F650 GS Vrs 100GS

[Sylvester]

I have been seduced by the dark side of the force and have seen a Dakar in the dealers in Bonn that look v sexy. I know Flipfly has swapped from one to the other and I know that all opinions are different but before I make an Ar5e of myself to get a test ride, what are the 650's like to ride in comparrision to the 100GS wobbly box? What is the max comfortable cruising speed on the motorway? Are they comfortable?

 

[Dave Barrett]

Hi Sylvester,

TBH, the 650 is a bit underpowered for Autobahn use. I used to have one of the old 650's (pre-GS) which I used for commuting from Hilden to Brühl and back every day. It was fine around Cologne, but heading north on the A3 every evening was a real pain after the restricted bit - I was always in the right-hand lane with the trucks whilst the rest of the traffic was making "decent progress".

 

[Spout]

A few things for you to consider
GS makes about 60hp compared with the Dakars 50hp. Pretty similar especially as the GS will be a few years old now and may not be in its prime.
Both have a similar top speed (106mph?) so both should be equally relaxed/stressed at any given speed.
The GS is heavier, but not by that much.
Dakar will not give less than 50mpg (and often gets 60), the GS 40mpg.
The twin should be smoother than a single.

I’ve had both, and on the road the above is confirmed.
Both very happy at 75mph on the motorway, and both not so happy at 80.
The GS is more stable. The Dakar suffered from sidewinds.
Vibration from the single was never an issue.
Both comfy enough for all day riding.
The Dakars brakes are better.
Both easy to self service.
Similar tyre wear rates.

They are both equally capable off road aswell.

Not much to choose between the two.

 

[Flipfly]

I'm actually contemplating selling the 1150 because the Dakar is so good. It is fast enough but not ideal for hard motorway cruising, as spout says 75mph all day no probs. Will cruse at 80+ but your starting to push it at that.
The handling will kick an r100gs right in the goolies

I think you should ride one. I can't believe just how stable they are in the corner.

I love my 1150, but the 650 has turned my world upside down Now the big girl is struggling to justify it's existence in my life.

 

[Sylvester]

Many Thanks
Damm, I'm gonna have to ride one now. I love my Airhead to bits so on one side I'd love to have something a bit more ermm modern one the other hand........It's good to have your imput so many thanks. I'll post my findings after the test ride.

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

there is one simple and sensible answer to your dilema.. keep the 100..........
and give it a little friend..

I had the dak and a 100gs and as has been said before, both similar in power and performance though the dak is more economical and has brakes. I loved the dak but swapped it for flipflys 80g/s and believe it or not , it is also very similar in performance though the brakes are wooden.
for an everyday bike the 650 is much better but I have a classic streak in me which demands the airhead.
People always say the 650 is underpowered but put it up against most other 600s and it will keep up well with bikes with much more horsepower but no torque to well above the speed limit, sure they then leave you behind but in the real world it is a cracking bike

 

[Garry H]

A few things for you to consider
GS makes about 60hp compared with the Dakars 50hp. Pretty similar especially as the GS will be a few years old now and may not be in its prime.
Both have a similar top speed (106mph?) so both should be equally relaxed/stressed at any given speed.
The GS is heavier, but not by that much.
Dakar will not give less than 50mpg (and often gets 60), the GS 40mpg.
The twin should be smoother than a single.

I’ve had both, and on the road the above is confirmed.
Both very happy at 75mph on the motorway, and both not so happy at 80.
The GS is more stable. The Dakar suffered from sidewinds.
Vibration from the single was never an issue.
Both comfy enough for all day riding.
The Dakars brakes are better.
Both easy to self service.
Similar tyre wear rates.

They are both equally capable off road aswell.

Not much to choose between the two.

Spout has got it about right

I was not impressed with the 650gs Dakar i had at all
I much preferred the 100 gspd on and off road
i also found the 650 crap 2 up especially off road
The only thing i preferred the 650 for was it's fuel consumption

Kept the 650 6 months
3 years down the line still got the 100 and no plans on selling it

 

[Beemerboff]

I had a F650 for two years ,and did 23000km on it.

I traded it for a R100GS which I have had for a year and I have done 35000 km on it, trouble free.

Why the difference ?- the POS F 650 was broken down for 16 if the 24 months I owned it.

I traded it back to the BMW for the R100GS, but I had spent more repairing it than I got as a trade so it was a total write off !

 

[Micky]

I'd go with Flipfly on this one. Done 55,000 miles on my 650 Dakar and can't fault it

Certainly better brakes and handling than the R100GS... more economical too!

Don't let the chain put you off... we did 19,300 miles on crap roads, no roads, sand and desert on one set of chains and sprockets.

The only thing I would say is that if I regularly carried a pillion then I might go for the R100GS but as I ride solo then the 650 is ace. It will keep up with most any other bike on the twisty twisties

Dunno really why I'm getting the F800GS when the 650 Dak does everything I need ... but won't be getting rid of it... no way



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