not go back also use the 1150 for daily commute lovely bit of kit getting 50+MPG with Johns tuning chip so if I were you look around for 1150 now is the time to buy.
 
2 up on the 1100, not on the 650. I sold a 650 for this reason and will be looking at an 1100, or 1150 in next few months.
 
Have you ridden them both, as the 650 feels small and frantic compared to the 1100. Lovely bikes though, but it would have to be the be the 1100 for me.
 
As others have said, both great bikes and you'd enjoy either. No assurances with 2nd handers etc... but as you've asked for opinions and i've spent much time on both - again I say the 1100 for my money.

650 feels to me busier and generally less planted. Over distance and especially two-up it is no match for the 1100. You can probably do better than 40-ish mpg too.
 
1100 in my view. Properly set up and ridden 'sensibly' you should get well over 50mpg. I have a '99 with ABS and heated grips and I love it although the standard seat is literally a pain in the arse on longer trips - still got to sort that out.
 
Go for a/the bigger one... I have tried to back step to a single... Went on all hopes up for a new "thing"... Bored in 6 months... Singles look good with their smaller size and MPG but are a PIA if you do real distance easily, want to carry large amounts of stuff and/or a pillion and just suck the fun out of it a fair bit... I did wonder when I rode my 11 South to sell it and was on the motorway at 80/85 in shite weather and though hmmm.... Glad I tried the single but even happier when I was zinging around on a litre+ bike again...

TBH its the buzzy nature of smaller bikes and the 80+ cruising comfort that has kept me off F800's as well... My latest R11GS was one of the last and is the best of the 4 I have owned and does 45+ mpg always and 50mpg on a run... If its a good one buy it... if not wait for the next one... The things to watch on the one above are gearboxes... M94 (so pre 97 gearboxes) need a good look at or previous rebuild history to be confident... That and clutch replacement record...They are the two biggies and much of the other stuff is easier to check or not too expensive or hassly to sort... It's the "short" engine that is the strongest point...
 
1100GS would be my choice. My favourite GS. It would take 4 yrs of ownership for the extra cost of the 650 to equal out in fuel and also worth noting that fuel is getting cheaper. Hopefully it will stay that way with the States uping production through fracking. Reckon you'd be bored of the 650 well within 4 yrs and sold it on losing money while the 1100 would still be making you smile. You may have to sort the seat out. As above it is a PITA.
 
Mark A said:
1100GS would be my choice. My favourite GS. It would take 4 yrs of ownership for the extra cost of the 650 to equal out in fuel and also worth noting that fuel is getting cheaper. Hopefully it will stay that way with the States uping production through fracking. Reckon you'd be bored of the 650 well within 4 yrs and sold it on losing money while the 1100 would still be making you smile. You may have to sort the seat out. As above it is a PITA.
Click to expand...

I call bollocks on getting bored with the 650, they are more fun to throw around than the bigger bikes. I scraped the system panniers on mine!! Absolutely brilliant bike, just have to work harder to keep it buzzing. Day to day the 650 is every bit a fast as the bigger bike (how often do you ride over a ton?) and much satisfaction can be had in wazzing past bigger bikes :D
All the bigger bike offers is easier forward momentum, a more relaxed riding experience and better 2 up/luggage carrying (the 650 gets a bit too light at the front when loaded).
If I had a 30 mile commute down twisty lanes I'd choose a 650, a hundred mile motorway commute it'd be the bigger bike.
Of course the 650 is no good for willy waving, just a fun, practical, economical and reliable machine for everyday use.
 
Do you have any doubts about either bike (the specific example, not the model)? If so, go with the one you're confident about. Otherwise, go with the one that pitches a tent in your trousers. Life's too short for doing the wrong thing over a minor detail...

That said, I toured all over Europe on bikes far less capable than the 650 so I'm with Flip on it being perfect unless you've just really got the hots for the big-boned sister.
 
Just stepped off my 1100 having returned from Exeter non-stop.
Best bike I have owned for comfort over distance (with an MRA screen and Corbin seat)
I like it so much I bought a `spare` with 20K on it last year.
They are non unbreakable though. The gearbox is the weak point.
For £1200 you really can`t go wrong.
Never owned a 650, but I have owned an XTZ660 and currently own a Transalp and have done long rides on both. They do it all, but you will feel more knackered at the end of the ride on the smaller bikes and that bit more oomph for overtaking on single carriageways makes it more relaxing to keep up a good pace.
 
MarkShelley said:
Just stepped off my 1100 having returned from Exeter non-stop.
Best bike I have owned for comfort over distance (with an MRA screen and Corbin seat)
I like it so much I bought a `spare` with 20K on it last year.
They are non unbreakable though. The gearbox is the weak point.
For £1200 you really can`t go wrong.
Never owned a 650, but I have owned an XTZ660 and currently own a Transalp and have done long rides on both. They do it all, but you will feel more knackered at the end of the ride on the smaller bikes and that bit more oomph for overtaking on single carriageways makes it more relaxing to keep up a good pace.
Click to expand...

Nicely summed up and correct on every point
 
Another vote for the 1100, for the reasons already stated plus the observation that 33,000 miles on a single pot 650cc is probably equal to 89,000 miles on the bigger bike. I doubt that the 650 will achieve this sort of mileage because it has a wet clutch that, together with the gears, share the oil with the engine. The 1100 on the other hand has a separate gearbox that has its own, function-specific oil, leaving the engine oil to lubricate the engine alone and not get contaminated by clutch friction material etc. IMHO that is fundamentally why the oilhead GS (and other) bikes can achieve stellar mileages. How many 650s have done 100k miles, I wonder?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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